Living the Dream - The Henry's Fork

[beachbum]

This was the 37th year a group of us met on the Henry's Fork. I haven't made every year, but this year I finally had time to stay a while. Since the Railroad Ranch doesn't open until June 15th we fished above it in Last Chance. It has a different tone prior to the opener, filled with trout bums, and some interesting characters. I was lucky enough to fish with some older guys, who in their 80's can still catch some nice fish. Listening to their stories, and prying their secret fly patterns from them was quite fun. Here is John, who is in his mid 80's, landing a nice fish.

The mayfly and caddis hatches began to increase, and there were lots of targets. The Henry's Fork has bounced back and the good winter flows (thanks Henry's Fork Foundation) have created a fishery with lots of smaller fish, good populations of strong 14-16 inch fish, and many big fish, who love to feed on the surface. All I fished for a month were dries and emergers on top. Perfect! The first day I hooked a 20+ inch fish that got air 3 times before breaking me off on 5x. Here are some of the pictures from my visit.




A moose tried to join me in the water, but wasn't sure about me, so he just watched from the bank.

The opener of the Railroad Ranch was quite a day. Here is a picture of a few of my friends on opening morning. Some of you might recognize Whitefish Ed, decked out in his special opening day outfit


Opening day provided new targets that hadn't seen a fly since last fall. My friend Murph, the fly box maker, landed 22 and 23 inch bank feeders.


The next day was Father's day and my daughter came to visit. She got some tutoring on the ways of the Henry's Fork from my friends.


She found a pod of fish later (hooked and landed her first Henry's Fork rainbow of 16 inches) that day and didn't even notice that I hooked a bank feeder that took me a couple hundred yards downstream before I landed it.




Being able to fish every day, all day, was truly a dream come true!

[WanderingBlues]

The trout are amazing. That's what California would be like were it not for all the pressure. Gotta say, though, my favorite pic is the one of you and your daughter. The light, the happiness on your mugs- that's a good moment right there.

[beachbum]

The trout are amazing. That's what California would be like were it not for all the pressure. Gotta say, though, my favorite pic is the one of you and your daughter. The light, the happiness on your mugs- that's a good moment right there.

Thanks, Curtis! It was pretty fantastic having her there for a couple weekends. I could tell she's my daughter when she called in sick on the monday after the opener so she could fish with us another day.

[Gary C.]

Some very nice fish. What a great trip that must have been.

[Autodave]

Awesome trip!

[Sasha]

Good stuff buddy, glad you had fun up here

[dray]

Good TR thanks for sharing. Man those fish and the scenery are awesome.

[planettrout]

Looks like a great time was had by all...thanks for the report...Whitefish Ed looks like one of my attractor patterns...


PT/TB

[Papasequoia]

So, let's see - 30 days of fishing and torturing octegenarians for secret fly patterns, probably interspresed liberally with cigar smoking and whiskey drinking. Yeah, that sounds about like living the dream.

[Eric1]

Bill now that is the way to spend your retirement!!!!!!!! Great set of pics.
Eric

[209er]

30+ days? You pi$$ me off!! Nice fish! Enjoy Bill.

[1mocast]

Bill,
I am glad you are living the Dream.

To think you have been fishing for over a month now....Its a goal for us to look forward to one day...LOL

Thanks for taking us along...

[Rob909]

Great report Bill. I'm happy for you

Thanks for sharing.


Rob

[lucfish]

Dream until your dreams come true. Nice job Bill.

[Baughb]

Leaving Thursday for the same place. As excited as a kid before Christmas.

Thanks for sharing the wealth!

Bob