Fly Fishing Snowy Range Wyoming

Today's Blog Post

Q: Do you offer services in the Snowy Range, Wyoming?

A: Yes, we offer lessons and guiding.  

Q: Is the fishing difficult?

A: No.  It's one of the best locations to learn how to fly fish because there are plenty of hungry fish - you will catch many fish and learn critical skills - the experience is like training wheels for fly fishing.

Q: Why fly fish in the Snowy Range?

A: 1) No traffic and fewer people. 2) Escape summer heat - cool off at +/- 10,000 feet - in July, daily high temps range between 75-80 degrees, and night temps range between 40-60 degrees. 3) Stunning scenery, wildlife, and great alpine lake and creek fishing.

Q: Where is the Snowy Range located?

A: It's located in the Medicine Bow National Forest, Wyoming - approximately one hour from Laramie and Saratoga.  

Q: Could we fish in the Snowy Range one day, and then fish the North Platte in the Saratoga area the following day?

A: Yes.  In 50 minutes you can access the North Platte and Encampment rivers. 

Q: How many Alpine lakes?

A: The park contains over 100 alpine lakes, and range in size, from tiny to large. 

Q: Are the lakes far to walk?

A: There are a handful of lakes that offer park and 5-10 minutes easy walk-in.  Other lakes are 1-4 miles away, or 1-2 hours walk-in.  Trails are marked and hiking is easy/moderate. 

Q: About how many fish can I expect to catch, and what is the size range?

A: Depending on skill level, and length of time fishing, we've had clients catch up to 30 fish, and the average size range is 6"-12".  The lakes and creeks hold brook, cutthroat, and splake trout. 

Q: What techniques will we use?

A: Nearly all techniques work.  Using fly rods 2wt-5wt, we regularly use dry flies, dry-dropper, and nymphs.

Q: We might camp in the Snowy Range or stay in the Saratoga or Laramie area - can we do a fly casting lesson one day, and then hire you to guide us the next day?

A: Yes.  We highly recommend the combination of fly casting lessons and guiding.  In fact, we can customize a fly fishing program for you, e.g. 1-2 hours casting instruction, followed by 2-6 hours of guiding (catching fish), on the same day or multiple days. 

Q: How long is a day of guiding and what are your prices?

A: We offer four, six, and eight hours per day.  Please see pricing information in the link below. 

Thank you for reading, and for more information on lessons and guiding:

USA Lessons

USA Guiding

Expect to see lots of wildlife 

Lakes and creeks hold tons of beautiful Brook Trout

11,000 feet. One hour walk from parking lot.

Fly Fishing Saratoga, WY

Today's Blog Post

We offer lessons and guiding on the North Platte River
in/around the Saratoga, WY area

We love visiting and fishing the Saratoga area because: 

- Free hot pools, bathrooms, showers
- Grocery store and restaurants

- Retail shops, bars, micro-brewery
- Hotels, Inns, AirBnB, VRBO

- In town paid camping

- Out of town paid and free camping
- Gas station, mechanics, off-road rentals
- Medical ER/Hospital services
- Seasonal festivals - music, rodeo

- Less people and no traffic

- Only 2.15 hours from Fort Collins

- Many excellent fishing locations

Q: What is better in the Saratoga area - float or walk-wade fishing?  

A: It depends on water flow and visibility conditions.  1) If the water is high and brown, don't waste your time and money floating, 2) If the water is normal to high levels, and clarity ranges from OK to perfect, both floating and walk-wade are good choices.  There are plenty of locations to walk-wade, and experience excellent fishing! 

Q: If the Saratoga area is blown out or too bloody hot, what options do we have?

A: 1) Up the street, between 1-2 hour drive, you have the Miracle Mile, Fremont Canyon and Pathfinder Meadows, and Gray's Reef, and 2) down the street, between 40-60 minutes drive, you have dozens of alpine lakes and streams, located in the Snowy Range (Medicine Bow National Forest). 

Q: About how many fish can I expect to catch, and what is the size range?

A: Depending on skill level, and length of time fishing, we've had clients catch up to 20 fish, and the average size range is 14"-18", with a few up to 24".

Q: What techniques will we use?

A: Nearly all techniques work.  Using fly rods 3wt-6wt, we regularly use tight-line and drop-shot nymphing, dry flies, dry-dropper, and downstream wet-fly swings.

Q: We might stay in the Saratoga area - can we do a fly casting lesson one day, and then hire you to guide us the next day?

A: Yes.  We highly recommend the combination of fly casting lessons and guiding.  In fact, we can customize a fly fishing program for you, e.g. 1-2 hours casting instruction, followed by 2-6 hours of guiding (catching fish), on the same day or multiple days. 

Q: How long is a day of guiding and what are your prices?

A: We offer four, six, and eight hours per day.  Please see pricing information in the link below. 

Thank you for reading, and for more information on lessons and guiding:

USA Lessons

USA Guiding

Fly Fishing the Miracle Mile Wyoming

Today's Blog Post

We offer lessons and guiding on the North Platte River  - The Miracle Mile.

Q: Is the mile a tailwater, and can you walk-wade the mile?

A: Yes, from Kortez Dam to Pathfinder Reservoir,  and for approximately 6 miles, you can walk-wade and float.  

Q: What species will I catch?

A: Brown, Rainbow and Cutthroat Trout. 

Q: About how many fish can I expect to catch, and what is the size range?

A: Depending on skill level, and length of time fishing, we've had clients catch up to 10 fish, and the average size range is 16"-20", with a few up to +/-30".

Q: What techniques will we use?

A: Nearly all techniques work, but the most popular is nymphing.  Using fly rods 3wt-6wt, we regularly use tight-line and drop-shot nymphing, dry flies, dry-dropper, and downstream wet-fly swings.

Q: We might stay in the Alcova, Rawlins/Sterling area or camp on the river - can we do a fly casting lesson one day, and then hire you to guide us the next day?

A: Yes.  Camping on the river is popular and recommended.  Also, we highly recommend the combination of fly casting lessons and guiding.  In fact, we can customize a fly fishing program for you, e.g. 1-2 hours casting instruction, followed by 2-6 hours of guiding (catching fish), on the same day or multiple days. 

Q: How long is a day of guiding and what are your prices?

A: We offer four, six, and eight hours per day.  Please see pricing information in the link below. 

Thank you for reading, and for more information on lessons and guiding:

USA Lessons

USA Guiding

Fly Fishing Gray's Reef Wyoming

Today's Blog Post

North Platte River - Alcova to Casper 

We offer lessons and guiding on the North Platte River  - Gray's Reef/Alcova Dam area.

Q: Can you walk-wade Gray's Reef - I hear you can't due to private property?

A: Yes, from the Alcova Dam to Casper, WY (60 miles of water) you can walk-wade many sections of the North Platte River.  

Q: Can we float the river?

A: Yes.  In Alcova, it's possible to rent a drift boat (please contact us for more details).

Q: What species will I catch?

A: Brown, Cut-Bow,and Rainbow Trout.

Q: About how many fish can I expect to catch, and what is the size range?

A: Depending on skill level, and length of time fishing, we've had clients catch up to 20 fish, and the average size range is 16"-18", with a few up to +/-30".

Q: What techniques will we use?

A: Nearly all techniques work, but the most popular is nymphing.  Using fly rods 3wt-6wt, we regularly use tight-line and drop-shot nymphing, dry flies, dry-dropper, and downstream wet-fly swings.

Q: We might stay in the Alcova or Casper area - can we do a fly casting lesson one day, and then hire you to guide us the next day?

A: Yes.  We highly recommend the combination of fly casting lessons and guiding.  In fact, we can customize a fly fishing program for you, e.g. 1-2 hours casting instruction, followed by 2-6 hours of guiding (catching fish), on the same day or multiple days. 

Q: How long is a day of guiding and what are your prices?

A: We offer four, six, and eight hours per day.  Please see pricing information in the link below. 

Thank you for reading, and for more information on lessons and guiding:

USA Lessons

USA Guiding

Fly Fishing Snowy Range Wyoming

Today's Blog Post

We offer lessons and guiding services in the Snowy Range.

Q: Where is the Snowy Range located?

A: Located in Medicine Bow National Forest, Wyoming; Approximately one hour from Laramie or Saratoga; Approximately two hour drive from Fort Collins, CO. 

Q: How's the fishing?

A: With over 100 lakes and dozens of creeks, Snowy Range offers excellent alpine fishing.  Species: Brook, Cutthroat, Brown, Splake (brook/lake hybrid), in the 6" - 18" range.

Q: How high are we fishing, and is it hard to access the lakes and streams? 

A: +/-10,00 feet.  Foot access ranges from easy to moderate, and 10 - 120 minutes.

Q: How do you compare the fishing experience to other Wyoming destinations?

A: We love beautiful wild places with less people and more fish (even if the fish are not state records).

Brook Trout. 
The cold alpine waters are loaded with these beauties.

Q: We are beginners - is alpine fishing a good place to learn?

A: Yes, alpine fishing could be one of the very best places to learn how to fly fish. Why?  You will learn the same skills needed to catch large fish, but you'll catch lots of smaller fish, at a much slower pace (i.e., fly fishing training wheels).  Higher elevations offer cool summer temperatures vs. lower elevations at +/-90 degree heat.  Wading small creeks or fishing a lake from land, is safe and very beginner friendly.  The feeding season is very short, i.e. fish have a short amount of time to fatten up for the long winter; therefore, fish are not picky eaters, and you can expect to catch lots of fish.   

Q: We might stay in the Saratoga or Laramie area, or camp in Medicine Bow - can we do a fly casting lesson one day, and then hire you to guide us the next day?

A: Yes.  We highly recommend the combination of fly casting lessons and guiding.  In fact, we can customize a fly fishing program for you, e.g. 1-2 hours casting instruction, followed by 2-6 hours of guiding (catching fish), on the same day or multiple days. 

Q: How long is a day of guiding and what are your prices?

A: We offer four, six, and eight hours per day.  Please see pricing information in the link below. 

Thank you for reading, and for more information on lessons and guiding:

USA Lessons

USA Guiding

Fly Fish Fremont Canyon Wyoming: The Meadows

Today's Blog Post

North Platte River
The upper and lower meadows set between Pathfinder dam and the mouth of Fremont Canyon.

We offer lessons and guiding in the Fremont Canyon area (upper and lower meadows), located in Wyoming. 

Q: Is this a tailwater and is it easy to access?

A: Yes it is a tailwater. Yes, it is easy to access the lower and upper sections

Q: I hear this stretch of river gets fished hard, is this true?

A: Yes - with easy parking and walking, it's a popular spot.  Many times we only fish this area for up to four hours, hitting early A.M or late P.M. hatches.  

Q: Can we walk down the river and access the canyon?

A: Yes - it will take more time.  Many times we will briefly enter the canyon and fish our way back to the bridge/parking lot - offers a unique canyon/meadows fishing experience. 

Q: About how many fish can I expect to catch, and what is the size range?

A: Depending on skill level, and length of time fishing, we've had clients catch up to 20 fish, and the average size range is 14" - 20", with a few up to 30".  

Q: What techniques will we use?

A: Nearly all techniques work.  Using fly rods 4wt-6wt, we regularly use tight-line and drop-shot nymphing, dry flies, dry-dropper, and downstream wet-fly swings.

Q: We might stay in the Alcova or Casper area - can we do a fly casting lesson one day, and then hire you to guide us the next day?

A: Yes.  We highly recommend the combination of fly casting lessons and guiding.  In fact, we can customize a fly fishing program for you, e.g. 1-2 hours casting instruction, followed by 2-6 hours of guiding (catching fish), on the same day or multiple days. 

Q: How long is a day of guiding and what are your prices?

A: We offer four, six, and eight hours per day.  Please see pricing information in the link below. 

Thank you for reading, and for more information on lessons and guiding:

USA Lessons

USA Guiding

Fly Fish Fremont Canyon Wyoming

Today's Blog Post

North Platte River
The canyon is set between Pathfinder and Alcova dams.

We offer lessons and guiding in Fremont Canyon, located in Wyoming. 

Q: I hear the hike in/out of Fremont Canyon is tough?

A: Yes - see above photo.  There are a few access points, including from the meadows and mid-canyon downhill goat trails.

Q: Is the hike down worth it?

A: Less anglers equals less pressure.  The canyon is legendary for holding big, healthy, strong trout.  

Q: I have bad ankles, knees, etc - do you recommend it?

A: No!  This is advanced hiking, walk-wade, and technical fishing.  There are plenty of other safe locations to fish in Wyoming.

Q: About how many fish can I expect to catch, and what is the size range?

A: Depending on skill level, and length of time fishing, we've had clients catch up to 20 fish, and the average size range is 14" - 20", with a few up to 30".  Add in rocky boulders, strong currents - you will be challenged to land trophy trout!

Q: What techniques will we use?

A: Nearly all techniques work.  Using fly rods 4wt-6wt, we regularly use tight-line and drop-shot nymphing, dry flies, dry-dropper, and downstream wet-fly swings.

Q: We might stay in the Alcova or Casper area - can we do a fly casting lesson one day, and then hire you to guide us the next day?

A: Yes.  We highly recommend the combination of fly casting lessons and guiding.  In fact, we can customize a fly fishing program for you, e.g. 1-2 hours casting instruction, followed by 2-6 hours of guiding (catching fish), on the same day or multiple days. 

Q: How long is a day of guiding and what are your prices?

A: We offer four, six, and eight hours per day.  Please see pricing information in the link below. 

Thank you for reading, and for more information on lessons and guiding:

USA Lessons

USA Guiding

Fort Collins Fly Fishing Lessons: Testimonial

Today's Blog Post

Recently, FCFF had a special request - teach the 3X class in Wyoming. 

I am a busy self-employed father.  My free time with my son is priceless, and as much as possible, I create outdoor activities for us, e.g. camping, hunting, boating, and fishing.  

With conventional tackle, we fish Colorado lakes and neighborhood ponds for bass and other warm water species.  We have tried fly fishing, but never for trout in a river. 

For two days, we camped and fished with Mark at the Miracle Mile North Platte River, located in Wyoming.  We had it all - sun, rain, snow, freezing night temps, and +20 mph wind gusts - evidently, not ideal conditions for beginners. 

In Mark's 3X class, he taught us how to fish the weather and river conditions - swinging streamers with a two hand switch rod, and nymph fishing with and without a bobber.  We caught large trout, and landed a few for the camera.  

Mark's 3X class is the perfect opportunity to safely learn while doing.  He is thoughtful, creative, funny, and makes fly fishing easy to understand.  I am in the training/education business - Mark is one of the best instructors I have ever met, and I highly recommend his services. 

C, Wright. Louisville, CO