Fisheries biologists in the Casper Region conducted the biennial trout population estimate on the Miracle Mile reach of the North Platte River during the week of July 16.  Anglers will be happy to know the number of large rainbow trout (> 20 inches) is as high as Game and Fish has ever seen.  While the actual estimates will not be calculated until later this fall, it appears that the number of smaller trout (< 16 inches) is not as high as we would like.  The smaller trout are the future of the fishery, and without sufficient survival of smaller fish, the population will likely decrease.  We plan on conducting some follow up sampling this fall and winter to further investigate the poor showing of one- and two-year-old fish in our July sample.  Stay tuned for more information this fall as the data is analyzed.