Fishing Report
June 22, 2025
Summer has officially arrived and so have warmer temperatures and high sun. The North Platte has passed its peak and is steadily dropping to summertime levels, opening many more fishable stretches. Water visibility is still clearing but fish are beginning to feed more regularly on top. Large caddis hatches, along with yellow sallies and PMDs are common throughout the day and into the evening, making for productive dry fly fishing. However, fish can still be caught throughout the river using nymphs, dry/drop rigs, and streamers.
Big Creek’s water is also dropping and reaching a fantastic level for fishing. With slower current, fish are beginning to look up for hoppers and other dries. Dry/dropper rigs are a blast to fish with and are effective on the creek, especially as water levels continue to go down. The meadows are fishing well; however all stretches of the creek will fish well, especially throughout the canyon as fish concentrate in the deeper pockets.
Hatches: Caddis, Yellow Sallies, Golden and Little Black Stoneflies, Pale Morning Duns (PMDs)
Suggested Fly Patterns: Black Rubber Legs (#4 – #8), Psycho Price Nymphs (#12 – #14), Caddis larvae (#12 – #14), Zirdle Bug (#6 – #8), Prince Nymphs(#12 – #16), Midges (#18-22), Streamers (#4 – #8), Elk Hair Caddis (#16 – # 12), and PMDs (#16 – 14), Hoppers (#6 – #10)
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
