A report from Jackson Hole...

So...I went up to Jackson Hole this past weekend to visit a friend and do some fishing/look for work (which coincidentally involved fishing...for the most part.) The fishing was unbelievable and so too was the job market. It appears I will be going back to freezing my bum off in the winter, keeping warm by tying flies and drinking Snake River Brewing's finest, and most likely counting down the days until the ice on the river thins enough to sink a nymph through.

Oh by the way. The Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam was on fire. I stopped for about an hour on the way up from Durango and hammered some very large fish on a very large black Chernobyl pattern.

Anyway, I digress, as I was saying the fishing in Jackson was ridiculous. I fished the Buffalo Fork and the Snake near Wilson. 20+ fish all on dries. Yellow Sallies (yes, there is that fly again. I tell you it works, use it) size 18-20 Mahogany Cripples, beetles, ants and hoppers were the name of the game. I fished mainly the Yellow Sally with the Cripple trailing behind going "too-lah-roo-la-roo-la" Then. WHAM! A fish would slam it with the force of one of those hurricane-type thingy's they have down south.

The Snake is somewhat wade-able, it definitely would be way easier from a boat, but still doable with your own legs. It was at around 4000 CFS but it braids all through the Park and around Jackson, which means just pick a tasty looking side channel and have at it. The Buffalo Fork is easily waded at the moment but the reason I left the isolation of that river was due to a Grizzly deciding to join me for some early morning dry fly action. I hadn't realized up to that point that I could walk on water. Had I known that I wouldn't have bothered with wading boots....

Anyway. I would say it's time to travel. The fishing has been as hot as the weather here in the landlocked, anadromous-free, trout filled states of Colorado, Wyoming and New Mexico. Stop in at the Creekside shop on the way out here, load up on some flies, leaders and maybe some bear spray (it doesn't really work, especially if you spray yourself but still, you just never know) brag to Brett about where you're going and don't forget the Rainier.

WhyRainier you ask? Why to pay me for this top-notch information...

Feed Fish Flies, Not Plastic

RB

I have officially hijacked this blog

So. Since Brett has failed at updating the blog since June. I take this over with a list of things to do with the rest of your summer. Oh yes...I am back.

First things first. Fishing should be your top priority. Your significant other be damned...that 500 mile backpacking trip you should complete in three days according to her...forget about it. I have much better plans.

1. The Juan. Aka the San Juan. As always should be tops on the list. I mean comon'...where else can you hook 20+ fish that are 18+ inches in 4 hours on 5x tippet and a size 20 zebra midge? No where! That's right...no where. Just do it. (yes I stole that from Nike, get over it.) Use either a zebra midge or a Skintilla....Skintilla equals a size 20 chocolate colored bubbleback midge...it's like 5 wraps of brown thread with a silver wire rib and a small glass bead. You will slay fish all day. Promise.

2. The Yak. Yes if you wish to stay closer to home well....fish a hopper. Should be amazing right now as it usually is. I have heard that in the summer if you fish a Yellow Sally you can slay fish, but that is just a rumor that has been disputed by many. (However with my 20+ years experience fishing the upper portion...it works...just sayin'.)

3. The South Fork of the Flathead. Sure you have to drive 50 miles up a dirt road. Sure it is in Montana. Pretty sure you will hammer fish and quite possibly a really large bull trout if you get lucky. But I mean...it is sooooooo far. Just say...Hey! It's wilderness...there will be no one around to see you get ignored by me completely. Well maybe don't say that, but you catch my drift.

4. Yellowstone National Park. Ok so you can drop her/him off at civilization and book it for the Lamar, Slough, Yellowstone, Blechler and if you feel real frisky, you can just hike/horseback ride the 50 miles (I recommend the use of a horse) into the Thoroughfare area of the park. It is the largest road less area in the continental US, but trust me the fishing is totally worth it. Big fish...spawning....you will cry from pure joy fishing there. Also...go to Tower Falls...hike the steep trail to the river...fish there...you will not be disappointed. Trust me. That was my spot...you share it with the bears and elk....And that is it. Oh and the fishing is awesome too.

5. Harass Brett. He may pretend he hates it and sure he is a bit uppity, but I mean...can you get better fishing info from anyone but Brett, Dan, Johnny or Pete...I mean Keith is a longshot but still. Harass and garner info from a nice comfy shop in Izzy. Can't get any better than that right? Well on second thought...

My hijack of the thread is over. Enjoy the summer and hopefully Brett decides to update the blog more than once a month after this.

Feed Fish Flies, Not Plastic.

RB

PS: I have been slaying fish on the Animas here in Durango on the Wier Sculpin...so Brett may actually know what he is doing...