It's about that time of year...

Summer is winding down, and for the more matter-of-fact folks a quick glance at the calendar will tell you that it's already over. The staff has still been out fishing and working, though, and I think I speak for all of us in saying that we're starting to get the steelhead itch now that we've had a few cool nights and the fish are starting to show up.

SAO guide John Miller has been up to his usual tricks on the Delaware, and with some higher flows, and a little bit of color in the water column the fish have been eager to oblige.

It's always tough for me to leave Wyoming, and when the guide season was as good as this past one, it makes it all the more difficult. September out there is by far my favorite month - shorter days, and pretty damn cold nights are a telltale sign that summer is over. Guide and fish alike take notice, and both try to act on it quickly because both the fishing, and the weather, are just too good to last for very long.

I spent my last day out there fishing with my girlfriend; over the past few years we've been dating she's become quite the fly fisherwoman. We fished a special section of stream surrounded by the spectacular red rock walls which the rancher who owns the place calls "the best fence man or God ever made." The fish are plentiful, and they've been known there to pounce on a properly presented dry. As my girlfriend made her first cast, not one, not two, not three, but a half dozen fish took a pass at her hopper as it drifted along an undercut bank. She set the hook on the last one, and looked at me and smiled after it found the bottom of the net. It was looking like it was going to be one of those days you remember for a long time.

The last fish I hooked was the biggest I'd ever seen on this particular stream. As we made our way up into the canyon section of the property, we came across a deep eddy, carved out of the solid rock wall that lined the canyon. On previous occasions I'd seen a big fish in there, but we'd never managed to hook him. My first cast landed in a pile of foam way right against the wall. A quick flick of the wrist sent my hopper skittering out of the foam, and heading towards the current seam along the eddy. It never made it. The enormous brown exploded on the big foam fly, and came out of the water with gills flared and head shaking. After what seemed like an eternity, but in reality was little more than ten seconds, he dove to the bottom, and sawed off my tippet on one of the many boulders that lined the pool.

There isn't much to say after getting your butt kicked by a fish like that. Only one thing came to mind as I reeled my line in through my guides and started trudging back to the car...see you next year, pal.

-Brett

I'm A Wanna-Be Trout Bum.....Part III

When I first started learning how to fly fish, all I dreamed about was catching trout in as many states as possible. I was mesmerized by Fly-Fisherman Magazine! I would cut out all the trout photos and put them in a journal of places and species I wanted to catch. Watching Joe Humphreys completely school Babe Winkleman with a fly rod in the mid 1980's on TV set my young mind into overload.

Today that urge is still as strong as the day I laid hands on my first Martin rod and reel combo from the local tackle shop. The cost was just $35.00, or to a young kid, about two weeks of mowing at five bucks a lawn. A week later I bought my first flies. That assortment was made up of the Muddler Minnow in standard and marabou versions, a few Montana Stone Fly nymphs (heck they were from Montana they gotta be good right?), a couple of Mickey Finns, and a pair of Adams and Elk Hair Caddis dry flies. In my mind I had finally become a fly fisherman! I just wish someone would have told me you needed to buy backing for your fly line, not to mention that you needed to secure your fly line to the reel?

My first "Trout" on the fly rod just happened to be a very large Elk Creek Steelhead, which proceeded to tear ass down stream and promptly take my entire fly line with it! This is the point where a young middle school aged boy looks downstream with a pretty big "WTF" grin on his face! Thankfully a gentleman fishing below me was able to retrieve my line, and out of kindness at least secured it to the reel...

Over the next 8 years Jason Gregory and I would ride our scooters, ten speeds, and mountain bikes to all the local steelhead tributaries and stocked trout streams in search of the next trout fix. Along the way we learned how to tie our own flies by detouring over to Folly's End Fly Shop for free fly tying classes with local legend Clyde Murray. I was on cloud nine, and in the best shape of my life, as a 10 mile bike ride was worth exploring rumors of a few small wild trout in a stream located in some farmers field in the middle of "BFE"! As we got older, possessed drivers licences, were able to fly, and we were able to explore streams that were always out of reach, I finally realized that my dreams were finally within my grasp! Always willing to learn and listen to rumors of big trout has now landed me in the west, and in honor of my youth and my childhood dreams I have been fortunate enough to have landed and released trout in 16 states. I only hope to complete this "Trout Bum" dream before it is too late.

Brett McCrae casting dries on Wyoming's North Fork of the Powder River.

Brett is rewareded with a heavy North Fork Powder River Brown Trout!

Wyoming has become a very special stop for me! It's a fly fishing destination worthy of visiting every year, and holds the potential for stalling my goal of catching a trout in every state they still swim. The trout fishing, scenery, and people here in Wyoming are so inviting that it haunts my dreams when I am long gone. I guess dreams are for just that...

Taking the time to take in the beautiful scenery along

the North Fork of the Powder River.

Posing with a feisty North Fork Brown Trout

from the run seen in the photo above.

A close up of a beautifully colored Wyoming Brown Trout!

The North fork of the Powder River is a terrestrial insect haven. The undercut grassy banks, and willow sections of the stream offered exceptional dry fly fishing with big foam bodied flies. The splashy takes while drifting under the willows, or over sections of wood debris made me yearn for this type of action back home. Watching large trout track a dry fly out of a five foot deep pool, and eat the fly in reverse is what brings me back to these small waters. If my trout bum journey would have to end on these waters I would not be disappointed. Here are just a few of the Brown Trout we caught on that day.

Casting foam dries under the willows in search of Brown Trout.

This is an example of an average sized fish for these waters.

Brett poses with another solid Brown Trout.

Even a guy like me managed a few really nice fish!

If Brown trout like this on large dries doesn't get you

excited, please find another hobby!

Hope to see you next year a few inches bigger!

Stay positive, keep learning, live your dreams no matter what they are, and ignore the comments and things that are negative in nature. After a few days of fly fishing, no matter the location you should feel right with the world around you...

I'm A Wanna-Be Trout Bum.....Part II

Driving toward the Red Fork of the Powder River, I felt like a big'ole fat Labrador sticking his head out the window and slobbering down the side of the jeep. At this point I didn't have a care in the world... I was just smiling! The history of this place is as intriguing as the wild trout that inhabit the water running through its red canyons.

Where we would be fishing is located in the middle of no-man's land between the towns of Sheridan, Kay-Cee, and Buffalo. It was here in these hills that the famous Butch Casity and the Sundance Kid would make their escape from deputies and local law enforcement after repeated robberies of the towns local banks, and by just looking at the terrain I could almost imagine how crazy the outlaw horses must have been during the chase, and why they were so successful at getting away!

Traveling to the Red Fork of the Powder River, and admiring

the hills and canyons in the back ground that made history

by the fabled outlaws Butch Casity and the Sundance Kid.

The Red Fork of the Powder River ranges from a width of 20 to 40 feet, and is littered with runs and pools from 3 to 6 feet deep. The river banks are virtually all undercut several feet back providing excellent cover for holding trout. The area was also covered in bug life. Everything from caddis and golden stones, terrestrials such as ants, grasshoppers, and cicadas were also present and abundant.

Even during the heat of the day the water ran cold, and the rivers resident trout are always looking up... Big dry flies are the preferred offering here, and there is no need for a dropper! As long as the presentation was good the fish would eat. Foam flies such as Chubby Chernobyl's, Cartoon Hoppers, Foam Golden and Brown Stone flies, Chernobyl Ants, and Fat Albert's are a perfect choice. The Red Fork's clarity and size offers you an up close and action packed dry fly take, where you have the best front row seat to watch it all go down!

The Red Fork of the Powder River as it winds through the red canyons.

A beautiful Red Fork Brown Trout that took an orange/brown

foam stone fly imitation.

The Brown Trout here are spectacular fighters on fly tackle.

The orange markings on the Red Fork are some of the most vivid I have ever seen.

The Red Fork also boasts a healthy population of Rainbow Trout and Cut-bows. Even though the primary species where I was fishing seemed to be primarily Brown Trout, it was great to see the occasional Rainbow Trout or Cut-bow eat your fly and go completely airborne on the take.

A fat little Rainbow Trout from the Red Fork Powder River.

Stivey with a solid Cutbow that smacked a large foam hopper.

Another awesomely colored Brown Trout! Most of the fish we

caught on the Red Fork averaged 14- 16 inches, with several

opportunities at fish between 18-20 inches.

A Head shot of an 18 inch Red Fork Brown Trout, that fell for

a Golden Chubby Chernobyl.

Another brilliantly colored Brown Trout! The Red Fork provides

excellent opportunities at beautiful fish on big dry flies.

Stivey poses with another hopper caught Cutbow.

A Close up of an average Red Fork Brown Trout.

After an epic day it was time for a burger and a beer!

Stay tuned for part III and pictures of our biggest fish of the trip!

I'm A Wanna-Be Trout Bum.....Part I

I'm like most fly-fisherman, I constantly day dreaming about Steelhead taking a swung fly, or that big western Brown Trout gulping a Chubby Chernobyl off the surface in spectacular fashion. I desperately need to be a trout bum for at least a short period of time before I loose my mind... Of all the things one can be addicted too like drugs, alcohol, tobacco, and porn, I choose fly fishing as my everyday high, a way to maintain my sanity, a short release from responsibility, and a special balance in my life. Without fly fishing I would not be the person I am today... Thankfully my dealer came through and my fly fishing fix this summer would come just in a nick of time!

The first time I seen the Big Horn Mountain Range I took it for granted... The second time around I spent as much time as I needed while taking in the spectacular scenery. Not only is it an amazing sight, you feel at peace, and are able to think about all the important things happening in your life. 

My trout bum week would take me to Saddlestring, Wyoming to the HF Bar Guest Ranch and the home of Rock Creek Anglers. As some of you know- fellow steelhead guide Brett McCrea makes the HF Ranch his summer home and provides seasonal guide services for RCA.        

A welcome sign for any angler looking for the opportunity to fly fish for big and wild trout!

I have seen or visited nearly a 100 fly shops across the nation, most of them in there own right are really great shops that carry the latest of everything and anything available from the fly fishing industry. The only problem is you really don't feel like you are anything more than just a customer. When I stepped into the fly shop & bar at Rock Creek Anglers I felt like I was in the company of anglers, guys who live the trout bum life, and more importantly guys who excepted and welcomed the intrusion of a Wanna- Be like myself... Not only did Rock Creek Anglers have what you needed in gear, they treated you like you where apart of there family, and as a welcomed, and long lost fishing buddy who has finally come home.... It's a special place and I feel extremely fortunate to have been there! Just take a look at the fly shop and bar in the next three photos, and if you can't understand where I am coming from, you should seriously consider getting your eyes checked.... 

The fly fishing RCA provides can be summed up with this phase. It will be the best western dry fly fishing you can possibly imagine for big and wild trout! This was the second year I have fished with RCA and the dry fly action and trout fishing seems only to get better every year. Put it this way- the week was fishgasmic and I will need at least 3 blog entries just to get it out of my system! Here are just a few shots to nibble on until the next entry...  

Brett Plays a nice Rock Creek Brown Trout that took a Gold Chubby Chernobyl.

I told you it was a nice Brown Trout!

Another nice Brown Trout that took a large Deer Hair and Foam Stone fly.

I love the colors in the adipose fin of a Brown Trout.

I like big bold spot patterns too!

I enjoyed every moment down to each release...

And at night there will be good music and cold beer! If this is the type of experience you are looking for, let me know because I will be going back next summer, and I am looking for a couple more wanna-be trout bums to go with me!

I will have part II up in the next few days, so check back often... Trust me when I say this is just the Beginning! 

Headin' West... Have A Great Holiday, And Try Not To Blow Off Your Fingers......

I'm out of here!!!! If you need to book a trip, order flies, or just have a few questions please shoot me an email at gregsenyo@yahoo.com, and I will get back to you on July 9th when I return.

Wyoming bound! There's just something about big Brown Trout,

big bugs, and big landscapes! If you are looking to head out west, this is

definitely a fly fishing destination worth looking into...Rock Creek Anglers

Looking forward to a few of these this week!

Stuffed my Marc Crapo Custom Leather Fly Wallet

A few Mike Schmidt's Skinky Mayos and Red Rockets, Mike Schultz's

"The Nut", and a few of my own Shag Minnows and Shag-A-Bous

looking forward to being chomped to bits by hungry trout!

I'll have more when I get back!