It’s a fishing day

North Platte River (Grey Reef) fishing conditions · Wyoming

Now until 4 pmRainbow trout

The bite peaks at 78. Wind builds to 24 mph out of the southwest by tomorrow at 1:00 pm.

Log a trip here
Right now: 78 for rainbow trout, worth the trip · inside the best windowTap or drag along the water to move through the next 36 hours

Rainbow trout, hour by hour

Each float is an hour. The deeper it rides, the better the bite. The strip underneath runs daylight, dusk and dark; the red rule marks the best window. Click any hour to read it.

  1. 782 pm
  2. 78
  3. 70
  4. 685 pm
  5. 58
  6. 58
  7. 608 pm
  8. 60
  9. 60
  10. 6811 pm
  11. 68Sun
  12. 68
  13. 682 am
  14. 68
  15. 68
  16. 685 am
  17. 68
  18. 68
  19. 688 am
  20. 60
  21. 45
  22. 4511 am
  23. 45
  24. 45
  25. 452 pm
  26. 45
  27. 45
  28. 685 pm
  29. 68
  30. 60
  31. 608 pm
  32. 60
  33. 68
  34. 6811 pm
  35. 68Mon
  36. 68
Go, 85+Worth the trip, 70+Marginal, 55+Sit it out

Right now · best window

Water
No reading

Rainbow trout range 45–68°

Wind
7 mph

From the west-southwest

Light
Daylight

Sunset 4:52 pm

Sky
Partly Sunny

No rain expected

Air
56°F

NWS hourly forecast

Barometer
Falling

Measured, last 3 hours

Moon
5% lit

Waning crescent

What’s biting

Each species is scored against its own water-temperature range and tide preference, then wind, weather and warnings. The rules are Wyoming non-tidal regulations for these waters.

Rainbow Trout

Rainbow trout

Oncorhynchus mykiss

78Worth the tripNow until 4 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Rainbow trout bite in 45–68° water, best near 55°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 3–20 ft down.

Keep

20" minimum · 1 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 1 trout a day, 20" minimum; single-point barbless artificial flies and lures only, no pegged attractors. The stretch between the gauge cable crossings below the dam, and Ledge Creek to S Gulch, close Apr 1–May 15.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · North Platte River, Gray Reef Dam to the WY 220 bridge

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

More on rainbow trout

Brown Trout

Brown trout

Salmo trutta

78Worth the tripNow until 4 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Brown trout bite in 45–68° water, best near 55°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 3–25 ft down.

Keep

20" minimum · 1 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 1 trout a day, 20" minimum; single-point barbless artificial flies and lures only, no pegged attractors. The stretch between the gauge cable crossings below the dam, and Ledge Creek to S Gulch, close Apr 1–May 15.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · North Platte River, Gray Reef Dam to the WY 220 bridge

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

More on brown trout

Cutthroat Trout

Cutthroat trout

Oncorhynchus clarkii

78Worth the tripNow until 4 pm

Water

No water reading here right now. Cutthroat trout bite in 39–62° water, best near 54°.

Why

Fish feed actively ahead of a pressure drop. Light breeze — ruffles the surface so fish spook less, and casting is easy. Holds 1–25 ft down.

Keep

20" minimum · 1 a day

Open. Keep fish within the limits. 1 trout a day, 20" minimum; single-point barbless artificial flies and lures only, no pegged attractors. The stretch between the gauge cable crossings below the dam, and Ledge Creek to S Gulch, close Apr 1–May 15.

Verified Oct 23, 2026 · North Platte River, Gray Reef Dam to the WY 220 bridge

Last checked 15 days ago. Rules may have changed.

Season here: Sep–Jun. More on cutthroat trout

The water

  • Water temperatureNo reading
  • Barometer30.30 inHg, falling

Sun, moon & solunar

  • Sunset today4:52 pm
  • Sunrise tomorrow6:49 am
  • MoonWaning crescent, 5% lit
  • Minor solunarToday 3:20 pm–4:20 pm
  • Major solunarTonight 10:00 pm–12:00 am
  • Minor solunarTomorrow 6:00 am–7:00 am

Solunar tables are a popular heuristic. A peer-reviewed test found they don’t predict catch on their own, so here they only nudge the score when the tide or moon already agree. How the score works

Fishing report

No current report covers these waters.

We only show reports an agency has published, with their date. Wyoming Game & Fish has the state’s fishing pages.

Licenses and rules: Wyoming Game & Fish · trout stocking · fish-consumption advisories

About this spot

The trophy tailwater below Grey Reef Dam southwest of Casper — one of the highest-density big-trout fisheries in the Rockies. Cold, steady releases grow thick-bodied rainbow and brown trout averaging well over a foot; the Grey Reef, Lusby, and Government Bridge accesses are floated and waded hard year-round.

Gray Reef Dam to the WY 220 bridge: 1 trout a day, 20" minimum, single-point barbless flies and lures only. The water between the gauge cable crossings below the dam and from Ledge Creek to S Gulch closes Apr 1–May 15. The Miracle Mile upstream is barbless-only under the standard 3-trout stream limit.

Nearby

The closest public spots we cover, with the same 36 hours of floats.

Glendo Reservoir88 mi · WyomingBest tonight 2 am to Monday 2 am
80Worth the trip
Boysen Reservoir93 mi · WyomingBest tomorrow 1 am–11 am
80Worth the trip
Horsetooth Reservoir160 mi · ColoradoBest now until 6 pm
94Go
Boyd Lake171 mi · ColoradoBest now until 5 pm
90Go
Lake Granby172 mi · ColoradoBest now until 6 pm
74Worth the trip
Green River below Flaming Gorge181 mi · UtahBest tomorrow 1 am–5 pm
92Go

Questions people ask

Do I need a fishing license to fish at North Platte River (Grey Reef)?

Yes (anglers age 16 and older). To fish at North Platte River (Grey Reef) you need the appropriate state fishing license. See the agency's current rules: the state agency website

What fish are commonly targeted at North Platte River (Grey Reef)?

North Platte River (Grey Reef) is listed on this site for 3 commonly-targeted species: Rainbow Trout, Brown Trout, Cutthroat Trout. Which species is currently in season and which is scoring highest today is shown in the per-species ranking on this page.

When is the best time to fish at North Platte River (Grey Reef)?

It depends more on the species and the day's conditions than on a fixed "best hour." Water temperature, weather, and — at tidal locations — the stage of the tide drive activity most. The per-species ranking on this page scores every target species at North Platte River (Grey Reef) against today's live conditions, so the fish near the top are your best bets right now; check back as conditions change through the day.

What kind of access does North Platte River (Grey Reef) have?

North Platte River (Grey Reef) has multiple access types — pier, shoreline, and at least one public boat ramp. Gray Reef Dam to the WY 220 bridge: 1 trout a day, 20" minimum, single-point barbless flies and lures only. The water between the gauge cable crossings below the dam and from Ledge Creek to S Gulch closes Apr 1–May 15. The Miracle Mile upstream is barbless-only under the standard 3-trout stream limit.

Which state's fishing regulations apply at North Platte River (Grey Reef)?

state agency regulations apply at North Platte River (Grey Reef). Size limits, creel limits, and seasonal closures are listed per species on each species page. Always confirm against the agency source linked from each regulation block — emergency closures can take effect mid-season.

Is North Platte River (Grey Reef) tidal water?

No. North Platte River (Grey Reef) is non-tidal — water level varies with rainfall, seasonal flow, and (where applicable) upstream dam releases rather than tidal exchange.