Saratoga is Banging. Several strong reports coming in from the upper North Platte where snowpack is 82% of normal, and still piling up. The window has opened, and the lower reaches from Treasure Island to town and downstream are fishing good. This IS brown trout water, and the streamer bite can be as good as anywhere. The lower waters and flows of early spring or pre run off can put you in touch with some real bruiser browns. These are real predators, that may exceed the 5lb mark. The fishing seems to have turned through April, and the float fishing has been productive with nymphs, streamers, and dries (under the right conditions). Try stones and baetis patterns, as well as san juans, if you notice the waters carrying stain. Streamers work most of the season here, and yellow legs are often all it takes to beat them up. The run off here usually comes with the month of April, but windows of opportunity open and close in turbulent springs like this one. This is a great stretch of water, all the way south to the state line. A great stretch to float if you have a raft for sure. Hard boats are better from Prospect to town and down.

The North Platte tail waters have been fishing good as we start to creep through this spring.. Water temperatures are starting to climb, and flows are on the way up in all sections along the North Platte. Hatches are starting to include bugs other than midges, and the fish are starting to eat with a bit more regularity. Pre spawn activity is getting pretty hectic in the tail waters and a few areas of the river are choked with competing fish, and anglers. Flows on the Reef are on the way up and should steadily increase through the next several weeks. This just helps the nymphing, and spreads out the fishy water, and spreads out the traffic. The lower stretches have started to fish, but small tribs like Ledge Creek or Bates Creek will be nasty from time to time, and sometimes there is too little visibility. The fish are eating a good variety of flies including: rock worms, San Juans, halfbacks, RS2's, leeches, scuds, cranefly larva, crawdads, and glow bugs. As the water temps start to climb out of the 40's, the fish should start to get more and more active. Colder water keeps them in slower or softer water much of the time, moving only slightly to take flies. The increased flows has spread them out for sure. Flows between 800, and 1200 are really nice this time of year, for hoppers I like it closer to 2000, but it fishes good all the way to 6000, thats as high as I have seen it. Thicker and more diverse hatches will make them put the feed bag on, and the "Bug" bite seems to be getting stronger as there are mayflies on the move, as well as thick midges. For now big flies are as good as smaller ones. Streamers are productive too, but have been slow to pick up. Slow strips close to the bottom have done well, BUT the increased flows have jumped started the streamer bite for sure. Look for warming of the water to get the fish chasing even more. Grey Reef has been busier on the weekends for sure. Never seen it standing room only at the Sunset Bar and Grill, except for Sunfest in August. Fishing the Reef should be good from here on out as things are starting to get going. Really Good!

Freemont is heating up, and midges have been thick recently. Waters are warming and the fish are hot! Leeches, annelids, midges, scuds, and sow bugs have been go to bugs at the Cardwell access, which has also been a bit crowded on the weekends, and recently mid week as well. Bugs are only just starting to hatch, and we should see olives very soon. Increasing flows are moving the fish around, and the bigger flies seem to be getting it done. Worms, leeches, and scuds are on point with a glow bug, midge, or pheasant tail behind. April is seeing a push of rainbows from the canyon and below, and there are some big fish in the system for sure. Freemont, or Cardwell in particular offers the easiest wade access and boast some giant fish under the right conditions. Worth a look for sure.

The Mile is just starting to see a push of rainbows from Pathfinder, and the fishing has really heated up this last couple weeks. The nymphing is good and the streamer bite is starting to pick up as well. Black and olive are good colored streamers these days, and a slower strip closer to the bottom seems best for now. Flows are on the increase. This should help get the fish moving, and push some food around as well. Feed bag on! Stonefly nymphs and leeches have fished good on point, trailed by a smaller midge, pheasant tail, or even a san juan. The Platte river Spider by Chris Schrantz fishes great on the swing, or under an indicator at the Mile. Don't Leave home without it! Love it when the bigger groceries are working. Look for the push of rainbows to heat the glow bug bite up over the next few weeks. Most recently the canyon fished better than down low. Good, but not as consistent as the Reef. All these rivers are fishing good, and will get better through April.

long report hugh...we like the Platte!