Fishing Report – Floating the North Platte and Ready for the BIG Fish?

I fished the beaver ponds up at Vedauwoo maybe for the last time this week but caught two nice brook trout. I think I’ll leave them alone to spawn and make baby fish. The Big Laramie River is still out of its banks and slowly residing. Next week some fishing buddies and I will test the waters and float in our trusty canoes down the North Platte River from Treasure Island to Saratoga. It’s a beautiful stretch of the North Platte and usually yields some nice big fish.

Over the past 30 years we have been getting together from all over the country, we pull it together enough to plan a float trip in mid to late July, like a program going off in our heads, we must fish! Ok there is drinking involved and usually a really good eats and cigars too.

Over the years the fishing over and on private land has been an issue. I always respect private property but think Wyoming fishing rights are silly. You have to be Jesus to fish legally or have the ability to walk on water. Stopping for lunch and enjoying a stretch is trespassing and illegal. In case of emergency or self preservation the law can be broken. So if you are floating on the river be aware of these laws and hopefully have a good safe day on the water. See Regulations>

One way not  to worry about all these crazy laws is to get a fishing guide to take you fly-fishing. Of course this cost some money but they guides have usually have an agreement with the local land owners and you can stop for breaks and lunch. The other really great thing is the guides know where the fish are, they float the rivers pretty much every day and know where the fish hang out.

Laramie Area Fishing Report: Owen is open and fishign well!

1. Lake Hattie:  fishing fair and is now full.  The Game and Fish just recently stocked Lake Hattie.

2. Twin Buttes is fishing fair.  The Wyoming Game and Fish just recently stocked Twin Buttes.  The fishing should steadily get better throughout the summer.

3. Galett is still fishing well.  The Laramie Plains lakes are a great alternative to blownout rivers.

4. Meeboer:It's official.  We had 100% winter kill at Meeboer.  The Wyoming Game and Fish restocked Meeboer over a month ago with sub-catchables.

5. Lake Owen is open and is fishing well!

6.  The North Platte seems to have peaked and is slowly coming down.  The flows are still quite high, making a few bridges unpassable.

Fishing Quote: Bragging may not bring happiness, but no man having caught a large fish goes home through an alley.  ~Author Unknown