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Wyoming Fly Fishing & Lodging on Grey Reef

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Miracle Mile 2/15/2017

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  • Miracle Mile Fishing Report
  • Miracle Mile Fishing Report
  • Miracle Mile Fishing Report
  • Miracle Mile Fishing Report

Miracle Mile Fishing Report as of 2/15/17

It’s The Miracle Mile For A Reason

  • Fishing Report Date: 2 /15/2017
  • Stream Flow: 537 CFS
  • Water Clarity: Clear
  • Fish Count: 3,000 fish per mile
  • Hatches: Baetis and Midges
  • 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.

Miracle Mile Fishing Report:

Fish Shelves and Drop offs. 5-6′ leader and lengthen in deep runs. Use weight according to water depth.

Nymphing: Scuds, Egg Patterns, Crawfish, Leeches, Rockworms (Red & Purple,) Midges

Dry Flies: N/A

Streamers: Brown, Black, Olive, Tan/Vanilla

We are coming into the prime BIG Fish Season at the Miracle Mile!  This is the destination location of the North Platte River during the Winter and Spring months to target Monster Trout.  The trophy Rainbows in Pathfinder Reservoir have begun their annual run into the tailwater to spawn.  Please respect their beds and on the Miracle Mile there are signs designating regular spawning areas.  These are definitely trophy trout that are guaranteed to challenge even the best anglers!

Do Your Part

If you see a possible violation report it IMMEDIATELY (it takes a long time to get to the Mile and hence why there isn’t much enforcement there.  This is why the Outfitters/Guides and Anglers have been asked to take a huge part in conservation and protection of the Miracle Mile Area), also remember that we are fly fishing and it is not a competition. However it is a fun, relaxing, peaceful, spiritual, and a fun leisure activity everyone can enjoy and generations down the road also can enjoy for a lifetime if WE unselfishly take care of our resources.  Not only the Miracle Mile but the ENTIRE North Platte River system.  The Game and Fish isn’t stocking fish and they aren’t doing fall flushes to clean gravel for the Brown Trout, Cutthroat, and fall spawning Rainbow Trout so we all have to do our part in protecting this river as if it was our very own!

The Spawn

Trout (Salmonids) become aggressive during their spawn. They have one thing in mind and that is reproduction!!!!  Trout protect their beds, mates, and territory as any wild creature does. They also exert a lot of energy which they need to replenish by feeding. This gives us the opportunity to catch a lot of REALLY BIG FISH! We have started throwing streamers and nymphing the deep runs below shelves and shallow gravel bars that hold staging fish, the fish targeting eggs of spawning fish, brude fish that slide off the beds to feed and regroup, and GIANT fish past their reproduction age that are looking for easy meals.

 

If you want to catch the “Biggest” fish, fish the runs below spawning fish, not the spawners themselves!  I know there have been articles and books written about sight casting to big spawning fish but A- it’s not ethical and B- the biggest fish aren’t even up on the Redds. Target the places where a fish can easily feed without exerting much energy and can also escape to deep cover quickly with one flip of the tail.  There are many opportunities to catch many fish and big fish without pulling the already stressed out bruders off their spawning beds.

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

 

Miracle Mile Travel Conditions:

 Drive with caution out to the Miracle Mile. The weather conditions can change quickly making driving hazardous. The road is pretty rough but dry from all entry points as of this Miracle Mile fishing report.  Call  307.331.2031 for more up-to-date travel information to and from the Miracle Mile.
Miracle Mile Stream Flow:
Real time Miracle Mile Stream flow feed directly from the Bureau of Reclamation Hourly Hydromet Plot for the Miracle Mile below Kortez Dam.

Miracle Mile Recommended Flies:

San Juan worms in a variety of sizes and colors (#14-16 tan, rusty & shell pink above the bridge, #12-8 Pink, Red, & Purple), #8-12 Pine Squirrel Leeches (Natural, Rust, & Brown) #8-12 Black or Brown Hothead Leeches (Pine Squirrel or Mohair below the bridge), #10-16 UV Reef Sticker, #8-12 Scubs (orange, olive, tan, grey, pink.)  #16-18 Juju Baetis, JR’s BWO nymph, & Barr’s Emergers as well as any Midge pattern #16-18 if you have to go to smaller flies.

 

Documents Required: 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.

Weather Report

Find more about Weather in Alcova, WY

Miracle Mile Fly Fishing Guides

We love to guide trips on the Miracle Mile more than any other guide service in Wyoming.  Cowboy Drifters has ALWAYS been a 365 day a year fly fishing outfitter.  I have been fishing the Miracle Mile for decades and Cowboy Drifter Guides are locals (not out-of-staters like other outfitters here).  We all have grown up fishing the Mile.  While it’s a destination trip for others it’s just a hop, skip, and jump for us.  We take pride in that special fishery and our experience and knowledge is unbeatable. We prove every single year that the late fall and winter is the BEST time to fish the North Platte River (which includes the Miracle Mile.) So, while other Fly Shops and Outfitters are closing down for the year and guides leaving the state, Cowboy Drifters is guiding trips on the Miracle Mile, Fremont Canyon, and the Grey Reef.  When we aren’t guiding we are fishing, bettering ourselves, and learning something new to provide EVERY client the best opportunity at the trip of a lifetime. For more about a guided float, wade or 2 handed spey trip on the Miracle Mile, please give us a call at 307-331-2031.

Fremont Canyon Fishing Report 2/15/2017

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  • Freemont Canyon Fishing Report
  • Freemont Canyon Fishing Report

The Rainbow Spawn is On in Fremont Canyon

Fremont Canyon Fishing Report

  • Fishing Report Date: 2/15/2017
  • Stream Flow: 75 CFS
  • Water Clarity: Clear
  • Fish Count: 900-1000 fish per mile
  • Hatches: Baetis, Midges
  • Overall Rating : 9.5/10 with opportunities to nymph, throw streamers, & dries
  • Travel Conditions & Advisories: None at this time
  • Fishing Licenses: State ID or Drivers License to purchase a WY Fishing License.

Fremont Canyon Fishing Report:  

Fish deep pockets, 4-5′ leader, BB for weight. Smaller indicator and be stealthy with clear water!!!

Nymphing: Egg Patterns, Rock Worms, Crawfish, Leeches, Baetis Emergers, Midges

Dry Flies: BWO’s, Midges

Streamers: Olive, Brown, Tan/Vanilla

The return of the midge clouds is upon us. The big midge hatches are just beginning. The water has been SO clear and all the trout (Rainbows, Cuttbows, Cutthroats, and even Browns) have focused on the eggs of spawning Rainbows and also midges for their main course meals. Fremont Canyon has become fairly technical and with clear water being stealthy is key.  Lower tippet size will get you more takes however landing the beasts in that tailwater is tough.

So, what we need to discuss this time of year is the Rainbow Trout migration. The annual spawn has begun on all sections of the North Platte River. Big Bows have moved out of their winter holding areas and become vulnerable to anglers with big Bows and Browns right behind them taking advantage of easy and protein rich diets that spawning fish produce.

Trout (Salmonids) become aggressive during their spawn. They protect their beds and mates and territory as any wild creature does. They also exert a lot of energy and need to replenish energy by feeding. This gives us the opportunity to catch a lot of REALLY BIG FISH!  We are throwing streamers and nymphing the deep runs below shelves and shallow gravel bars that hold staging fish, the fish targeting eggs of spawning fish, and also big brude fish that slide off the beds to feed and regroup.

***WE DO NOT EVER FISH FOR ANY TROUT ON THEIR SPAWN BEDS (also known as redds.)***

Fremont Canyon CFS Flow Chart

Alcova, WY Weather Report
Find more about Weather in Alcova, WY

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, but never out done. No other guide service on the North Platte 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 or lodging on the North Platte, call us at 307-331-2031 today!

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

Find more about Weather in Alcova, WY

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!