Grey Reef Fishing Report Provided By North Platte River Fly Shop

Grey Reef fishing reports and video report on the North Platte River is a free service provided by our Casper, Wyoming based fly shop fishing guides and customers. These Grey Reef fishing reports will be updated as often as needed and we will always change the report if any sudden changes should occur. However please understand that sudden storms can often change conditions overnight in and around Grey Reef before we can change the report. We welcome any fishing reports that you would like to provide on Grey Reef by giving the fly shop a call or email. 

grey reef fishing report miracle mile fishing report fremont canyon fishing report  

 Grey Reef Fishing Report


Grey Reef Hatch Chart

Grey Reef Fishing Report Hatch Chart 
 

CLICK ON THE FOLLOWING LINKS FOR RIVER FLOWS
 
 

- January 2022 Winter Fishing Report - 

Gray Reef: Fishing remains very solid below the damn. The ice jams are moving around a bit so check with us before you float to make sure there isn’t a big jam up before Lusby. We are all at the mercy of Wyoming’s weather so it’s always good to check the 10 day extended forecast as the weather can go from 30 degrees to negative 10 over-night. That being said the fishing is fantastic and the fish are happily gobbling midges. In addition, rock worms, scuds, and leaches have been the ticket. This is a great time of year to find the solitude that everybody looks for while fishing the North Platte. The lack of pressure that the reef sees this time of year brings a high number of eats and the chance of a true trophy trout. Wade fishing is great right now however it is much more comfortable and productive to fish out of a drift boat with the cold water.  During the Winter on the North Platte our trout are stoked, the only question is are you?

Fishing Report and Fall Forecast

Oct. 27th, 2021


It’s a common occurrence on float trips. Your guide slides the boat away from the ramp and you get caught up in the early-morning scenery, the conversation, and the reeling in of one big fish after another. Then the action eases for a minute or two and someone looks down at their watch and asks “It is seriously noon already?” The same feeling seems to have spanned this whole calendar year! Now the fall shoulder season is upon us, and things still aren’t slowing down! Our area has seen several moisture events over the past month, but we are pretty good at timing the pulses of dirty water that come through and picking the most optimal stretches for any given conditions. Regardless, if you ask anyone that likes landing big fish, they’ll tell you that off-color water is not a bad thing since it allows us to throw bigger worms, scuds, and streamer patterns! November’s long-term forecast looks typical, with slightly drier conditions and more of those high-pressure systems that create the blue-bird days we all associate with the fall season. We are extremely fortunate that our tailwater system allows for so many options. Whatever mother nature throws our way, there’s always somewhere to wet a line!

Grey Reef is cooking along as usual, with guides throwing mostly smaller bugs underneath an attractor of choice. The go-to rig for this stretch has been the IED worm, trailed by any size 18-20 midge or baetis nymph patterns. Popular small bugs are the Chocolate Thunder, grey or black Mayhem, or purple Darth Baetis. Keep it short and light, with a #4 weight. Dries are standard fare for this time of year, with small black Adams or Purple Haze patterns generating the most attention. For streamers, lighter colors and smaller silhouettes usually do better in the clearer water between the Reef and Lusby. The “trusty” Rusty Trombone and the small and heavy Goldie have seen lots of eats lately. Some guides are reporting success on orange eggs as well.  


Bridge to Town has seen less pressure lately due to dirty water, but the upside to that is it gives the fish a rest. Things are already starting to clear and our guides are starting to work farther down in the system. It’s fall, and the big boy browns are starting to come out to play. This stretch is where you’ll want to go if you like throwing big bugs for big fish. Worms and leeches are steady producers, but don’t forget the little bugs. Any RS2-style pattern can be trailed behind a larger offering and you’ll be surprised how many eats it will get, even in off-color water. 

MiracleMile fishing is starting to heat up for lake-run trophy browns. They haven’t hit their stride yet, but the closer we get to Thanksgiving, the more they’ll start thinking about the ladies. There’s nothing like the colors on a big male brown when he’s dressed for success, and our guides love taking clients up to the Mile to swing big flies for the chance at a lifetime fish. We have the program dialed in through mid-January, so give us a call if this sounds like your cup of tea.

Fremont Canyon is another place to start looking for big hungry fish in the fall. Egg patterns seem to be fairly effective in this stretch through the colder months, and various orange colors are usually the go-to. Also try going super light and stealthy with a small Cracked-back Baetis and two mayhems. There’s lots of fun waterfarther down in the canyon, but make sure to bring your studded wading boots. Those boulders can get slippery! 

The Platte River Fly Shop  All of our fly shop staff have spent time fishing during the winter season, so they know how important it is to have good gear that fits and works properly for Wyoming’s challenging cold-weather conditions. Take advantage of their technical knowledge regarding the top-line brands we carry by giving them a call or stopping by our beautifully remodeled shop! Our fall clothing lines are out on display, and we’ve got the accessories that make for great gifts! Check out our complete online selection at https://www.wyomingflyfishing.com/  

Come see us for our BLACK FLY-DAY SALE on November 26th from 12-8pm. Refreshments and appetizers will be provided along with some KILLER in store exclusive deals! Pop out to the Little Red School House for a good time! This is a wonderful chance for us to connect with the many friends we’ve made through the years. As we head into a time of Thanksgiving, we hope you know we are so very grateful for having had the chance to share some time on the river with you. We hope to see you there!!!


Warm
wishes and tight lines!


-All the staff at Wyoming Fly Fishing Guide Service



9/27/21 - What is not to love about this time of year! Look close at anyone coming off the river and you’ll be able to tell...there’s something about the mild weather, the trees changing colors, fish on the feed...it’s like this time of year just makes everyone breathe a big sigh of relief and you can see the infectious joy and that glint in their eyes after a day of relaxing and reeling in fish. The Fall season just has a way of recharging people’s batteries and reminding us all of why we love being in the great outdoors!

Grey Reef

Moss will continue to be an issue on the Reef section for a while, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth the float. Find an open lane and be ready to present either small flies on light tippet, or a heavier rig with your worm of choice. Short rigs are a must either way. If you’re planning on matching the hatch, try a slightly larger caddis attractor and trail it with any skinny profile baetis or trico imitation. A good selection this time of year is a Bird’s nest followed up with double Mayhem midges in olive or grey. If the fish are particularly choosy, try a Darth Baetis as your point fly. Don’t hesitate to look for heads, and be ready with a small hi-vis Adams on 5x, possibly trailed by a small foam-post RS2. The key is to find a pod that is feeding consistently and competitively. Lead the rise by a good couple of feet, throw a gentle mend, and hold on!

As always, we are stoked to take you out and show you the best of the mighty N.P., or you can stop by the shop to pick our brains and pick up some patterns that will get it done for the area you are heading to. We love showing off our new remodel and the huge selection of premium gear, flies, equipment, and keepsakes that can make your outing one to remember. Lodging options are available close by, and our Dry Fly Inn continues to impress guests with its location. They always mention the beautiful views off the back deck and over the river! 


We wish you all the best that this best of seasons has to offer. Hope to see you all soon! Tight Lines!


9/6/21 -Fall fishing is here! Ask any of our guides and they’ll tell you that the fall season is one of the best times to get out on the river. Our nights are starting to cool off, and flows have been lowered to 650 cfs!  We seriously couldn’t ask for better conditions!

As the days get shorter, trout react to less light by starting to feed more in preparation for winter. Browns in particular are sensitive to this change in light and start ramping up their appetites and territorial behavior in preparation for the fall spawn. Every section of our river is in play right now, the cottonwoods will be putting on their fall colors soon, and the weather couldn’t be better! And best of all, this time of year it’s possible to float an el primo stretch of river and see very few or no boats the entire day! Give the gals at the shop a call and book your trip soon!

Grey Reef is still a top producer, as always, but moss is definitely a factor. Nymphing necessitates making a choice between shallow mini-rigs or getting down fast to avoid the floating moss. Look for shelves and any runs with clean gravel bottoms, or target the lanes between the moss. Tricos are still a factor early in the morning, and caddis are bouncing around through mid-day. Try small black RS2 patterns, as well as Bird’s Nests in various sizes and shades of brown and yellow. Worms and scuds will also work any time there is moss in the system.

Whether you want to book a trip, pick up some flies, check out the new remodel, or try on some of our new clothing brands, our staff would love to show you around and talk fishing! We look forward to seeing you soon!


Tight lines!

All the staff at Wyoming Fly Fishing Guide Service

8/15/21

Grey Reef’s higher flows have the trout chowing on a diverse menu, so most of our guides have been triple bugging it with a small stonefly, a San Juan worm, and a small bug of choice...mostly caddis or trico patterns. Worms are the go-to and will net trout on any stretch of the NP right now, from the Mile to below town. Wine, purple, and red are all producing. No need to go long. Short and sweet will enable you to work the shallow shelves and pockets that hold the big boys this time of year. 

Streamer and dry fly action are steady from the Mile to town. We haven’t seen the topwater bite go gangbusters quite yet but action is steady and as we slide into late summer and early fall and flows start to drop, expect pods of fish to begin feeding predictably on the inside edges. For streamers, anything with gold flash and olive, or flashy and white, seems to turn the trick. The best hopper action tends to be with the foam Morrish and any bead-head caddis dropper of choice. 

This has shaped up to be one of the busiest summers ever, and the fall season is filling up fast, so give us a call soon! We have lots of lodging possibilities, including our exclusive Dry Fly, right on the river and across the road from the shop! We also have lots of new brands in house, including Howler Bros. and Free Fly 

Apparel. Give the shop a call and book your next North Platte adventure! We love hearing from you and can’t wait to fish again!

7/17/21

Fishing on all our permitted waters is in play!  We had a rain event last week on the Reef, but waters are clearing, and fishing has been great!  The fish are getting super buggy and sliding up into the fast water, which is way more fun to fish! The Mile is kicking out some great fish and the stones have shown!  We are super busy and putting great trips out the door every day!


The Mile bugs have been Stoneflies, Chubby’s, purple Back Scuds, PMD’s, and Mayhem Midges in purple and gray.


Fremont is fishing great but can be a little busy.  Bugs have been Crack Back PMD’s, and Mayhem Midges in black and purple.


The Reef, The Reef, The Reef is on Fire!  The boys have been fishing all the the way into town and we have been seeing some big bows as well as some big browns.  With the summer months upon us, there is a lot more hatches in the river.  Yellow Sally’s, PMD’s, Caddis, Stoneflies, and Tricos.  Don’t forget ‘yeh’ old trusty squirmy worm in red or purple. Crack the code and go catch some fish!  Come by the shop and we can definitely get you set up with a map, and some bugs that will bend the rod!

6/30/21
Currently the flows at Gray Reef are 3000 CFS.  The water is nice and cold and the fish are on the FEED!!!  Our guides are reporting clear water to Bessemer Bend Access.  They are mainly fishing squirmy wormies, split case PMD's, Mayhem midges in a variety of colors, and some bubble back baetis patterns.  If you're wading be careful with the high flows.  Get out and enjoy this beautiful river and country.

4/17/21
The fishing in central Wyoming is "en fuego" right now!  The number of fish and also the size has been very impressive over the past couple weeks!
The Reef, The Reef, The Reef is on FIRE!!!  The fishing on the reef is great.  It is low, clear, and the fish are stoked!  The three wise men are the way to go around government bridge.  Leeches, Worms, and Eggs.  However, if you are fishing the upper sections I would recommend fishing smaller bugs.  Midges and BWO's are the ticket!

2-5-21
Happy New Year!  We are back on the river already and it feels so good.  Trout spey has been HOT!!!  White streamer in the tail outs of the runs have been kicking out some of our biggest fish of the season.  If you choose to nymph try a red rock worm with a midge dropped off of it.  We'd recommend size 18 zebra or barbed wire midges as they have been taking fish on a daily basis.  We are currently running $100 off of our full day guided trips through March 31st.  Call us and let's talk fishing. We are here to help or to row you down the river.

5-6-20 
We finally have good news. The directive from our Governor requiring non-residents to self-quarantine for 14 days is due to expire this Friday, May 8th. We have also spoken to our friends at Wyoming Game and Fish and immediately following the expiration, the Wyoming Game and Fish will begin issuing non-resident daily licenses.
At Wyoming Fly Fishing with all this craziness we have decided to err on the side of caution. We truly care about all of you, our guides, and this community which is why we have respected our Governors directives and will continue to do so. While it hasn’t been easy closing our doors, it certainly was the right thing to do. We also recognize it has been hard on all of our friends and clients as they’ve been cooped up in their homes, dreaming of big fish. We hope you understand how important it is for us as a reputable business in a small community to respect our neighbors and stay responsible.
We now feel that we can slowly, safely and responsibly open our doors. Please know we will be taking extra precautionary measures to keep all of our clients and guides safe as we ease back into our season. We appreciate everyone’s support and we can’t wait to get back on the water with you. Please give us a call as we would love to help you re-plan a trip down the river with your favorite fishing guide or answer any questions you may have. See you soon! Guide Service (307) 277-6282


4-1-20 Just a reminder there is no fishing during the month of April between the first set of cable crossings below Grey Reef to protect the rainbows that are spawning. These are located about a 1/4 mile below Grey Reef Dam.

3-17-20 CoronaVirus and the Platte River Fly Shop. We have reduced staff hours but we are still filling orders with normal business hours. From time to time we do drop ship orders directly from the manufacturer, but some of are suppliers are shutting down their warehouses. If your order will be delayed for any reason, we will contact you. You are not going to catch the disease by being outdoors, so get out there and do a little fly fishing to reduce the anxiety/stress factor. If any of this changes, we will make another post. 
3-11-20 Flushing Flows Schedule

2020 Flush Schedule.

The BOR Announces Temporary Fluctuation of North Platte River Flow Downstream of Gray Reef Dam
The Bureau of Reclamation, in response to a request from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, has scheduled a series of fluctuating flows in the North Platte River downstream of Gray Reef Dam. Fluctuating flows are scheduled to begin on March 28. The purpose of the fluctuations is to improve trout reproduction in the river. The Wyoming Game & Fish has requested flows for ten consecutive days.

On March 24-25, Gray Reef Reservoir will evacuate storage to facilitate inspection of the radial gates. Although river flows will remain at the current rate of 500 cubic feet per second (cfs) during this reservoir operation, some fine sediment will be introduced from Gray Reef Reservoir into the North Platte River. Following the gate inspection, Gray Reef Reservoir will be refilled to the normal operating level. Then flushing flows will be initiated to flush fine sediment from the spawning gravels in the river.

On March 28, flows in the river below Gray Reef Dam will fluctuate from 500 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 4000 cfs according to the following schedule:

HOURS GRAY REEF OUTFLOWS (cfs)

00:01 to 01:00 a.m. 500
01:00 to 03:00 a.m. 2000
03:00 to 07:00 a.m. 4000
07:00 to 08:00 a.m. 3000
08:00 to 09:00 a.m. 2000
09:00 to 10:00 a.m. 1000
10:00 to midnight 500

This schedule will be repeated daily through April 6. After completing the flushing flow on April 6, the flows below Gray Reef Dam will return to 500 cfs. The schedule may be modified depending on river ice conditions.

The flushing flows are expected to clean the spawning gravels of fine sediment which has accumulated over the winter. The fluctuations in the river flow will be achieved without loss of power generation and the water released from Alcova Reservoir will be restored downstream in Glendo Reservoir.

The public is urged to use caution during this period of rapid fluctuation of flows below Gray Reef Dam.

 

2-27-20 First North Platte River / Grey Reef guide video report for 2020


10-30-19 Well as we go into winter I think everyone knows the routine by now. Streamers, Midges, Scuds, Eggs and Leeches will be the predominent patterns throughout the winter. This will be our last update until spring unless something major happens.

8-20-2019 Grey Reef Video Fishing Report



8-12-19 Tricos in the mornings switching to Caddis, Hoppers, Pats Rubber Legs, leeches and streamers in the afternoons.

7-16-19 It's been a strange year on Grey Reef with flows held back so long then bumped in June. So for awhile our hatches were ahead of schedule now they've fallen behind schedule. But look for Pmd's, Caddis, and Yellow Sallies to be your main bugs of choice along with Pats Rubber Legs, leeches and streamers.

6/25/19 Flows are finally ramping up on Grey Reef.....looking at 2100 as of this morning. Should cool the water back down and really kick them into high gear.

6/5/19 The reef is still at 500cfs with all the flooding going on in Neb. we don't see the levels coming up anytime soon. In turn, the river is warming up faster than normal so we are seeing some earlier hatchs. Pmd's, Caddis and Yellow Sallies have already started.

4-29-2010 Grey Reef Video Fishing Report

Grey Reef / Miracle Mile / Fremont Canyon Fishing Report from mark boname on Vimeo.


4-10-19 The reef is fishing great. Midges, egg patterns, hothead leaches, pine squirrel leaches and annelids are the hot ones. The BWO's should start in the next couple weeks. Please stay off the Redds!!