North Fork Powder River
A Bighorn Mountains stream with brook, brown and rainbow trout, light pressure and access that takes some effort.
- 114 miRiver length
- Jun–SepBest season
- 3Game fish
- 5Access points
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North Fork Powder River
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Live flows from nearby gages
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About the North Fork Powder
The North Fork Powder River flows through the Bighorn Mountains and holds brook, brown and rainbow trout.
It mixes fast pocket water with deeper pools that hold better fish. Getting to the best water usually means hiking or a four-wheel-drive road, which keeps pressure light.
Wyoming Game and Fish rates parts of it as Red Ribbon water. It is a good pick if you want a mountain stream to yourself.
Gages near North Fork Powder River
Is the North Fork Powder fishing today?
See today's top 10 rivers near you, free. Go Premium to score the North Fork Powder, or any gage, on demand.
Other gages nearby
- Middle Fork Powder River near Barnum, WY25.9 mi away Not reporting USGS 06309200
- Clear Creek near Buffalo, WY31.9 mi away Not reporting USGS 06318500
No gages that close. Try a wider radius.
See every gage on the map and today's top 10 rivers in the free appData from the U.S. Geological Survey. Recent readings are provisional and may be revised.
Fish you'll catch
Tap a fish to see every Wyoming river that holds it.
Hatching in November
What's on the water in the Powder watershed this month, and the fly to match.
All 11 hatches this year
Light bars show the season and dark bars the peak. The ringed month is this month.
Tips for fishing the North Fork Powder
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Plan the drive
The best water usually takes a hike or a four-wheel-drive road. Check your route in the app before you go.
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Fish the pockets and pools
Pocket water and deeper pools both hold trout. Cover both.
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Time it for midsummer
July and August are the peak, once flows settle and bugs get going.
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Keep the box simple
Attractor dries, bead-head nymphs, small streamers and terrestrials cover most days.
Every access point on the North Fork Powder, in your pocket.
- 5 mapped access points, with parking and put-ins
- Today's Fishability score, so you fish the day that lines up
- Bite forecast for the days ahead
Rivers near the North Fork Powder
North Fork Powder River FAQ
When is the best time to fly fish the North Fork Powder River?
June through September, with July and August the peak.
What fish live in the North Fork Powder River?
Brook trout, brown trout and rainbow trout.
Is the North Fork Powder River hard to reach?
Some of it is. The best water often takes a hike or a four-wheel-drive road.
Is there a stream gage on the North Fork Powder River?
Not on the river itself. This page shows the closest reporting USGS gage, and the app has every gage nearby.
Is there public access on the North Fork Powder River?
Yes. There are 5 mapped access points, all in the free FlyFishFinder app.
