Fishing Report and Fall Forecast
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.
Miracle Mile 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 water farther 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