I just returned from a four-day trout fishing trip to Alcova, Wyoming, where we fished the North Platte River. By every measure, it was an outstanding experience. I went with 10 other members of the Queen City Anglers Guild from Cincinnati, Ohio. This group is made up of talented and experienced anglers. How I became part of the club remains a mystery to me, but I am grateful I was accepted.
Our goal was to find trophy trout and have a good time. To reach Alcova, we flew from Cincinnati to Denver, Colorado, then on to Casper, Wyoming, where a van picked us up to drive to the North Platte Lodge in Alcova.
The Lodge and staff were outstanding. Founded in 1998, the Lodge is the first authorized fishing outfitter on the Grey Reef section of the North Platte River. For 26 years, they have provided fly-fishing guests with top access to Grey Reef and the surrounding area. Nearby the Lodge is The Reef Fly Shop, which has everything you might need to make your stay as successful as possible. The guide staff is extremely knowledgeable and dedicated to giving guests a memorable experience. This is an all-inclusive Lodge. A chef's kiss to the staff— the meals were exceptional.
The day of our double started like each of our four days on the water. It was a cool morning with a forecast predicting some wind and warmer temperatures in the afternoon. Today, I had the pleasure of fishing with Dr. Mark Cepella. He is a native of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and has practiced in the Cincinnati area for more than two decades. He is a specialist in oculoplastic surgery, which involves surgery to correct physical conditions that may affect eyesight or personal appearance. His work can be truly life-changing for many people. Aside from his practice, he volunteers for Orbis, a flying eye hospital that travels to underdeveloped countries to perform surgeries often unavailable to patients in those regions. He is an incredible and accomplished individual.
To his patients, he is Dr. Cepella. But, to the QCAG Club, he is just Mark. I know Mark as a master steelhead angler and bow hunter. Despite his impressive credentials, he is one of the nicest people I know and a pleasure to fish with.
Our guide today was Jaylen. He is a military veteran and has been fishing most of his life. He promised Mark and me a great day. We decided to explore the Gray Reef section of the river. Most people nymph in this area, and we started that way too.
Nymph fishing for trout in rivers like the North Platte in Alcova, Wyoming, is highly effective for several reasons:
Trout Feeding Habits: Trout mainly feed underwater, with 80-90% of their diet made up of aquatic insects in their nymph or larval stages (e.g., mayflies, caddisflies, midges). Nymphs are plentiful all year round, providing a reliable food source compared to occasional surface hatches.
Natural Presentation: Nymphs imitate the immature insects that trout naturally target as they drift along the river bottom or in the current. This makes nymph fishing a reliable method, especially in rivers like the Grey Reef, which are known for their strong populations of nymphs such as scuds, midges, and leeches.
Versatility Across Conditions: Unlike dry fly fishing, which relies on visible hatches and calm waters, nymphing works in various water conditions, seasons, and times of day. It’s effective in deeper runs, riffles, and pools where trout hide, especially in the North Platte’s clear, cold waters.
Targeting Larger Fish: Bigger trout often stay deeper in the water column, feeding on nymphs instead of surface insects. Nymphing lets anglers reach these fish in deeper lies, increasing the odds of catching trophy-sized rainbow or brown trout (18-24+ inches), common in Alcova’s waters.
Consistent Success: Guides recommend nymphing for its reliability. Techniques like indicator nymphing or tight-line nymphing provide precise control and can consistently hook 16-17-inch trout.
Year-Round Effectiveness: In tailwaters like the Grey Reef, stable water temperatures and flows create perfect conditions for nymphs, ensuring trout feed on them even in winter or during high-water periods when dry flies are less effective.
The North Platte’s Grey Reef and Miracle Mile sections are known for abundant aquatic insect life and clear water, making nymph patterns like scuds very effective. Guides can easily customize nymph rigs to match hatches and river conditions, maximizing success. On our trip, we observed the start of a stonefly hatch, with bugs emerging on rocks. Additionally, guides can adjust the nymph tackle to target trout holding in deeper runs or near structures, where nymphs naturally drift.
Our morning produced the results we expected. Mark and I caught several small and large rainbow trout. We had nearly nonstop action on our drift boat. A few of the trout were big enough to break a couple of fly hooks.
When we stopped for lunch, both Mark and I felt more than satisfied with how the day was going.
Lunch on the river is always a fun event. Usually, you meet up with other anglers in your group and swap stories. That day, we didn’t have to stretch the truth about anything. We had brought at least six trout each to the boat, and most were 15 inches or more. In contrast, our friends didn’t have the same level of success. Our guide shared notes on what flies were working and what depth seemed to stimulate hits, so their afternoon would be better. I can’t lie, when you are having a great day and your colleagues are not, it just somehow feels even sweeter.
Given our success with nymphing, Mark and I decided to talk to Jaylen about trying streamer fishing.
There are several key differences between nymph fishing and streamer fishing for trout.
The first is prey Imitation.
Streamers: Mimic larger food sources (baitfish, leeches, sculpins), appealing to trophy trout seeking high-energy meals.
Nymphs: Imitate small aquatic insects (mayflies, midges, scuds), targeting trout feeding on abundant, smaller prey. Nymphing is more consistent for numbers of fish but often catches smaller trout.
The second is fishing style.
Streamers require active casting, stripping, and movement, making them more physically demanding but exciting. It suits anglers who enjoy covering water and inducing aggressive strikes.
Nymphs involve drifting flies naturally with the current under an indicator or tight-line setup, requiring patience and precision. It is ideal for beginners or consistent catches. Guides prefer it because the client typically gets a higher catch count.
The third difference is fish size and selectivity.
Streamers: Targets larger, more selective trout willing to chase big meals, but may result in fewer hookups. Guides report streamers landing 20+ inch trout in Grey Reef.
Nymphs: Catches a broader range of trout sizes with higher catch rates due to the abundance of nymphs in the North Platte.
Fourth is fishing conditions.
Streamers are best in low light, murky water, or during spawn seasons when trout are aggressive. They are effective in deeper pools or reservoir inlets.
Nymphs are reliable year-round, especially in clear, stable tailwaters like Grey Reef, where trout feed heavily on nymphs in runs and riffles.
Last is skill level.
Streamers require casting proficiency and knowledge of retrieve techniques, making it slightly more challenging..
Nymphing is easier as the current does much of the work.
So, given the success we had in the morning, why did we want to fish streamers? The simple answer is because it's fun. The other reason is that it sets us up for the possibility of catching even larger trout.
Jaylen was confident but set our expectations accordingly. He told us we might not get another strike for the rest of the day, and if we did, we could lose the trout if we didn’t master the strip set. The last part was a surprise neither of us had anticipated. I have limited experience with strip setting for saltwater fishing in Florida. I had never tried to strip set a trout. Jaylen assured us we couldn’t retrieve the line fast enough to outrun a big trout that was triggered and attacking aggressively.
Unlike nymphing, where flies drift naturally and strikes are often subtle, streamer fishing requires constant line manipulation, such as stripping or retrieving. Lifting the rod tip creates slack by pulling the line upward instead of keeping it tight, which can cause the trout to spit the hook, especially since streamers have larger hooks that need more force to penetrate. A strip set keeps the line tight, quickly driving the hook home.
On the North Platte’s Grey Reef and Miracle Mile, streamers target larger, predatory trout, typically 18-24+ inch rainbows and browns. These fish strike forcefully, often while on the move, and a strip set ensures the hook penetrates their tougher, bony mouths, which is crucial for landing trophy fish compared to the softer bites of smaller trout on nymphs.
Jaylen explained there are three keys to success:
Keep the rod tip low and pointed at the fly to maintain a direct line.
When you feel a strike or see the line twitch, pull the line sharply with your stripping hand (1-2 feet) while keeping the rod steady.
Follow with a second strip or rod pressure to ensure the hook is secure, then fight the fish with the rod tip up.
He described a good hookup as a tug-of-war feeling with the fish before raising your rod.
Forearmed with this insight, Mark and I agreed to accept the possibility that we wouldn’t catch another trout that afternoon. But we also knew that if we did, it would be a great personal accomplishment because it required flawless execution of new skills.
During the first half hour, I would cast and tuck the reel under my arm while retrieving the line with both hands. It wasn’t working as expected. I got a little frustrated when Mark yelled “fish on” and brought in a monster rainbow trout to the boat.
We were both using a sinking line. But Jaylen had tied a black streamer on Mark’s tippet while I was throwing a white one. Seeing Mark’s success, Jaylen adjusted and switched out my streamer for a black one like Mark was using. I also switched from a saltwater retrieve to a more traditional approach with log strips accentuated with short pauses in between.
As soon as Jaylen and I made our adjustments, a few casts later, I felt the tug. I knew it was a large trout and reminded myself to strip set rather than trout set. A couple of seconds later, it was clear I had the fish securely on, and I lifted the rod tip to start the dance. I heard Jaylen and Mark offer encouragement, which helped me focus my concentration on landing this fish. While working hard to bring this trout to hand, I heard Mark yell, “Fish on!”
Jaylen’s excitement soared to a whole new level. He had made it clear that if either of us caught a single trout on a streamer, he’d consider it a successful afternoon. Mark had already reached that milestone. Now, he had two anglers working to bring trout to hand at the same time. Jaylen was coordinating a double hookup and had to work hard to control the drift boat so we could both land our fish. The adrenaline level for all three of us was rising as we faced the challenge.
We worked as a well-oiled team trying to control the trout and the boat. Mark and I ensured our lines didn’t tangle while our respective trout made run after run. I was able to get my trout to the net first. Jaylen refocused on Mark's battle after a quick congratulations and the release of my fish. They successfully brought Mark’s trout to the net as well.
The three of us had not only caught big North Platte River trout on a streamer, but we had also successfully pulled off a double. The feeling of accomplishment was amazing.
By the time Jaylen rowed the drift boat to the take-out ramp, Mark and I had landed three trout each on a streamer. And we had both missed a couple of takes. My last miss was just yards from the ramp.
If we had planned the day, I don’t think Mark or I would have expected such a wonderful and rewarding experience. It was a day when almost everything went right. A day on the water with Mark I know I won’t forget anytime soon. A day I hope he remembers for a while as well.
Very informative, Ed. Sounds like a great day!
Very cool!