Regional Overview
Fall officially arrives next week with the Autumnal Equinox. This week brings cooler temperatures with occasional showers. For now, that moisture will be in the form of rain, but it’s a hint of the changing season, where it will turn white soon. Leaves are changing, and with the low precipitation this season, it could peak early. Get out now to toss a line and enjoy some leaf peeping.
Ranking Categories
H (One star): To ensure fish dinner, go to the local grocery store.
HHHHH (Five stars): Toss a line and get a fish. The fish aren’t picky.
Granite, Crystal and North Crow reservoirs
HHH
The buzz: The fishing is steady, with good action throughout the day, although anglers report the best action in the mornings.
Suggested bait, lures and flies:
Nightcrawlers
Salmon eggs
Powerbait
Panther martins
Renegades
Woolly worms and buggers
Pistol Pete renegades
Pole Mountain
HHH½
The buzz: The fishing is good to very good, with flycasters using an assortment of small, wet fly patterns. Small worms work well for bait casters. The aspen leaves are changing, making for some lovely hiking.
Suggested bait, lures and flies:
Worms
Olive hare’s ears
Orange scuds
Bead head prince nymphs
B&Bs
Royal wulff
Hornberg
Copper Johns
Laramie Plains lakes
HHH
The buzz: The fishing has picked up, although it remains sluggish at most of the lakes across the Laramie Basin. Water levels are low, as has been the case all season. That means floating vegetation is more abundant, making aim important when casting.
Suggested bait, lures and flies:
Nightcrawlers
Olive hare’s ears
Bead head calibaetis nymphs
Hot head leeches
Chironomids
Parachute Adams
Bead head prince nymphs
Laramie River
HH
The buzz: The river is very low, but running clear. It’s finally cooled down, and anglers are having some luck casting into the deeper pools.
Suggested bait, lures and flies:
Bead head pheasant tails
Bead head prince nymphs
Elk hair caddis
Brown and black buggers
Parachute Adams
Adams irresistible
Black and white kiwi muddlers
Crawdads
Snowy Range
HHH½
The buzz: The fishing is good to very good across the Snowy Range. Leaves are changing, making for some excellent leaf peeping. It should be quite colorful this weekend.
Suggested bait, lures and flies:
Nightcrawlers
Power bait
Hot head leeches
Parachute Adams
Mr. QTs
Zug bugs
Hare’s ears
Olive and black buggers
Orange scuds
North Platte River and Encampment River – Saratoga Valley
HH
The buzz: The river level remains quite low, but temperatures have eased. There could be decent angling by aiming for the deeper pools along the river edges.
Suggested bait, lures and flies:
San Juan worms
Yellow sally nymphs
Pale morning duns
Parachute Adams
Foam beetles
North Platte River – Grey Reef
HHH
The buzz: The fishing is good to very good. Water levels are low, allowing for more accessible wade fishing. Watch for floating vegetation that can make casting a challenge.
Suggested bait, lures and flies:
Trico spinner
Parachute Adams
Hare’s ears
Grasshoppers
Rock worms
Amber scuds
Autumn splendors
North Platte River – Miracle Mile
HHH
The buzz: The fishing is good, with water flow steady around 540 cubic feet per second. It can fluctuate slightly based on downstream power needs.
Suggested bait, lures and flies:
Red rock worms
Crystal flash midges
Split foam back
Squirrel leeches
San Juan worms
Hot head leeches
Wheatland Reservoir No. 3
HH
The buzz: Water levels remain low, but anglers are getting out. Those on boats have the best luck going for walleye.
Suggested bait, lures and flies:
Nightcrawlers
Marshmallows
Little cleos
Bead head nymphs
Vanilla buggers
Orange blossom specials
Glendo
HH½
The buzz: The walleye fishing is fair to good. The reservoir remains low, as is typical this time of year. It’s a big reservoir, though, with plenty of water surface for excellent fall fishing. The boat ramps at the Marina, Reno Cove and Whiskey Gulch are open.
Suggested bait, lures and flies:
Nightcrawlers on worm harnesses
Crank baits
Spoons
Blood baits (for catfish in the liver and beef flavors)
Vertical jigging
Grayrocks Reservoir
HH½
The buzz: The fishing is good and picking up for walleye.
Suggested bait, lures and flies:
Worm harnesses with leeches
Nightcrawlers on worm harnesses (gold, silver, burnt orange blades)
Hawk Springs
HH½
The buzz: The catfish action is fair, and the walleye action improved, but expect low water levels.
Suggested bait, lures and flies:
Worm harnesses with leeches
Nightcrawlers with worm harnesses (gold, silver, burnt orange blades)
Blood baits (for catfish in the liver and beef flavors)
Reservoir levels
Alcova: 98.1% full
Boysen: 66.1% full
Glendo: 24.6% full
Grey Reef: 88.2% full
Guernsey: 31.8% full
Keyhole: 44.2% full
Pathfinder: 16.7% full
Seminoe: 24.8% full
River flows
North Platte River near Colorado state line: 33 cubic feet per second
North Platte River above Seminoe Reservoir: 48 cfs
North Platte River near Miracle Mile: 540 cfs
North Platte River at Grey Reef: 500 cfs
Encampment River near town of Encampment: 20 cfs
Laramie River at Laramie: 7 cfs
Boat ramp openings
Glendo Reservoir: The marina, Whiskey Gulch and Reno Cove low ramps are open.
Guernsey Reservoir: All ramps are open except at Long Canyon.
Boysen Reservoir: The Brannon ramp is open; all others are closed.
Seminoe Reservoir: Water levels are too low to safely launch boats at all ramps.
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