The Complete Fly Fishing Guide to Wyoming: Rivers, Seasons, Hatches & License Info

Wyoming has the lowest population density and the highest per-capita trout water of any state. You can fish a 20-fish day on the Miracle Mile in the morning, drive 90 minutes, and have a Bighorn freestone to yourself in the afternoon. This guide covers the planning fundamentals.

The rivers worth the drive

• **North Platte (Miracle Mile and Grey Reef)** — trophy tailwater stretches below Pathfinder and Alcova reservoirs. Average fish on Grey Reef is 17–20 inches.
• **Green River (below Fontenelle, and the Flaming Gorge tailwater)** — big-water classic. The "A Section" below Flaming Gorge is one of the most productive tailwaters in the West.
• **Snake River (Jackson Hole)** — home of the Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat. Float fishing from late July through October.
• **Wind River (Wind River Indian Reservation, with tribal permit)** — wild canyon water for adventurous anglers. Permit required.
• **Bighorn River (Wyoming side, Thermopolis area)** — overshadowed by the Montana Bighorn, but fishes well and far less crowded.
• **Salt River and Greys River** — small, gorgeous freestones near Star Valley. Best in late summer.
• **Firehole, Madison, and Yellowstone (inside Yellowstone Park)** — opens Memorial Day weekend; requires a separate park fishing permit.

When to go: the Wyoming fly fishing calendar

• **March–May** — pre-runoff and runoff. Tailwaters (Miracle Mile, Grey Reef, Green below Flaming Gorge) carry the season.
• **Memorial Day weekend** — Yellowstone Park rivers open. Firehole fishes well immediately.
• **Late June** — salmonflies on the Snake and Salt. Big-bug season.
• **July** — peak hatches everywhere. PMDs, Green Drakes, Yellow Sallies, Gray Drakes on the Green.
• **August** — hoppers and terrestrials. Tricos on the Miracle Mile.
• **September–October** — BWOs, brown trout pre-spawn streamer fishing, and the famous fall Snake River cutthroat run.
• **November–February** — Grey Reef midge fishing for trophy rainbows. Cold but consistent.

Wyoming fishing license: how to get one

• **Resident annual** — about $27
• **Non-resident annual** — about $102
• **Non-resident daily** — about $14/day
• **Conservation stamp** — about $21.50, required in addition to the license (annual licenses only)

Buy online from Wyoming Game and Fish (wgfd.wyo.gov) or at most fly shops and sporting goods stores. Licenses run by calendar year (Jan 1 – Dec 31).

Yellowstone National Park requires a separate fishing permit ($40 for 3 days, $55 for 7 days, $75 annual) regardless of your Wyoming license. Buy at any Yellowstone visitor center or online from the park.

Gear notes specific to Wyoming

• A 9-foot 6-weight handles the North Platte and Green. A 5-weight is plenty for the Snake and smaller freestones.
• Wyoming wind is real. Heavier-line rods (6 or 7 weight) cast better when it's blowing 25 mph from the west — which is most afternoons.
• Felt is legal in Wyoming, banned inside Yellowstone National Park. Carry rubber-soled boots if you'll cross the park boundary.

How Fish Tech helps

Fish Tech covers every river above with live USGS streamflow, water temperature, and wading-safety readings. The tailwater rivers (Miracle Mile, Grey Reef, Green) show generation-influenced flow trends, so you can see whether today's release schedule is fishable before you commit to the drive.