redbird

Jackson Wyoming offers a lot of fly fishing opportunities in a relatively small area (by western standards). If camping is in the cards Gros Ventre Campground on the Gros Ventre river could serve as a base of operations, and you avoid the added fees and crowds of camping in the national park. But with the added fees of the national park you can add to the fishing opportunities so you may want to camp in Grand Teton. There are some campgrounds with absolutely breathtaking views. Not that Gros Ventre is lacking in that department either. If you go in August (late August is a really good time as flows are down and kids are going back to school and temps are downright nice) you can take advantage of a couple of areas that are only open in the fall to fish. Flat Creek on the National Elk Refuge offers some really good sight casting to very wary cutthroat, and Blacktail ponds offers the same in one of the most scenic areas I've ever fished. You could stop at the world famous Jack Dennis High Country Outfitters in downtown Jackson. Jackson is pretty touristy, but its a neat place to get a hat, and the guys at the shop are very knowledgeable. Remember sometimes in fly shops and bait shops you need to listen to what isn't said as much as what is said. The whole area is very researchable on the web and there are so many places to fish there, I think a week wouldn't cover half of them. Lots of good water with good public access. Guides are also available, and floats on the famous Snake River a possibility too. Its one of my favorite places to visit. If you go the Duboise route be sure to check out Double Cabin Campground. It is an hour or so drive on gravel road and switchbacks from Duboise. There are 2 mountain creeks there and they are full of cutthroat, and brook trout, and a few rainbow. They have been having a heck of a time with the Pine bark beetle there, so the trees aren't so pretty right now, but the mountains are beautiful. The wading is pretty easy, and the fish are pretty eager. They aren't huge, but the last time I was there I was pleasantly surprised with the size of some of my catches, so there are some nice ones in there. Classic Mountain dry fly fishing at its best!

I've been to Wyoming and been chased by a cow moose. We got away, but, could've used running shoes then.

Is the campground at RR open this time of year?

No worries, it was a great day. Dry fly action in the rain! #16 adams in zone 3. 2 more days to fish and improving weather!

Thanks Tim. See you tomorrow.

Does the horn blow at 7am tomorrow morning with the time change?

At first I though u meant dump the $$$ right in the creek.

Brian, people are going to start thinking of you as the Yvonne Chouinard of the Ozarks. "Conservacion Ozarkia"

I had a similar problem with my boat, and changing the prop to one with different pitch helped immensly.

The pellets come from above so they, though not as smart as other trout are disposed to be looking up for food.

Does anyone know if they are going to stock Honker pond w/ trout this year? I would love to take the boys out fly fishing over Christmas break.

Sorry I didn't post back right away. We did go, Saturday was pretty much a wash. We were on the water by 9am and the torrents started. After about an hour and no fish we hit the camper for some cards and a nap. The rain let up so we got out about 1 and hit some points as the wind came up. I thought we would start picking up some whites but we didn't and the rains came back so we pulled the boat off. We ran to town to pick up some steaks, by the time we got back to camp the rain was moving out so we filled a couple glasses with Makers Mark, stoked up a campfire and fired up some red meat! We had a good end to an otherwise lousy fishing day! But it was a good time with my Bro who I only get to see once or twice a year. Sunday morning we had wind, at times too much for our small boat, so we drove to some points and threw some rooster tails. The whites were not going crazy, but we managed a few, and I am happy to say my brother caught a hybrid that went 7 or 8 # making his trip a bit more worth while. We had lots of time to plan my visit to him in the Wind River range in Wyoming next summer and dream of the trout we will be catching on fly rods.

Thank you so much for the heads up! Hope we can get into some fish either way. Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanks, that is what I was hoping. My brother is in from Wyoming, hoping to show him a good time in the lowlands.

Is anyone still catching whites on the points? I am planning a trip this weekend. I got into them a few weeks ago, but it has gotten much colder since. Didn't know if they were still hanging around?

You definately did the right thing, even though it might have felt better to do the wrong thing. Unfortunately with the numbers of people who have gravitated to our sport of fishing, it has become a reflection of our society. We are all so busy looking out for us and ours, so screw the other guy! Your only recourse was to act the way you did. An escalation, in this day and age,could have consequences that could be tragic. The best we can do is hold ourselves to the standards that have always applied for us and other fishermen and hope that it rubs off.

Are the campgrounds open during C&R?

I dont know what you are talking about! Its no secret, the fishing is never any good at Truman.

I remember this happening to both Pomme and Stockton when I was a kid. They came back strong. It took a few years, by the time I was in highschool it seemed like my Dad was catching them better than ever. It seems to me like it may be part of a natural cycle with whites? Anybody know if thats true? Has it ever happened on Truman, LOZ, Table Rock?

You will get your hookup! Musky days are just heating up, as the temp drops, clouds fill the sky and wind blows against those points and flats.

I heard that there was a possibility to catch some whites on windy points, and with clouds and wind in the forecast I decided to hit the Long Shoal area and see what I could find. Unfortunately I hadnt had my boat out since June, and when I went to put in, Dead Battery. No prob. pull er out and hook her up to some jumper cables right? Yeah, I havent moved the jumper cables into the new van yet! Plan c was pull the cover off and get the 4 month cold motor started with the rope. FUN! Well I dont quit when there is a chance to catch a fish so Pull i did. It started and instead of hitting the water at around 1030 for a few hours we were pulling away from the ramp at 1139. Not too bad, but not a great start. I had my oldest son with me and we were going to work on catching them on the fly today, so I was there to instruct as much as fish. He did great, but we didnt get into anything right off the bat, and his attention wained, but he just picked up his camera and started shooting picks. I did have a nice bass roll over a homemade popper just after we started and I almost stepped on a fish that at first glance I thought was a log. Probably a carp, but if it was a bass, OH my! I really only got about 5 feet from it, and It didnt really spook until I tried to cast, to it and over shot by a few feet. The fly line spooked him. Darn adrenaline! So between rain showers that werent too unbearable, we decided to get back in the boat and cast some rooster tails and torpedos for a few before it was time to head back home. The wind started picking up, we caught sight of 2 bald eagles, about 20 turkey hens, and with just about 10 minutes left we started seeing some action. Tyler had a couple nice whites slapping at his torpedo. I could see 3 of them chasing it. On my next cast I set the hook into something solid and it jumped immediately. A nice keeper largemouth, just after he jumped Tyler hooked into a 13 inch largemouth. A Double, what a way to end the day with your boy! Well not a lot of fish, a little agrivation, but much better than a day at work! Sorry the camera wasnt coming out in the rain anymore so no pics this time.

Thanks for the report Tim. See you this weekend.

You can rent a boat at the state park marina. I used to do that when I was younger. You can start catching Musky right around there. The points across from the state park and working your way up toward the darn hold musky. I have had several on there. In the fall especially on grey windy days key on windblown points and flats. This concentrates baitfish on these areas and whitebass and largemouth key on them. Muskies in turn key on everything there I belive, shad, whites and largemouth. Start out off the bank a ways(maybe 100-150yds) and work your way in. I need to get another 8wt so I can get down there and try for some (lost mine off of the back of my buddy's truck 2 winters ago. I do have an old 6 wt I wont mind getting shredded.) Still moving toward the darn there is an island and it holds musky also, there is a nice flat off the darn side of the island. The Coves and points by the darn are good too, By Hermitage boat launch. This is just scratching the surface, I will PM you with some more info if I get time when I get home from work tonight.

I am sorry, not much to say. I grew up fishing at James Reed, and am tired of reading that last topic every time I log on. I do have a buddy who has reported to me on several occasions this summer he has been catching some nice topwater bass out at Reed.