Fishing Report – The Dog Days of Summer/Winter!
I luckily got out to the beaver ponds (somewhere in Vedauwoo) this week, in-between the rain and snow showers and caught my fish sizable trout of the “summer”. Some of the beaver ponds received winter kill but my “special ultra secret pond” has fish, big fish! I caught a 16 inch brook trout on the end of my line and breathed deep for the first time since last November when I caught my last big fish on the North Platte. Well not really, but a true fisherman understands you're only as good as your last good fish story.
I caught this brook trout with my dog Schooner at my side. He is a 4 month old black lab that is still afraid of his own shadow, was very excited to smell and lick his first fish - a true fish dog. He did not jump in the water and was remarkably well behaved for this trip. I went to work after cleaning my equipment and trout and had a great outlook on the day. Nothing makes me feel better than getting up early taking a hike with the dog and catching dinner!
I prepared my brook trout like I usually do (See Country Cooking- Grilled Brook Trout-Monday) I poured myself a Dales Pale Ale (or 2) and watch the NBA playoffs with my wife and my good friend Paul. Yes, life is good when you catch and then eat fresh brook trout.
Winter kill:I learned this bit of information from a friend of mine. If you hear and see an abundance of frogs there is a good chance there won’t be any fish in the beaver pond until next year or the year after. Trout eat tadpoles and keep their number down and if you see them jumping and croaking the fish won’t be biting.
Fishing Report (Southeaster Watersheds)
Quick note: rivers are starting to see water rising still fishable but use caution when taking kids or dogs!)
Beaver ponds and Laramie lakes are your best bet.
1. Twin Buttes – Fishing Fair – Hatch Chart - Midges ( Vanilla Buggers, Black BH Buggers, Olive BH Buggers)
2. Galett – Fishing Well – Hatch Chart – Midges ( Big Horn Buggers, Hot Head Leeches, Olive and Rusty Jawbreakers)
3. Meebor – Wait until mid summer!
4. Lake Owen and Rob Roy – Still frozen – Mid to late June
5. North Platte – River run off so fast conditions and muddy.
6. Gray’s Reef - The Reef is running clear from the dam to Casper. The fishing has been great with the usual cast of characters, worms, scuds, leeches, and egg patterns. Hatch Chart – Midges (Red San Juan Worms, Reef worms, Egg patterns)
7. Miracle Mile - The Miracle Mile is clear, but running around 8000 cfs. Please be careful if you wade fish the Mile. 8000 cfs is a significant amount of water. Hatch Chart – midges (BH halfbacks, San Juan Worms, Reef Worms
8. Laramie River - The Big Laramie is still fishing great. We have had great reports from Jelm to Laramie.Slowly retrieved buggers and crayfish patterns are producing browns in the 16 to 20+ inch range. Hatch Chart – (BH Buggers Black and Olive, Thin Mints, Vanilla Buggers)
9. Encampment River - The Encampment is starting the runoff. It will clear up if we get a cool spot of weather, otherwise it maybe a while before the Encampment is fishing well. Hatch Chart (BH Buggers Black and Olive, Green Drake Nymphs (Yeah, I know it doesn’t seem right, egg patterns)
Fishing Quote: “May the holes in your net be no larger than the fish in it.” ~ Irish Blessing
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