Fly Fishing Encampment River - Encampment

Fly fishing Encampment River at Encampment offers a premier small-river experience in southern Wyoming's Sierra Madre foothills. The Encampment River is a freestone gem, known for its feisty brown and rainbow trout and a beautiful canyon setting. By the time it reaches the town of Encampment, the river has flowed out of the mountains but still maintains cold, clear flows ideal for trout. Peak runoff in late May can swell flows, but from late June onward it usually runs at a wadable 100–300 CFS – perfect for pocket-water fishing and floating alike. The Encampment's relatively low fishing pressure and healthy insect life have earned it a reputation as one of Wyoming's best wild trout streams. A popular approach is to float the Encampment in a small raft or drift boat (especially the 15-mile Casino Creek to Encampment stretch), hopping out to wade-fish prime holes. Wade-fishermen can also access the river via BLM lands and the Encampment River Trail in the canyon upstream of town, or near bridge crossings in the valley. The river features alternating riffles, deep pools, and boulder gardens, giving anglers a variety of water to probe. Brown Trout predominate (often 12–18 inches), with Rainbows common and wild Brook Trout in cooler tributaries and headwaters. Local hatches drive the fishing: a famed green drake hatch erupts in late June – big mayflies that bring every trout to the surface, providing epic dry-fly fishing. July brings golden stones and caddis, while late summer sees terrestrial action (hoppers and beetles) along the banks. In fall, brown trout turn aggressive and can be taken on streamers in the deeper pools and undercut banks. The Encampment flows through a classic Western landscape of cottonwood-lined banks and sagebrush hills, with the peaks of the Snowy Range and Sierra Madres visible in the distance. Wildlife is plentiful – mule deer, mink, and great blue herons are regular companions on the river. Anglers should be prepared for afternoon winds, common in the North Platte Valley, which can challenge casting but also help the hopper bite. With its combination of solitude, stellar dry-fly fishing, and quality trout, the Encampment River around the town of Encampment is a beloved water for those in the know. It's an ideal river to fish all day and then swap stories at the rustic local tavern come evening – a true Wyoming trout town adventure.