Go Grab Your Pole

Here in the Valley fishing is a staple pastime for everyone from hobbyists and families to the most dedicated anglers.

With fishing being such an important part of the Valley, Josh Craig of the Mother Mountain Anglers (MMA) has provided some details on the current quality of fishing in the area as well as some recommendations of what baits are currently reeling in the fish.

According to Craig, the North Platte and the Encampment rivers are extremely similar this time of year and the quality of fishing is currently very good in both. The Encampment, however, is anticipated by Craig to have a loss in water levels in the next week to two weeks which will greatly reduce the quality of fishing. For traditional reel fishing, Craig said worms or spinners are working well.

As for fly fishing, Craig recommends several things. For nymph flies he recommends the prince nymph, copper johns, drakes and blue winged olives (BWO). For dry flies the caddis, elk hair, parachute adams and drakes—less so dry fly Drakes on the Platte—are catching effectively. For string lures, Craig recommends thin mints, wooly buggers and hot head leech. Craig recommends that you aim for calm slow water in both the Encampment and the Platte. He also recommended stringers on the Platte.

As for Big Creek, the fishing quality is decent. Craig recommends hopper droppers, chubby chernobyl, classic grasshoppers, copper johns and prince nymphs towards the bottom of the Creek.

Hog Park is good fishing, as it typically is. Craig said spinners and worms will work well in Hog Park as well as any lake in the area. It is particularly good for family fishing and is more than likely a good fishing experience. The mountain streams and creeks in the Hog Park area have also been good for Brook trout, said Craig.

All of these places can be enjoyed by anyone of any skill level. MMA encourages families and anyone who is interested in fishing to get out and the great quality of fishing the Valley has to offer.

MMA would also like to remind people that as water temperatures are rising that fish are handled with consideration. They encourage people to pay attention to water temperatures, handle fish for as short a duration possible and with wet hands. This is because trout are cold water fish and the temperature changes and the stress handling causes them can be very detrimental to the fish’s life cycle.