North Platte River Colorado Fly Fishing Report & Options for Selecting Flies: Email us at (sales@perfectflystore.com) with the dates you will be fishing and we will send you a list of our fly recommendations. We can get flies and gear to you within two to three business days from the time you place your order via Priority Mail. If you provide a budget for flies, we will select them to match the budget and get them to you on time for your trip. Your can also call us at 800-594-4726 and we will help you decide what flies and gear to use. All orders are shipped free in the U.S. If under a $100 order requiring Priority mail is a charge of only $8.10. Orders over a $100 are shipped free via Priority Mail.
We have custom Perfect Fly selections in 3 different price ranges for this stream that come with or without fly boxes that make excellent gifts. Click Here To Order or Call us at 800 594 4726 or email us at sales@perfectflystore.com.
Type of Stream
Freestone Stream
Species
Rainbow Trout (Wild)
Brown Trout (Wild)
Size
Small to Medium
Location
Northern Colorado
Nearest Towns
Walden
Cowdrey
Season
Year-round
Access:
Good
Non-Resident License
State of Colorado
Weather
National Weather Service Link
Seasons:
Some fishing is possible prior to runoff in April and early
May.
Spring:
Springtime can be a tough time to fish the North Platte
River.
Summer:
The water usually gets into good shape about the middle
of June. Summertime is the best time to fish the North
Platte.
Fall:
Fly fishing can be great in the Fall. The brown trout
spawn during the Fall.
Recommended Tackle & Gear
Fly Line:
4, 5 or 6 weight
Leaders:
Dry fly: 9 to 12 ft., 5 or 6X Nymphing:
71/2 ft., 3 or 4X, Streamers 0-2X
Tippets:
Dry fly: 5 or 6X, Nymphing: 3 or 4X,
Streamer 0-2X
Best Fly Rods:
Perfect Fly Supreme Four, Superb Five
or Ultimate Six
Fly Reels:
For 4/5/6 fly line
Fly Floatants and Misc Items:
Floatants, KISS Strike Indicators
Tools & Accessories:
Nippers, forceps, retractors, etc.
Copyright 2013 James Marsh
Fly Fishing On The North Platte River In Colorado
The North Platte River is a 550 mile long stream that begins in the state of Colorado and flows north into Wyoming. Fly fishing the North Platte River in Colorado is quite different from fishing it in the state of Wyoming. The headwaters of the river is located near the continental divide on the east and south and the mountain drainage peaks on the east. —the north boundary is the state of Wyoming boundary. The rugged Rocky Mountains surrounding the headwaters of the North Platte have at least twelve peaks over 11,000 feet. The river flows north about 200 miles out of the Routt National Forest and North Park near Walden, Colorado.
The river flows through a variety of country from its headwater in the Medicine Bow Mountains of northern Colorado. There are two additional tailwater sections of the river famous for trout fishing in Wyoming. Fly Fishing the North Platte River in Colorado varies from dealing with smooth flowing meadow streams to rough pocket water.
The North Platte River is formed from the confluence of Grizzly Creek and Little Grizzly Creek in the Rabbit Ears Mountain Range at about 9,000 feet elevation. Roaring Fork Creek joins the river as soon as it reaches the North Park valley. This is located near Walden and Cowdrey, Colorado. Three other tributaries, the Illinois River, Michigan River and the Canadian Michigan river
converge with the North Platte in North Park.
The North Fork River leaves the North Park valley and flows into the North Gate Canyon and into the state of Wyoming. This is the most scenic section of the river. Access to this section is provided by the Routt Forest off of Highway #125 that leads to Saratoga, Wyoming. The North Gate Canyon begins downstream of the access at Windy Hole in the Routt Forest. This section of the North Platte is designated Gold Medal water by the state of Colorado.
With the exception of about a half mile of the river that lies on private property, all of the water in the Routt Forest access to the Six Mile Gap is open to the public. This section of the river is about nine miles long. The water in the canyon is mostly heavy pocket water with some deep pools and long riffles mixed in. Rainbows and brown trout are plentiful and average about 12 to 15 inches.
The food supply for the trout is varied and plentiful due to the different types of water. There are fast water sections and slower meadow sections that provide a diverse population of aquatic insects. We developed a hatch chart for the stream and will glad to send anyone a
list of flies that they should be using if they provide us with a week or so notice.
There are far too many insects, crustaceans, baitfish species and sculpin to mention here but some of the more important ones are as follows:
The most important mayflies are Blue-winged Olives (vary from a size 20 to a 16), Pale Morning Duns, Pale Evening Duns, Ginger Quills, Green Drakes, Small Western Green drakes, and Tricos.
There are several different species of Spotted Sedges, little black caddis, October Caddis, and Little Short- horned sedges. Stoneflies are also very plentiful and include some of the giant Salmonflies, Golden Stoneflies, Little Yellow stoneflies, and a few other species.
Terrestrial insects play an important part of the trout’s diet during the summer months. Sculpin are also very plentiful and important to imitate anytime there is a low light situation.
Give us a call, or write us at the numbers or address shown above under “Options for selecting flies” and let us help you with your selection. We have taken samples of the aquatic insects on this stream and base it on facts, not trial and error.