The Billethead's Adventure 2014

[BilletHead]

Ok here we go,

This is going to be picture heavy, really heavy so I will split up the places we went. Going to start with the upper Green and Cottonwood creek. Started off at home and left about five PM on a Friday night. Drove until we pooped out and took a three hour power nap in Lexington NE. then back on the road until we made it to a campground in Boulder WY just South of Pinedale. Got showers, a good meal and a much needed nights rest. Up early and to Pinedale for stuff and then to the Green River. We have in the past fished the Eastern side of the river but I had been studying the West side roads on google maps. Specifically a bend in the river where there is a blue hole. What we might call a bend in the river where during high water it makes a deep spot. Then also a creek that dumps in the same area called Tosi creek. It I was told had brookies in it. Small but plentiful. We took the West road where a bridge crossed the Green and up we went. Found Tosi and drove up it until a parking spot was found. As soon as we stopped a cloud of mosquitos formed around the truck cab. Pat cracked the window and they began to funnel in! We started swatting. I got out to take a wiz and walked a ways from the truck skeeters in tow. Got job done and got back in the truck with my bride giggling. We drove a bit more looking for another access. The road got farther away from the creek so we turned around and decided to bug dope up and try the first spot. When we got back we seen another fisherman had got there and was swatting as he got out. We gave up on Tosi and went to the blue hole bend on the Green. Got there and rigged up. This is in a slower swampy bendy meadow scene. No real riffles, deeper water shallow water fast and slow current. We sprayed on bug dope and had a breeze. Hopper looking stuff but I ran a dropper with my hopper. I was up and down here and there but Mrs. BilletHead was glued on one spot. She had put on a pink hopper. She thinks pink all the time. Soon she was squealing with delight and I seen her rod bend,

I could not believe it. Again first fish and biggest of the day,

We fished more without more catching although I really studied the blue hole corner and thought next time we bring out the kayaks then we will fish the large deep blue corner. We then dropped out and headed for the Warren bridge access. When you get off the highway onto the dirt road There are twelve camping spots on the river spread out. Room for one to several campers per spot. We drove towards the end where we had camped a couple of years ago. Fished there the rest of the day only catching some smaller rainbows. River kind of high for wading, definitely no crossing. High enough a flotilla of rafts fishing all afternoon. Camped there for the night.

Chief cook and bottle washer,

Dinner being cooked,

Just because you are camping doesn't mean you cannot eat good. Steak, mashed taters, salad and wine in a paper cup!

Lots of bugs out,

One for Phil

Got to let my fingers rest and then off to South Cottonwood Creek,

BilletHead

[BilletHead]

After the Green we headed to South Cottonwood creek. This little gem is in the Wyoming Range Mountains, Bridger Teton National Forest. A drive across the valley to the South West of where we were on the Green and up into a higher range. We had found this place in 2010 when doing our cut-slam.

The stretch of bottom where we will be fishing. A mix of turns, bends and beaver ponds. Small water and could be crossed about anywhere. I would say max depth of four feet?

Camp for that night,

Starting a trend of wet weather. Rain, mist and low hanging clouds. Low hanging clouds? Not really I would say we were in the clouds. If it was dryer we would of wet waded but with the dampness we would stay dryer in waders.

I got this fish in a beaver pond.

We caught cutthroat and brookies. More cutthroat though.

Notice the pink and purple hopper? A trend for the wife that continued to pay off.

Another pink hopper hook up. She is kicking my rear in big fish,

The fish of the day,

Swimming off.

Dinner for the day of stuffed cubanells, dessert of blackberry crisp.

Sadie prewashing dishes.

Did I tell you how spoiled I am? What better place for a pedicure?

Next morning fishing like the day before. Beaver pond sneak up. Hard to see but in the first one you can see the take. Second one a swirl about to be landed.

We will be swimming off to the next spot soon,

BilletHead

[Feathers and Fins]

I'm jealous, beautiful country without doubt

[BilletHead]

After fishing Cottonwood for almost a full day and most of the next morning it was time to move again. Further up into the Wyoming range of mountains on the forest service road which by the way for the most part better than my county roads here. Over McDougal gap down the West slope along sheep creek. There was a big rain up top and quite the mud plug going down the hill towards the Greys river. At the Greys we turned North and then diverted up Murphy creek for a spell. When turning off of the Greys up Murphy the Greys was still clear. Way up Murphy we went, way up until we found where we had been before. Smallest creek we had fished yet. Pretty tiny, to the point you could step across it. Again rain off and on. Mostly on. We cranked up the camper and dressed up ourselves to fish. Soon we caught. Small cutties but pretty nice for the thin water. We even found huckleberries and feasted on the treats. Some of the murphy fish,

The Mrs. working it,

Camp for the night,

With all the moisture had to make a temp cover. Worked well as duck was being cooked on the grill,

Duck with cheesy fried potatoes and grilled cubanells,

Again Sadie pre washing,

The wet mess trying to dry,

Woke up to a giant omelet the next morning.

Dog tired we all have become,

But once again time to move on. Some of the upper Murphy road,

When we got to the Murphy Greys river junction here is what we saw. Mud coming down the Greys.

Thought about putting a down payment on a retirement home:)

Out towards Alpine and civilization, a shower, laundry and a few grocery's. Then heading North!

BilletHead

[BilletHead]

When heading out of Alpine we stopped at a fly fishing shop. We talked to the young man behind the counter. He says been catching? Yes we replied. Then he asks were? We told him. He responds Murphy creek? Yep, Really ? Yep. He then says the shop owner said there is fish up there. I have been up there three times and never caught a fish. Boy I thought to myself talk about making a flatlander feel good!

Ok North we go towards Jackson Hole. Straight through that town and up towards the park. Right at where you should start seeing the Tetons here comes the rain again. That and low clouds made it impossible to see the mountains. Bus loads of tourists at every turn out staring to where the Tetons should be. Bummer I thought they are missing a breathtaking sight. We get into the park to more rain. Not much to see but this was just a way to get to where we were going next. Where is that? Well two choices. North into Montana to the Livingston area and where the big FFF deal was going on or to the East. Cody area or the Big Horns. Weather had said rain pretty much all around but we thought the Big Horns typically a bit dryer. At the Junction by Yellowstone Lake the decision was made to head East . So we trucked out of the park and down the hill towards Cody when we noticed the North Fork of the Shoshone was pretty clear. We had heard it was blown out and muddy from the rains in the park. Yes we thought and stopped at the Rex Hale campground half way between Cody and the Park. Again we cranked up the camper, set up, and got to fishing for a short time. Caught a few small cutthroat and rainbows. Then we grilled a couple more small steaks and hit the bed. Up early, a quick cup of homemade granola cereal. Then to fishing. Headed downstream and caught,

Fished until before noon and decided a snack of smoked duck and crackers. With a spread of cream cheese, jalapenos and lemon juice.

Also snacked on red and black currents,

Fished more in the afternoon catching more. Looked up the valley towards the park to see rain, heard thunder too,

Back at camp we ate again. Goose fajitas,

A couple of dead solders,

A good fire and us,

Again we were all dead tired,

peeked over the bank just before dark and what did we see? Another big mud plug coming down the river. It will be time to move again in the morning,

BilletHead

[Njardar]

What a great adventure, thanks for sharing it.

[Ham]

Thanks for sharing the trip and photos with us. More photos of Sadie please.

[Mitch f]

Wow, way to go....awesome trip and report. Next time I'll tag along and volunteer to be Sadie's sidekick and help pre-wash the dishes!

[BilletHead]

Oh there is more to come, stand by you all!

[Justin Spencer]

Lovin' it!