Memorial Day Fly Fishing Report-

Trey Scharp spotting the morning's first yellow belly in the 8th annual Carp Classic

It never ceases to amaze me how driven and creative an evolved fly angler can become. This is easily demonstrated by the spread of our sport across all geographical boundaries and our pursuit for any fish well beyond the normal. Even here in Wyoming, Montana & Idaho, arguably the pinnacle region for American trout fisheries, we get the itch for something new and fresh(only in the experiential sense). So what do a handful of early season fishing guides and outfitters do to raise a few bucks for a family in need?  

Carp on the Fly!

The Carp Classic was first established in 2004 to help benefit a guide and his/her family in a time of need- we are all there at some point. Since then the group has become more organized and now hosts, especially when the weather cooperates, dozens of participants and friends. The tournament converges on the  remote reservoir of Blackfoot that harbors literally tens of thousands of mirror carp. The two day event includes some fantastic camping, sharing of stories, food & beer and, of course your fly against the wily carp.   

I have pursued carp with a fly rod before with some luck and found it to be similar to redfish of the salt marsh- no offense to my redfish friends at all! These fish will lay up in shallow grass & willows to feed and at times aggressively. However, this trip to Blackfoot the carp were cruising and sucking in midge pupae from the intense hatch that had been happening for several days, needless to say the catching was very tough... perfect for some thinking anglers. So next time you need to scratch a big fish itch, grab a fly rod and give the old carp a try- you may walk away humbled yet satisfied, we did.

Jeff Currier cracking the code with a chartreuse bonefish fly- check out his detailed blog here!

First flying carpenter ant of 2012

Our gorgeous spring is continuing here in Jackson Hole and with ample warmth comes early insect emergence. Most think of heavy caddis or plump western mayflies in May- true these are of significance but while our rivers remain high from snow melt the main attraction locally can turn to the numerous lakes along the range and here the first bug to get the trout looking up are terrestrial in origin. Flying ants are not a separate species of ants at all. They are simply ants at a particular stage of life — specifically, the mating stage. Here we see large carpenter ants in late spring taking flight after several days in the upper 70's. Often followed by gusty winds the ants are blown from nearby downed timber to the lakes surface. When the conditions are ripe the trout become voracious and feed in an intoxicated manner. Super fun to witness!

Finespotted cutthroat from Jenny Lake

Other reports from the region are all consistent with a great fishing season in the making. My top picks for the Memorial Day weekend are often narrow but this year we have several viable options:

#1- Firehole River in Yellowstone NP- cool condition this weekend may slow hatches but the flows are low and the trout are very aggressive at this time.

#2- Green River- The flows have been on the slow drop(1000cfs) and fishing is good with streamers and nymphs.

#3- South Fork & Henry's Fork, ID- These rivers have had a fabulous spring and are fishing well with only moderate early season flows. Salmonflies are moving on the HF and the SF(11,000cfs) is fishing quite well with streamers and nymphs.

2011 & 2012- Seasons of Extremes

There is no doubt that normal weather and climate patterns are changing, this I think we can all agree without getting into the political and environmental aspects of that debate. Everything is in a constant state of change but in my opinion as an outdoorsman nothing compares to the radical swings we are seeing all across the globe. For instance, last season the Northern Rockies had a tremendous snowpack topping 200% or more in some drainages bringing delight to whitewater enthusiasts and the typical pains to the angler. While this season contrasts the complete lack of snowpack in many vast regions and could eventually spell out the beginnings of a major drought. Only time will tell but state hydrologist say they have never seen two record breaking seasons back to back, both at opposite ends of the spectrum- One for the record books!

Dave Smith and Louie checking out the soon to be fish n chips(lake trout).

In the meantime, we are fishing and all indications point to a long productive season. Our runoff has shifted on & off with the passing warm to cool trends but now seems to be in full swing. The outlook is for med-high flows through May with a fairly quick decent into the middle part of June. By July most areas will be clear and fishable, perhaps even the mighty Snake River here in Jackson Hole will fish by the 4th of July... in 2011 it was closer to August 10th!

In many areas we are a good month ahead- with local temps in the 70's the lakes are turning on and flying ants are out in down timber. The word is the Salmonflies are moving up the Henry's Fork near Vernon this weekend so be prepared for the fiberglass hatch as well. Yellowstone Park opens to fishing   on May 26th and the Firehole should be producing some fabulous hatches with the warm conditions in that area too. 

Best to all... and get out to enjoy our beautiful natural resources!

Salmonfly

2012 Runoff Begins!

The downside to our gorgeous spring weather we had the last week or two is that the river blows out, hence the 2012 runoff began on the upper Snake a little early as night time temps remained above freezing. Soaring valley temps on April 23(76 for a high!) sent the hydrograph into a vertical climb that past the tipping point and by early afternoon flows at Moose were already green-brown with less than 2' of visibility. Of course, our tailwaters in the region are fairing well but as cold flows increase from the dams I personally feel the spring action is closing until the sun can work its magic and warm maturing insect larvae. Until then streamers and large nymphs worked slowly can pick up impressive trout in slower troughs. 

However, keep in mind the snowpack is in constant change and if we re-enter a cold cycle this can seize the pack and slow runoff, often stopping it all together and opening a brief window. Some of my best days have come after a week or two of runoff that has been choked off by a cold front. The flows drop and clear enough to trigger aggressive feeding while the conditions allow. This happens more on our medium sized freestone rivers of Jackson Hole.

Season Starting off Right!

It has been a few years since I have seen this much early season fishing activity. From the start, March tilted a trend towards the warmest spring I can recall with several days approaching 70 and many more in the 50's & 60's, normal perhaps back east or in lower elevations but this is Jackson Hole, a place known for its lingering winters. Our current snowpack is around 82% and instead of growing from spring snows & rain it is quickly receding into the high country. This is fine , certainly for our early season activities, but can pose a potential late season dire situation with wildfires and dry drainages. Counter intuitively, dry, late season conditions bring high water on our most celebrated rivers, like the Snake of Jackson Hole and the South Fork in Eastern Idaho. The reason is as tributaries drop and agricultural lands dry the demand for water increases and the regulating bureaus step up outflow from these river's dams.

It has been a few years since we have seen a super hot summer, so I feel we are over due and might brace for just that. Until then we are enjoying a fantastic spring!

Early Skwalla Stones on the Snake

Spring streamer fishing can net the best catches of the season sometimes. Big trout chase forage fish & large nymphs in the warmer shallows as the flows rise from snowmelt... RUBBERLEGS!

March fishing report

All indications point to a great spring fishing start up with steady clear flows and warmer than average air temps forecasted well into the next week or so. These warm days and cool nights will bring our big cutty's from deep lies and into shallow corners for a midge or BWO buffet. No better delight than to float the Snake River in March or April with snow covered bars and islands. Trips are more casual in nature, usually on the water much later(11am), hit the best activity and enjoy a scenic float out(5pm) with a beer. Look me up if you need help arranging one of these fine Grand Teton Fly Fishing Experiences.

Jackson Hole Mid-Winter Snowpack

Well, I am finally getting a winter post in and the word for the season so far is- Blahh! Wait a minute, that is not entirely true, there has been some terrific skiing over the last month or so and winter business has been quite good. One of the best things I learned about Jackson Hole many years ago is that no matter the snowpack, unless there is literally nothing, the mountain holds its charm in terrain! If its a dry season get a race tune from Pepi's and get out on some narrow carvers and have some fun, thats what we were all doing in December. Our better snow kicked in around January 15 and dumped an incredible 80" in two weeks.

Since then it dried out a bit but as of lately cold snow showers are covering our parched pack, we look to be in the flow again and hope the conditions continue to ripen.

Custom Boot fit in Progress

Our snowpack sits at 85% of normal at the moment which is good considering how dry it has been in the entire west and more importantly how coming off another major water season like last year can hurt local outfitters to the brink. If the spring precipitation is average we are expecting to have about 81% water content this year, a little low but not too bad. If it turns super wet in April & May we could be right back into high water scenarios... the bottom line is, its too early to tell!

Tramping the Rough Track- New Zealand 2011

On November 5, 2011, a great friend, Mark Fuller and I embarked on a 3 week fly fishing odyssey to the South Island of New Zealand. We had both turned forty this summer and realized these sort of opportunities just don't pop up every season, so we jumped on it. Our fall fishing had been pretty good in JH this year so I stayed distracted with some work and local fishing right up until our flight to Auckland. I was packed well but mentally had not got my mind around the essence of this fishing journey... most often the best part- the journey. Once you arrive in NZ it kinda hits you, along with sheer exhaustion, that you are in the southern hemisphere(my 1st time) and that we were about to go fly fishing for nearly 3 weeks! An unbelievable road trip and adventure lay before us.

We loaded up with essentials after picking up our transportation for the trip, all in Christchurch. After getting licensed up we were officially set free to wander and explore the multitude of rivers and creeks of the Island, a feeling like your a kid again arriving at the gates of Disney.

Our living by camping(this was a budget trip, absolutely no helicopters) came easy for Mark and I, we are both experienced backpackers so quickly a routine was established and a pace was set on our first day. Most days went something like this: wake, coffee, re-organize gear, eat, dress for fishing, begin hiking/fishing, snack, more hiking/fishing, snack, hike back to camp 2+ hours, beer, dinner, beer & deep sleep. A very satisfying and exhausting day.

Each day poised a different set of obstacles that we quickly adapted to and dealt with, some involved gear or camping but the most interesting challenges came from the trout, which were absolutely mesmerizing to watch. To be successful as an angler can have many facets and levels, some not requiring a catch in hand, yet on this trip we were aquatic hunters akin to human herons and the prize each day was to hold that wild trout, an intoxicating moment indeed.

On our first day, on our first NZ river we both went a good two hours before seeing much of anything. I soon realized that this trip was going to be what I quickly coined as a "water study"; instead of casting hard for 10-14hrs like we do in Wyoming, I was going to walk slowly and stare at rocks, sticks, riffles, seams, flats & anything else that looked fishy for a dozen hours or more. This activity can really let your mind run loose and fortunately the exotic bird songs kept me grounded and mostly focused.

When you spot a trout in this magnificent landscape your heart truly begins to race, a feeling more similar to casting to a large tarpon or sighting your first permit. Yet, these were just large wild trout that can test every aspect of our art form and it is then you realize this is what we crave on a daily basis, a connection with nature that makes you feel very much alive.

Our luck with the weather could not have been better in the first 2 weeks. As we arrived the conditions were favorable on most rivers in the regions we intended to focus, the Nelson & West Coast regions and better yet, there was no serious rain in the extended forecast. Our first experiences on the rivers was a combination of elated spirit and humbled promises. We caught nice fish daily but the typical mistakes were made and the trout punished you severely, often making you walk for miles before having another shot, and even then there was no guarantee.

After those first few days we fell into a good groove in the Murchison area. We made friends, rested up, replenished supplies and got our game plan down for the remainder of the trip that allowed for two back country outings and several good rivers to explore from the highway in marathon day trips. The trip was nearly half over and we were now ready and eager to apply some tactics we had learned and caught onto.

Backpacking & "tramping" in NZ is a widely celebrated activity and is available all around you. Our experience in the West Coast region's native bush lined trails was one of captivation and pure excitement. The native bird calls seemed to flow into a continuous song even after covering several kilometers. It was interesting to see such a contrast in vegetation from what we were familiar with, there fern trees rose above to create a dense canopy that looked to be from the Mesozoic Era. Our tramping at times was very strenuous and some of the slip(landslide) crossings quite treacherous, again an experience that heightens your awareness of life.

The back country rivers we visited were in prime condition and stunningly beautiful. While searching and studying the water you would often loose your focus and just be completely blown away by the clarity and richness of this aquatic environment.

After all the hard work getting there was over the fishing was at a minimum, spectacular. Our daily routine was simple, we worked up new water slowly and as we came upon a trout you would immediately stop and start scanning the scene. First, study what the fish was doing, speed of the water, depth, sun-angle, nearest deep lie, logs, etc... the whole scenario was in constant evaluation as you formulate an approach, fly & cast. Meanwhile, your chest is pounding and your brain is rolling through all the possibilities and the clock is ticking, you have to move quickly otherwise the fish would often turn off for no reason... its pretty intense. If you were lucky enough to close the deal you felt elated, if not it was hard to watch your mate work the next sighting, only fair.

After our adventures in the West Coast bush we headed to the town of Reefton to again supply up and stage for what we had planned to be a full week of exploration, instead the weather had other ideas. A 24 hour flood dropped 255mm of rain in the area and every river was a complete torrent. The locals were saying a 50 year storm! Amazingly, the flows dropped as quickly as they rose and by mid-day the following day we had fish able water. This time with higher flows than we had encountered anywhere, we did less spotting and tried blind fishing streamers. This proved to be effective in the slow backwaters and offered some good numbers of hefty trout. The rain came back for a second round and did the rivers in again, this time for 48 hours. On our last 2 days we hiked into a lake and had one more day on the Inangahua River with fair success but still high flows. After our 3 weeks in New Zealand we had walked nearly 85 miles and fished almost 30 miles of breathtaking waterways... it was time to head to our wintry home back in JH.

Thanks for viewing, best to all!