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3. Chasing Legends (4 1/2 weeks fishing some the West's most renowned waters)

Just wrapped up an almost dream trip exploring the American West and fishing some of the regions most renowned Blue Ribbon fisheries!

The weather was wildly unpredictable, run-off patterns were all over the map--and I am a dry fly enthusiast (ok--a fanatic) loathe to fish with an indicator so it was definitely a mixed bag. Epic hatches in places with very technical fishing, spring creeks where fish under 20" where banned ;-) and cutthroat so gullible I left in search of a more challenging quarry. Some watersheds were guaranteed fish--if one wanted to fish an indicator; big and even bigger trout!

It seems drought and whirling disease continue to be an issue in many places--even if the local guides and chamber of commerce have a happier tale to sell--I mean tell ;-)

High points were catching the tail end of the Golden Stones in the Tetons and Yellowstone as the water was dropping and clearing; a lake trout that took a Callibaetis nymph (wtf?); a "hatch" of aquatic wasps that set off some pretty frenzied feeding to anything and everything--and finally REALLY dialing in some superb dry fly action on the Missouri (as in almost every fish that I could get a good drift)

A lengthier photo essay is on my Facebook pages if you are interested

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10204113572067168&set=a.1022463529459.2004059.1461357746&type=3&theater

Great trip man! Western landscapes are soooooo picturesque and spectacular. Those are pretty fish too!

Jonathon

Yup, definitely a must do. Thanks for the great pics.

Mike.

Thanks so much for sharing. Great nature to be surrounded with on a stream.I wasn't thrilled with fishing over cutthroats either.

Breathtaking shot of those red cliffs. Thank you for sharing.

Thanks for the report, and great pictures!