Fishing Season: April 1-November 30

North Platte River - CO

Fishing Outlook & Conditions

Water Temp:

40

North Park Anglers's Tip of the Week

The Platte is running at 120 CFS right now, with good visibility. If you're headed to the Platte in the Canyon, the ticket will be running a nymph rig with a variety of attractor nymphs underneath, including caddis, soft hackles, golden stones, perdigons, and BWOs. The dry fly fishing is slowing down, and the bugs have been out weather depending in the afternoon. BWO's and caddis have been the mainstay bugs recently. The fish are sporadically keying in on them depending on wind and weather conditions.

Directions open in app

Map of North Platte River

Water Flow Data

Tidal Conditions

Orvis-Endorsed guides nearby

North Park Anglers

5-Day Outlook as of 10/29/22

The weather will be cold, with highs in the low to mid 40s and lows in the low teens to the single digits s. It's supposed to dry until the end of next week, so we expect flows to drop slowly.

Techniques & Tips as of 10/29/22

Running a dry dropper with a big hopper and a stone nymph will be a good bet. A large hopper and a pats rubberlegs should be all you need. The fish are still pretty spread out throughout the river, so streamer fishing can still be effective.

Local Species Available April 1-November 30

  • Fish Icon

    Trout

North Park Anglers's Recommended Fly Patterns

"Must-have" fly fishing patterns in descending order of importance:

Name: Colors: Size(s):
TH 20 Incher Black 18-22
Bead Head Barr Emerger BWO 16-20
Bead Head Caddis Pupa Natural 12-16
Spotlight Caddis Emerger Tan 14-18
TH Thin Mint Black 8-10
Jigged Hare's Ear Hare's Ear 10-12
Blue Wing Olive Parachute BWO 16-20
Hot Cone Woolly Bugger Black 4-6
Soft Hackle PT Pheasant Tail 14-18
Gold Ribbed Bead Head Hares Ear Hares Ear 14-20

TH 20 Incher

Big trout can't resist these deadly stonefly nymphs.

2.99

Item #5E3E

Buy Now

North Park Anglers's Recommended Gear

Description: About North Platte River

North Platte River North Park is home to the true headwaters of the North Platte River. Draining more than a half of a dozen rivers from the surrounding mountain ranges, the North Platte is a tremendous trout fishery with several distinct sections along its length. Through North Park and Walden, the North Platte is a meandering meadow river with wide riffles, slow deep pools, and steep undercut banks. On the rivers northward course it enters the rugged Northgate Canyon near the Colorado/Wyoming state line. This section is designated as Gold Medal Wild Trout water. Pugnacious rainbows and secretive brown trout inhabit these waters. Numerous caddis, stonefly, and mayfly hatches can provide fast-paced fishing action. In summer, thick grasshopper populations inhabit the meadows, and a good hopper pattern cast against a deep bank can result in heart-stopping strikes.

Nearest Airport:

Jackson County in Walden... Hayden near Steamboat Springs, CO.

Hatches:

Caddis, Stoneflies, Yellow Sallies, Dragonflies, PMDs, midges, tricos

Best Time to Fish:

Mid morning to dark

Best Stretch:

North Gate Canyon

Best Access:

Routt, Six Mile Gap, Prospect Creek, Douglas Creek