Say It Is So

It had been over three years in the making. Day after day reading fishing reports, checking flights, wondering, pondering when could I finally make it back to that mecca of trout fishing. A place where it seemed there was no limit to the rivers you could explore and the fish that would be waiting. I had often thought of my first trip out to Yellowstone and the fun that I had. That trip, brown trout on the Madison river became our focus and did not disappoint. But deep down inside we always desired to make it to that famed Northeast Corner. We wanted to wet our line in what is most likely the best Cuttthroat trout fishing in the entire world. Well I would have to wait no longer. After my backpacking trip out to the Winds I decided to finally make it back to the place I had dreamed about returning to. I was ready to touch my feet in cool waters of some of the best fly fishing in the entire world! I started on the Lamar River where it took some time to get used to the fishing. But I soon found a run that produced numerous strikes. I didn't even attempt a dropper fly. These Cutts were sipping off the surface as effortlessly as you possibly could imagine. Barbless hooks proved to be a major issue for much of the trip but lucky the number of strikes made you quickly forget about the ones you had lost. I caught a number of good fish on the Lamar River that day and decided to try my luck at Slough Creek the next day. Slough Creek was on fire. Easily my most productive fishing day out west this year. If I had a barb on the hook it probably could have been my best fishing day ever. The famed creek did not disappoint as Cutts would rise in almost every pool. After hiking and fishing a bit we returned to the campground to work the meadows below. On my first trip out to Yellowstone we had stopped at the blown out Slough Creek just to throw in a line. My brother got a hold of a very nice fish down there and spotted a few more. I figured I would pay a return visit to that hole and I found numerous BIG BOYS lurking in all these runs. I was having great luck getting these fish to rise until the wind picked up so much that I couldn't even cast. We finished the day on the Lamar River as sunset was rolling in. That river was on FIRE that night. Fish after fish were smashing my little grey wulf over and over again. It made for some of the most fun fishing I have ever experienced. The next day we had planned to go to the Black Canyon of the Yellowstone to do some big water fishing, but we ended up heading out to Jackson. The taste is still in my mouth of what we might have encountered down on the Yellowstone and I suppose that will give me the motivation to make it back once again! All in all the trip was great! The fishing was unreal! The scenery was beautiful! Because my ignorance of not bringing a net I was only able to snap a few fish pictures..Enjoy what I got!!!...til next time

-Dreamcatchers

This run I will not soon forget

Caught my first fish from the Lamar River right through here

This was a feisty cutt that didn't want to stay in his pool I made him

Lamar River Valley

Yellowstone Falls

Cutt!!!!!

This guy was a real challenge to bring in without a net

One more look

The Wild West

It had only been a month since I returned from backpacking and exploring the Wind River Range but I knew it was time to go back. In late August I packed up the bags and prepared for another adventure out in the wilderness and a side trip to Yellowstone immediately following. The trail would be one that I had done before but it had been a few years and I was excited to refresh my memory of the beautiful scenery. We were greeted with smog from the fires out west. For the first part of the trip it made it hard to really appreciate the scenery, especially having been there when it is so clear. But this eventually cleared up and allowed for some spectacular views. We stopped to fish at numerous locations and had just the luck I was expecting. Big Cutts were ready to play. Excellent dry fly and active subsurface fishing made for an incredible couple days at our destination lake. With a little rock climbing I was able to get to some parts of the lake that were ON FIRE!! You could see large fish cruising around just searching for something to attack! I soon came to realize one of my biggest regrets from this trip...WHY didn't I bring a net??!!! It was hard to get a picture if any of the fish I caught and it didn't take long to realize how much I missed my net! But I was still able to get a few pictures. Check them out and get out and fish some yourself! til next time...

-Dreamcatchers

First Cutt of the trip

 This was a WILD fight! He had some kick!

Scud!!!!!!

and another

Opening Morning Sunrise

Mistake and Upper Titcomb Lakes

Time to pump some water

Sapphire Lakes

Cool morning scene

Above the inlet and waterfall to Island Lake 

 Looking into Titcomb Basin as the sun is rising

The lowest of the pothole lakes

Little stretch of river was full of tiny golden trout

Sunrise scene from Hobbs Lake

Back in the Tetons

We Found Gold

Good Thursday Morning to all!!! We just returned from a 6 day backpacking trip in the Rocky Mountains last week, and have much to say!! Weather and mosquitoes would both be a deterrent but we still managed an epic trip! The scenery was unreal and the fishing was fantastic! We ended up with at least 5 different species caught on the trip: Rainbow, Cuttbow, Brook, Cutthroat, and Golden trout all were taken. Almost everyday we were greeted with hail and rain which caused some minor shifts in our plans, but for the most part we just stuck it out! We went over 3 days without seeing a single person! Fishing ranged from absolutely on FIRE to downright dead sometimes. One occasion I found myself fishing in hail storm with some mixed in rain and the golden trout were smashing every single cast I threw out! Truly something I will NEVER forget! In the end, we saw some incredible sights, experienced some great fishing, but mainly enjoyed each others company in a truly surreal place. Here are a few pics to wet your appetite. More to come soon. Til next time...

-Dreamcatchers

Mixed some stream fishing in

Catch me if you can

This guy was Firey RED!

This was a pretty cool scene on our way back to base camp!

Great catch Danny!

David decided to take a break from the mosquitoes to catch a golden!

CUTT!!!!!

Clear Skies and Big Flies - Oregon

Just made it back from a week long trip to the Deschutes River in the central Oregon DESERT!! It was absurdly warm almost everyday! The main attraction, Salmonflies, were for the most part gone. But luckily I still found fish that wanted to key in on the big drys! I threw a HUGE golden stone pattern for much of the week and had great success! These fish ATTACK large flies to say the least. It is not a simple slurp as you might see on some rivers. It almost seemed like a shark coming in like a missile to pile-drive its prey. It made for some of the best dry fly fishing I have experienced yet. Here are some quick pics to wet your appetite. Most are from my gopro, but I carried my big camera around the last day and came through in the clutch! My wingman Jacob worked the net and brought in a nice fat redside!!! So you will see a few high quality pics of one of the redsides I hooked into! More pics and vid to come!!!

til next time 

-Dreamcatchers

Spent a couple days on the coast before heading out!

One of the feisty Redsides

Golden Stone take!

Not much luck on the Salmonflies during the day, but when evening came it was a different story

Put my drag to WORK!

Fish hold extremely close to the banks and much of the shoreline was tall grass or rocks like this...

 This guy took my at least 50 yards downstream. Colorful rainbow was hiding on the other side of the grass!

Sending him BACK!

One of the few fish I was able to get on a nymph. (but who cares when the dry fly fishing is so good)

He was a bit greedy! Notice the golden stone!

Time well spent!

Quick Pic

Spring Fling

The temps are heating up and it feels like summer in Southeast Tennessee. We already have encountered temps in the low 90s! Luckily for us, it hasn't slowed the fishing. Fishing has been on FIRE lately. I went out early Sunday and found a number of willing trout (far too many to count). Do yourself a favor and get out there in enjoy some of the action! The rust will fall off fairly quickly. And you are sure to find success. Back to my adventure..I nabbed a trout slam as the day progressed. Catching brown, brookie, and bow together always makes a trip more complete. Highlights from the day were a couple of big rainbows, in the 18 to 20 inch class. Needless to say...that bent the rod. I am going to be testing the waters out in Oregon here soon. So be sure to check back and see what we did! Until then I will be out and about around Southeast Tennessee. Here are a couple pics to get your blood flowing!!! Til Next Time

-Dreamcatchers

Early morning fog almost burnt off the river before this guy came calling

Afternoon Delight

Hunting Browns

Welcome to SPRING!!!!! Been out and about a lot lately as temps and water levels have cooperated for the most part. So far I have only made it to the usual spots; Hiwassee and few favorite Smoky Mountain Streams. I am contemplating renewing my Georgia fishing license and checking out some more North Georgia Streams, but out of state licenses get kind of expensive. I had a Tennessee, Colorado, and Georgia fishing license last year. I wonder what this year will bring! Anyways I took off early from work on Thursday to enjoy a couple hours on the water before sundown. I thought I would do some good ole fashion, Brown Trout Hunting! I was NOT disappointed. Watching brown trout smash dry flies off the top with reckless abandon is truly a sight every fisherman should behold. I got a hold of a NICE hefty brown and managed to get him in after a long long fight. Enjoy the pics! More to come soon...until next time

-Dreamcatchers

 Blue Skies Surprise!

Evening is the time to play

Boom!

This guy bent the rod!

GUT!