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.