The Miracle Mile

A True Story

Our first day at North Platte Lodge in Wyoming started with cool temperatures and a forecast for a warm afternoon. I had a good night’s sleep despite the time change and was ready for a productive day on the water. The evening before, we learned our trip leader was unable to make the trip due to an illness. That meant each day someone would need to fish alone with a Guide. It was decided we’d have a drawing to determine which four of the remaining eleven anglers would take a solo day.

I was “lucky” enough to be randomly chosen for the honor on the first day. I put lucky in quotes because I wasn’t sure if fishing one-on-one with a guide was better than fishing with a companion. After all, for me, a big part of the enjoyment of trips like this is experiencing the camaraderie of friends. I decided to treat the day as a fly fishing clinic to learn new skills.

My guide for the day was JJ. I've found guides to be fascinating people with interesting backgrounds and hobbies. Usually, the common factor is a passion for and knowledge of fishing, along with a willingness to share insights with their clients. JJ was no different. He is a highly skilled fishing guide, and during the off-season, he runs his own bird hunting business. I also learned his passion for golf equaled his love for fishing. JJ is a low handicap golfer who either plays or practices the game daily.

I chose to fish with my 6-wt. Orvis Helios 3F rod. The 3F is a fly rod known for its accuracy, finesse, and lightweight design. It's a fast-action rod, especially suited for precise and delicate presentations at medium distances, such as those required for dry fly fishing and nymphing. The rod is far superior to my casting skill. But, I wanted to try and increase the odds of a good day as much in my favor as possible.

The first question was where to fish. From the North Platte Lodge, you can fish the Miracle Mile, Fremont Canyon, and the entire Grey Reef system. Having never fished the North Platte River, the only stretch I had heard of was the Miracle Mile. The Miracle Mile is a renowned fly-fishing spot known for its large, strong trout and unique tailwater environment. It's a section of the North Platte River situated between two large reservoirs, Pathfinder and Seminoe, which creates a distinctive ecosystem that not only supports thriving trout but also allows them to grow to impressive sizes. It was one of the main attractions for me to visit North Platte, so JJ and I decided to wet my line in it right away.

The drive from North Platte Lodge to the Miracle Mile put-in is scenic, taking about an hour. It involves traveling roughly 20 miles of gravel roads with potholes as big as small elephants. The route goes through open range, and I saw several antelopes along the way. I also had a chance to chat with JJ, and discovered him to be a highly optimistic person with deep knowledge about fly fishing. I felt confident I was in good hands.

We decided to nymph fish, and JJ tied on a stonefly with a Pale Morning Dun as the bottom fly. I fished the rig for a while and was rewarded with a strike. I knew it was a “hog” when it hit, and the first jump confirmed my belief. We danced for a bit when all of a sudden, the trout shook its head and spat out the barbless hook. It felt great to get my heart pumping fast, but it was disappointing to have lost a fish on my first try.

JJ and I reviewed what I did well and what I could improve. It was my first of several lessons for the day. I listened carefully and committed to not making the same mistakes again.

We stuck with the setup since it was being successful. But self-doubt started creeping into my mind. Here I was, my first fish on the first day, and I had blown the chance to land it. What if this were the only chance I would have all day? After all, the sport is called fishing, not catching.

Self-doubt can be damaging when fly fishing. It can undermine your casting confidence, making you second-guess your ability. It can cause you to be overly cautious during your set and hesitant when playing a fish. It raises your anxiety and reduces your enjoyment. And, at least in my case, it triggered “impostor syndrome,” making me feel like my skills are not enough for the challenge of catching trophy trout.

One of the most underappreciated skills of a great guide is the ability to boost a client’s confidence. Besides ensuring you fish where the fish are, Guides are invaluable for getting you out of your head by purposefully celebrating small successes, such as a good cast. They go out of their way to offer encouragement even during slow fishing periods to sustain your enthusiasm. They answer questions patiently and provide constructive feedback to build trust and understanding.

JJ was highly skilled at this craft. His natural optimism definitely helped. However, I think he noticed my frustration and started saying things like - “That was a fish worthy drift, let’s go to the top of the run again and see if we can’t get better action.”; and “Your mending is excellent, something is going to eat that fly soon.” Providing clients with this kind of encouragement helps them feel capable and keeps them excited about the chance of catching a trophy fish. Although I understood what JJ was doing, I didn’t resist it with negative self-talk; instead, I let his confidence influence my mindset.

I got a few strikes, but no hookups the rest of the morning. When we stopped for lunch, we were able to get an update from several other Guides. No one was having a stellar day yet on the Miracle Mile. That news jacked my confidence up in a major way. Selfishly, I concluded it wasn’t me, it was the fish that was the problem. I was prepared for a strong afternoon.

It didn’t take long to see some action. Shortly after we got back on the River, JJ rowed to some fast-moving water. “Put it in the bubble line on the near edge.”, he advised. Full of confidence in my Helios rod, I made an exact cast. I was rewarded with the comment, “Nice placement, that will fish.” A couple of upstream mends later, I felt a decisive strike, and I set the hook with determination. Given the fight, I sensed the fish was either a big rainbow or, more likely, a brown trout. It took a minute or two before the fish jumped, confirming it was a good-sized brown that was ready and willing to dance.

With JJ’s coaching, I brought the brown to the net. It was a wonderful experience made even more special by the contrast of the morning’s failure to land a single fish. The bite was officially on, and I was able to hook up with six rainbows, landing four of them. All were 15 inches or larger. What started as a slow day ended on a strong note.

Looking back, the Miracle Mile is a great stretch of trout water, and I would be more than happy to fish it again. But, like any water, if the fish aren’t actively feeding, the day is going to be slow. What actually made the day special wasn’t the water or the fish. It was the ability of a skilled Guide to ensure I stayed mentally and emotionally in the hunt. I had a great day because of JJ.

The impact a Guide has on your fishing enjoyment cannot be overstated. I wanted to tell this story because guiding is a challenging profession, and the excellent Guides earn their fee day in and day out. When you are lucky enough to have a good Guide, I encourage you to tip well. After all, your success was truly a team effort.

If you haven’t fished the Miracle Mile of the North Platte River, put it on your bucket list. And if you do find the time to take a trip there, consider staying at the North Platte Lodge. If you're lucky like I was, you might get JJ as your Guide.

Tight Lines!