Wind River 21 Inch Trout

After tying on another brown leech pattern, I headed upstream.  Here the water was fast because it was so high, but not white water like it was at the start of the canyon.  After a few more casts into the deep, middle of the river I had another strike.   

This fish also headed downstream into the rapids.  I kept the pole high and tried to lift the trout’s head above the water.  This was a strong fish and it just kept going until I thought I was going to hit the end of my backing.  At this point I put on as much pressure as I dared.  With this additional pressure I was able to get its head above the water and scooted it across the top of the waves as best I could.  

I finally got it towards the slower water near the edge of the rock cliffs.  In this slower water I was able to fight it again and bring it to a point that I could step into the water and net it.  It was a brown that measured 21 inches.   

The weather was now in the upper 90’s, I was soaked with sweat and decided it was time for a Gatorade and a rest in the shade.  As I started heading up the trail I witnessed a dragonfly come out of its shuck and drying its wings.  It occurred to me that the trout may have taken the brown leech pattern in the slow water as a dragonfly nymph.

After the much needed break we drove to the upper campground.  In order to find access to the river we drove to the uppermost part near the boat launch.  With the water so high there wasn’t much structure but we fished anyway.  Nick caught another 21 inch rainbow.  

It is amazing to me how these fish are consistently so big. 

I definitely need to come back when the water is not so high.  The fall would be perfect.

On the way home we stopped at the Green River again to break up the drive.  As we pulled off the dirt road to drive down to the river we could see fish rising.  Getting out of the car we saw yellow sallies and caddis flies in the air.  Nick tied on a yellowish orange bodied stimulator, an attractor pattern which would match either one.  I kept on a big brown streamer and ended up not catching anything.   

Nick however, caught several on the dry fly.  The first one was a nice brown, at least 19 inches long.   

The next one was a gorgeous cutthroat which measured 19 and a half inches.  Then he caught a smaller rainbow.  Lastly, right before leaving, Nick caught a white fish.  What an amazing finish to this trip; catching four species of fish on a dry.  This was done in one section of river and included a brown and a cutthroat trout, each over 19 inches long.

The Wind River Below Boysen Reservoir

 The next morning we stopped by the Wind River Canyon Whitewater shop on the way to the canyon.  They are the only ones with a permit to guide through the canyon.  They discussed the high water situation with us.  Usually the water is not high this time of year but the reservoir is at 98% capacity and they need to let out water.  We also discussed recommended flies and access locations for wading fishermen.  We drove back up the canyon and checked out the campground fishing access and then drove across Boysen Dam.  Right below the dam we were able to get to the water easily so we fished along the shore heading downstream.  We saw quite a few carp rising but no trout.  

 

After trying various offerings, Nick caught a real nice 21 inch rainbow along this section with a leach imitation.  

 After exploring a bit more, we noticed some Native Americans fishing this same stretch of river a little further downstream.   We went back to the shop with more questions.  One question was to verify that the far side of the river wasn’t on reservation land.  They assured us it wasn’t, until you get to the canyons where the tunnels are.  

By now it was lunch time so we drove to the Lower River Campground and had lunch.  The access to the river seemed good so we decided to fish here for a bit.  At the bottom of the trail to the river was some slower water right before the start of the rapids.  With a leech pattern tied onto my line I cast to the back of the slower pool which would in turn bring the leech alongside the faster water.   

 Would you believe that the first cast yielded a 21 inch rainbow?  The fish took off into the fast water and headed downstream.  Since I was not able to follow it downstream due to the rocks jutting out into the water, I coaxed it to the slower edge water and was eventually able to bring it back out of the rapids.  

 I still had a hard time getting it close enough to net so I let it swim upstream and then worked it close enough to shore for Nick to net it.  On these big fish it sure helps having a second person with a net. 

 Nick headed upstream to fish as I continued to fish at the bottom of the trail in the same slower water.   After a few more casts I hooked another rainbow of similar size.  I fought the fish long enough to see its size and that it was a somewhat darker colored rainbow before it headed downstream with the fast water never to be seen again.