Yellowstone River

Yes, that is a bison on Fishing Bridge.

On the first day in Yellowstone we decided to check out Hayden Valley and the Yellowstone River. I knew it was lat for fishing the river and returns from the lake have been low, but that wasn't enough to keep me away. As evening came to the valley I spotted a few large cutts rising. After many unsuccessful casts with assorted dry flies, I realized I was just seeing large tails, but the fish weren't breaking the surface. I put on a wet fly and shortly after that I felt a strong pull. After some thrashing around just a few feet from me this large decided to make a break for it in the fast water. I know most people consider cutthroat to be weak fighters, but I think they use the current to their advantage much better than other trout. After a long bolt downstream I was able to start making some ground. I had deep water to my left and fast water to my right. I decided I was stuck there for better or worse. Pulling a big fish upstream is not exactly what I choose to do, but sometimes there aren't other good options. I was able to get him up to the point where I could see the leader and then the line went limp. The fly had pulled out. I fished for a while longer with no more takes and decided to pack up.

Grand Teton Bison

Grand Teton National Park and the Snake River

After my failure to catch a Snake River Finespotted Cutthroat last year, I thought I'd give it another shot before entering Yellowstone. With a full day to accomplish the task, I figured I'd be able to pull this off. After a slow start, I realized the fish wanted bigger flies. The size 12 attractor patterns weren't doing it, but a size 8 fly would bring them up. I was able to catch several pretty little cutthroats, but not the big fish I was hoping for. I decided to drop a nymph off my dry fly and see if this would change my fortunes. I soon had a take from nice fish, but couldn't get a good hookset. It was creeping toward lunch time and I thought I'd blown my shot at a good fish when I thought I heard a big rock thrown into the water. I figured it was one of the rafters who had stopped for lunch nearby, but I didn't see any. I went to investigate and through in a cast where I heard the disturbance. As small cutthroat rose for the dry, but suddenly turned away. A large golden fish came out of nowhere and I saw him viciously attack my nymph. As soon as I set the hook this massive trout leaped. I was shocked to see it was a Brown Trout at the end of my line. This was the largest trout I'd ever seen other than in pictures. I was able to tire this large fish after several strong runs. In the heavy Snake River current I was unable to find any soft places for a clean landing. I knew I would only get one chance. I brought the fish over and scooped my net under him. At that moment I realized just how big he was. As I brought the net up, he made one last flop. I had him right there in my net, but my net wasn't big enough. My reward for using a catch and release net was to see the biggest trout I've ever had at the end of my line easily flop out as I was bringing him up to take the hook out. I'm not sure how this counts in the realm of catching. Was it a catch. I didn't have a camera on me, so I wasn't going to take a picture anyway. I'm not sure. It was exciting nonetheless. I just wish I'd been able to get the hook out and give him a proper release. More than anything though, I wish it had been a big cutthroat, but it's always nice to fool a big, wily Brown Trout.

Tetons and Yellowstone

More to follow soon...

PC Lifestyle

Can you find the fish in the top picture? Hint: It's a brook trout, look for the red and white fins.

With the core exams successfully in the rear view mirror I have had time to do the things I've been wanting to do recently but haven't been able to. Not surprisingly I've been out fishing and tying a lot of flies. I made it out yesterday to Gold Lake and hiked into Upper Marilyn Lake. While it was a slow day it was far from a slow evening. As the sun set on Gold Lake things turned on. The rings from rising fish could be seen all over the lake. Some fish were so exuberant they broke the surface and flew through the air chasing bugs. It was fun to be in my float tube with fish rising all around me.

Britt also had some luck. I told her if she wanted to make the blog she had to have a fish picture and now she does.

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all the fathers out there.

Study Break

I tTook advantage of a break in studying to get out and fish for a day on the Metolius. Fishing was slow until some large mayflies (green drakes I suppose, but never got a good look at one) started coming off. There weren't many, but these large portions of protein put fish into a frenzy. Rainbows from 12-16" were slashing bugs and jumping out of the water to be sure to get their meal. My newly tied green drake imitations weren't of interest, so I tried a more traditional pattern. I looked in my box and found an Adams that had been rejected for years for being way too big, but now if anything it was too small. On the first cast it was met by a trout who was intent on punishing my fly for past wrongs done to him by other fisherman. The take was so violent that the fly broke off shortly after. I then managed to lose several flies and a big chunk of my leader on the logs I was having to cast around. I was rewarded for my effort with the nice rainbow in the picture. Then after this half an hour of some of the most violent rises I've ever seen everything was quiet.

I left the river feeling like I had caught many more fish than I actually did. It was a great break from studying and now my month of studying for the core exams begins.