Miracle Mile, on the North Platte River,
has been a well known trout fishery for decades. It is probably still a more recognized name than Grey Reef. Miracle Mile deserves its reputation as a productive fly fishing destination for trophy trout..
What will I catch?
The Miracle Mile has rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout in healthy numbers. The ratio of species are more evenly matched than at Grey Reef. Although, rainbows and browns are caught far more often than cutthroat trout. The trout population took a hit earlier this decade and have been making strong recovery ever since. There are around 2000 fish per mile as of the latest Wyoming Game and Fish count. The average size of Miracle Mile's trout are not what they once were, but will grow to rival their heyday at the current rate.
We personally saw a number of trout over 25 inches landed at "The Mile" this past season. What is the Miracle Mile like? Miracle Mile is released from the Kortes Dam in Northern Carbon County, Wyoming. The elevation is 6000 feet and it is surrounded by the Pedro and Seminoe Mountain ranges. The high sage brush plain is home to elk, mule deer and antelope. During hunting season there will hunting camps set up at the many campsites along the river.
Miracle Mile flows through Bureau of Reclamation land and is almost all public access. It is also home of the mythical 'Little People of the Pedros', a band of pigmy Indians who terrorized the other Indian tribes who frequented the area.
Miracle Mile is not like Grey Reef. The gradient of the river is much steeper, the river bottom is mostly large rocks on the upper reaches and fine gravel on the lower sections, and the water is composed of heavy riffles and some rapids.
Wading "The Mile" can be treacherous, especially on the upper several miles below Kortes Dam. Large slippery rocks and swift currents make falling a common occurrence. A wading staff is a good choice for all but the strongest waders. The lower reaches offer easier wading, but more dispersed fish
The Miracle Mile is not typically a river that is accessed by boats. It is largely on public land and has road access to both sides of the river so floating it is not necessary.
How do I get to Miracle Mile?
The Miracle Mile can be accessed by four different roads coming from four different directions. You can travel north from Sinclair, Wyoming; west from Hanna, Wyoming; south from Wyoming HWY 77 in Shirley Basin or east from Alcova, Wyoming.
The Reef Fly Shop and North Platte Lodge in Alcova, Wyoming are a 30 minute drive from the Miracle Mile in dry conditions. During wet weather all the roads will be very muddy and snow can drift and make passage impossible at times. "The Mile" is located at least 45 miles from the nearest emergency services. Call The Reef Fly Shop for current fishing and road conditions.
What techniques catch fish at the Miracle Mile?
All the same techniques for success on the Grey Reef section of the North Platte River apply to the Miracle Mile.
Nymphing will be the most productive method. A two fly rig with a larger attractor pattern and a dropper to match the current hatch will work well. Long dead drifts are recommended.
Streamers are also a great way to catch fish at Miracle Mile. The fish are most willing to chase a streamer later in the year, from late June through November. A sink tip fly line will work best for streamer fishing the deeper runs.
Dry fly fishing is good sport, especially during the Golden Stonefly hatch. A hopper/dropper rig works well in this situation. Use a large buoyant dry fly with a weighted stonefly nymph dropped a couple feet below that. Trout will rise to all hatches including caddis, PMDs, baetis and tricos.
We highly recommend that you make a stop at the Miracle Mile for at least a portion of a day of your North Platte River fly fishing trip. The fishing is challenging, but well worth the effort. Call The Reef Fly Shop for current road and fishing conditions before venturing to the Miracle Mile.
