Fishing Report
August 17, 2025
Fishing on A Bar A has held a consistent pattern for the last few weeks. Cooler nighttime temperatures have helped to keep water temperatures low, with productive fishing throughout the day, even with these lower flows. However, fish tend to be spookier in lower water. Larger dry fly patterns are seeing less success with low water and spooky fish, so switching to smaller flies, finer tippet, and careful presentation are important factors to consider when approaching the water. The trico hatch is still underway. Millions of these tiny mayflies can be seen haching in the morning hours from 9:30 to 11:30. Fishing risers during this hatch can be fun and provide a different challenge. It’s recommended to use 5x-6x and dry flies #18 and smaller. If fish are refusing your presentation, change patterns and lighten your tippet. Faster runs and pocket water are also fishing well, which is likely a result of fish seeking places where there is structure and more turbulent water and higher amounts of oxygen. In these areas fish are taking a wide variety of nymphs that don’t have to be dropped too deep. A trick just like fishing for risers, is changing your fly pattern often and using smaller nymphs and lighter tippet. Fish can still be found anywhere with water depth 1-3 feet.
Big Creek also continues to fish well. The lower flows offer a unique opportunity to site specific fish in almost every hole; it’s a fun balance of training your eyes and testing your patience when you see fish underwater react to your presentation. Hopper/droppers remain the go to for Big Creek. Be sure to keep in mind your approach and profile when you wade near the holes, as fish are spookier in these conditions.
As always, please remember to be aware of your pressure. Its always better to let the hole “rest” for at least 24 hours between trips to give the resources a chance to breath and recover.
Current Hatches: Tricos, Caddis, Blue-Winged Olives, Mahogany Duns, Grasshoppers, Ants
Suggested Fly Patterns: Black/Brown Pat’s Rubber Legs (#6 – #8), Caddis larvae (#12 – #14), Flashback Pheasant Tails (#12 – #18), Red Copper John (#12 – #18), Rainbow Warrior (#18 – #22), Black/Olive Zebra Midge (#18 – #22), Chubby Trico Spinner (#20 – #22), Parachute Adams (#18-22), Purple Parachute Adams (#12 – #20), Elk Hair Caddis (#12 – # 18), Chubby Chernobyl (#6 – #8), PMD Dries (#14 – #16), Black Para Ant (#14), Streamers (#4 – #8)
Trico Mayfly Hatch
Fishing the trico hatch can be tricky, but we have some tricks we’d like to share to help increase your odds and add excitement to your fishing adventure. The most productive time of the day to fish with tricos is 9:30-11:30 AM. During this timeframe, swarms of trico mayflies can be seen above the North Platte, mating and falling to the surface of the water where pods of hungry trout await. To fish this hatch, tie on a “sighter fly” (#12 – #16) to 5X tippet. About 12-14in behind your first fly, tie on a trico spinner (#20 – #22) with 6X or 5X. For most success, make a cast to a single feeding fish in the pod, rather than a cast over top of the entire pod. You might hear your guide say “fish to a specific fish, not the water”. If you’re not getting many takes, try switching up flies (usually smaller) or lightening the size of your tippet. Due to the sheer number of real insects on the water’s surface, it may take several passing drifts to entice a fish to eat. This hatch can make for some of the most fun and rewarding fishing all year–so get out to the river and try your skills. Good luck!
General Entomology
The major insect hatches consist of stoneflies, caddis, and mayflies. There is also an ample supply of terrestrial insects, aquatic worms, and native minnows that make up much of a trout’s diet.
Hatches generally begin mid-morning, and at times will last the entire day. Spring offers a diverse range of caddis, stoneflies, and mayflies. Terrestrial insects are most abundant during the heat of the summer—July and August—and will survive until the first hard frost. The most notable mayfly hatch in the upper North Platte River watershed is the trico mayfly, which usually arrives late-July and August. In the fall, and especially with a little moisture, blue winged olive mayflies may hatch the entire day.
Throughout the year trout will feed subsurface on the aquatic stages of many insects. Spring is often a time when lots of terrestrial nymphs and aquatic worms are flushed through the streams. It is also a time when stoneflies and caddis hatch, attracting the attention of many trout. In correlation with the seasonal hatches and as stream levels drop, trout will shift their focus to smaller mayfly and midge nymphs later in the season.
Trout are opportunistic feeders, and at certain times territorial. Streamers imitate the various life stages of fishes and leeches, and can be an effective method of fishing the entire season. Streamers are usually large and flashy, which make them a great option during the early season when water levels are high and off color. They also work well in lakes where trout sometimes ambush their prey.
General Hatch Guide
Mid-June to July
- Caddis
- Stoneflies (golden, salmonflies, yellow sallies, and little black)
- Mayflies (pale morning dun, green and brown drakes)
- Terrestrials (grasshoppers and ants)
- Aquatic worms
July to August
- Caddis
- Stoneflies (yellow sallies)
- Mayflies (trico, pale morning dun, callibeatis, and mahogany dun)
- Terrestrials (grasshoppers and ants)
- Midges
August to September
- Caddis
- Mayflies (trico, blue winged olive, and blue quill)
- Terrestrials (grasshoppers and ants)
- Midges
