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Where to Fish

200,000+ miles of trout water — organized by region, water type, and what we have learned fishing across the country.

By IdentaFly editorial team

Fly fishing editors & anglers

Published Jun 18, 2026 · Updated Jul 7, 2026

The First Look

Gray Reef is where the North Platte River brings life to an otherwise dry landscape. Surrounded by sagebrush, sandstone bluffs, and endless Wyoming sky, the river flows cold and clear through the American Prairie. The water is so transparent you can often see the rocks below and the trout feeding in the current. Cottonwood trees line the banks, and eagles, deer, snakes, American White Pelicans, and other wildlife gather along the water.

It's not dramatic scenery the way a canyon river is dramatic. It's quieter than that — the contrast between the arid land above and the cool, steady river below. The kind of place that makes you stop and appreciate what a healthy river actually looks like.

How I Found It

I'd been hearing about Gray Reef for years before I finally fished it. In the fall of 2021, a group of friends and I booked a week in northwest Wyoming — a camp outside Cody, several days planned around the rivers in and around Yellowstone. A Covid outbreak at the camp changed everything. The full story is worth telling another time, but we ultimately ended up spending time wade fishing Gray Reef on the drive home.

That first trip was a learning experience. A few of us caught fish. I was not among them.

I went back. I kept going back. Four years later I know this water well enough to share what took me the hard way to figure out.

The Water

The Gray Reef section of the North Platte runs from the dam downstream to the Wyoming Highway 220 bridge at Mile's Landing — about 13 miles of river with eight public access points, almost all drive-up with a short walk to the water. The float from the dam to Lusby Public Fishing Area is 8.4 miles; from Lusby to Mile's Landing is another 4.5. Both are manageable day floats with consistent fishing throughout.

Wade fishing from the dam down to Pete's Draw Campground is straightforward and productive. Watch the signs: red means private land, blue means public access. Know where you are before you wade somewhere you shouldn't.

2026 Regulation Changes — Read Before You Go

The regulations on this section changed significantly at the start of 2026 and are worth understanding before you make the drive:

  • Creel limit is 1 trout per day; all trout under 20 inches must be released immediately
  • Single-point barbless hooks only — artificial flies and lures
  • Pegged attractors are now prohibited
  • The section near the gauge cable crossing (approximately 700 yards below the dam) is closed April 1 through May 15
  • The section from Ledge Creek confluence downstream approximately 1.2 miles to S Gulch is also closed April 1 through May 15

If the peg-and-egg setup was part of your Gray Reef routine, it's time to build a new one. The fish are still there.

Trico on the Gray Reef
Trico on the Gray Reef

The Fish

Gray Reef is a Blue-Ribbon fishery with a well-earned reputation. The river holds healthy populations of rainbow, cutthroat, and brown trout. A realistic expectation on any given day is fish running 16 to 20 inches, with the occasional fish that leaves even experienced anglers telling stories.

My range: 60 fish to the net on my best day, 12 the very next day on the same water. That spread tells you something about Gray Reef — consistency isn't the word for it. Potential is.

Bud with a rainbow on the Gray Reef
Bud with a rainbow on the Gray Reef

The Seasons

Spring (April–June) is my favorite. Large spawning rainbows gather in the upper stretches and the numbers of trophy fish available during this window are difficult to match anywhere in Wyoming. Be aware: wind is a constant variable in spring. Fifteen to twenty-five mile-per-hour gusts are common, and some days significantly worse. A heavier rod — I lean toward a 6-weight even for dry flies — handles the wind better than anything else you can do about it.

Summer (July–September) brings the best dry fly fishing of the year. July is PMD season. August is hoppers and Tricos — some of the most exciting surface fishing on the river, with fish that commit to a dry fly in a way that's hard to forget. If you've never fished a Trico spinner fall with fish visibly keying on the surface, a Gray Reef August morning is a good place to start.

Fall (October–November) belongs to the brown trout. As temperatures drop, big browns become aggressive and territorial — less interested in precise presentations and more interested in eating something substantial. Streamers, leeches, and egg patterns are the tools. The weather is calmer than spring, the crowds are thinner, and the fish that come to the net in October tend to be the ones you talk about longest.

Winter (December–February) is quiet in the best sense. Midge and BWO hatches on sunny, calm days keep trout feeding through the coldest months. The crowds are minimal, the fishing is surprisingly productive for anyone willing to be on the water in the cold, and there's something about a December day on the North Platte that feels like having the river to yourself.

hatch on the Gray Reef
Hatch on the Gray Reef

My Fly Box

My box changes with the seasons, but these patterns are always in my Gray Reef kit:

Leeches, #10–16 — Pine Squirrel, Mini Leech, hot head in olive, brown, black, orange/brown, natural. Effective all year, essential in fall and winter.

Gold Bead Guide's Choice Hare's Ear, #14–18 — A reliable nymph that works across conditions and seasons.

Bud's Metallic Caddis, #12–16 — Olive/chartreuse. My own pattern — it works here.

Pat's Rubber Legs, #10–12 — Brown. Holds up in faster water.

Frenchie, #14–16 — Orange and pink collars. One of the more versatile Euro-style nymphs for this water.

Worm Patterns — Pig Sticker (#2–6), San Juan Worm (#10–12), Squirmy Worm (#10–12) in multiple colors. Don't skip these because they seem too simple.

Streamers — Gonga in rainbow and brown, Kreelex Minnow in gold and silver. For fall browns and high-water conditions.

Gear

I keep it simple, and the Wyoming wind shapes everything about my setup.

For nymphing and dries: a 5 or 6-weight rod — I lean toward the 6-weight specifically because of the wind. 9-foot 4-weight leader, 4–5X tippet. I'll sometimes go to 6X on the dry fly tippet when fish are being selective.

For streamers: a 6 or 7-weight, again leaning heavier for the wind. Sinking tip line with a short 4 to 6-foot leader tied directly to the first fly, then 12 to 16 inches to a trailer.

Local Knowledge

I won't pretend to be a Gray Reef expert — I'm an angler who has put in enough days to know what works for me, and I credit the local shops for most of what I've learned. Call them before you go. They know this water better than anyone and they're always willing to share.

Shops worth contacting:

  • Ugly Bug Fly Shop — Casper, WY
  • Platte River Fly Shop — Casper, WY
  • The Reef Fly Shop — Alcova, WY (closest to the water)
  • Cowboy Drifters — Casper, WY

One thing that took me time to figure out: in peak seasons, guides are on the water early and they know exactly where to be. There's no percentage in competing with them for water at dawn. Show up a little later — the fish are still feeding, the best runs are still productive, and you'll have a better day without the pressure of trying to beat a professional to a spot.

River etiquette matters on Gray Reef. Know where public water ends and private water begins. Give other anglers space. Walk wide around anyone who's already fishing. We're all there for the same reason.

If You're Going for the First Time

Check the regulations before you go — the 2026 changes affect tactics that were standard on this water for years. Check flows and conditions. Call one of the local shops the week before your trip. Show up with midge patterns, worm patterns, and leeches as your foundation, then adjust for the season.

The fish on Gray Reef are pressured but catchable. The single thing I'd emphasize above any fly selection: presentation. A mediocre fly delivered cleanly will outperform a perfect fly dragging every time. That's true everywhere, but the clear water and educated fish of Gray Reef make it impossible to ignore.

Quick Facts

  • Location: Approximately 30 miles SW of Casper, WY
  • Access: 8 public access points; most drive-up with short walk; boat ramps available
  • Species: Rainbow, brown, and cutthroat trout
  • Average fish:16–20 inches
  • Larger fish: 28+ inches
  • Best seasons: Spring (numbers), Fall (trophy browns)
  • 2026 regulation note: Pegged attractors prohibited; single-point barbless hooks required; spawning closures April 1–May 15
  • Key flies: Leeches, San Juan Worm, Squirmy Worm, GC Hare's Ear, Metallic Caddis, Pat's Rubber Legs, Frenchie, Gonga
  • Rod: 5–6 wt for nymph/dries; 6–7 wt for streamers
  • Tippet: 4X–6X depending on presentation
  • **Nearest town: **Alcova, WY (lodging, campsites, general store)
  • Local resources: The Reef Fly Shop (Alcova), Ugly Bug Fly Shop (Casper), Platte River Fly Shop (Casper)