Sometimes, no news is good news- we do not have too much new to report. Fall fishing on the North Platte is staying strong! Grey Reef and the Miracle Mile are both sitting around 500 CFS. These flows make for great wading and floating conditions.
Leeches, worms, and even crayfish patterns are producing. Small black midges and BWOs are also showing up on both stretches. Smaller streamers are still outperforming the big, clunky stuff. The Rusty Trombone in a size 8 has been especially solid.
On Grey Reef, we’re avoiding the river through town for now. River restoration work is underway, and construction should continue for another two or three weeks. The water below the work area is a little dirty, so we’re sticking to cleaner stretches.
Now, let’s talk spawning beds. It’s been a weird water year across the West, and temperatures haven’t dropped as much as expected. We suspect the spawn may happen a little later than usual. So far, we haven’t heard reports of fish moving onto beds.
How we treat spawning fish this fall will affect next year’s fishing. If big fish are stacked up over clean rocks, it might look too good to be true. That’s because it probably is! Give those fish plenty of space.
Watch for elevated rocks with a sandy color. These areas may hold eggs, so avoid stepping on them. If you’re unsure whether something is a spawning bed, play it safe and leave it alone.
Happy Fall fishing! Enjoy the mild weather and colorful trees. It is like Christmas in October!
