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Grey Reef Fishing Report

Updated Fri, Sep 4, 2026 from live gauge and weather data

Wyoming’s trophy tailwater: Grey Reef grows enormous rainbows in the North Platte below Alcova.

1/5

Tough. Pick your battles.Post-front sun and slick water make them sulk.

Water temp

~54 F est.

Air / High

84 / 85 F

Wind

SW 20 mph

Sources: USGS gauge 06642000, Open-Meteo, solunar calculated for these coordinates.

Satellite view

Friday

4

September 2026

Today's Fishing Report

Generated this morning from live readings: gauge, weather model, sun and moon. A fresh report is published here every morning.

1/5Tough. Pick your battles.Post-front sun and slick water make them sulk.

Grey Reef rewards those who follow the bait as the water cools. Today brings clear skies, wind SW around 20 mph, rising pressure near 1004 hPa and a high of 85. Water sits around 54 F for the season (estimated). With the last quarter, the solunar majors run 5:39 AM-7:39 AM and 5:39 PM-7:39 PM: the windows to build the day around.

The plan, species by species

Rainbow troutFair

Blue-winged olives and midges on soft seams; streamers on overcast days move the better fish.

Brown troutFair

Pre-spawn aggression: this is streamer season for the fish of the year.

Tomorrow: Similar at 85 F. The solunar majors shift about 50 minutes later.Next report: Sat, Sep 5, 6:30 AMHow this report is made →

Water and weather

Live readings from North Platte River at Alcova.

No live gauge on this water

Conditions here are modeled from weather, season and the nearest stations. Water readings appear when a USGS gauge is available.

Right now

Latest readings

Air temp84 F

High / Low85 / 58 F

WindSW 20-25 mph

Pressure1004.1 hPa, rising

Sky / Rain0% cloud, 0%

Sunrise / Sunset06:35 / 19:36

MoonLast Quarter, 50%

Water temp (seasonal)~54 F est.

Bite planner

Hour-by-hour bite forecast for today. Tap a bar to see why.

Next 7 days

Tap a day for the detailed outlook.

Fri Sep 4 · Clear, 85/58 F, wind 23 mph, rain 0%

Slow. Wind at 23 mph makes boat control the day's real problem; find protected banks.

Species guide

The species that matter on Grey Reef: seasons, structure and how to fish each one. Today's ratings live in the report above.

Rainbow trout illustration

Rainbow trout

Best: Apr-Jun, Sep-Oct

The workhorse of western rivers: riffles, seams and dry-fly eats. Blue-winged olives and midges on soft seams; streamers on overcast days move the better fish.

Brown trout illustration

Brown trout

Best: Sep-Nov

Wary, predatory and nocturnal by preference. The big ones eat streamers. Pre-spawn aggression: this is streamer season for the fish of the year.

When to come: the Grey Reef calendar

Activity by species and month, and how the water warms through the year. Tap any cell.

Species activity by month

1 = slow, 5 = peak. Current month highlighted.

J

F

M

A

M

J

J

A

S

O

N

D

Rainbow trout

Brown trout

SlowPeak

Water temperature through the year

Typical surface temperature for this water type; today is around 54 F (estimated, not a reading).

Angler reports

Real reports from real anglers, reviewed before publishing. The water log below tracks each day automatically.

No angler reports yet this weekBe the first: your report helps every angler who checks Grey Reef today, and we feature the best catch of the week.

Water log, last days

Auto-logged from live data

Thu, Sep 3

3/5 Fair. Fish the windows. A steady pattern: dawn and dusk carry the day. Rainbow trout led the card at good. High of 83 F, wind to 20 mph.

Wed, Sep 2

2/5 Slow. The wind owns today. 24 mph gusts make boat control the real battle. Rainbow trout led the card at good. High of 80 F, wind to 24 mph.

Tue, Sep 1

2/5 Slow. The wind owns today. 28 mph gusts make boat control the real battle. Rainbow trout led the card at good. High of 79 F, wind to 28 mph.

Before you go

License

Wyoming requires a valid fishing license for adults. Buy online from the state agency; one-day options exist for visitors.

Regulations

Wyoming license. Special regulations apply on the Grey Reef reach including gear and slot rules: check current Game and Fish regulations.

Access

Grey Reef access area and public boat ramps along the reach below Alcova Dam; guided floats from Casper.

About this water

The North Platte River tailwater below Alcova Dam, Natrona County, Wyoming.

Fishing Grey Reef: the full guide

A tailwater with big fish

Grey Reef is the reach of the North Platte River immediately below Alcova Dam in central Wyoming, and among western fly anglers it means one thing: large rainbow trout in remarkable numbers. Cold, stable releases and enormous scud and midge populations grow fish that average well over sixteen inches, with genuine trophies common.

Nymphing the reef

The fishing is primarily subsurface: scuds, midge larvae, annelids and egg patterns fished under indicators through the runs and buckets, on relatively short leaders in strong current. Guides float the reach daily and the drift boats are part of the landscape. Dry-fly opportunities exist during hatches but the nymph game dominates.

Flows and the season

Releases from Alcova govern everything: the reach fishes across a wide flow range, but knowing the current release is essential to reading the water. Winter fishing is excellent and uncrowded, with the stable tailwater temperatures keeping fish active. Spring runoff has less effect here than on freestone rivers.

Casper-area logistics

Access is via the Grey Reef access area and public and leased boat ramps along the reach, with Casper about 30 minutes east providing guides, shops and lodging. Much of the surrounding land is private: know the access points and the high-water mark rules. Wind is a constant on the Wyoming plains.

Common questions

How big are the rainbows?

They average well over sixteen inches with genuine trophies common: the scud and midge populations grow them fast.

Is it mostly nymphing?

Yes: scuds, midges and annelids under indicators dominate, though hatches bring dry-fly windows.

Can I fish it in winter?

Yes and it is excellent: stable tailwater temperatures keep fish active and the crowds disappear.

Is fishing good at Grey Reef right now?

Check the daily report at the top of this page: it is regenerated every morning from live data. Today's read: Tough. Pick your battles. Post-front sun and slick water make them sulk.

Nearby waters

North Platte River (Grey Reef)14 mi Pathfinder Reservoir15 mi Seminoe Reservoir39 mi Boysen Reservoir85 mi Glendo Reservoir90 mi Ocean Lake100 mi

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