Jackson Hole/Yellowstone....

[peter odell]

Took a non-fishing vacation looping from Salt Lake City to Jackson Hole to Yellowstone and back through Park City.  Took at 7 piece 5 weight bought on Amazon that turned out to be a fantastic $80 rod, and fits in my carryon suitcase, so it will be going on a lot more trips.

Fishing highlights that I managed to slip in:  

   -Jackson Lake Dam - tailwater below he dam was beautiful (Snake River) - clean water, gravelly bottom and shore - see picture.  14" cutt 2nd cash (big yellow simulator - hopper/dropper combo (small nymph trailing).  9 more in the next hour, all on topwater except one nymph grabber.Irish coffee at nearby Jackson Lake lodge was an experience enhancer.

   -Firehole - fished it several times for short periods, several brown trout on dry flies.  Unexpectedly fished with 3 bison/buffalo who were just around the corner (yielded them the stream)

   -Madison/Gibbon - 15 minutes on each, no fish to the bank, but both fantastic rivers, especially the Madison.

Yellowstone optimized for fly fishing - lots of dedicated sections and no backcast issues.  You do have to buy a park permit (used to be free), not a wyoming non-res license.

Drove by the Henry's Fork on the way back to Salt Lake City, drift boats everywhere, great looking river.

Recommended area for your bucket list - bears, buffalo, elk, mountains and a lot more.  Tetons were stunning.

Pete