I'm heading to Wyoming to fish the North Platte River for trout in June and am taking a baitcaster (7 ft. M/L action 3-pc travel rod and 6 or 8 lb test on a Diawa Pixie). Can anyone offer any tips regarding lures or colors, or line type, and size?
Thank you.

Nope I throw flies but please pinch your barbs and have fun !

Hacks Tackle / Medicine Bow Outfitters in Saratoga is a great source for information. I’m not sure that a bait caster is your best choice. It can be pretty windy and backlashes could be an issue. Are you going on a float trip or just fishing from the bank?

Solid take, I would use a spin caster for sure.

Float trip.

Can't offer advice on what crickets to throw, but I think you'll have a great time with that BFS setup. I have four set up with 6# line and one with 4# line. I prefer the Ande Backcountry monofilament on my levelwinds. I use blue for my 12# and 4# setups, and green with the 6# setups, so I know what I'm throwing. Although I primarily fly fish, those BFS rigs are a hoot when sightcasting to reds and specks. They get used when I have a guest who doesn't fly fish. They should work just fine up there. Have fun and good luck!

I worked in Wyoming around Wamsutter for 6 years and fished the North Platte outside of Rawlins and "the mile" between Lake Seminoe and Pathfinder a lot. I fished a bait caster without any issues and had a lot of success. Kept line size at 6-8# test. I carried 3 lures.

1) Blue Fox Inline Spinner in Silver #2 size (Worked well when cloudy / dark)
2) Blue Fox Inline Spinner in Gold #2 size (Bright conditions)
3) Ugly Duckling stick baits in trout pattern.

Had some serious locals I worked with and this is what they told me to throw. Bank fished and threw into the current and let it tumble toward us keeping line tight. Targeted eddies and drops. Caught big fish where I would've sworn there couldn't be any. As stated, take the time to file down or pinch the barbs on those hooks. It destroys the fish if you don't, they are soft mouthed.

Good luck!

Toaster, thank you very much for the reply and pics. Can you tell me what size Ugly Duckling stickbait you were throwing? If I cant find it, do you think a Rapala would suffice?
Thanks again.

awesome

I would get some silver and gold little Cleo's also.

June might be ripping water on the Platte, get some various sizes of lures for the high current or lower current.
I use a spinning reel for my trout fishing, bait caster would be ok but a pain I think.
6 lb test line and not that extra thin, limp line-it is a pain if tangled.

I use mostly Panther Martin lures for browns and brookies with a rainbow thrown in. Dressed hooks work better some times of the year but not always. I like the brown trout pattern and rainbow pattern , some dressed hooks too. https://www.panthermartin.com/Fish/Rainbow-Trout

I've caught trout on tiny crawfish crank baits too, say about 1/8-/14 oz and Heddon poppers at 1/8 -1/4 oz in slack water.

Streamers work well too and flies behind a bubble certain times of the year.

Various blade type lures work well on trout but I use them mainly on lakes not rivers or smaller creeks- castmasters,

If you like walleye check into a guided trip for those on say Miracle Mile, Pathfinder , Seminole or Glendo.

Might want to stop in Saratoga and fish that part of the Platte too, stay in town and have hot spring pool soak, maybe check pout the Brush Creek ranch or ABar A .


Best local beer in Laramie, stop and have a few on your way up.

Thank you Wytex. You guys think they may eat a senko? I mean,,,, Every other species does.....

Senko, not really a trout bait or lure. Streamer would be better. They will take a mouse lure.
Those Ugly Ducklings look like the small and tiny lures I've used but not that brand.

Talk with the outfitter of your float trip, most use fly rods but they will know what works for lures too.

Lots of small streams to check out along your route too. Reach out before you go if you want some info. Some plains lakes around Laramie can have good fishing too and not as water level dependent as the Platte. Also some North of here and up in the mountains.
You should check out Saratoga too, great little Western town with some money.

Also just South of Casper, but early June, is the Central Wyoming Machinegun and Cannon Shoot. You can rent full auto to shoot or just check out all the guns and artillery. Guns are rented by the magazine, shoot a mag. for a price and not terribly expensive.

You can buy all kinds of trout lures and baits up here, everywhere for the most part.

lived and fished in colorado for 20 yrs.

if you are gonna use a level wind, get some roostertails in yellow coachdog, 1/8 and 1/4 oz. (spinning rod can throw the 1/6). fished every morning on the way to work with a spinning rod and coachdog.

had a blast making the purists mad at the stretch I fished. it is the most consistent lure I ever used.

have an assortment of the above too but this one is a proven trout getter.