Backcountry Fly Fishing in Jackson Hole Wyoming

BACKCOUNTRY FISHING

Backcountry fishing opens the door to some great adventures. Generally, the reduced fishing pressure of the backcountry provides easier fishing. However, some of the smooth meadow streams and some lakes can provide a challenge even to the experienced spring creek fisherman. The small streams offer a tranquility that is often void in this modern world. Backcountry fishing is also a good way to get a non-fishing spouse to go along on a trip, since hiking and sightseeing can provide a fun diversion for them. The size of fish in this type of environment can vary considerably from pan size brook trout to large rainbows. This type of fishing allows people to catch fish they may not normally catch. Brookies, browns, cutthroat ( a wide variety of subspecies), rainbows, goldens, mackinaw and grayling populate many of the waters.

Accessing these waters can be a good part of the fun. Some of them are accessible by 4 wheel drive vehicles (caution should be used to prevent damage to delicate areas). Forest Service roads, BLM and fire roads can be used to access areas and trailheads. Mountain bikes (where allowed) can be a fun way to get to some of the waters. The most frequently used method and probably the most reliable is your own two feet.

The Park Service, Forest Service, and USGS publish maps, most of which are sold at Jack Dennis Sports. Some of these areas are wilderness areas and care should be taken to follow the guidelines provided by the Park or Forest Service. Multiple day use in the National Parks require a backcountry permit issued at park headquarters. The fishing season (dictated by nature) is usually from July-October, depending on elevation and snowfall that year. August and early September would be the most reliable time of the year.

Streams

Streams in the backcountry tend to be smaller than those at lower elevations. These smaller waters may be less intimidating to some people than our large western rivers. A high percentage of the year these streams will be primarily pocket water and can provide some fun, fast dry fly fishing. For the most part, the fish will be pan size, but larger fish aren't uncommon.

A variety of patterns can be used, depending on the type of fish and characteristics of the water. Hairwing attractor flies work as well as anything and provide better flotation and visibility than standard dries. The Hairwing Adams is one of my favorites. Small streamer patterns work very well in these streams, especially those with brookies and cutthroats. Kiwi Muddlers and standard Muddlers cast up-stream or down and across through the pockets and pools can sometimes be devastating. The meadow sections of these streams generally hold larger fish, which at times can act like their spring creek cousins. Here the hopper patterns can fish well, but large Humpies skittered as cranefly imitations can also bring vicious strikes. Most of the your standard dries or hairwings will generally bring strikes if fished along undercut banks. Occasionally more imitative patterns may be necessary.

Lakes and Ponds

Backcountry lakes and ponds vary greatly in size from minute beaver ponds to huge lakes. The beaver ponds can hold some good size fish and sometimes require a little more stealth in approaching them. A great deal of the stillwater fishing will be blind fishing. The most reliable areas to fish on an unfamiliar lake are the inlets (even if very small), shelfs, outlets and log jams. Floating, sink-tip and shooting heads can all be useful for this fishing.

My favorite searching patterns are leeches (I use a pattern similar to a mohair leech but with a little flashabout in the tail) and two different colors of sparkle nymphs. I tie the sparkle nymphs with sparkle dubbing, a pearl flashabout rib and a sparkle dubbing collar. The two best colors are hare’s ear and peacock (Chez Ultra Zug). These simple lifelike patterns imitate many of the common lake foods (leeches, damsels, dragonflies, scuds, midges, mayflies and caddis). The leeches I fish are generally size #6-10 and the sparkle nymphs are in the #12-18 range. To fish these flies, cast out and retrieve them in short, slow strips of varying length. The length of the retrieve will vary from an inch to eight inches. To insure the most hookups point your rod tip at the fly. This allows you to perceive soft strikes when your line just stops or slightly moves. Also, with a taut line, all you need is a gentle lift of the rod to set the hook. This method of retrieve can be used at a variety of water depths.

Floating lines work well in lake shallows or when fish are cruising near the surface. A floating line with split shot on the leader works very well at intermediate depths and allows for easy modification of depth fished. For fishing deep with leeches I like sinking shooting heads. The shooting heads allow you to cover a lot of area with a minimum of false casts. They also allow you to carry one reel or spool with a running line and vary the fishing depth by changing to different heads.

Many times I will fish 2 flies at a time. I tie the first fly to the end of the leader then tie a 1-2 foot piece of tippet to the eye of the first fly. I attach the second fly to the end of the tippet and put the larger or heavier fly at the end.

In those lakes that have mackinaws, white or yellow Kiwi muddlers (#2-4) can work very well. Dry flies fished during hatches provide for some great fishing. Midges, mayflies, caddis and terrestrials are abundant in most lakes.

Dry flies can also be fished with motion. My favorite way of doing this is to cast out and retrieve the fly in very short strips, (one inch or less) and wait until rings in the water dissipate before moving the fly again. It’s similar to fishing a popping bug for bass. As with wet flies, pointing the rod at the fly and preventing slack line will increase hook-ups. Dry fly fishing at inlets can be done in the traditional up and across dry fly method. The current will carry the fly into the lake. Flying ant hatches will bring larger fish up along shorelines. Windy days are the best for this along brushy banks. Standard ant patterns as well as small Royal Wulffs work great.

Lakes with lots of shoreline trees and bushes can be fished by roll casting, casting parallel to shoreline or a modified spey cast. The spey type cast can be done by picking up your cast side arm and rolling the rod over your head.

Float tubes work extremely well on lakes that are a shorter hike or day trip. They allow you a great deal of mobility. I generally inflate my tube and tie it to my pack. You can also carry a small high pressure foot pump.

Equipment

Two piece rods can be used to pack fish, but for those who do it a lot, multiple piece rods are handy. Rods anywhere from 3 to 8 weight can be used. My preference for an all around rod would be a 9 ft. for a 5 wt. If you fish for larger fish or in lakes where deeper water may be fished (sinking lines) 7 or 8 weight rods are nice. I’ve been known to take two 4 piece rods into the woods. Sage, Winston, Loomis, Scott and Cortland all make excellent multiple piece rods.

A single action reel with a couple of spools (one sinking and one floating line) will service most needs. If you do a lot of lake fishing, shooting heads in both floating and sinking are valuable.

A variety of 7 to 9 foot 3x - 6x leaders will work for dry flies as well as smaller wets. For leeches and streamers on sinking lines 2 - 4 foot leaders of 6-12 lb. Maxima works as well as anything I know of. Longer leaders will keep your fly off of the bottom.

Waders

Neoprene waders work very well but they can be a bit heavy and bulky for carrying in. Fly weight waders are generally a better choice. Simms, Red Ball and Hodgeman all make good lightweight waders. A pair of lightweight felt sole shoes are good to wear over the waders.

Clothing

Mountain weather can change very quickly from balmy t-shirt conditions to a snowstorm. Lightweight functional clothing is important for your comfort and safety. A set of pile or fleece pants and jacket are invaluable. They are lightweight and even if the do get wet, they still provide insulation. Rain gear will keep these layers of clothing next to you warm and dry. A small light ski hat will also make you a lot warmer as a great deal of heat is lost through your head.

A pair of light comfortable hiking shoes are worth their weight in gold. Get them so you have a slight amount of room at the end of your toes (this prevents you from jamming your toes into the end on long downhills). Salomon, Danner, New Balance and One Sport make good hiking shoes in the light to midweight models.

Packs

For day trips, I like a day guide size pack (1500-2000 cubic inch) for my gear. It gives me room to put my fishing gear, a water bottle and some extra clothes in it without having to strap things to the outside of the pack. A first aid kit, compass, flashlight, matches, knife and a water filter are a permanent part of my pack. Water filters are good to have, since many of the clear, cold streams have the giardia organism in them. A bout with this little guy can leave you sick for quite some time. For longer duration trips you will need a larger pack (4000-8000 cubic in.), a good sleeping bag, a tent and a stove.

Places to Go

The Tetons, Gros Ventres, Wind River Range, Teton Wilderness and Yellowstone Park have a wide variety of fishing experiences available to the adventurous angler. Some suggested places to try in these areas are:

Goodwin Lake- East of the National Elk Refuge approximately 10 miles from Jackson. Brook Trout, two to three mile hike.

Bradley and Taggert Lakes- In Teton Park. The trailhead is about 3 miles from the entrance station at Moose on the interior park road. Bradley is a two mile hike in and Taggert is a one mile hike. Contain both brook trout and cutthroat.

Phelps Lake- The Death Canyon/ Phelps trailhead is between Teton Village and Moose on the Moose-Wilson road. It’s a two mile hike to the lake. Mackinaw, brook and cutthroat are present.

Lake Solitude- In Teton Park, a seven mile hike up Cascade Canyon above Jenny Lake. A boat ride across Jenny Lake will save you about two miles each direction of hiking. Contains brook trout and cutthroat.

Upper Falls River- Take the Flagg Ranch-Ashton Road to Grassy Lake; follow Grassy Lake outlet down to Fall River - about a one mile hike. Contains rainbows, cutthroat and hybrids.

These are just a few of the areas you could fish. All of the backcountry areas deserve a great deal of respect. Please don’t litter them and leave as little impact as possible. This will insure that next time you go back, the place isn’t trashed. Limited kill fishing in some areas is as important as it is to our roadside fisheries so that we can preserve them as quality fisheries. Many of these areas are bear habitat so follow Park Service guidelines on how to avoid attracting them to your camp. Have fun in our wilderness areas and preserve them so that others can enjoy them.