Despite the cold winter weather lately I’ve had fun guiding some hardy folks on winter walk in trips. While it hasn’t been easy, it’s been fun and fortunately we’ve found some fish. This time of year nymph fishing is best. Snowshoeing adds to the adventure and allows us to access water more easily. It’s always nice this time of year to get out on the water and enjoy the solitude and wildlife.
After a fairly dry November and early December, we are finally seeing some snow around here. I was out on the water several days last week guiding visiting anglers. While winter fishing is more challenging, it offers folks a fun, unique activity to do while in Jackson Hole. Some days are harder than others, but we can usually fool a fish or two on dead drifted nymphs. If you’re interested in learning more about my guided winter fly fishing trips, click here.
Another good fly fishing season has drawn to a close here at Teton Fly Fishing. Thanks to everyone who fished with me this year. Below are a few pics from the fall.
I went up to Helena MT a few weeks back and picked up a new Adipose Skiff. It’s resting comfortably in the garage awaiting spring. Excited to fish out of it even though it’s essentially the same as my last one.
In the coming months I’ll continue to do a few winter fly fishing trips here and there. The Snake allows for year round fishing and it isn’t uncommon to spend a few hours wade fishing on it and fool a few fish. Additionally, I’m back in the classroom, substitute teaching. It’s nice to see familiar staff and students.
Finally feels like spring around here in Jackson Hole! What a long, cold spring we’ve had. Nice to be sporting some flip flops today. Warmer temperatures mean that the runoff has begun. Currently the Snake is off color and rising making it not ideal for fishing. The upper Green is changing daily; one day up and off color, then settling down and clearing with colder weather. It’s been a good float option but I suspect that with temperatures hitting 70 today, it’s done for a while. Best fishing right now is going to be on area lakes and up in Yellowstone Park.
Yellowstone just opened for fishing this past weekend. I was up yesterday on the Firehole with a return client of mine and fishing was really good! The river’s in great shape and the rainbow and brown trout were hungry. Most of our fish came on nymphs but I think hatches should get rolling now that the weathers warming. We did see some caddis and a few PMDs and BWOs. Steve manage to target a couple fish with PMD emerges and fooled them. Looking forward to more days up in the park! As always, here’s a few photos from the past few weeks. Enjoy the sunshine!!
Some days it feels like spring around here and others, still like winter. Such is springtime in the Rockies where one day can be near 60 degrees and sunny prompting thoughts of barbecuing and porch cocktails, only to have those visions crushed by sideways blowing wet snow. Regardless, spring is a great time to fish the Snake river here in Jackson. I see some of the nicest cutthroat trout of the year in late March and April. Fish are feeding readily after a long winter. Midges, small black stoneflies, Blue Wing Olives and Skwalas.
It’s the end of February and days are getting longer and temperatures have hit 40 degrees in the valley a few times. Midges are showing up regularly on the river and a few tiny black stoneflies are stumbling around too. It’s a great time to go fly fishing! I’ve been out recently with a number of fun folks. We spent the warmer part of days fishing the Snake river, catching whitefish and cutthroat trout on nymphs and dry flies. As we continue toward spring, expect the midge hatches to get bigger, and more and more fish to feed on the surface.
Below are just a few pics from the past week. Folks had a good time braving the elements and finding some fish.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! We’re watching the snow fall and preparing to join friends for food and drinks.
Had a few groups of adventurous anglers lately. Fortunately the weather was pretty decent around here (until today), making for some respectable late season fly fishing. We worked hard for our fish but had some great days!
Well, that’s a wrap on another great fishing season. The time has changed, winter is knocking and the drift boat is put up for the season. Really appreciate all who fished with me. I had a great time guiding folks on our waters around here in Jackson, Wyoming aand am already looking forward to next […]
Finally have a day off and thought I’d do a quick blog update on fly fishing around here. It’s been a great summer so far with fun clients! We’ve spent the majority of time casting dry flies to native cutthroat trout. Most of my days lately have been on the Snake River here in Jackson Hole, although I floated some folks down on the upper Green River and Salt River. Also did some wade fishing up in Yellowstone park. The weather’s been great; albeit a little hot. We’ve been getting on the water early to take advantage of cooler water temperatures and finishing in the 2-3 pm time range.
Folks sometimes ask what a guides’ day off looks like. For yours truly, it looks like this: sleep in, tie flies, take a family walk, go out to the Virginian for breakfast with my lady and enjoy the new Jason Isbell album while smoking a brisket. Oh, and throw in mowing the lawn for good measure. Pretty great! And the guitars probably need a little attention….
A few pics from the past month….
We had a good stretch of spring fly fishing around here. Unfortunately (or fortunately for those of us who endured a looooonnnnngggg winter) the weather has warmed up and our big snowpack has begun melting. It happens every year but it’s always tough when the weather gets nice and the rivers turn brown. Typically our runoff begins in early May and continues through June. Right now it’s tough to find fishable water. While it’s certainly possible to fish during the runoff season, it often makes for tough days. Best tactics are to nymph fish with large stonefly nymphs, san juan worm variations, etc. and target slow pools and seams. Also, if you can find streams that flow out of lakes or dams, you’re likely to find clear, albeit cold water to fish. Depending on elevation, ice has begun coming off area lakes making them a good place to hunt for fish. Large dark streamers also can get a nice fish or two to strike. Fortunately at the end of May, Yellowstone Park opens up for fishing. Typically the Firehole river and its tributaries stay in pretty good shape and are the best place around to fish. I’m excited to get back up to the park and fish clients on these amazing fisheries.
Over the past few weeks I was able to get out with clients before conditions deteriorated. Larry joined me again this spring spending a few days staying and fishing out of my fishing cabin in Dubois before heading over to Jackson to float the Snake with me. Overall we had some good days catching brown, rainbow and cutthroat trout. After Larry left, longtime client and friend, Mark arrived, staying and fishing with Jamie and I. Our day on the Snake was the last before the river turned dirty and tough. We did well with both dry flies and nymphs. Also got out with a few other folks too. Great to see return and new folks alike! Here’s a few photos from the past few weeks on the water….
