WYOMING'S GREAT OUTDOORS

(Provided by an original Grumpy Old Man)

FLY-FISHING IS LIFE - ALL THE REST IS JUST DETAILS

(Update 12/9/2006)

Some of the streams and ponds are fishing well. Went out on the North Platte River, below Grey Reefs in the spring. Still a little cool out, but floated in a drift boat with a pleasant guide, good company and knowledgeable about the North Platte. You may know a lot about fly fishing, but new areas are tough and our local guides know their stuff. I highly recommend using a guide for at least the first time in this area..

It was a little windy in the PM, but the morning was beautiful, fish were a little tough to get them to bite. Used a San Juan Worm (red) with a dropper with an egg imitation. Several good hits, several fish, and the best was a 22 inch rainbow at four pounds. The guide's estimate and my story - I'm going to stick with it. Four good runs and jumps - a pleasure to release!

Jeanne caught one that fought for about ten minutes, got it up to the boat before it flipped off at the last moment. I think it was bigger than mine. Jeanne is a really good fly fisher(wo)man, she almost always catches the biggest fish, I'd like to think I catch more of them... but who is counting. We were able to go up on a bluff above the river about 30' during lunch break. We could see down into the river where some rainbows were spawning. There were some torpedoes down there that made what we caught look like minnows!!

Need a few new streams?

Love going up to the Clark's Fork in Wyoming, or Montana in the summer to try some of their famous streams. You haven't fished until you have hit the Big Horn River near the dam. An overnight float on the South Fork of the Snake in Idaho has got be in our plans this year, we use it as a wedding anniversary trip. It has always been good. Oh, and try the Henry's Fork near the West Entrance to Yellowstone.  If you are after Cutthroats, another hot spot is inside Yellowstone Park on Soda Butte Creek (feeds the Lamar River) with easy access from Cooke City, MT.

For you died in the wool fly fishers, take the challenge of Wyoming's Cutt-Slam--- Catch in Wyoming and photograph one each of the Colorado River Cutthroat, the Bonneville Cutthroat, the Snake River Cutthroat, and the Yellowstone Cutthroat. Have the photos confirmed by a Biologist as to where and when caught and send it into the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

AND if you are worth at least one penny, you will catch and release.