Last spring, my dad and Uncle Ron came out from New Hampshire to help me with a few projects around Alcova Resort. Like always, they refused to take any payment for their work. Sothis time, I decided to thank them a different way; with a guided fishing trip on the North Platte River in late April.
It turned out to be one of those unforgettable days.
I set them up with a friend of mine, Logan, a guide who knows the river like the back of his hand and rows it for a living. They left the house at 6 a.m. and spent the entire day drifting the river, casting into cold, clear water and reeling in fish after fish. The bite was absolutely on. By the time they got back that evening they were tired, hungry, and grinning from ear to ear; it was clear the trip had been something special.
To this day, my dad still talks about the magic of that float. The beauty of the North Platte, the quiet of an early spring morning, and the experience of being out on the water with someone who truly understands it. It all stuck with him.
There are plenty of guides and outfitters offering floats between Alcova and Casper, including the famed Miracle Mile. But there’s something about early spring that makes it different. The water is still cold, the fish are active, and the summer crowds haven’t arrived yet. It’s a quieter, more personal experience and when conditions line up just right, the fishing can be incredible.
Some days are just fishing trips. Others turn into stories you tell for years. This was one of those days.