Back in 2020 I moved to Casper, WY and attempted to learn to fly fish.  Got a nice rod and reel and as of yet haven't caught a d**n thing.  

 

Obviously lack of success means I dont go very often, so I've thought maybe I should try a spin rod/reel and some spinners instead?

 

When I started bass fishing back in the day, I had a Penn Battle 2 and an Okuma spinning reel.  

 

I'm looking for some gear suggestions - what's a good reel for North Platte trout around thr $100 price?  Think a St Croix 7ft trout rod would suffice with it?

 

Thanks!

I’d say learn to use the one you already bought before you get another 

 

bout any lighter spinning rod will be good for trout, I like 6 foot or 6’6” but there are many more trees where I live than out west. Anything you would throw 1/16 -1/8 oz spinners with 

26 minutes ago, TnRiver46 said:

I’d say learn to use the one you already bought before you get another 

 

bout any lighter spinning rod will be good for trout, I like 6 foot or 6’6” but there are many more trees where I live than out west. Anything you would throw 1/16 -1/8 oz spinners with 

The rod and reel I have is a fly rod and reel, hence why I'm seeing what I might go with for spinning instead.

 

I do have a Dobyns baitcaster with a Shimano reel, though I got it for bass.  I figure it's far too stiff for the light spinners trout would require.

 

I think it's a Dobyns 692 something.

About any ultralight, or medium light, if you want larger lures. will work.

On the fly fishing side of things - what have you tried that's not working?

I can't recall the last time I fished dries, or even nymphs, I fish streamers almost all the time.  Streamers are much more effective for any fish, including trout, and might be a way for you to see some success with a fly rod if you want to pursue it.

28 minutes ago, Further North said:

About any ultralight, or medium light, if you want larger lures. will work.

On the fly fishing side of things - what have you tried that's not working?

I can't recall the last time I fished dries, or even nymphs, I fish streamers almost all the time.  Streamers are much more effective for any fish, including trout, and might be a way for you to see some success with a fly rod if you want to pursue it.

I've tried dries and nymphs.  Not a fan of nymphing, never tried streamers.  Gone plenty of times, but can never seem to get anything to bite.

 

I invested a decent amount of money into a nice fly rod and reel, figured moving out here I'd pick up a new hobby since bass aren't anywhere near me, really.  Some smallies at Flaming Gorge, but thats like 5hrs away I think.

37 minutes ago, CybrSlydr said:

I've tried dries and nymphs.  Not a fan of nymphing, never tried streamers.  Gone plenty of times, but can never seem to get anything to bite.

 

I invested a decent amount of money into a nice fly rod and reel, figured moving out here I'd pick up a new hobby since bass aren't anywhere near me, really.  Some smallies at Flaming Gorge, but thats like 5hrs away I think.

Other than the cast and stripping the streamers in rather than reeling, streamers are fished pretty much like conventional gear.  They are considerably more effective than dries or nymphs with rare exceptions.

You could start with something as simple as a Woolly Bugger and go from there.  I'm sure any local-ish fly shops could get you going in the right direction.

Check out: bestfishingsecrets.com Fish with your spinning rod using casting bubbles. Have used a clear Torpedo Float and spinning gear with Betts Bugs for Bluegill and the Bass, too.

Good Fishing

On 7/14/2025 at 10:29 AM, CybrSlydr said:

Back in 2020 I moved to Casper, WY and attempted to learn to fly fish.  Got a nice rod and reel and as of yet haven't caught a d**n thing.  

 

Obviously lack of success means I dont go very often, so I've thought maybe I should try a spin rod/reel and some spinners instead?

 

When I started bass fishing back in the day, I had a Penn Battle 2 and an Okuma spinning reel.  

 

I'm looking for some gear suggestions - what's a good reel for North Platte trout around thr $100 price?  Think a St Croix 7ft trout rod would suffice with it?

 

Thanks!

If you can, hire a guide and tell them you just want to learn. Even if it's just a half day. You'll be in business in no time. Fly fishing so much easier than most people think. Catching trout on a fly rod in Wyoming of all places is super rewarding. 

 

If you have any more questions. Hit me up. Willing to help all I can.

On 7/14/2025 at 12:23 PM, CybrSlydr said:

I've tried dries and nymphs.  Not a fan of nymphing, never tried streamers.  Gone plenty of times, but can never seem to get anything to bite.

 

I invested a decent amount of money into a nice fly rod and reel, figured moving out here I'd pick up a new hobby since bass aren't anywhere near me, really.  Some smallies at Flaming Gorge, but thats like 5hrs away I think.

 

Nymphing is by far the most effective way to catch trout particularly in the South Platte. But this is also true in any place that has trout. Most of their feeding is on subsurface nymphs. If you aren't catching them on nymphs then there are likely a few likely reasons.

 

1. Get down to where the fish are. Add weight to the leader until you feel it ticking the bottom. If you are getting hung up a bunch then take weight off. 

 

2. Try to get a drag free drift. And mend your line. There are probably a million videos on Youtube that show how to mend.  Make shorter casts, actually don't cast at all with nymph rig just use the water to load the rod and flip it upstream. Casting a nymph rig sucks and you will get more tangles.

 

3. Find a riffle somewhere and fish it. Riffle fish are less picky, particularly rainbow trout who are kind of dumb and won't pass up a meal.

 

4. I would bet that you are getting strikes on nymphs and you don't realize it. Set on any hesitation of your strike indicator.

 

Streamers are my absolute favorite way to fish for trout but you won't get the numbers over the long run. But the strikes are exhilarating. It's like the fly fishing version of crankbaits or swimbaits.   

 

It's highly recommended that you learn to use your rod to animate the streamer instead of just stripping it in. Stripping works too but you won't get the same action.

3 hours ago, Pumpkin Lizard said:

If you can, hire a guide and tell them you just want to learn. Even if it's just a half day. You'll be in business in no time. Fly fishing so much easier than most people think. Catching trout on a fly rod in Wyoming of all places is super rewarding. 

 

If you have any more questions. Hit me up. Willing to help all I can.

Great advice, and kind offer.

2 minutes ago, Further North said:

Great advice, and kind offer.

 

Thanks. And to clarify I wasn't  dismissing your advice. I'm a total streamer addict, I own hundreds of them and that's not counting the ones I tied.  When I lived in SW Wisconsin I was trout fishing every day I could and when everyone was nymphing with pink squirrels I was tossing streamers. My only regret was not doing a few Musky trips up north.

Turns out I left a nice spinning rod and a couple of spinning reels that should be well suited to this endeavor with my folks when I moved out here.  Looking to get those shipped out here rather than buy new gear.

 

Appreciate the advice - youre right, I hate trying to cast nymphs- I get far more tangles and twists than actual casts.  Lol

2 hours ago, CybrSlydr said:

Turns out I left a nice spinning rod and a couple of spinning reels that should be well suited to this endeavor with my folks when I moved out here.  Looking to get those shipped out here rather than buy new gear.

 

Appreciate the advice - youre right, I hate trying to cast nymphs- I get far more tangles and twists than actual casts.  Lol

 

Try the first part. Don't worry about trying the snap T.

 

 

I use spinners on a 6' or 6' 6" casting rod, with a low profile baitcaster that can handle light weights. Spinner fishing for trout is a science in its own right, but compared to fly fishing it is like the power vs. finesse debate in bass fishing. Fly casting is definitely a more finesse presentation. However, that doesn't mean it is more effective. I will say because the spinner is kind of a flashy, loud vibration, unnatural thing, your initial presentation to a pool has to be just right. If the trout already sensed something unnatural or spooky it might not react to the spinner. Usually it's just a few casts on each spot and move on. I know fly anglers will stand on a riffle for quite a while, but that's not the best way to spinner fish. Cover water, and look at how the spinner flashes in the water. I rarely throw a silver spinner. It's just to much flash. 

I moved to SW Montana and had the same thought.  Now I've decided I just don't like trout.  They're fickle moody things.

On 8/15/2025 at 1:21 PM, MassBass said:

Fly casting is definitely a more finesse presentation.

Not always 😉

 

 

 

 

 

 

6 hours ago, MontanaBasser said:

Now I've decided I just don't like trout. 

They are...but try muskies.  

They can make trout look like groupies...

On 8/15/2025 at 1:21 PM, MassBass said:

I use spinners on a 6' or 6' 6" casting rod, with a low profile baitcaster that can handle light weights. Spinner fishing for trout is a science in its own right, but compared to fly fishing it is like the power vs. finesse debate in bass fishing. Fly casting is definitely a more finesse presentation. However, that doesn't mean it is more effective. I will say because the spinner is kind of a flashy, loud vibration, unnatural thing, your initial presentation to a pool has to be just right. If the trout already sensed something unnatural or spooky it might not react to the spinner. Usually it's just a few casts on each spot and move on. I know fly anglers will stand on a riffle for quite a while, but that's not the best way to spinner fish. Cover water, and look at how the spinner flashes in the water. I rarely throw a silver spinner. It's just to much flash. 

 

A Czech/Euro Nymph rig will out fish spin casting 8 days a week.

 

 

Size 1 no alibi size spinners. That’s what we used when we fished the Kootenai river in western Montana. 

what a strange thread

On 10/16/2025 at 1:36 PM, Pumpkin Lizard said:

 

A Czech/Euro Nymph rig will out fish spin casting 8 days a week.

 

 

Maybe on the 8th day, there is a fall nor'easter pounding the coast, with a stiff wind and heavy gusts. Let me know how your Nymph rig would fare in those conditions.

2 hours ago, MassBass said:

Maybe on the 8th day, there is a fall nor'easter pounding the coast, with a stiff wind and heavy gusts. Let me know how your Nymph rig would fare in those conditions.

Like an Oh Maniac….

On 10/16/2025 at 12:36 PM, Pumpkin Lizard said:

 

A Czech/Euro Nymph rig will out fish spin casting 8 days a week.

 

 

Probably not.

 

On 10/17/2025 at 7:49 AM, bulldog1935 said:

what a strange thread

What's that bottom set up?  It looks very interesting.

 

On 10/18/2025 at 9:18 AM, Further North said:

Probably not.

 

What's that bottom set up?  It looks very interesting.

 

You’ve definitely never tried it then. It’s practically a cheat code. It will catch every fish in a riffle and not spook the whole run. Sorry not sorry. 

On 10/17/2025 at 1:35 PM, MassBass said:

Maybe on the 8th day, there is a fall nor'easter pounding the coast, with a stiff wind and heavy gusts. Let me know how your Nymph rig would fare in those conditions.

it’s a nymph rig. No casting required. You just let the current load the rod and flip it upstream.  Too easy.
 

 

 

 

 

 

16 hours ago, Pumpkin Lizard said:

You’ve definitely never tried it then. It’s practically a cheat code. It will catch every fish in a riffle and not spook the whole run. Sorry not sorry. 

I've tried it.  It's not always the best way...

 

16 hours ago, Pumpkin Lizard said:

it’s a nymph rig. No casting required. You just let the current load the rod and flip it upstream.  Too easy.

If only it were that easy...

On 10/20/2025 at 3:34 PM, Pumpkin Lizard said:

You’ve definitely never tried it then. It’s practically a cheat code. It will catch every fish in a riffle and not spook the whole run. Sorry not sorry. 

it’s a nymph rig. No casting required. You just let the current load the rod and flip it upstream.  Too easy.
 

 

 

 

 

 

And 8 days a week, every stream has perfect flow on every run. There was a drought all summer. I'm not dismissing nymphing, but you can't say it is the best way to catch trout all the time. Maybe you are just thinking streams, but when you try ponds and lakes, spooning shines even more over Nymphing.