Good Morning Dudes

Good Morning

I have been gone for the last ten days for my annual fly fishing instruction trip to WY. This is a work related trip for me, but getting the chance to teach 40 new customers about Western Fly Fishing adventure is just as good as fishing myself. This is some of the most beautiful country in the West and a great alternative to the main stream popular rivers that most explore on their trips to the Mountain West.

A twist this year left us without a Dude ranch to travel to just 5 days before the trip due to fires in the canyon surrounding our normal destination, T-Cross Ranch. The US Fire Service had closed the road to T-Cross and evacuated the ranch. With a bit of scrambling and the help of Mark and Gretchen from T-Cross, we were able to find a ranch about an hour drive to the East in the same beautiful Country around Dubois, WY.  Jason and Deb, new owners of the Lazy L&B were able to accommodate this large group on short notice and made our stay a memorable one.

THE WATERS

The area around Dubois,WY sits nestled in between the Wind River Range to its south and the Absaroka, Owl Creek ranges to the North. West and North is the Teton and Shoshone National Forests. To the East lies the Giant Wind River Indian Reservation.  The country is both rugged and soft with both high desert and jagged rocky outcroppings. Most of the water from the general area flows to the Wind River which runs East before eventually making its Northern turn at Thermopolis to head  into Montana becoming the Famous Big Horn River. Besides the two dams (Boysen and Yellowtail) and the change of terrain from red rock canyon to high desert the two rivers are one. It is an awesome place to fly fish with countless forks, creeks and big water to explore. There is high gradient pocket water and classic riffle, run pool water to explore. Chocked with American History, Wild Horses, and True Wilderness there is inspiration around every bend.

The variety of trout species in this area from wild to planted to holdover are by far the most numerous I have ever fished over.  The number of different Cutthroat species is off the chart. Partly because of my lack of identification education and the interbreeding that has taken place, I cannot tell you exactly how many. Brooks, Browns and Rainbows are also there in good numbers, and good size. This country I will never tire of returning to.

A big THANKS to TRANE COMPANIES for Sponsering The Gray Goat’s services again this year.

Here are some more Pic’s.

The Wind Outside Thermopolis

The Wind Outside Thermopolis

The Wind

The Wind

Slippery Cutty

Slippery Cutty

Monitoring fires on Horse Creek

Monitoring fires on Horse Creek

What Species?

What Species?

My Cabin At Lazy L&B

My Cabin At Lazy L&B

A Stop At Ten Sleep

A Stop At Ten Sleep

Almost There

Almost There

A Big Jackalope at Dubois

A Big Jackalope at Dubois

A little Ass

A little Ass

Main Transportation

Main Transportation

First Rainbow

First Rainbow

John's Brown

John’s Brown