The North Platte Saratoga to Seminoe Reservoir

Intro | Upper River | Saratoga | Access | Tailwaters | Miracle Mile | Gray Reef | Encampment

Although this stretch does not have the North Platte's best fishing, it can fish very well. The river topography changes from ranch bottomland to high-plains desert, from cottonwood-lined banks and surrounding hayfields to sagebrush. And the water changes to long flats where pods of trout feed on mayfly duns.

The farther one gets downstream from Saratoga, the lower the numbers of fish--mostly rainbows and cutthroats. In this stretch, the river flows through a soft soil called bentonite, and runoff often discolors the water downstream of the Sage Creek confluence. It makes trip planning difficult in wet years. The wind is ever-present, and when there's an upriver gale, boaters often must turn their boats into it and row hard to proceed downstream.

The upper stretch from Saratoga down through the Sanger Access has everything to please a fly fisher: accessible wading and floating, a healthy trout population, excellent hatches, and a nearby town. Fly shops offer vehicle shuttles for a modest sum, and there is water managed as a trophy fishery at the Pick Bridge access.

Small mayflies are important late-season fare for trout in the lower river. Clouds of Tricorythodes (above) are common in August and September, and when they taper off, Blue-winged Olive hatches begin in earnest.

The large drakes (green and gray) don't extend this far downstream. Caddis hatches are important, but they are sporadic due to the distance between riffles. There is good late-season evening caddis fishing provided by caddis that return to the stream, dive into the water, and swim to the bottom to deposit their eggs. Wets (#8-#6 Rio Grande King and Royal Wulffs) and soft hackles swung through riffles bring vicious strikes.

Tricos are so important here (early August to mid-September) that you must experience them. The Pick Bridge area is important, but the best fishing is downstream along the Rochelle easement near the Eagle's Nest area. In the years when Sage Creek refrains from discoloring the river, the feeding is gluttonous and few anglers compete. One can often be alone on miles of river during this hatch.

The fall BWO hatches are heavy, and the water is dimpled with pods of actively feeding trout. They line the banks, indolently sipping PMDs in the long, slow glides below the riffles, and an autumn dreamlike quality envelops the river.

It's the place to make short floats (three miles), thoroughly working pods of risers without long drifts to the take-out before dark. In low-wind conditions an ideal mid-August day should go like this: Hit the water by 8 A.M.; fish the Trico spinner fall until around 11; when the PMDs begin and the fish switch to them, fish the PMDs until the wind blows them off or they peter out around 2 P.M.; search for caddis in the riffles until dark.

The flat water below Foote Access (shown above) is a prime area for late-season dry-fly fishing.

Two other mayfly species appear in the lower stretch in enough numbers to interest both the trout and the angler. The "little yellow mayfly" (a #12 Epeorus) hatches during the early summer after the water clears and drops. It can't be counted on from year to year, but when conditions are right, it hatches in enough numbers to interest the fish. This mayfly is yellow--body, legs, tails and wings. It can be found throughout most of the river, but only in scattered numbers, except in this lower stretch and particularly along the Rochelle Easement. Although you may not find this hatch every year, it pays to carry imitations just in case. Local fly shop information and flies can help.

The other mayfly of significance is called the "White Miller" (Ephoron leukon, Whitefly). When they appear, hatching just before dark from mid-September into early October, the duns molt in mid-air into the spinner stage, then fall to the water to drop their eggs. And because the hatch is usually dense, it often appears as a blizzard of hatching and falling white insects. These are large mayflies (#12) best matched with an extended-body parachute pattern that matches both the dun and spent-wing stages.

Because this hatch occurs immediately before dark and extends into the darkness, it requires blind fishing--listening for slaps on the water, casting in the general direction, and waiting for a take--usually heard and felt but unseen. It's exciting fishing because every fish in the river tends to feed on the large floating naturals, and the failing light adds another dimension of adventure. The hatch is generally limited to the waters downstream of the I-80 bridge and immediately upstream a short distance.

Rod Walinchus is a Fly Fisherman contributing artist and author of Fly Fishing the North Platte River: An Angler's Guide (Pruett Publishing Company, 1994). He now lives on Florida's Gulf Coast.

Previous Next

On-Line Catalogs
A.A. Outfitters Full service, fully stocked flyshop located in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. Allen Brothers Quality Fishing Flies Quality is more than just a word. We use Daichii hooks and all our beadheads are tied with tungsten. Check out unique variations on a lot of the classics, plus our original patterns! Angler's Pro Shop The finest products the fly fishing industry has to offer. Bighorn Fly and Tackle Shop Montana's premium fly shops, lodging and guide service. We're dedicated to helping you experience the best Montana has to offer. Bob Henley's TIE-A-FLY 19 traditional patterns. TIE-A-FLY kits have all materials needed to tie them, instructions/illustrations, a pre-tied fly to use as a model. Gary LaFontaine's "The Book Mailer" Every angling book & media in print—10% off 3 or more. LaFontaine fly patterns & materials. FREE anti-catalog. Crystal Fly Shop Online Store Quality products at reasonable prices from Winston, Elkhorn, St. Croix, Galvan, Solitude, Idylwilde, Chota, etc. Many items 15-35% off. Custom Fly Rod Crafters Fly rod building components, tools & supplies. Dan Bailey's Online Fly Shop Outfitting fly fishermen since 1938. Equipment & information to make your next fly fishing trip be a memorable one.		Fly Fishing Flies & Gear Shop RiverBum.com for premium FLIES and GEAR from Simms, Sage, Fishpond & more ... Free Shipping on orders over $25! FlyShack.com High quality, hand-tied flies. Assortments from $.60/fly. Great selection and excellent service. Free Shipping. FlyShopCloseouts.com Now—new and expanded—with much more brand name fly fishing tackle and gear at huge savings. Save 30-50% on quality brands you will recognize in an instant. Galloup's Slide Inn Online Fly Shop Full online store offering cutting-edge flies, equipment, and the best streamer selection found anywhere in the U.S. Hills Discount Flies Fly shop quality flies at wholesale prices. Over 1,000 patterns. Check out bargains in "Hot Deals" section. Hooked On Flies 65¢-69¢ a fly. That's 3 flies for less than the retail price of one fly. 450+ Trout Fly Patterns! Madison River Fishing Co. Spring is coming! We have TONS of new gear this year. Cloudveil, Simms, Sage, Under Armour, Vosseler Reels and lots more. Click or call 800-227-7127 for catalog. **Reelflies** - Fly Fishing Flies Offering incredible prices on top-quality Trout Flies: $0.49 - $0.79. Our flies have great fly illustrations . . . what you see is what you get! www.ShopUltimateAngler.com Your steelhead and smallmouth specialists featuring Simms, Sage, Patagonia, Orvis, guide services, local fishing reports and more!