FLY FISHING
THE HEADWATERS AND TAIL WATERS OF THE NORTH PLATTE RIVER
The North Platte
River headwaters form and gather in the North Park area of
Northern Colorado. Flowing northerly, the North Platte River
quickly enters Southern Wyoming where other important feeder
rivers and streams feed the North Platte. The Douglas,
Encampment rivers and French Creek all feed the North Platte
River with snow pack run off.
 
From the
Southern Border of
Wyoming to Seminoe Reservoir, the North Platte River is a
freestone river and experiences heavy snow pack runoff from
about mid May through first part of June. It probably fishes
its best just before and after runoff and then again in the
fall.
Still flowing
northerly, from Seminoe Reservoir to Alcova Reservoir, there
are two Blue Ribbon tail waters. The Miracle Mile and Gray
Reef sections have both recognized as trophy tail waters
that produce large rainbows, browns and cutthroats. Fremont
Canyon below Pathfinder Reservoir is
a new tail water that has been
reestablished through negotiations with a landowner, Bureau
of Reclamation and Wyoming Game and Fish. It will probably
reach blue ribbon status at some point in the near future.
The Gray Reef
section has recently been most written about, and with good
reason. It is probably the best Rainbow Trout tail water in
the lower 48. It has limited public access and is best
fished from a boat. It fishes best from March through July
then again in the fall months from September through
November. Gray Reef is a typical tail water is fished most
using
nymphs and streamers. Dry fly fishing is limited to
sporadic activity in the spring to some good dry fly fishing
in the fall on Trico's and Blue Wing Olives. Nymphing is
usually done with two flies with the top fly being an
attractor fly such as a scud or san juan worm trailed by
either a midge or baeits pattern.
Once reaching
the Gray Reef section, the North Platte River turns eastward
and flows toward Nebraska. There is
still one more tail water of importance to fisherman
that is not discussed much in literature and that is the
section below Glendo Reservoir. The fluctuation in
flows, and difficulty of shuttle
service makes fishing this section difficult, but those that
know when to go and study this section do very well and
usually catch very large fish. Downstream from this tail
water the water temperatures become to warm and are not
suitable for trout.
The North Platte
River is a diverse and prolific river that produces not only
large quantities of trout, but also large trout. The largest
trout caught weighed and measured, came from the Gray Reef
section. A brown that weighed a whopping 22 lbs. Rainbows
are commonly caught in the five pound to double digit range,
but most fish average 16 to 20 inches. If you have not yet
had a chance to experience the Platte River, it should
be placed on your to do list while it is still not spoiled.
In recent years people that visit and fish the Platte
River rank it as the number one tail water in the lower 48
states.
You can find
more information like hatch charts, fishing reports and maps
on the North Platte River at the Platte River Fly Shop
website
www.wyomingflyfishing.com.
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