Laramie Fishing Report – 4/8/2011

Fishing Report 4-8-2011

Flyfishing Snobbery Will Get You Nowhere!

Believe it or not, I confess that I was a flyfishing snob at one point in my life. Right after I watched “A River Runs Through It” and then actually read the book, I thought ‘it is flyfishing or nothing.’ I started learning fly patterns and cutting hair off my dog and cat to tie my own flies. I learned a lot that year and looked down on other fishermen and generally turned up my nose at spin casting and bait fishing.

I found out that there is no such thing as “shadow casting” and as much as I loved the movie it was not really an accurate depiction of flyfishing in Montana.  In the movie, it was what Paul, one of the Maclean brothers, dreamed up to catch the big fish in the movie. A few years after that, I had two sons of my own and after a few trips to the emergency room to remove fishing hooks, I put my fly tying hooks and tools away. Now after almost 10 years of sitting in a box in the back of the closet, I have little memory of what each tool does. I have been buying my flies at the fly store, and asking the salesman behind the counter “what are the fish biting on?”  I could be wrong, but I think it’s the same flies that they have the most of: San Juan Worms, Copper Johns and Wooley Buggers.

Fishing for me is about getting into a zone; a mental state where time stops and I breathe slower and start relaxing. Hopefully my cell phone has no reception and then my brain turns off and I get in the “fishing zone”. I fish with flies during the spring and then switch rods and fish with spinners and mostly Rapala’s (brown/gold colored sinkers) if the lake or river is artificial only during the summer. If the fishing restrictions are anything goes, I use worms with 2 waits or salmon eggs. I don’t use a bobber unless I’m fishing with my kids, so they can see the bobber go under and know there might be a fish on the other end. I know the Maclean brothers might be look down at me, but I’ve learned it’s all fishing and it’s all good.

Local Fishing Report: (Four Seasons Anglers has more info) website: (Fishing Report)

1. Lake Hattie is producing large fish.  If you can stand the wind and the cool temps it is well worth fishing Hattie.
2. Twin Buttes is fishing fair.  The Wyoming Game and Fish is planning on stocking Twin Buttes this spring.  We will keep in informed as to when that will be.
3. Galett is fishing well.  People are catching numerous fish in the 20 plus inch range.
4. Meeboer appears to have had at least a partial winter kill.  We will have more information next week after the game and fish does their studies.  It also appears that Alsop has had a major winter kill.
5. Beaver Ponds above Laramie are not ready yet.
6. Lake Owen, Rob Roy are all Frozen over.
7. The North Platte is open from the confluence of the Encampment, up river from Treasure Island to Seminoe.  The water temps are still quite low (mid 30's). You can expect the river to change day to day depend on precipitation and temperature.
8. Gray Reef - The Reef  is running clear from the dam to Casper
9. The Miracle Mile is clear and fishing good.
10. The Big Laramie is almost totally clear.