Ten miles from my front door, I can drive over three great trout streams: the Teton River, the Henry’s Fork of the Snake River, and the South Fork of the Snake River. Being in awe of these great fisheries and being aware and respectful of the rich history is such a privilege. The water and surroundings flood the average fly fisher with hundreds of OMG moments and scenarios. Some days are just mind boggling, then you literally bump into Mike Lawson and grab a burger or sit down with Rene Harrop and watch the Super Bowl at the Star Bar in St. Anthony. It can be a bit overwhelming.
From West Yellowstone, MT, to Island Park, ID, and Ashton, ID, at boat ramps, Mexican restaurants and bars, there will be a who’s who of guides. Like Bob Lamb, with 50 years of experience on these waters. And up and coming 20-something guides who will carry the torch when I’m long gone. It takes years to understand just the basic dynamics of fly fishing this region. Just the salmonfly hatch alone takes over a decade to figure out when the first bugs crawl ashore on the Henry’s Fork, but what stretch? And then, when and where on the Teton, and when and where on the South Fork? Is there really a three- month opportunity to throw Chubbies!
For me, doing a few sessions of big bugs, followed by some light tippet, cdc cripples in late June twilight, followed by an early morning bass attack, then a weekend carp/taco/Modelo Negra mission, followed by streamer fishing for big browns, after a glorious yellow Sally event, followed by… is what LIFE is all about. It’s not what you do in your spare time, it’s what you do all the time.
Brian O’Keefe
Contributed By
Brian O’Keefe
So many great places to stay, from world class lodges to Forest Service campgrounds. So many great guides. Not a lot of gourmet restaurants! It is all on-line. Please try to support the great people in the fly shops, the guides and shuttle drivers. Many are working 15 days in a row, while we are out fishing. In my opinion, the average out of state angler should spend the equivalent of at least $10 a minute for information received at a fly shop. If it was really great info, bring in a pizza the next day. If you got a hand drawn map, some Crown.
