Archive for category: Uncategorized

It was another great season at Grand Fishing. The trout were biting, the weather was beautiful, and the clients were happy. Our goal as an outfitter has always been to provide our clients with an exceptional, positive experience on the river, regardless of how the bite is that day. We can’t always guarantee trout, but we can do our best to guarantee a memorable day on the water, and I believe we accomplished that this season. Lucky for us, the fishing was also really good this year, which made our jobs a little bit easier.

The season was off to a slower start this year, due to one of the biggest winters the area has seen in the last three decades. Luckily, warm temperatures and heavy rain in late June increased snow melting and expedited Jackson’s annual run-off cycle. The Snake River was fishing how it should in early July and showed no signs of slowing down.

Once the river leveled out to typical flows in early July, we began consistently getting clients out on the river and onto fish. Guides were ready for work, and the fish were ready to eat. Big and small dry flies, foam grasshoppers, and nymphs were the ticket to success throughout the heart of the season. The Snake has always been a dry fly fishery, so we like to do our best to stick to dry fly fishing. When the trout are picky though, which can happen with pressure and weather, we lean on the dropper to get the job done. We saw big fish in riffles, riverbanks, undercut banks, deep holes, and under down trees. Pretty much everywhere you would expect a big trout to be in. Overall, it was a successful summer, and we’re pleased to say we got a lot of big fish to the net. (List of some popular summer flies below)

Dry Flies: Parachute Adams, Split Flag Adams, Guide Chute, Film Critic, PMDs, Blue Wing Olives, Mahogany Duns, Purple Haze

Foam: Chubby Chernobyl, Water Walker, Purple Bruces, Circus Peanut, Morrish Hopper, Skwala, Grand Hoppers

Nymphs: Pat’s Rubber Legs, Copper Johns, Perdigons, Duracell’s, Pheasant Tail, Psycho Princes

The end of September is when we start to see business slow down a little. This has to do with a drop in tourism, colder temperatures, and the stigma that the fishing isn’t as good this time of year. We are here to prove that stigma wrong. The fall season in the valley is one of the best times to be on the river. The weather is beautiful, the leaves are blossoming with color, the rivers lack human presence, and the fish are biting. Small dry flies and streamers are your best bet to get on a nice cutthroat this time of year. Novices may find the fishing to be a little tougher, as the fishing becomes a little more technical this time of year, but the intermediate to advanced angler will find the fishing to be some of the best in the west. If you’re looking to catch big cutthroat trout, this is the time to be on the water. We saw a lot of success on our trips later in the year and hope to continue to get clients on the water in the fall in the future.

Finally, we’ll get into our season on Fish Creek. This was one of the best years of fishing that we have seen on the creek in a long time. With over 4 miles of private creek access on the Snake River Ranch, we were able to cover a lot of water and target big cutthroat trout sipping small dry flies. Once the creek flows began to drop from early season conditions, and trout began to migrate up from the Snake River, we consistently found ourselves with a lot of great chances at success. Our guides are very skilled on the creek and know where the fish are and what they eat at different times of the season. Their knowledge lead anglers from all over the world to get on some of the biggest Snake River cutthroats in the area.

Overall, we were very pleased with how the season went. We did our best to ensure the safety of all of our clients, while also providing a positive, fulfilling experience on the water. We look forward to doing the same next season. See you all then!

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Snake River

June 16, 2022

The snake river is currently at high water. Our snow in the mountains is holding on. This means we will have a great float season this year. We are expecting consistent flows from the dam at Jackson Lake which will help out the fish tremendously. So far it has been a cold and wet spring, meaning the river isn’t quite ready yet. We are hoping the river will clear by the end of the week. Us locals look at the mountains to gauge the runoff. When Glory Mountain is free of snow, the snake will be close to ready. When Rendezvous bowl is free of snow the snake will be fishing as it should.

June 23, 2022

Snake River

Today was the first day the Snake fished well since runoff began. The water temperature is just right, and the flows are evening out. We need the visibility to clear up a little before we start fishing dry flies, but streamers and nymphs are working for now.

Green River

The Green is fishing really well at this time. It is normal for this river to clear before the Snake, due to its location to the mountains, and the lack of tributaries flowing into the river. Fishing on the Green is challenging, with small targets and picky fish but the rewards can be great. As the river has dropped, fish have started feeding on worms and large streamers. The worm hatch is a real thing on the Green and the fish are currently fat and happy. As the river clears and drops more, we will start fishing dry flies. Golden stones and gray drakes will be our best bet to get the big fish to rise. Floating the green is comparable to playing the Pebble Beach golf course; it is a beautiful and classic example of fly fishing a challenging mountain river. Old fly patterns work great and new ones work better (maybe). The Green will fish consistently through the month of July.

Fish Creek

The Creek is fishing well, as it usually does. Fish Creek is a tributary to the snake and sees a push of spawning cutthroat every spring. A lot of those fish become residents of the creek and will stay there all summer. It is your best chance to catch a 20-inch native cutthroat trout in the valley. It is a spring creek that has clear water and spooky trout. We typically fish light line to rising trout heads. An accurate cast of about 40 feet is necessary. The Creek is not beginner-friendly, as it is very technical and demanding. Fish Creek is loaded with mayflies, stoneflies, caddis, and crane flies. We mostly fish dry flies, though the dropper can be effective if the fish are not actively feeding on top. Private water opens a window to the past. To see what fishing was like 30 years ago, book a trip with us on Fish Creek.

   

Lake Creek

Lake Creek is a great option to fish while the snake is high and muddy. Lake creek sees a push of migratory fish and is still the creek where I’ve caught my largest cutthroat trout. Quality over quantity is the name of the game. Fishing lake creek feels like hunting, you must cover the water and be ready when the opportunity presents itself.

Salt River

The salt is a freestone river (no dam) that flows out of the mountains into palisades reservoir in Alpine, Wyoming. It’s about an hour’s drive from Jackson and can be a great river to fish when all necessary factors align. We typically fish dry flies for native cutthroat trout on the Salt. There are also brown trout that live in palisades reservoir and come into the river to spawn in the fall. They usually become residents of the river and you could catch a very large brown trout any month of the year.

Flat Creek

This creek is a great option this time of year. This is a wade fishing trip like fish and lake creek. Flat creek is public water and offers amazing fishing opportunities. It can be challenging fishing, as you are working tight channels with high, grassy banks. Light line to large native trout. This time of year, we will be fishing dry flies and matching the hatch. If there is no hatch, we typically fish dry dropper.

Come visit the Fly shop and get more specific information on fly patterns.

 

 

We’ve had lots of warm days this summer in Jackson Hole, and grasshopper fishing is in full swing.  The mornings have seen consistent PMD and caddis hatches.  As the day heats up and the hoppers start buzzing, it’s been good to switch to foam.  There have been a variety of patterns working, so don’t be afraid to switch it up.  The heat of the day can cause a bit of a lull in the fishing so get out early!