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.