Out Like A Lion

As the saying goes, the month of March is supposed to "come in like a lion, and go out like a lamb". Maybe not this year. There is a winter storm watch in effect for our area starting tomorrow night through Wednesday morning. If this thing hits us, we could end up with some very significant snow in the high country and the valley. Good news for skiers, as we start the last week of lift served skiing at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort in Teton Village. Also, very good news for anglers, since we need to seriously boost our snowpack and water content before the summer arrives. We'll see what happens. Today was another beautiful day in paradise. Clear skies, and warm temperatures brought everyone outside this weekend. I can't remember the last time I saw so many driftboats being pulled around town, and so many anglers wadefishing the Snake near Wilson so early in the season. These fish are going to get educated even earlier this year! Lets hope everyone out there is practicing catch-and-release; get them in quick and release them just as quickly please! Scroll down to check the latest from the Trout Unlimited live feed. There is an extended interview with Deadliest Catch's Sig Hansen that is worth the read. Here's a shot of a healthy Brown taken on the Snake, headed home.

Dry Flies on the Snake

The weather this past week has still been simply amazing. It's been sunny and warm, with valley temps as high as the high 50's. March can be very unpredictable around here; some years, it can snow the entire month, and other years it can be spring-like. With the skies clear today, and the thermometer rising toward 60 degrees, I decided to head down to the Snake to fish for the afternoon. I headed south of Jackson, threw on the waders and visited a few of my favorite holes. Sure enough, on the first spot I came too, there were fish up on top eating dry flies. I honestly did not even inspect the water that closely before throwing a size 16 parachute adams at them...and guess what? They ate it. After hooking and releasing a handful of small Snake River Cutthroat, I took a closer look at the water and found it to be mostly a Midge hatch. There were some random mayflies around as well, and even saw a rogue Caddisfly. With the flows still very low (1,160 cfs below South Park), the fish are still stacked in their winter holes. It was a fun afternoon to be out; while on foot, I saw no less than 6 driftboats pass by me. I think the word on the Snake is out. As a guide on this river, it is easy to get jaded about it each summer. When you spend so much time on one river, you can occasionally take the fishing for granted. If you read this blog and know me well, you know how much I enjoy fishing for large Browns and Rainbows on rivers such as the Green, Missouri and Big Horn. Fishing for native Cutthroat can sometimes seem less exciting. Spending time on the Snake in the spring makes you realize just how hearty these native fish are and just how special this river is. After wintering in such an extreme environment as we have here, these fish are ready to eat as soon as the temps allow for some insect activity. All of the fish I saw today were in great shape. Snake River Finespotted Cutthroat are among the strongest and prettiest trout around,and should not be taken for granted.

Bluebird

If you've been paying attention to the weather details above this post, you have probably noticed that it has been gradually warming this week, and has been absolutely beautiful. The weather today is very warm in the valley, with a deep blue sky above. Perfect spring fishing conditions! In the past few days, I've spotted numerous trucks around town pulling drift boats, and have seen some activity at the Wilson Bridge as well; anglers on foot as well as boats being launched. I'm sure the Snake is starting to turn on. I had planned on an outing to the river this weekend, but decided to get Charlotte on skis instead. We took her out both mornings to the Village and had her gliding on Teewinot (the bunny hill); she did great. My good buddy and fishing client Charlie Howorth is in town for a few weeks skiing and enjoying springtime in Jackson. I hope to get a few hours on the water with him while he is here. Here is a recycled photo that I just love of Charlie with a stud Green River Brown from a few years ago. Can't wait to see more of those this summer! Don't miss the informal Trout Unlimited gathering at High Country Flies this Thursday, from 5-7pm. Should be fun.

Still Warming Up

The spring weather that I posted about last week is still here in full force. The skies have been clear, and the valley temps have been reaching 40 degrees all week. A massive winter storm just missed us to the South over the past few days. As each day goes by, we lose the chance to make up ground on our snowpack and snow-water equivalent. It's looking more and more like we'll have good early fishing this year. I ran into a friend skiing the other day, that walked in on the Snake twice last week, and gave a great report. Cutties up on small dries! As the valley loses its snowpack, access should get much easier. My good buddy and co-worker Josh Graffam is hanging up his hat around here this summer; he won't be guiding with us in Wyoming anymore. After returning from New Zealand, he decided to take a great job with The Ranch at Rock Creek, in Western Montana. Check out the website, it looks like a great place. www.theranchatrockcreek.com Good luck Josh, can't wait to visit. For those of you that have not seen his trophy Brown Trout from New Zealand, here it is. A 10.5pound stud, taken on a nymph. Don't forget to check the Trout Unlimited feed at the bottom of my website. Stay informed about what's happening on the Teton River just over the hill, as well as other cold water fishery news.

Early Spring?

We're wrapping up a beautiful weekend here in Western Wyoming. We've had sunny skies, temps in the 40's and no wind. Spring is in the air. My brother-in-law Sean Tufts was visiting this weekend with a buddy to catch up on some skiing. I got to sneak out with him today for some great spring skiing this morning. On the way back from Teton Village, we saw a few anglers throwing some flies above Wilson Bridge. I bet they saw a little action today. March can often be a great month to fish the Snake River, particularly when the weather trends like this. I'm anxious to see what the next few weeks brings. Sean and I have had some great fishing adventures over the years, and hope to have more soon. I took him on his first trip to the Big Hole river a number of years ago, and he stumbled across a beautiful Arctic Grayling eating caddisflies on the surface. (The Big Hole holds some of the only remaining native Grayling found in the lower 48). They are known for taking dry flies very eagerly. I was also with Sean on his first flats trip to Boca Paila, on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico. Here's a shot of that Grayling, along with a photo of Sean's first Bonefish on the line! Kudos out to Chris Hayes who figured out where last week's shot of Jen Hodges Bonefish was from. More soon!

High and Dry

We've got a ridge of high pressure over us right now that is giving us clear and cold days and nights. We took a chilly walk this morning through our neighborhood and went to check in on lower Flat Creek (see attached photo). It was barely above zero degrees, and there was ice coming down the creek. Hopefully in a few more weeks, we should start seeing some warmer days and nights that will turn into some early fishing opportunities here in the valley. My good buddy Brian Hodges and his wife Jen are on another one of their adventures to warmer climates. He just emailed me a shot of Jen with a nice double-digit bonefish. They are checking out a new guide outfit in a location not typically known for its bonefishing. Any readers care to take a guess where this picture is from?

Drier Winter

It's already the middle of February, the days are noticeably longer and my mind continues to drift towards thoughts of warmer weather and dry fly fishing. The winter is proving to be a drier one, which is concerning news for anglers. Although we have had some better snowfall in recent weeks, the snow-water equivalent (the amount of water being held in the area snowpack), is well below normal. Depending on where in the region you are looking, it is averaging about 65% of normal. We had a winter storm warning coming into this weekend, with forecasters calling for over a foot of snow in the valley, and over two feet of snow in the mountains, and it missed us...nothing happened. It's turned out to be a beautiful weekend, with sunny skies. It's true that the spring can often produce a lot of moisture in the Rockies, but as each dry day passes this winter, it is less and less likely that we will make up much ground on our snowpack. On the bright side, we have a near full Jackson Lake, and the string of reservoirs down the Snake River line are also well stocked. Less water will also mean earlier fishing on area freestones...stay tuned this spring for reports! I've learned that the Jackson Hole News and Guide, partially owned by local angler extraordinaire Liz McCabe, will have a One Fly team this year. Liz will be fishing in it both days, representing the newspaper. For those of you who don't know Liz, she will turn an amazing 99 years old this year. I met her through Tom Montgomery a number of years ago, and fish with her now and then each summer. She's an inspiration! Here's a shot of me and Liz on the Snake. Good luck Liz!

Winter Fishing in Montana

I decided to take a quick road trip this weekend up to Dillon, Montana to meet up with my good friend Brian Hodges and do some fishing. The weather forecast looked right; highs in the high 30's to low 40's with sunny skies. There isn't much opportunity to fish in Jackson Hole this time of year, it does not get quite warm enough. We met up early on Saturday morning, grabbed some breakfast at Sparky's in Dillon (highly recommended), and then headed for Poindexter Slough. I had always heard of this piece of water, but had yet to fish it. It tends to be crowded during summer and fall (when I am usually in the area), so I've always passed it up. We hit a beautiful day and had decent fishing. We didn't see anything over 17", but netted a handful of Brown's on streamers with the place to ourselves. I was expecting to grab a room with Brian, and he let me know that he had arranged a room for us with his good friends Jay Burgin and Mary Jacques, proprietors of the world famous Five Rivers Lodge. It was a great getaway. We had cocktails and dinner, while talking fly fishing under the Montana moon. They graciously opened up a room for us, and we woke today to another beautiful day in Montana. We put a couple of hours in on the Beaverhead, before coming home. If anyone reading this is ever thinking of a Montana getaway, the Five Rivers Lodge is just great. They work the Big Hole, Beaverhead, Jefferson, Ruby and Madison Rivers. The accommodations are great, and Jay literally houses the largest fly selection in Montana in his fly shop...it's something to see. Visit them at www.fiveriverslodge.com. Here's a photo of the lodge. We've picked up a little more snow here in the past week, but our snow water equivalent is still a little low, hovering around 60% of normal. At this point, I'm predicting an earlier start to our fishing season...but don't hold me to it. More soon!

The Progression

I ran into a fishing client this week at the ski shop, and as our conversation turned from the subject of skiing to fishing, we remarked about the progression of fly fishing that he has gone through, like many other anglers. This client was someone that I had taken many years ago as a beginner, that had progressed through the sport to become a great angler. It is quite interesting to see the progression that almost every fly-fisherman makes from novice, to accomplished angler. Once a novice has learned to cast, all he or she wants to do at that point is to catch a fish...just one fish. The thrill of catching that first fish is like nothing else. After this, anglers tend to get to a point where they want to catch as many fish as possible; it becomes a numbers game. This phase can last a very long time, sometimes years. At some point in this stage, the angler will hook and land a very large fish. This is where the next stage starts; hunting for the largest specimens only. Numbers don't seem as important anymore, it's the quality that you are now after. At some point even further down the road, after netting many large, beautiful trout, there is a revelation. It's not about quantity, quality or even catching a fish. It is about the periphery experiences in fly fishing that keep us coming back for more. Travelling to new places, seeing old friends, being on the water in pristine environments, and forgetting about everything else but the moment. This has been the progression for me. Here is a shot that Scott Smith took of me in the "moment". Gorgeous, evening light on the Owyhee River, Oregon, working a large Brown trout taking dries. I didn't get him, but no matter...I had the river to myself, in a gorgeous spot, with a large, wild trout feeding just below me.

Gettin' The Goods

We are finally in the midst of a decent storm cycle right now that is bringing us some great snow. Our snowpack and water content has been hovering around 40% of normal, and everyone has been wondering when the dry spell will end. We've finally received some significant snowfall in the past few days all the way down to the valley floor, which is great news for skiers and anglers. It was a powder day today in Teton Village, and tomorrow should be the same. Not too much new on the fishing front right now. Unfortunately, team This Is Fly was not invited back to fish in the Jackson Hole One Fly this year. There were simply too many teams applying for the forty slots, and we couldn't sneak in. We are an alternate, so if anyone bails out, we'll be back in. I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Make sure to check out Josh Graffam's site at www.tetontrout.com, to view a picture of a 10.5 pound brown trout that he landed in New Zealand last week. It's an incredible fish. Also, my good buddy Brian Hodges has been working on a project in Montana with a friend, getting a new fishing lodge open near Bozeman. Check out http://www.fly-fishing-montana.com/...it's the website for the new Bar Z Riverside Ranch. It's a 10,000 acre working cattle ranch with exclusive access to miles of private water on a variety of streams. It's also within close proximity to the Yellowstone and Missouri Rivers for those who want to float. It looks great, and can't wait to check it out! Here's an image of me "gettin' the goods", shot by photographer Jeff Diener. More soon!

Holding Water

I often meet and guide anglers that have been fishing for many years, and that understand the importance of casting, mending and fly selection, but still struggle to catch fish. The most common reason for this with fly-fishermen, time after time, is the inability to read the water correctly. Dave Hughes, author of "Tactics For Trout" and "Reading The Water", hits the nail on the head with this one: "Ninety percent of trout live in only ten percent of the water". This statement cannot be emphasized enough. No matter how graceful one can cast a fly rod, or how perfectly an angler matches the hatch, if the fly is not drifting through trout habitat, the chances of netting a fish drop dramatically. Trout living in streams and rivers have very specific needs and will only occupy an area if it can meet these needs. The primary needs are a food source, cover from predators and oxygen. When I approach a trout stream, whether on foot or in the driftboat, I tell myself or my clients: "Okay, look at the river from bank to bank. Now, realize that 90% of the water that you are looking at does not hold any fish. We need to look at the 10% that will hold almost all of the fish." From here, we will then look for the obvious "lies" or holes, that should hold fish; places where trout can evade prey, but still find food coming down the conveyor belt, and a place where there is sufficient oxygen (moving, aerated water). Riffles, deep runs, woody structure and bouldery pocket water are some examples of prime lies. Fish these spots, and you'll be successful! Add Dave Hughes' books to your winter reading list to learn more, or better yet, book me for a day next summer and we'll read some water together! Here's a shot of guide Chris Stump on the Big Hole River, Montana, putting my buddy Campbell Hough right in the zone. I've added a feed onto my site below the blog archive directly from the Trout Unlimited website and blog. Check it out for recent posts from this important conservation group. More soon!

Fly-Tying Season

Well, we are already one week into 2010, and more than two weeks past the winter solstice, and I think I'm noticing that the days are gettin just a little bit longer. Maybe it's wishful thinking, but by early January, I'm already daydreaming about my first day of the year hunting for trout. The winter is still trending toward the drier side. It has been very cold these past couple of weeks, with many of our low temps falling 10 to 20 degrees below zero at night. The snowpack is still running a little bit lean, around the 70% mark. It's still way too cold around here to be thinking about local troutfishing; hopefully by mid to late February, we can start heading over to the Henry's Fork of the Snake to throw some flies. This is a great time of year to tie flies, however. Tying flies is a great hobby, and a fun way to be involved in fly-fishing through the cold months. Tying a trout fly, and then landing a fish on that fly really completes the whole circle for many anlgers. Beginning fly tyers often worry about being able to catch anyting on their creations. Tying a durable pattern, whether it is a proven fly, or a new creation of your own, can easily net you a fish if the conditions are right. It's all about matching the hatch. This rainbow fell for a salmonfly pattern that was tied in just the right size and shape for the hatch that day. There are some great books and DVD's out there to get you started. Give the guys at Jack Dennis Sports a call for more info. One of the great fly tyers of our time is now running our fly shop...give Scott Sanchez a call some time and get some advice from the best!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all of my readers, friends and family! It's hard to believe that we are starting the second decade of this century already. New Year's Eve finally brought us a significant blanket of snow to the Tetons and thankfully gave us some good powder skiing today. Many parts of the mountain saw skiers getting into knee deep powder and excellent windblown snow. It was a much needed boost to our snowpack and water content. Good news for anglers. The Jackson Hole One Fly board met last week, and it looks like team This Is Fly did not make it in this year. We are currently the second alternate, so if two teams decide to bail out, then we will be back in. I'm keeping my fingers crossed! I'm still thinking about the 21" rainbow that I lost on the South Fork during the second day of the event last year, that would have put me at 500 points. I'd like another chance! I managed to sneak out and ski today and had a great run down the headwall at the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. This is about what it looked like in this Jeff Diener photo of me on Teton Pass a few winters ago. More soon!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from Wyoming! Thanks to all of my clients and fellow guides for such a great summer on the river last year...I couldn't have done it without you. The weather here has been very dry lately, and we are barely seeing a white Christmas. There's probably more snow in Central Park, New York, than there is in our yard right now. Hopefully this will change soon! I'm already receiving emails from some of you inquiring on fishing next summer...can't wait! Our big holiday gift this year was the birth of our second daughter...Hannah Victoria Fuller was born on Monday morning. Mom and daughter are doing great. Charlotte now has a little sister she can teach to fish! If anyone has not been visiting Josh Graffam's site, you should be. www.tetontrout.com has some great photos following Josh's 3 month adventure currently happening right now in New Zealand. I'm very jealous. The year is almost over, so don't forget to make your tax-deductible donation to Trout Unlimited...they need our help! Here's a shot of our new addition, as well as one of my favorite shots of Charlotte from last summer. See you in 2010.

One Fly Board

The Jackson Hole One Fly board typically meets in mid-December to make evaluations and decisions on who will be fishing in the upcoming event. As some of you may know, I made my debut in the 2009 event as an angler (instead of a guide), on team This Is Fly. John Holland, Jon Wylie and Peter Chung have applied again, and have invited me to fish with them again! After guiding in the event for so many years, I was not sure what to expect when I competed in it this year. It really exceeded my expectations...it was a lot of fun. I'll gladly show up this year with this team...hopefully we can beat our ninth place finish from 2009. This week finally saw some better snowfall in the valley and the mountains. The higher elevations picked up a few feet of snow over the weekend, which is great news for skiers. It's also great news for anglers, since we need to start building our snowpack for our 2010 water year. We've made great strides concerning our reservoir levels over the past two years, it would be a setback to see a drought winter this year. At the moment, we seem to be in an "El Nino" flow, which typically does not bring us much moisture. The jet stream is splitting, bringing snow to the southwest, and the northwest, but bypassing much of the northern Rockies. Hopefully, this will change as the winter progresses. My daughter Charlotte turned 2 years old on Sunday. Among other things, she got her very first pair of skis! For now, she'll learn to walk with them on...one step at a time. While we wait for more snow, my thoughts will always drift to fly fishing. I've been daydreaming about the Wind River Canyon lately...hmmm. Here's a great shot of me and Darren Calhoun with a typical canyon brown. More soon!