Smoky Skies

So sorry it's been so long since I've posted! I spent the latter part of August through mid-September in Jackson guiding on the Snake and South Fork, and time just got away from me. The fishing around Jackson really started getting red hot just before the One Fly, and my last week of guiding there was really amazing. The typical pattern of colder nights and better mayfly hatches on the Snake started like clockwork, and it made for some really great fishing. It sounds like it's only gotten better from there. Small Parachute Adams, Mahoganies and Caddisflies are producing very nice fish in the main river. The Bureau of Reclamation started there water drop on the Snake this past Monday. By Friday, the river will be at winter flows out of Jackson Lake Dam, well below about 500 cfs. I'd love to get on the river next week...should be good. For most of the 6 weeks I was in Jackson, the skies were extremely smokey due to fires in Central Idaho, as well as two local fires, including the Horsethief Fire that threatened the town of Jackson briefly. It sounds like since I've left, the smoke has still been thick. It might take the first good snow to take care of it. Although my guiding season was significantly shortened this year, it was still a blast. Thanks to all of my new and old clients that were able to get out on the water with me. Guiding is a very unique career. You start each day with a blank slate, and build on it from there; reading the clients, the water, the hatch, the weather, all in trying to net some fish. Along the way interesting stories are told along the river and you never know what you might see...love it! Did I learn anything new? Of course...every day. I also was reminded of how to be successful on the river: keep your fly in the water, and mend your line! I'm back in Portland right now getting organized for Winter and our new venture with Grand Teton Fly Fishing. We hope to have our new logo and website up by the end of the year. I'll be keeping you posted. In the meantime, I'll be now searching for up close and personal views similar to this image (courtesy of Oregon's Native Fish Society ), taken recently from a local Steelhead stream. Amazing picture. More soon!