North Platte Trip Planning

**Burrrr** · 06-20-2008, 10:56 AM

I am in need of some recommendations for a fishing trip to the North Platte.

Where is some decent primitive camping near Grey Reef area?
Where is the best wading access?
Any guide recommendations for full day floats?
Any good maps that show River and camping access?

I'm entertaining a business partner and wanted to try something new. I have never fished the North Fork so any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

**hartzejr** · 06-20-2008, 03:23 PM

I've fished the Upper North Platte just below Seminoe Reservoir just out of Casper. There was a nice camping area up there and good fishing. Most fish came on gray scuds for me. Lots of river boats too so I don't think finding a guide should be too hard. Thats my limited info.

**adipose** · 06-21-2008, 08:53 AM

These guys can help you out, stop by or give them a call before the trip.
http://www.crazyrainbow.net/section.cfm?wSectionID=97
http://www.wyomingflyfishing.com/

For a guided trip I recommend;
http://www.wyocowboydrifters.net/

**schwerty** · 06-21-2008, 11:18 AM

I've heard good things about the Cowboy Drifters.

Plenty of camping and as long as they aren't cranking the H2o out of the dam, you'll find more than enough wading opportunities all the down to Casper. The water might be getting a little warm close at and below town???

**72Twenty** · 06-21-2008, 09:10 PM

Good wading access at Government Bridge. I was just in Casper for work. River didn't look very high; kinda low actually. In Casper it was fairly murky, but I could see gravel beds down to about 2 feet deep before they disappeared into the typical green North Platte water.

My dad caught this brown at Government Bridge this past March on a woolly bugger fished deep...

MAP INFO:

http://gf.state.wy.us/wildlife/access/gf/public/

**72Twenty** · 06-22-2008, 08:48 AM

WHEN do you think you will be going?

**Burrrr** · 06-22-2008, 01:53 PM

Thanks for the input.

Seems like a lot of pictures of some very nice fish coming from the North Platte. I'm looking forward to this. We will be up there evening, Monday June 30th through July 3rd or 4th.

I went ahead and booked two full day float trips with Cowboy Drifters. Giddy up! I hear Grey Reef should be nice.

I plan on camping in the government bridge area, looks to be mostly BLM. I hear it can be windy, but everyone is saying there is decent wading access. Sounds like a good spot to me.

I'll let you know how it goes and share some pics.

**72Twenty** · 06-23-2008, 07:16 PM

Nice.

I'll see if I can get some more info for you before the end of the week. The North Platte from Gray Reef to Casper is one of my FAVORITE rivers.

There is a number of good fly shops in Casper, not to mention The Reef shop there in Alcova, Wy. Any of them will have good info. And by the way, the guys that work the fishing counter at Sportsman's Warehouse in Casper are all good guys. They will give you the info with no BS.

More pics from my recent trips to "the ditch"...

Me:

God I love that river.

**72Twenty** · 06-23-2008, 07:25 PM

Really good maps (look at the third one, PDF File):
http://www.northplattelodge.com/maps.htm

Latest report from NPL:

6/21 The Grey Reef section of the North Platte River is up to 1000cfs. Water temps still at 54 degrees. We have been waiting for some more water and hopefully we will double that within the week. Fishing has been excellent in the AM and the afternoon has probably been good, but floating debris has been an issue for the past 2 days. This shouldn't be an issue for long.

LOTS o' bugs on the slate right now!. Caddis, PMDs, rogue Baetis, Midges, Crane Flies, Leeches, Scuds, Yellow Sallies, Stu landed a 26"+ Brown nymphing a Reef Worm yesterday. Maybe the Tricos will show soon? Trout have been eager to rise when they get the chance. The PMDs are easy targets for them, espesially when they are flopping around on the surface struggling the free themselves from their shuck.

The North Platte Lodge and The Reef Fly Shop have been busy the past weeks. This is nice bonus of the surrounding fisheries being blown out due to a heavy snowpack running off. We hope this will open the eyes of many who believe the North Platte River doesn't fish well in the warm summer months. Some of our most productive days are in the middle of summer. And the ability to really target the big 'uns...carp included!

**72Twenty** · 06-23-2008, 07:28 PM

My last trip I went out with some of these guys (guides):

**Burrrr** · 06-24-2008, 08:57 AM

Sweet 72! The word on the street is Red Rock Worms/Red Annelids with some decent weight to run them deep. Thanks for the info and the footage

**Burrrr** · 07-15-2008, 03:54 PM

I wanted to thank you guys for the recommendations. We had a great time on the North Platte, specifically the Grey Reef area. Want to also thank Cowboy Drifters for putting on a great show! Here is a TR for your perusal.

The Horse and Carriage

The camp site

Dinner

The fishing was good!

Guide Dan holding Non Maggot Dave's catch of the day

My fat hands getting in the way of a beautiful rainbow.

All in all the river was running high and release activity was dumping a ton of moss in the lower stretch of the river. We still managed to pull in 20 a day for three days. All of the fish were similiar quality as the above pics.

Good times and great fish.