If hunting isn’t going so well this fall, consider putting down the rifle and picking up a fishing rod. Wyoming anglers say there’s no better time to go fishing.
“I love this time of year. Fish are putting on the feedbag,” meaning, they’re active, hungry and eager to strike at anglers’ flies and lures, Trent Tatum told Cowboy State Daily.
He’s the co-owner of the North Platte Lodge and The Reef Fly Shop Cottages and RV in Alcova, and frequently guides clients on some prime stretches of the North Platte River.
Folks might have to pack more clothing for unpredictable weather, but the quality of fall fishing makes it well worth the trouble, Tatum said.
The crowds are thinner, too, he added.
“A lot of people are out hunting this time of year, so there are fewer people on the water,” he said.
Ideal Conditions
During the spring, the North Platte can be thick with sediment from snowmelt runoff. In summer, scorching temperatures can make fish lethargic and difficult to catch.
Fall conditions can be ideal, Tatum said.
“We have low, clear, stable flows (on the river),” he said, adding that cooler water temperatures make the fish more active.
The number of fishing clients drops off from the summertime peak, but there are still numerous fall customers.
“A lot of people are weather-watching. If we get an open window of comfortable weather, the phone starts ringing,” he said.
‘Prettied Up For The Dance’
Angler Lew Vasquez lives south of Gillette and likes to go fishing in the Buffalo/Sheridan area.
He told Cowboy State Daily that he prefers fall fishing, also citing less competition on the water because so many people are focused on hunting.
He takes delight in how colorful trout are this time of year as they enter the spawning season.
“They are getting all prettied up for the dance,” he said.
Overcast days also seem to make the fish less spooky, said Vasquez, who does all his fishing with a fly rod.
His fishing season doesn’t end with fall.
“I’m not a stranger to flyfishing in January and February,” he said.
To stay warm for fall and winter fishing, he recommends Simms waders.
“I get them (the waders) a little bit oversized so I can dress for cold conditions underneath them,” he said.
He also recommends oversized wading boots to accommodate thicker socks.
Cramming feet covered in thick winter socks into regular-sized boots can restrict the blood flow and leave feet freezing, he said.
Help Us Get Rid Of These Lake Trout
Flaming Gorge Reservoir has a longstanding problem with burbot and lake trout gobbling prized kokanee salmon.
The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and The Wyoming Game and Fish Department have for the past several years encouraged anglers to catch as many burbot and lake trout as possible.
Both state agencies eliminated the catch limits on any lake trout smaller than trophy sized, meaning those less than 28 inches.
Fall is a fantastic time to catch gobs of lake trout in Flaming Gorge, said Tony Valdez, owner of Buckboard Marina.
Lake trout are spawning in shallower water off the points along the reservoir's shore, and are there for the taking.
“We wish more people would come and take advantage of that,” he said.
Charter boats from the marina can take anglers out for huge hauls of lake trout, he said.
The water conditions are ideal for angling action this time of year.
“The water temperature turns over to cool, and the lake gets super-clear,” he said.
Catching lake trout isn’t just fun, it’s a great way to fill the freezer with fresh fish, he said.
The condition of lake trout in the fall makes for superb table fare, Valdez said.
“You ought to see these fish, they are beautiful. The meat is pure orange, it’s just beautiful,” he said.
After a lake trout heyday at Flaming Gorge, anglers should consider heading to Lake Viva Naughton near Kemmerer, Valdez said.
Fall is prime time to fish for tiger trout there, he said.
“They’ve got some 14- and 15-pound tiger trout coming out of there,” Valdez said. “Those are some big fish."
Mark Heinz can be reached at mark@cowboystatedaily.com.
