My July continues to cruise along at blurring speed.  Last night Granny and I drove up to Riverside Campground on the Henry’s Fork to meet my Team USA Fly Fishing Teammate, Scott Robertson and his wife Sarah.  All the fishing Scott and I have done competing together around the world, and he’s never fished the Henry’s Fork.  Today I took the time to show him the Ranch.

The day started in relaxing fashion even though we probably should have hit the river early.  We awoke then visited over coffee.  Then Scott whipped us up a big breakfast from his camping grill.  Next thing we knew it was 8 AM and when we got to the Ranch at 8:30 the hatches were already pouring off.

No big deal really.  We both fish a ton so the morning casualness was nice.  Once we got on the water it didn’t take but a few minutes for me to turn Scott loose in a big rising rainbow.  Of course, first he had to fall in and fill his waders.  But that’s another story – ha!  Scott would soon learn that these fish are finicky at times.

I turned Scott on to the Thorax Mahogany Dun pattern I love and the next fish he saw ate.  The problem is however, he missed this one and another.  By now I was chasing fish as well and I missed two then lost one on the jump.  Things were beginning to remind me of my trip to Last Chance on the Henry’s Fork last month!

You can’t let these Houdini like fish frustrate you though and though we both missed a few more, I finally brought a nice 17 incher to the net.  Then we each missed four more before I landed my second good fish of the day.  We each decided it was better to miss fish today then in the next Worlds competition.  We kicked back and enjoyed a Reel Good Beer on the bank.

By mid afternoon fish activity came to a halt.  We kept trying but there wasn’t a rise to be seen.  A strange wind started at 4 PM and then the most awful forest fire smoke set in and sent us back to the parking lot gasping at 8:45 PM.  I had expected another great fishing night like I had Friday but not tonight.  Other than a few little rainbows, Scott’s first trip to the Henry’s Fork would end in a skunk.  Welcome to the club!  He can take it though and we both had a great time.

Granny and I head home early in the morning.  I must prepare to teach a full day fly fishing seminar in Big Sky, Montana Thursday.  Then I drive all the way to Pinedale, Wyoming Friday to help with the Fishing for the Fight, a fishing tournament and fundraiser, supporting families who are fighting cancer, people with special needs and children with chronic illness.  Its going to be a heavy load the rest of the week, especially with this smoke, but it should be a lot of fun as well.

Jeff Currier Global Fly Fishing