North Platte River - Miracle Mile
The 'Miracle Mile' tailwater below Kortes Dam is one of America's most famous trophy trout stretches.
Depth & Structure
Tailwater/freestone stretch below Kortes Dam toward Pathfinder Reservoir; riffles, rocky drops and long deep runs and pools, indicator rigs fished 4-7 feet deep in reports, flows around 550 CFS in recent report
Best Lures
Nymphing and streamers are the best methods - deep-drifted nymphs including leech, worm, stonefly and midge/mayfly patterns, stripped and swung streamers for trophy browns in fall-winter, dry flies in June-July on golden stone, yellow sally, caddis and PMD hatches
Best Baits
artificials primary
Gear to Bring
Fly rod 9 ft, 5-weight for general work and 6-weight for heavy streamers and fall browns, 4-5X leader/tippet for streamer work, 5-6X for dries, heavy split shot to reach deep pools
Local Tips
['Fishing best late spring to early summer and again in fall; large lake-run browns move in from Pathfinder Reservoir October-November', 'Roads are rough and silty soils become impassable when wet - check conditions before travelling in']
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Related Water
Fish photos: rainbow trout — Wikimedia Commons · brown trout — Wikimedia Commons · walleye — Wikimedia Commons
Fishing regulations, seasons and limits change — always check the current rules for this water before you fish. Spot pins are approximate area markers, not launch or access coordinates.