The state of Wyoming is the tenth largest but least populated within the United States. As you can imagine, this leave plenty of vide, expansive land, much of which is put to good use in the form of fly fishing. The western two thirds of Wyoming consists mostly of mountain ranges, foothills and rivers that make up the Eastern Rocky Mountains, and the eastern third of the state is mostly high elevation prairie known as the High Plains. Wherever you are in Wyoming, there is some exceptional fly fishing to be had. We’ve put together a few of the best options here so that you can spend less time researching and more time fishing.
Map of the North Platte River
Download the pdf here.
Miracle Mile Trail
When it comes to fly fishing, Wyoming is known for its vast expanses and lack of crowds, and the Miracle Mile Trail is certainly no exception to this. Although referred to as the Miracle Mile Trail, this region actually spans seven miles, and is located between the Pathfinder and Seminoe Reservoirs. The cold water from these reservoirs creates the perfect habitat for large trout, which can be found in abundance in this stretch of water. During July, stonefly hatches on the Miracle Mile trail are prevalent, and the fly fishing on offer is exceptional, making it easy to see why this region is a recognized Blue Ribbon trout stream.
Grey Reef
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lpvs7IyheR8
Among freshwater fly anglers, the Grey Reef section of the North Platte River is quite a famous stretch. This body of water is considered to be one of the best rainbow trout fisheries in the United States, and when you spend a day floating down the run it’s easy to see why this is the case. Large numbers of even larger rainbows can be found in abundance, and will always put up a fight due to their great condition and health. Access to this tailwater is almost exclusively across private land, which can make accessing the water difficult but is also what has provided low fishing pressure, which in turn has meant that trout numbers increase. The best ways to access the Grey Reef stretch is by float tube from an upstream, public access area, or by investing in the knowledge and expertise of a local guide. As well as trophy rainbows, brown and cutthroat trout can also be found in this area, and it really is a must visit spot for anybody looking to fly fish their way through Wyoming. Here is a video of the Fly shop in the area:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BYSj8ZcMH0s
Yellowstone National Park
Including Yellowstone on a list of must-fish places in Wyoming may not actually help the visiting angler, as the park covers an incredible distance of 2.2 million acres, and has over 2600 miles of streams. If you are visiting Yellowstone and hoping to cast a line, make sure you find information relevant to the specific area you are visiting. Without a doubt, the fishing in Yellowstone will be the most scenic, majestic and downright beautiful that you ever experience. Within Yellowstone, the main fishing attraction throughout most of the National Park is the native Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout, the only native species within the park. There is also exceptional fishing for wild stream-bred rainbow, brown and brook trout. Whether you’re planning on fishing one of the entrances, or traveling on horseback to a secluded stream and casting a line in silence, you will have an amazing time fishing Yellowstone National Park.
Flaming Gorge
While we often speak about trout, it is important to remember that there are myriad other species available to fish for in freshwater. If you’re looking to spice up your Wyoming fly fishing adventure with a bit of variety, why not search for bass, walleye, catfish, sturgeon, perch and many more. One of the best areas to do this in is Flaming Gorge, in south western Wyoming. The Flaming Gorge Recreation Area encompasses the Flaming Gorge Reservoir, a 91 mile long stretch of water, with around 375 miles of fishable shoreline. The reservoir is fed by the Green River, and home to a multitude of species, including so incredibly large, record breaking lake trout.
Snake River
Yeah yeah.. I know I know.. where is the write up on this one? Well.. I did a whole post about it here.