The first time I visited the North Platte River I was heartbroken. My girlfriend at the time had just kicked me to the curb. It happened really fast and it was painful. I was in the dumps—Johnny Cash style.
A good buddy of mine was trying to put me back together.
“We’re getting you out of town this weekend, man. We’re going fishing,” he said. “What do you want to do? We can go and catch a lot of fish… or we can go somewhere and try to catch a few big fish.”
I thought about it for a few seconds.
“I want to go and catch a LOT of BIG fish,” I said.
My buddy was quiet for a few seconds, seemingly in deep consideration.
“OK, we’re going to the North Platte,” he said.
After a five-hour ride from Denver, Colorado, we were on the banks of the mighty North Platte River just outside of Casper, Wyoming. The North Platte actually begins in the mountains of Colorado, where Rocky Mountain peaks scratch the sky at more than 11,000 feet. From the Colorado-Wyoming state-line, the river crashes through a whitewater canyon, passes 6 Mile Gap, and continues its zigzag north through the towns of Saratoga and Sinclair, finally funneling into Seminoe, Pathfinder, and Alcova Reservoirs. The tailwater pinches between these reservoirs form three distinct Big Trout fisheries. And below the last impoundment, at Alcova, you’ll find Grey Reef. From there to Casper, Wyoming, and downstream to the town of Glen Rock is the portion of river where I’ve spent my time chasing large rainbow, cuttbow, and brown trout. [See map]
The Grey Reef tailwater can be fished 365 days a year. Primetime for this section is typically March through July and then again from September through early November.
“Streamer fishing is probably my favorite way to fish the North Platte and with the higher flows, summer is the time to do it. Streamer fishing is a little more work than nymph fishing, but the reward is definitely there,” said Ryan Anderson, owner of Wyoming Fly Fishing Guide Service out of Casper. “The higher flows of summer push the fish to the banks and they want to eat. Furthermore, summertime brings with it a lot of options. From dries to streamers to nymphs the summer months offer endless possibilities for anglers.”
There are many areas between Grey Reef and Casper to walk and wade, but the most effective way to fish is by drift boat or raft. And although the river might not be technical in nature from a rowing perspective, there is one element that every angler should be mindful of: wind. When it blows in this section of Wyoming—which is often—it blows. Whether you’re walk wading or floating, the wind can be a game changer… and potentially a day ender.
As far as fishing style and gear goes, everyone has their own preferences. How you approach the North Platte is up to you. For me, I like to float the river and bang the banks with streamers. I’m absolutely unrepentant about it. I won’t try this with anything less than a fast 6-weight rod and usually throw the biggest bugs in my box. Sometime, if the water is off-color, I’ll use a fast-sinking tip as well. There’s nothing better than watching a 20-inch+ rainbow or brown move off a bank and stop your retrieve dead in its tracks. Bam. And these fish run.
In addition to the big-rig-streamer setup, I like to have a 4- or 5-weight rigged with a single dry fly. Baetis and midges are on the menu in the spring and fall, and fish have been known to gorge on grasshoppers in the warmer summer months. Tricos also make a fall appearance. When the dry-fly fishing is on, it can be simply amazing. Nymph fishing—RS2s, worms, scuds—is productive year-round.
Like most tailwater fisheries in the Western United States, the upper section directly below the dam is the most highly trafficked. Guide services and anglers use nymph rigs to dredge deep holes and runs below dam. Sometimes, especially in the late spring and early summer months, this section can be a little crowded. But also like other famous tailwaters, that does not mean there are not other lower sections of river to explore. The fish might not be as concentrated, but trust me… they are there.
On that first trip to the North Platte—with my broken heart—I can clearly remember the first 20-inch fish I encountered. After I set the hook I was dumfounded. My fly line raced across the river and my reel hissed.
“You better slow that fish down,” my guide said calmly. I just stood in the back of the boat with a slack jaw. The fish was calling all of the shots.
In short order the trout plunged head first at top speed into a thick weed-bed on the opposite side of the river and promptly broke me off. Everything happened in a flash. It was quick. It was painful.
My guide and my buddy had a good laugh. I laughed, as well, and told them both to fuck off. I reeled in my fly line and pulled out my box… I was movin’ on.
If you want to get in touch with Liz or Ryan at Wyoming Fly Fishing Guide Service about booking a trip, or for the latest river reports, go to: wyomingflyfishing.com. The Reef Fly Shop (northplatteflyfishing.com), in Alcova, and Ugly Bug Fly Shop (crazyrainbow.net), in Casper, are also excellent Grey Reef resources.
