The Only Trout Fishery Like This in the Lower 48
For Dustin White, fishing was never just a hobby. It started with a rod in hand when he could barely walk and grew into a way of life built around hospitality and the great outdoors.
For Dustin White, fishing was never just a hobby. It started with a rod in hand when he could barely walk and grew into a way of life built around hospitality and the great outdoors.
Just named the Orvis Fly Fishing Guide of the Year, Dustin has spent combined 17 seasons guiding between Wyoming and Ohio, with the last seven years full-time with the team at Ugly Bug Fly Shop. What began as taking friends fishing quickly snowballed into something bigger, turning a side hustle into a career rooted in connection.
And if you ask him what matters most, it is not just the fish.
“We don’t work in the fishing industry,” Dustin says, quoting a friend. “We work in the hospitality industry.”
Why Natrona County is a Premier Destination for Anglers
Natrona County has, “the best trout fishery in the country,” according to Dustin.
“The quality here is bar none in the lower 48.”
What makes this fishery unique comes down to size, access, and variety.
The average trout runs bigger than most anglers will find elsewhere.
Public access makes it easy to get on the water.
You can go from downtown to world-class fishing in minutes.
There are opportunities for both beginners and seasoned anglers.
And the fishing doesn’t end with trout.
Casper’s reservoirs have become a destination for carp on the fly, drawing anglers from across the country. The experience feels more like fishing the coastal south than the high plains, with wide open water and cruising fish, all set against a Wyoming backdrop of mountains and sky.
“It’s unlike anything else,” Dustin says. “People fly in just for that.”
More Than a Day on the Water
For Dustin, a successful day of guiding has very little to do with how many fish end up in the net.
Instead, he measures it by three things:
- Did you learn something?
- Did you make a memory?
- Did you build a relationship?
Maybe it is the fish of a lifetime. Maybe it is the one that got away. Maybe it is a moment that has nothing to do with fishing at all.
Those are the days people come back for.
Over time, many of Dustin’s clients do just that. Year after year. Generation after generation. What starts as a guided trip becomes a tradition, built on shared experience and trust.
Stewardship Runs Deep
That connection to people is matched by an equally strong commitment to the resource itself.
“We’re not here to exploit it,” Dustin says. “We’re here to experience and enjoy it.”
For guides like Dustin, that responsibility does not end when the trip is over. It shows up in how fish are handled, how water is respected, and how decisions are made when conditions are not ideal. Sometimes that means limiting time on the river or shifting focus to other species to protect trout populations.
The resource, he reminds clients, is finite.
“As guides, we’re not just ambassadors for the sport. We’re protectors of the resource too.”
That mindset is part of a broader culture in Natrona County’s fly fishing community, where advocacy, education, and stewardship go hand in hand with time on the water.
New to Fishing? Start Here
Fly fishing can look intimidating from the outside, but Dustin is quick to lower that barrier.
“It doesn’t have to be,” he says. “People in this industry get excited about helping others get into it.”
If you are curious about trying it for the first time, his advice is simple:
- Stop by a local fly shop and ask questions
- Take a casting class or beginner clinic
- Consider hiring a guide to get started
- Spend time on your local water
“Fish. Fish. Fish,” he says with a laugh.
Casper’s fishing community is built on camaraderie, and there are plenty of entry points for beginners who want to give it a shot.
Off the Water, Plenty to Explore
One of the things Dustin loves most about guiding in Natrona County is that the experience does not stop when you leave the river.
Whether it is catching a concert at David Street Station, heading to a rodeo, or grabbing dinner at a local restaurant or brewery, there is a full trip waiting beyond the water.
“It matters what people are interested in,” he says. “We’ve got a lot to point them toward.”
That mix of outdoor access and in-town energy makes Casper especially appealing for families and groups, where not everyone needs to be on the river all day to enjoy the trip.
A Team Effort
While Dustin’s recognition as the Orvis Flyfishing Guide of the Year is a major honor, he is quick to point to the people around him.
He credits his team at The Ugly Bug Fly Shop for pushing him to be better every day, describing them as a group that learns from each other and shares a commitment to both the craft and the community.
Plan Your Own Natrona County Fishing Experience
Whether you are a lifelong angler or someone who has never picked up a rod, Natrona County offers a fishing experience that is both accessible and unforgettable.
Here, you can cast into some of the best trout water in the country in the morning, explore town in the afternoon, and end the day with a story worth telling.
Plan Your Trip
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