Getting Brighter

It's practically February, and you can finally notice that the days are starting to feel just a little longer. It's not quite so dark at five o'clock anymore, which is great. We've been getting quite a bit of moisture lately here in the Pacific Northwest, which translates into heaps of snow to ride on in the Cascades, and plenty of new water for fresh Steelhead to think about spawning in. It also means more snowfall for the inter-mountain west. Check out this map here, with Snowpack Data For Wyoming to see how things are shaping up for water. Western Wyoming is looking pretty good from here.

I came across a great article here (thanks to Rhett Bain!), which brought welcome news to some nervous residents around Wyoming. There has been talk in recent years of trying to pump some 80 million gallons of water per year from Wyoming's Flaming Gorge Reservoir all the way to the Front Range of Colorado, 500 miles away. Needless to say, this idea is preposterous. Fortunately, it looks like lawmakers in Colorado are realizing that conservation efforts may be a better way to deal with dwindling water supplies for Coloradans. Check this article out from the Summit County Citizens Voice to learn more. I've been doing more skiing lately than fishing, so I'm not able to supply any first-hand Steelhead photos. Instead, check out this beauty that my good buddy John Holland netted last week on a secret Washington State stream. John asked me to join him on this trip, and I had to unfortunately decline. Days went by after the trip, and I got no report from him. I finally sent him a text to ask how the trip went...all I got was this photo. Nice one Holland!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all my angling compatriots out there! What do you have on the angling horizon for 2013? A Tarpon Trip? A Wyoming Getaway? Maybe a jaunt to the South Island of New Zealand? Whatever it is, here's to planning new fishing adventures! Sorry it's been so long since my last update...life just happens quickly with a couple of young kids running around. We've had a beautiful early winter here in Oregon, and it sounds like a cold and snowy (read: typical) early Winter in Wyoming. The snowpack back in Western Wyoming is well above average right now...good news for skiers and anglers alike. Since my last post, I was able to make a number of trips out to the Klickitat River (pictured here) just East of Portland in search of Wild Chrome (Steelhead). Got a handful of grabs, but didn't land one. I'm learning a ton though...throwing a two-handed rod takes practice and patience, so I've been really enjoying learning the lay of the Steelhead land.

I've also been trying to stay involved a bit with one of our local non-profits...Oregon's Native Fish Society, check them out! I also want to give a shout out to my buddy Chuck Ledgerwood, of Butte, Montana. Check out Prize Catch, Inc. for some really cool stuff. Just came across this video below, as well...Brown Trout fever on Alberta's Bow river...great footage!

JUST BROWNS 2 from chroniclesofcod on Vimeo.

The Missouri

November's here...the unofficial start to winter around Western Wyoming. Even though the calendar still says Fall, it's cold and snowy around the Cowboy State these days. Here in Oregon, it's been a mix of sunny days and wet days. The local Steelhead anglers are welcoming any rains to push more wild Steelhead into area rivers. Since I last updated this report, we've elected a new president, and I took an amazing trip back to the Missouri River in Central Montana. I usually prefer to not mix politics with fly-fishing, but I will say as an angler, I'm pleased with the outcome of this election. It's clear to everyone that our environment is in trouble, and I believe that another four years of policies from our incumbent president will only help the situation that our cold water fisheries are facing around this nation. Enough said. On to Montana...

The Missouri River below Holter Dam in Central Montana is one of my absolute favorite fisheries anywhere. Clear, cold flows out of Holter Dam meander gently over lush weedbeds full of insect life, and healthy Brown and Rainbow Trout. This river really fishes well all year, but come Autumn, it can really turn on. More often than not, the streamer bite in late-October can be stellar. Throw in a daily hatch of Blue-Winged Olives and Midges, and it can be amazing. Over all the years I've been coming up to the Missouri, we've seen it all. Warm temps (with tough streamer fishing and no hatches), to frigid air and blowing snow (pushing us off the water nearly hypothermic). Out of a four or five day trip, we usually hope for one or two bang-up days, and then maybe a day or two of tougher fishing. This was the first time I had ever spent 4 days in a row on the river with absolutely amazing conditions. We had overcast, calm skies, with cold temps each day, that really held up the quality of the fishing. Although we only saw one fish at 20", and a handful in the 18" range, the number of fish right now in the Missouri in the 15"-17" class is staggering.

If you've not been up there, check it out. For the best guides and bug selection, don't miss Headhunters Fly Shop in Craig. For lodging, the best gig in the area are the cabins and motel in Wolf Creek run by Montana River Outfitters. These guys will take care of you. Enjoy a few photos from the trip.

The week we were there happened to coincide with our annual guides weekend away in Wyoming. A group of the Jack Dennis/Grand Teton Fly Fishing guides spent the weekend together on a little known tailwater, and from the looks of it, did pretty well. See the video below...

Early Snow

The first significant winter storm has struck Western Wyoming (and much of the northern Rockies) over the past few days. Cold temps and significant snows down to the valley floor have kicked off the winter season. Fishing should really be turning on now on local Brown Trout streams. It's time for big buggers, Midges and BWO's. I'm off to the Missouri River tomorrow for my annual Fall pilgrimage. As many of you know, it's one of my favorite rivers...anywhere. There's nowhere I'd rather spend a day fly-fishing in the Fall. The fishing up there has apparently been red hot, and now should be prime with this latest storm. Check this photo out (courtesy of Headhunters Fly Shop, in Craig, Montana). Putting on today in a fresh blanket of snow. I imagine the Olive hatch was superb (along with the streamer bite). For those of you that have not seen the series of videos on YouTube, starring Hank Patterson...Fishing Guide...check this out! Hilarious!

Fall Fishing

It's already the middle of October, hard to believe. This is by far my favorite time of year. The Fall foliage is just amazing, both here in Oregon and back in Wyoming. The Elk are bugling, and the Browns are biting. Here in Oregon, many of the local Steelhead streams are in prime shape and only getting better with some recent moisture arriving, allowing new fish to return.

Rachael and I just returned from a little road trip around Oregon, exploring some of the finest that this state has to offer. With amazing dry, Fall weather last week sticking around, we grabbed the kids and camping gear, threw it in the truck and headed out to learn our way around. We did a great circle, heading over to Bend, down to Crater Lake, over to the Umpqua and McKenzie Rivers, and back to Portland over six days. The foliage was a feast for the eyes and the hiking and fishing was second to none. (Enjoy a few photos here). Sounds like the Fall fishing bite is really on back in Yellowstone country.

If you have not been up to Yellowstone or over into Idaho yet, you better get after it! The Madison, Lewis drainage, South Fork and Henry's Fork should all be quite good right now. Check out Scott Smith's video below for a taste of what Lewis Lake has to offer in the Fall...pretty sweet. I also want to give a shout out to my good buddy Andy Parker (who sent me this great photo taken from the back seat of my driftboat of me putting his wife Carolyn onto some fish back in September). Andy owns Spotted Tail Outdoors , a very unique reservation and management system for fishing guides. Check it out!

Stay tuned for more info on Grand Teton Fly Fishing...we hope to have a new website up by the end of the year, as we transition from Jack Dennis Fishing Trips into our new venture. For now, I've got my sites on a trip back to the Missouri River next week, and then a few days back on the Steelhead swing in November. More soon!

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!

Hint Of Fall?

Like clockwork, the Dog Days of Summer are slowly but surely turning into early Fall around Western Wyoming. Although daytime temps are still in the 80's, we are now seeing hints of low temps in the 30's in Teton Park at night, which is prompting native Cutthroat to think about putting on their "winter wool". This is typically the time of year when we start seeing much larger fish up on dry flies, and the resurgence of regular insect hatches on the Snake. Fish are already starting to key in on smaller flies (like size 16 Parachute Adams), which are being taken for Mahoganies and Hecubas. Fall is truly an amazing time to be on the Snake, not only for the excellent fly-fishing potential, but also the the amazing scenery and weather. Hope to see you out there this Fall! Enjoy some photos here of my good buddies Brian Hodges and John Holland. They've just returned from Russia's far eastern Kamchatka Peninsula, an area over 100,000 square miles full of large Rainbow Trout that are known to subsist on mice. Nice work guys! Do you think they had any fun??

The Dog Days

We've been experiencing the Dog Days of Summer here around Jackson these past few weeks. It's been very hot, and very dry virtually every day since late July. We can usually rely on some wind to help out with the temps, but it's been very calm on the river most days. Even though casting and rowing in the wind can be tough, a good breeze will usually help fishing by blowing terrestrials into the water and by breaking up the surface tension of the water, thus making risers feel more comfortable. No such luck on any wind lately. It's just been stagnant. On top of all of this, massive wildfires to our West have been putting smoke into the valley around the clock. There's been days floating Deadman's to Moose where you can barely even see the Tetons from the river. Despite all of this, the fishing has been holding up relatively well. On the Snake, I'd stick with smaller Mayfly attractors in the mornings, and then move to the terrestrials in the afternoons. If you're heading to the South Fork, I'd sleep in and make a leisurely start. There's a few PMD's around late in the day, and the terrestrial fishing is decent in the mid-afternoon as well. If you are a very early riser, head down to the Green without your boat, and wade around until late morning for the best chance. The next break in the weather, whether it be rain or a few freezing nights, should bring a new spark to all of these rivers. It was a good wildlife viewing week for me on the Snake. Here's a shot of a great Bull Moose (near the town of Moose), and a Mother and calf Moose crossing a side channel in Teton Park.

I did manage to escape the valley a few days ago with some clients to explore a secret Star Valley float, and thought I had the place to myself...until these three yahoo's came floating down on us :) Jason Sutton, Chris Stump and Brandon Paine...all good guys (and guides) enjoying a day off. Great to see you out there!

Grand Teton Fly Fishing

I've been back in Jackson now for almost two weeks, and it's been a whirlwind! I've been doing quite a bit of guiding, as well as work on our new fly shop and business that Scott Smith and I are acquiring. We are officially under contract to purchase Jack Dennis' collection of guiding/outfitter permits that give us access to some of the best water that Western Wyoming has to offer. Until this deal closes this Fall, we will have an operating agreement to run Jack Dennis Fishing Trips out of our new location at 225 West Broadway, in the Dave Hansen Whitewater building. We have proudly launched Grand Teton Fly Fishing, and are excited for this great opportunity. Come check us out if you are in town! Stay tuned for more details on all of this as the purchase closes this Fall.

Since being back in town, I've had the chance to guide on the Snake, South Fork, Green and New Fork...lot's of great water. All in all, the best fishing right now is on the Snake, no question. Although the Green and New Fork are putting out a few nice fish, the low flows and warm water temps will make for a long day in the end. The South Fork is better, but the dry fly activity has slowed a bit...you may need to break out the nymphs. The Snake has been the ticket for throwing big bugs to eager fish. Flows are good for wading, and great for floating, so get on out there! Just a reminder to all the float fishermen out there...always inspect side channels before venturing too far off the path (see photo). You gotta love having to drag a full boat around a downed tree with a single client. And for all of you out there that know me well (and my neat/organized tendencies), check out this immaculately organized fly box from client Rick Messmer. Now that is anal. Love it! He's got me beat...

Hatches

The fishing has been red hot around Western Wyoming and Eastern Idaho in the past few weeks, perfect timing for me to head back and jump on the oars. I'll be leaving Portland bright and early tomorrow, heading back to Jackson for a 6-week guiding stint. Don't be a stranger if you're in town. The South Fork has been fishing very well on big bugs, and the Green and Snake have also been very productive on dries. Area tributaries are also coming into prime shape, so grab your pack and take a hike to your favorite remote fishery. For those of you that have not seen or heard of this video and story behind it, click this link to SunValleyMag.com to hear about a truly amazing fishing story. Silver Creek Outfitters media specialist, Bryan Husky, was invited by legendary guide Pete Wood to spend an evening filming Dr. Robert Franklin (known to most as "Doc"), as he headhunted for fish eating through the prolific Brown Drake hatch. Click on this trailer, as well, to learn more about this story. There is nothing like the anticipation and addiction to specific insect hatches for fly fisherman. We sometimes make plans months in advance, and often drop everything to chase a hatch.

Proud Papa

Summer is heating up rapidly around Western Wyoming, and the fishing is getting just as hot. The Pinedale area rivers are in prime shape, with the South Fork and Snake turning on to Dry Flies as well. Large and small Stoneflies, as well as a buffet of Mayflies are working everywhere. My partner Scott Smith and I are well on our way with our new venture, and are setting up shop for this summer. We are now officially poised to take over Jack Dennis' Fishing Trips and their permits. We will be operating jointly this season during the transition at 225 West Broadway, in the Dave Hansen Whitewater Shop. Stop by to book a trip, grab some bugs, or to just chat. I'll be heading back in a couple of weeks for some guiding...dates are filling up quickly, so don't delay a booking! Now, on to the really important stuff...my 4 year old's first Trout!! I took Charlotte out a couple of weeks ago onto some Oregon water, and she landed this 14" beauty, all on her own. Definitely something a Dad will never forget. Do you think she's excited? I had a chance recently to reconnect with an old fishing client of mine, Larry Stephenson. Larry is an amazing artist, with a longtime passion for antique toys. His repertoire has expanded in recent years to include some amazing fly fishing art in watercolor. Check out Larry's website to see what he's been up to! To get right to the fly-fishing, click on "Prints", then drop down to "Fly Fishing". Here's a great shot of my One Fly Teammate Peter Chung, with a healthy Sublette County Rainbow, that Scott Smith put him onto last week. More soon!

Farewell To Liz

Liz McCabe, angler, photographer, publisher and friend passed away last week at the age of 101. Liz first came to Jackson Hole in the 1930's and became a fixture in the community, co-publishing our local newspaper, and immersing herself in fly-fishing, as well as conservation and the local 4-H club. As many of you know, I was introduced to her a number of years ago through Tom Montgomery (her guide for 25+ years), and began spending a few days a year with her on the river. On the river, she was a focused, accomplished angler who liked nothing more than landing a big Snake River Cutthroat on a dry fly. Off the river, she welcomed me and my family into her home and our friendship blossomed. Please check out this story from today's Jackson Hole News and Guide for a very nice review of Liz's life. Enjoy a few photos of me and Liz, as well as one with Tom (courtesy of Scott Smith).

The rivers around Jackson are getting much closer to prime time. Although the Buffalo Fork of the Snake is still high and off color, it looks like it has peaked. The Snake at Wilson bridge, although high (7,500 cfs), the color looks to be OK for some streamer action. The Green is still hanging around 1,500 cfs, and coming up again...shouldn't be long there for lower flows. If you've got access to a boat, the South Fork is probably the best option right now. Flows of 13,600 cfs near Irwin are great for Nymphing and throwing Streamers. Although the water is bigger down toward Lorenzo (6,200 cfs), I've gotten reports of Salmonflies starting to hatch down there, and a few fish up on top to grab them. At that water level, I'd be fishing two weighted rubber-leg stoneflies, looking for Bubba. More soon!

Happy Father's Day!

Happy belated Father's Day to all the dads out there! Hope you were able to get on the water last weekend. I headed east of Portland to one of Oregon's most talked about trout streams: the Deschutes River. As many of you may know, living on the West side of the Cascades (like here in Portland), means a much wetter, greener environment. We get a coastal weather pattern, where there is much more humidity and rainfall. Just east of here, beyond the flanks of Mt. Hood, the environment is much different. If someone had brought me blindfolded to the Deschutes, I would have thought that I had just landed somewhere in Montana or Wyoming. The river cuts through a rugged, dry landscape, with Osprey and Red-winged Blackbirds circling above Sagebrush hills. The Deschutes runs long, with miles of remote sections, as well as easily accessed areas for fly-anglers. Overnights are popular with drifters. The river dumps into the Columbia river above the town of Hood River. The lure of the Deschutes is the chance to catch it's resident, native Rainbow trout, that locals call the "Redside", for it's bright red markings. The Salmonfly hatch had just come through, and fortunately for me, they were still looking at the big bugs. My buddy Bill Farnum and I rode our mountain bikes from hole to hole, looking for feeders. It was a great day. My best fish was a 19" female, that fell for a Snake River Water Walker (a Wil Dornan special). It was nice to get a fish on a Wyoming fly! Bill was far upstream...no photo, sorry. I think next time, I'll bring the boat and try to cover more water. Probably the most interesting thing about the Deschutes is this: come late Summer and Fall, wild, native Steelhead start running up the river from the Columbia. An angler can spend the morning dry fly fishing for Redsides, and then swing Steelhead flies in the evening in search of a real big boy. The Northwest also has a good stock of Cutthroat Trout that fall for flies. I've not found any yet, but will keep you posted on what I come across. So, what's happening back in Wyoming? Sounds like warm, dry weather, with most of the areas runoff beyond the peak. The Green and South Fork of the Snake are already fishing nicely on Nymphs. Dries should be any day now. Look for the Drakes, Golden Stones and Sallies on the Green very soon. Same story on the South Fork, just a couple more weeks. Most of the state of Wyoming is experiencing a snowpack and snow-water equivalency that is well below of average...see the map above. This will certainly mean a quicker start to the fishing season, as well as a better likelihood of strong, early hatches. The big variable will be just how hot and dry the rest of the summer will be. I will be coming back to Jackson later in the summer for a brief guiding stint. I'm looking forward to keeping my oars in the water, so to speak. I would love to hear from some of you if you are interested in getting on the water with me. I will be around from very late July, until about mid-September. I still have dates open during this window, so don't be a stranger! Enjoy this photo of my buddy John Holland, with a Washington caught Cutthroat, from an unnamed river, as well as a scenic shot of the Deschutes River. More soon!

So What's New?

Summer seems to be starting very early all around the West. Unseasonably warm temperatures here in the Northwest, as well as all over Wyoming, Montana and Idaho have been rapidly depleting snowpack, and allowing many anglers to get out and enjoy early hatches. Reports from many Wyoming and Montana streams have been solid. With a lighter snowpack this season, many rivers have been clear enough to enjoy the blizzard Caddis hatches that come around each May. Just down the road here, on the Deschutes River, stoneflies are already on the move. It looks like we'll have a much better start to our fishing season in Wyoming than we've seen in a number of years. The Snake, Green and South Fork should all be in great shape by late June...maybe earlier. The Yellowstone opener in a couple of weeks should also be a good one this year. As some readers may already know, the Jack Dennis Guide Service, aka, Jack Dennis Fishing Trips, has been in a state of flux for a couple of seasons now. With a lot of hard work coming to a close, and a bit of luck, I should be able to report some exciting news soon, so keep posted here. I'll report more on this soon! For now, if you are interested in booking any fishing trips, or just want some info, give me a shout. It looks like I'll be heading back to Wyoming for some limited guiding this summer, which is great. This time of year, not only do I get many emails on fly-fishing information around Wyoming, but also inquires on camping. Whether you are car-camping or backpacking, the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem offers some of the best. Check out this link to see America's top ten campgrounds, and which one of my favorites made #7.

Lastly, I'd like to report some sad news that hit the fly fishing industry this past week. Veteran Belize River Lodge guide Raul Navarette passed away on May 5th. I first met Raul back in 2001. He made his first trip to Wyoming to participate in the Jackson Hole One Fly, invited by his lodge co-worker Dirk Burgard. I drew Raul the first day of the event, and we had a blast. Although already a master saltwater caster and angler, it was Raul's first time fishing for Trout. I'll never forget it. By the end of the day, he had convinced me to come down to Belize to experience life on his flats in pursuit of Tarpon, Bonefish and Permit. I made a trip down the following Spring, and spent six days on the water with Raul. I'll never forget it; he introduced me to something that has grown into an addiction. Raul guided for over 20 years for the Belize River Lodge, was the only Belizean to be a certified FFF instructor and also the only Belizean known to have ever fished in the One Fly. He will be missed. Check out this link to learn more about Raul. Here's a shot of Raul with a hell of a Permit, as well as Jack Dennis Guide Dave Smith with a river-caught Mackinaw from a few days ago. More soon!

Spring Update

From talking to buddies and keeping updated online, it looks like Spring (and maybe early Summer?) has sprung around Western Wyoming. Even though I'm now in the Great Northwest, I'm able to live in Wyoming vicariously a little via phone calls, emails, and fishing blogs. It looks like lighter snowpack from this winter is receding quickly with warmer temperatures and rain. I've been getting reports of fantastic fishing on the Henry's Fork, Snake and South Fork. The warmer conditions have probably made it very ripe for warming water temperatures and great spring hatches. It's been a number of years since Jackson has seen such a warm start to Spring. This kind of trend would indicate that the early Summer may see some fantastic fishing. If the Snake clears early enough, anglers may have the chance to chase Stoneflies and Caddisflies through the Snake River Canyon. Things around Oregon and Washington have been fluctuating between very wet, and very warm and dry...just depends on the day. I've been putting in quite a bit of windshield time and wading time trying to figure out the elusive Steelhead. There's a delicate balancing act in play in order to have a good chance at a Wild Fish. Rainfall is good. Fresh water can bring in fresh fish from the salt. Too much rain, and the rivers swell and make it impossible. If you can get out on a day when the river is dropping and clearing, the fishing gets easier.

I've been out many days only to find a rising river. It's all about timing. Here's a few photos from some recent outings to the Trask River, the Clackamas River and the Sandy River. Check out this shot of Ken Anderson finishing his two-handed cast into some prime Steelhead water. I've hooked a couple fish and had a couple other "grabs", but none to the net yet. Fortunately, the Steelhead season is virtually year round, and I'll keep tryin'. I'm now starting to get a bit of an itch to chase some Trout, and it looks like Oregon has some options. I've got the McKenzie River on the radar right now and hope to get down there soon.