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Gray Reef Fishing Report Feb 12, 2020

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Gray Reef Fishing Report

Hope this little Gray Reef Fishing Report finds you all well. It’s been a very busy and productive January. The winter fishing is as expected: Fantastic. Although nymphing is the most typical technique, the streamer fishing has been phenomenal (like every winter). The really interesting thing is, we have even had some dry action! Yep. You read correctly, dry flies on the Grey Reef in January.  Pretty much says it all, however let’s break it down.

We are targeting large concentrations of pre-spawn rainbows, post-spawn Browns and Cuttys, as well as the river monsters that call the North Platte home. From the photos you’ve seen lately, you might have noticed that some fish are very pale. This is an example of our rainbows running up river, as all salmonids do, to spawn each year where they were “conceived.” The pale fish come from the cold and murky water (iced over) from Government Bridge downstream as far as Glenrock. As they begin staging, they put on their ballroom colors as well as armor for the males. Some of the fish are already lighting up with spectacular rainbow/cutbow colors. These fish start their spawn earlier, typically the end of Feb/early March. Regardless, they are all eating and gorging themselves.

On average, the WGFD tells us that fish numbers are lower than normal. This is actually a great thing because it lends to a larger average fish size. 18-20 inches is consistent and the majority of the Rainbows/Cutbows are now the brood age class of fish. We are seeing more fish over that average size this winter than in the past few years. We rarely catch fish this time of year less than 18″. It’s not that they aren’t in the river, it’s just that they don’t prefer to get beat up or eaten.  The not-quite sexually mature “teenagers” get run out of town pretty quick when Love is in the air.

The beauty of winter fishing is that we have that large migration of trout to the upper 8 + miles, increasing the fish per mile average.  Hence why we love the winter and pre-spawn months… Higher than average numbers of big beasts!

Nymphing:

The most successful rig from now through June is the Alaskan Bead Rig/Egg imitations. Colors vary as do the natural eggs in the water every hour after they are released. Eggs are one of the most popular sources of protein in the trout’s diet as they are readily available for much of the year.  When expending energy to migrate and spawn, eggs are easy pickins.

Admittedly, I was a purist for years and strongly against the rig until I was educated.  The bead rig is legal in Wyoming, as long as the bare hook is not more than 2″ from the egg pattern.  When executed properly, with a smooth and soon set, the Alaskan Bead Rig is safer on fish than egg imitations attached to the hook, PERIOD.  The hook enters the corner of the mouth the majority of the time. We are happy to help teach this method. Education is the key.

For the purist, the Hamrick’ Mayhammy midge (Black, Purple) #18, Hamrick’s Top Secrets (Black, Olive, Blue Dun) #18, red Rock Worms #14 /16, and Hamrick’s Pine Squirrel Leech in Natural, Brown or Olive are the best producers. Scuds, Zebra Midges, Disco Midges, or any Midge imitation you can think of will definitely do the trick, if fished in the correct column of water in the runs.

Regardless of your Nymphing rig, the key to success is length of leader and the amount of weight to get flies to where the fish are at. Without large hatches, our fish are on the bottom, not suspended.  Our crew have been running 9.5′ to 1.0-1.2 grams of weight on the upper 5 miles of the Gray Reef (Run dependent,) then dropping to 0.6-1.0 grams (Run dependent) downstream to Lusby.

The majority of the summer grass/debris/vegetation has been cleared out with the freeze and thaw. The water is clear and fishable to Government Bridge. HOWEVER, please call for current ice conditions before you head out on your own. Some sections can get jammed up overnight from wind breaking chunks from the bank loose, especially below Lusby.

Streamer Fishing:

The most exciting and rewarding technique for anglers in the winter – including myself – is streamer fishing. This is something I have enjoyed working on for over 25 years and though we will NEVER perfect it, we have discovered many tricks that reward our clients the big predacious trout we are all after. Winter steamer fishing is by far the most technical type of fishing we do. Targets include big post-spawn Brown Trout, and brood Rainbows and Cuttys that are more interested in eating big meals without expending a lot of energy.

This time of year demonstrates large concentrations of post-spawn Browns that actually hang out together and rejuvenate from the long months of spawning.  Eventually they will return downstream to their territorial hideouts and return to predation. Until then, you will find them in the tail-outs of the upstream runs. Where there is one, I promise there’s another.  Your streamers must be in the strike zone, and if retrieved slow enough, we can instigate an eat or reaction strike. It will feel like a snag, get ready.

Weight of streamer, type of line, boat speed, stripping speed and style of strip all are keys to success. If you aren’t following the contour of the bottom and getting the streamer to the fish your success rate decreases. Streamers that have been getting eaten more casts than not, have been Hamrick’s All You Need #2 (articulated #4 as well,) Hamrick’s Reefer Creeper #2, and Hamrick’s Sugar Bee #1, #2, & #4 (articulated as well.) Color selection is as important as anything. Our go-to’s are: Golden Olive and Cream/Ginger/Tan. These Streamers are in production and will be available in fly shops near you soon! 

Dries:

As you make your way down the awesome stretch of water between the Grey Reef and Lusby, keep your eyes out for the subtle rises on those slick calm days. The Midge Hatch has been outstanding and I know I’m getting old and possibly loosing memory but the recent Midges are BIG! Anglers are mistaking them for Blue Wings. In fact, I recommend using a BWO dry #18 as your point dry when attempting to trick these brutes. There is no need to fish dries smaller than #18’s here right now. If the cast and drift are right, they are not particular between #18’s and #20’s.

My goal is to help EVERYONE have the best experience on the water possible. If you ever have questions please feel free to give us a call.  The other outfitters are not running many if any trips now.  It’s hard to know the details of the river without being on it daily. We will gladly help you and answer any of your questions. Pass our info onto your friends as well and we’ll do the same for them. The pleasure is ours.h

I hope you find this fishing report helpful and useful. Please feel free to call anytime for the most up to date fishing reports. I don’t keep secrets and what I’ve been able to learn I enjoy passing on. Have a wonderful rest of your winter and if cabin fever is setting in, give us a call.  We’ll help you experience some of the best fishing of the year. Be well and thank you for taking the time to read.

Before traveling, be sure to check the road condition map on the Wyoming Department of Transportation’s website: https://map.wyoroad.info/ and don’t forget your Wyoming Fishing Licenses.

Fish Hard, Fish Often, and as always, God Bless.

Jason Hamrick

GREY REEF FISHING REPORT 8/7/18

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GREY REEF FISHING REPORT: 8/7/2018

Our River Pet “Diesel.” Mr. Hamrick with a 4 wt, 4x tippet and a Hopper!! Aug 6, 2018

 

Grey Reef-Casper: 10/10

The Cowboy Drifters Grey Reef Fishing Report says UNBEATABLE! Truly as good as a trout fishery can be. Flows dropped to 2200 cfs. and clear! With an epic hopper crop, fish are hunting big meals. 4 Browns over 25″ have been hooked on big foam hoppers in the past week one of which made it to the net and taped just over 28″.  Diesel even made a trip up from the deep to snatch a Hopper!

Dries:

Tricos are cranking up which has the fish looking up. PMD’s, Yellow Sallies, and Caddis are all getting eaten on the surface. Like the Mile concentrate your casts in the rocky riffles (2-3 ft) on banks or edges that drop off into deeper runs, especially in the heat of the day. Again, you do not need to see risers or bugs on the surface to be successful. The fish are there waiting for food sources to come to them.

Under an indicator:

Deeper the better! Tricos, PMD’s, RS2’s, Sallies, and Worms. If you aren’t catching fish nymphing, add length, add weight, and fish the deepest water you can find.  Keep an eye on the growing moss though. However, when you can catch huge fish on hoppers why throw anything else ?

The fishing right now happens once a decade if not longer so please treat yourself to a trip of a lifetime, give us a call, and we’ll do the rest. It’s as easy as showing up.

CD friend and Guide, Mark Lenhardt with 28″ Brownie on a Hopper – July 30, 2018

Grey Reef Fishing Report 2/2/2018

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GREY REEF FISHING REPORT 2/2/2018

CONDITIONS:

Fishing is 10/10: Prespawn Rainbows, hungry postspawn Browns

Flow: 500 CFS and Clear

WHAT TO USE:

The Grey Reef is a tailwater that is loaded with normal tailwater aquatic life. Scuds, annelids, midges, leeches, crawdads, and baitfish (sculpins.) This time of year, large numbers of pre-spawn Rainbows and Cutbows are staging in long, deep runs, gorging themselves in preparation for their annual spawn. Meanwhile the Big Browns are in post-spawn mode, also eating everything in sight. They are replenishing reserves spent during their spawn, stacking in large numbers, in the tailouts of the long deep runs.  Salmonids in tailwaters with large amounts of food sources expend as little amount of energy as possible to feed. Low flows, slow water, lazy fish concentrated in seams of slow deep runs, or tailouts is the basis for our topic this week. Egg patterns are still number one on the menu and literally all you need to catch fish. Nymph deep on the bottom of runs and drop off’s of shelves.

Kathryn and Cameron with a double on Egg Patterns.  Grey Reef 1/28/18.

FOR THE PURISTS:

Midges, scuds, rockworms, baetis nymphs, and leeches are also producing fish. Fish are looking up on wind free days sipping midges, so look for noses in flat, slow, skinny water, and you can have stellar dry fly action right now. Streamer action is as good as it ever gets! The absolute best way to catch really big fish right now. Typical Winter Tans, Whites, Olive, and Browns are your best color options. Low and slow on the retrieve is key!

Guide, Jack and sidekick Boots with a Bow on a midge dry fly.  Fremont Canyon 2/2/18.

Jack with a Brown on a custom brown/tan streamer.  Miracle Mile 1/30/18.

TIP OF THE WEEK:

The “tip of the week” will help you increase hook ups and decrease misses.

Remember how I mentioned low flows, lots of food, lazy fish, and fish not wanting to expend unnecessary energy to feed?  Whether eating a midge, egg, or streamer in the winter, let’s examine their takes (eats.) There have been great studies done on nymph fishing with indicators and how the indicator reacts. Those of you who know me have heard this for the past 15 years but when we (anglers) make a cast, get a great drift, and execute a good hook set, we still miss 80-82% of the time, and that’s when we do it correct. Also, one-third of the time, a fish will eat your fly, close their mouth, open and spit it, and your indicator will never move. That’s A LOT of misses! Add winter water temps and slower fish metabolism with slow current and lazy fish, and the number of misses will increase even more.

THE INDICATOR:

Thingamabobbers work great for high, fast water and when using big nymphs on low wind days.  They are so buoyant they actually set the hook for you when the take is aggressive.  As they ride super high and get blown around, this style indicator will affect your drift. Because the winter flows are lower and slower, the fish are not aggressive, and we generally experience more wind variation, Thingamabobbers are not as ideal for our water in the winter.

I prefer a cork indicator in winter months. You want to use an indicator that doesn’t sink when using an AB weight, but rides low or even just under the surface in faster turbulent water. Little foam or cork indicators from WAPSI are ideal for casting into wind and VERY subtle winter takes.

THE HOOK SET:

The other “KEY” is a smooth, gentle, downstream, all-in-one-motion, hook set. If the indicator moves ever so slightly, set the hook. Sets are free!  More times than not, you will be rewarded for a nice smooth hook set than, “oh man, I should have set, that was definitely a fish.” If you use the exact same motion as a recast, the physics are better than a “jerk” or “pop.”  This gets your leader tight SOON, rather than hard. Every single one of us has set way too hard before, me probably more than most! The set is a reaction, and most reactions are fueled by excitement, adrenaline, and force. Remember, all that does is rip your flies away from their mouths sooner. The resistance of the fish during a setting motion should stop your rod motion. Slide hooks tight as opposed to jerking the hook into their mouth. Stop and think of the physics.  While you’re doing this, reach into your fly box, eyes closed, and you will find out quickly that little fly hooks are sharp!  It doesn’t take much force to stick one into your finger.

The majority of winter takes will be very subtle, so if the indicator moves, slide hooks tight.  If hooks don’t come tight, follow through into your back cast and recast to get your flies back to the fish asap. The more time your flies are in the food lane drifting naturally the more opportunities you’ll have to hook up. Every run here has a River Monster!  It might as well be you that catches him/her.

Clients causing double trouble on the Reef 1/31/18.

WINTER DEALS:

If you want to see the best fly fishing possible (and eat some of the best hot chili, soups, and stews) give us a shout soon. With awesome weather lately and limited space we are booking up fast!!! Mention you read this fishing report and receive a $25 discount on a full day float trip in February.  That’s $325 for 2 anglers, full day float on the Grey Reef with hot lunch.  Our clients have been averaging around 70 fish per boat per day and this “Tip of the Week” is the main reason why.  You can’t beat that deal and our guides want to be out there as much as you do and ensure you have the best fishing trip possible.

Fish Hard, Fish Often

Jason

 

 

Grey Reef Fishing Report 1/3/18

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Winter Grey Reef Fishing Report for the North Platte River Casper, WY – 1/3/18

Conditions:

Water is clear and mostly clean. Hard freezing has broke free more of the summers stalky vegetation but it does NOT effect your fishing. Reef to Lusby is ice free in the afternoons with only a couple sections that have seen some ice up over night. By midday entire stretch is open.

*** Make sure you call before traveling here to float the river on your own. If the wind doesn’t blow after a couple very cold, very calm nights, those stretches sometimes stay locked up. There literally has not been a single other guide service or boat on the river but us so don’t trust every fishing report out there that you read. Putting a driftboat/raft/pontoon on the river when iced over can be extremely dangerous if you aren’t floating with someone who has recent experience on this river.***

Fishing is 10/10:

The fishing is as good as it can possibly get.
What to use: Nymph on the bottom of deep runs/shelfs. Egg patterns are number one on the menu. Literally all you need to catch fish cast after cast.

For the Purists:

midges, scuds, rockworms, and leeches are also producing fish. Fish are still looking up on wind free days sipping midges, so on Lee sides, mornings, evenings, look for noses in flat, slow, skinny water, and you can have stellar dry fly action right now. Streamer action is also incredible! Typical Winter Tans, Whites, olive, and browns are your best color options. Low and slow!

Tip Of The Day:

The key to winter streamer fishing is a very slow and deep retrieve. If it’s not slowly moving near the bottom with the current you may not get a single bump. It doesn’t mean you are using the wrong fly or the fish aren’t eating streamers, it means you aren’t presenting your fly in the right area at the right speed. Follow the contour of the bottom with your streamer and strip set on any resistance ?? It works! Be patient and spend the time to find out how to get to the right depth and the retrieve technique that is triggering strikes. Most takes are extremely subtle!

Grey Reef Fishing Report Sept 6, 2017

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GREY REEF FISHING REPORT 9/6/17

While the Hopper fishing has been solid, nymphing has been a little tough this month due to the grass and floating moss.  But things are about to change.

CURRENT FLOWS:

2000 CFS 9/4/17

1750 CFS 9/5/17

1500 CFS 9/6/17

The Bureau of Reclamation has notified us that water levels on the Grey Reef will be dropping off the first week of September and reduced again to the normal winter flow of 500 cfs during the 2nd week of September.  The daily trend has been a 250 cfs drop each night.

Shorter days and cooler nights have ended the life cycle of the moss in the river. It has started dying, breaking free, and drifting down the current. When the flows drop, the river returns to its main channel and the huge amounts of river salad filter the water and clear it up increasingly as you get downstream. It will only take a few days for the moss to settle, water to turn gin clear, and 95% of the fish in the river to start keying on adult bugs on the surface for the majority of their diet.  Last year was amazing, but I foresee even better fall fishing for 2017 with outstanding Caddis, BWO, and PMD hatches.  During autumn, the streamer fishing will also really pick up.

NORTH PLATTE RIVER MENU

DRIES:

PMD, BWO, Caddis, Trico, Hopper (Foam: Tan, Yellow, Pink)

NYMPHS:

BWO – Barr’s Emergers, RS2, Juju Baetis, Olive Foam Back, Epoxy Back Baetis

PMD – Barr’s, Epoxy Back PMD, Pheasant Tail

TRICO – Purple back

MIDGES – Disco Midge, Miracle Midge

STREAMERS:

Brown, Brown/Yellow, Tan, Olive, Black

 

Read Jason’s Full Fall Newsletter Here

Call Bethany or Jason at 307-331-2031 for Guide/Riverfront Cabin Availability

Fly Fishing Trip Pricing

Grey Reef Lodging Pricing

 

 

 

Grey Reef Fishing Report 3/20/17

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Grey Reef Fishing Report | North Platte River |
Post Spring Flush | March 20, 2017

Grey Reef Fishing Report | North Platte River Wyoming | March 20, 2017

The annual Spring Flush is over and the fishing is still fantastic. LIKE our Facebook page to see DAILY reports, photos, and videos.  If you don’t have Facebook, you can still view our posts on www.wyocowboydrifters.com Main Page Facebook Feed.

FLOW:

1,000 CFS.  Stable, post spring flush.

ON THE MENU: 

Eggs | Rockworms (Red, Purple, Pink) |San Juan Worms (Red)| Leeches | Crane Fly Larvae | Midges | Baetis Nymphs & Emergers

STREAMERS: 

Olive | Tan | Brown

FISH COUNT:

Up to 7, 000 fish per mile during the spawn.

WATER CLARITY:

Clear

WELCOME SPRING BUGS!

The Baetis are coming and our annual bug hatches will be in full swing. Some Fish will then become suspended eating emergers along with the big boys on the bottom sucking up eggs, targeting fry, crawfish, leeches, and other large food sources.

Fish have moved up into the gravel on their spawning beds (Redds). Please respect the spawning fish on their beds and observe the signs posted along the river describing the dangers to the fish and their eggs from wading and fishing those specific areas. We encourage sportsmanlike conduct to help preserve our incredible natural resources. Education and awareness of this topic pays off and provides continued fish production and a healthy and strong river system for generations to come.

Boats on a river have the right of way and continue to move down river so be aware when wading to decrease potential wrecks.  As always, have fun and be safe!

CLICK FOR GREY REEF CFS FLOW CHART

Grey Reef Fishing Report 02/15/17

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  • Grey Reef Fishing Report
  • Grey Reef Fishing Report
  • Grey Reef Fishing Report

Grey Reef Fishing Report Summary

  • Fishing Report Date: 2/15/2017
  • Stream Flow: 503 CFS below Grey Reef Dam
  • Water Clarity: Clear to Ledge Creek, Slightly off color from Ledge Creek to Lusby
  • Fish Count: 8,000 plus fish per mile below Grey Reef for spawning season
  • Bugs: Midges, analids, scuds, baetis nymphs, leeches
  • Overall Rating : 10/10 with opportunities to nymph and throw streamers
  • Travel Conditions & Advisories: None at this time
  • Fishing Licenses: State ID or Drivers License to purchase a WY Fishing License. All water crafts required to purchase aquatic invasive species permit online through Wyoming Game & Fish or a licensed selling agent.

Grey Reef Fishing Report:  

Grey Reef to Casper: Fish Long Deep Runs, 8-9′ leader, BB/AB weight.

Nymphing: Scuds, Midges, Rock Worms, Egg Patterns, Baetis, Leeches

Streamers: Olive, Grey, Brown, Tan

Cowboy Drifters is the only outfitter guiding daily on the Grey Reef right now.  And we are still routinely getting off the river in the dark! We are boating tons of fish and some really big fish at that.  The annual Rainbow migration is on.  Actually I have seen several fish on beds already.  Rainbows and Cuttbows are Salmonids.  Every year they travel up to 80 miles up river to the Grey Reef section to spawn.  This is what increases the fish numbers so high.  The prespawn fish that are gorging themselves in preparation of the spawn.  This high number of BIG brude fish are stacked up in 500 cfs runs, not spread out in 3,000 cfs.  This is by far and has been for the past 20 years to catch the trophy of a lifetime and actually hook multiple giants per day.

365: Dedication Pays Off

Cowboy Drifter Guides have been on the river everyday and while the other outfitters are gearing up to start their season in April when the fish are in full spawn.  By then we will have had 3 solid months of the river to ourselves. The best guides on the North Platte River and Grey Reef and Definitely the hardest working who NEVER work off a time clock will put you on the best float trip on the Grey Reef and other fishable sections of the North Platte River.  I guarantee it!  Local guides that spend everyday on the river in snow, wind, rain, or shine are always prepared to give you the best of what this trophy trout fishery destination has to offer.

 

If you are in search of a Giant Brown Trout River Monster, February and March is the season.  The Browns have finished their spawn and are recovering int the slow tailouts of the long deep runs. Expending as little energy as possible they are replenishing their energy by eating every food source that drifts by their face without having to compete for it.  It is the only time you will see large concentrations of hue Brown Trout together in schools.  Once the river comes up for the flush the Browns will be pushed back downstream and again start competing for their territory.  SO….. Obviously this is why we hook more Big Brown Trout than any other time of year.

***Unwritten Local Resident, Guide, and Angler Law***

PLEASE, DO NOT EVER FISH FOR ANY TROUT ON THEIR SPAWNING BEDS (also known as Redds.)

Lastly, the Rainbows are staging and beginning to spawn so please watch out for their beds (Redds.)  Clear gravel spots tan in color are Redds, this is where the Rainbows lay their eggs.  It is imperative to not wade across these areas!!!!  We do not stock the Grey Reef and rely on natural reproduction for our river systems health.  Their are plenty of great fish in the runs below the spawning beds.  Thank you for very much for your conservation efforts!!!!

 

 

 

Grey Reef Float Access Map

Fly fishing on the Grey Reef section of the North Platte is often done from a boat for a variety of reasons. One reason is that a large portion of Grey Reef Flows through Private Land.   Wyoming stream laws are that anglers may float through private land so long as they do not touch bottom or drop anchor.  The best way to know is to keep an eye on red signs and blue Signs. Everything downstream of a red sign signifies private water until you come to a blue sign. Keep in mind this will only apply to the side of the river you see the sign on.  Download this Grey Reef float access map for details on floatable stretches,  land boundaries and boat ramp locations on Grey Reef.
Grey Reef Water Flow

Alcova, WY Weather Report

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Grey Reef Fly Fishing Guides

Cowboy Drifters guides & staff hold ourselves & each other to the highest standard of professionalism, and innovation in fly fishing. We are often copied/followed but never out done. No other guide service on Grey Reef offers the wide variety of fly fishing trips that we do. No matter your fishing preferences or abilities, we have a trip for everybody and plenty of new trips to try. To Book a guided trip on Grey Reef, call us at 307-331-2031!