The BilletHead's Ride again. 2016 Adventure The offical report.

[BilletHead]

     There are some nice deep three to four foot pools on Cottonwood in places. We did catch on droppers too but you know after your last White River post that catching on big hoppers is the bomb. Nothing like a big successful slurp and the hopper is gone, time to lift the rod to set the hook. Yes to the scenery Ham. There was times as we were gazing into the beautiful distance we missed fish not paying attention,

BilletHead

[Ham]

Maybe I need to be coached up by my fly fishing muse. I'm not sure if I setting the hook too early or if a bunch of them are just gonna miss it some days. I've had big Browns just roll up and eat it like a fat kid eating a doughnut. You almost cant take it away from them .

I do know that trout don't vacuum in things as well as bass and panfish.

But Hey, they eat my Ruby midges.

[Johnsfolly]

2 hours ago, BilletHead said:

I think the Colorado River cutt would be my favorite color wise.

BH - I think of the subspecies in WY I would agree with you from the photos that I have seen. I don't have any "hands on" experience. YET!

[ness]

Lots of things go into the coloring. But, Colorado River, Greenback and Rio Grande all have the more vivid coloration, in my experience. Seems like the ones from north and west are more muted with less spots. 

[BilletHead]

   From Cottonwood creek we headed to The South West part of the State. There is a narrow Strip that goes up about a third of the state that the Bonneville Cutthroat call home. Just one more subspecies for each of us to call the slam official. We got there pretty late in the afternoon, guess I would really call it evening. Found a pull out along the road, built rods and walked to the water. Salt Creek. As most creeks we fished the trip this was another gem. This one had some kind of water plant under the surface but little flowers broke the top of the water. Lots of damselfly's landing and dancing on the flowers and flowing water. We started throwing a couple sizes of hoppers. Missed so many fish we knew we had to start sizing down our offerings. Then the hook ups started happening. A dozen or so fish later we were done. I really like these cutts. Bright reflective scales that glisten in the remaining sunlight. 

   A local frog.

  Around the corner was the campground where we had spent the first night on our trip.Alfred Flats, we had come full circle, a big zig zagging loop through Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. When we got set up we were really tired so dinner consisted of a celebration of the Cutt Slam with beanie weenies .

Tomorrow morning we would try to save face and catch a few larger Snake River Cutthroat. The ones from Cliff Creek were a bit disappointing.

BilletHead

 

[JestersHK]

Nice slam completed!  Hopefully the hoppers are still hot in a few weeks when I make it out there... No slam for me as I'll likely only have 1 day to fish ... But your reports have got me fired up to get out there and explore.

[Ham]

Grown up Beanie Weenies?

[BilletHead]

       Beanie Weenies are for kids of all ages. Pat's baked beans with char grilled dogs.

BilletHead

[Johnsfolly]

BH

Great trip report! Congrats again to both of you on your WY cuttslams. Really enjoyed riding along with you as you described your trip. I also like beans and brats or dogs.

[BilletHead]

  Well lets finish this trip up,

You all have been a good audience and thanks for letting us share the trip. I have said this before if anyone wants more info about places we have fished or want to do the Cutt Slam shoot me a PM and I will help get you going. 

  A good nights sleep at Alfred Flats was needed and we got it. Pancakes and coffee were downed, camper cranked and stowed we hot the road for a short trip over a pass to the Salt River. This drainage contained the snake river cutt. A forest service road was taken off the blacktop and than a forest service trail winded down to the river. Misnomer here it is another small creek. Put the truck again in 4WD low to crawl carefully over rocks and through the ruts left from wet weather. A few times the Mrs. got out to direct me around obstacles. Finally at the bottom we got the wading boots on and continued down a slope to the creek. Water was not as clear as other places and I am sure it is due to a different geological formation AND the fact that it is an open range area. The banks are broke down full of bovine prints. Lots of corners, beaver dams all along. Nice tall well made dams with scour holes below. Air was warm it was hopper city. The sparse steep banks above were alive with hoppers of all sorts. Fish were caught. We found the larger ones well below the beaver dams under the edge of the willows with the smaller fish directly behind the dams. The beaver pools gave up a few even smaller ones but the moving water below was what they preferred.

    We played leap frog over each other as we fished. The tall thick willows were pretty hard to negotiate and we continually shouted out to keep track of each other. How did you get to where you are? I don't really know just ducked and took a willow tunnel. Hey I am taller that isn't fair. All is fair in fishing warfare she responded! Turns were tight in the willow tunnels and it posed a challenge with the long rods . There are two places of the State where a triangle of sorts forms. Three of the four subspecies can be caught in these areas if you know where to go and can get to the spots easily .   We are pretty familiar with this one. If you are real mobile like we are the slam can be caught quickly.

  After this last fishing of the trip we headed around the drinage we were in over the mountain range to Pinedale. We like this town. Hit the brewery , bar/restraint to purchase the local brew for the road. We are all sold out of take out cans. We can fix you up with a growler. No thanks we don't have space for that and only have one beer a day with meals. Next trip maybe? Hit the local fly shop, couple of stores and then to the campground for the only fish dinner of the trip. Kept a couple small ones from Salt River. Good nights rest and a shower. Next morning the long boring trip homeward. Did stop at Sierra trading post and Cabelas in Nebraska. Best part of the trip home was reminiscing about the last two weeks.

  Not sure what will be in store for next year. That is if the next year goes well and we are blessed to do this again. Many, many places to explore and some asking what don't you try here or there? Allot of these folks stay in one place. Hard to do that for us too much to see around the next bend. Not much into sitting in down time looking into the distance wondering what is out there. Maybe a trip to different states? Maybe North hauling the boat to fly fish for pike and small mouth and other sorts? Would like to hit the far North East for resident BIG brookies? Dream on

BilletHead