2024 - My year of fly fishing

First of all it’s great to be back. It’s been since about 2005 since I’ve been on FAOL.

2024 was a stellar year for me with regards to fly fishing. Most years I get out on 2-3 different rivers but 2024 saw me fly fish 15 different rivers.

California - Little Tuckee
Utah - Provo and Weber
Montana - Madison, Jefferson, Ruby, Gallatin
Idaho - Henry’s Fork, Silver Creek, Big Wood
Yellowstone - Firehole, Gibbon
Colorado - Umcompahre, Gunnison, Poudre

I had two diffferent guides on the Little Truckee for back to back half days and they were both great. Amazing days of nymphing.

Used a guide for a half day walk and wade on the Provo, She was super knowledgeable and got me on fish from the first cast.

Did a full day float on the Madison at the end of May and then had the same guide for a half day on a different section of the Madison in early October. Two entirely different fishing experiences. May saw the river a little high and off color but a streamer with a nymph trailing caught a ton of medium size fish 12"-16" with one nice 18". October saw the river so low we scraped bottom a bunch but again streams were the ticket. Lots of 16"-18" fish with one nice 22"+ .

The Firehole (in YNP) where you have to pay attention to wildlife. These two bison wandered in close to where I was fishing so I decided it was wise to get out of the water and let them graze.

Full day float on the Jeff, again in early October was a battle with wind. Double nymph rigs or a hooper and dropper still managed to bring some fish to the net.

A half day walk and wade on the Ruby was well worth the time and effort, even though I caught a ton of whitefish many a 10-16" brown trout was caught on a double nymph rig.

A full day float on the Henry’s Fork in October with a guide I had used in 2023 was another wild adventure. With the water super low and gin clear it was target fishing. Caught a few 18"ers on streamers, one over 22" and had a premature strip (with the guide yelling at me not yet) on a brown that was well over 24" (maybe 30").

Did two half day walk and wades on the Poudre way up in the canyon with the same guide. Again he knew the spots and a good drift caught a fish almost every cast.

Did a half day float on the Unc and a full day walk and wade on the Gunnison with the same guide. If I fish the Gunny again I’d do a float trip.

The Big Wood and Silver Creek has been my go to trip for about 8 years and this trip in early September didn’t disappoint. Hit a Trico hatch where again a good drift saw a fish slamming my size 22 fly. Missed way too many takes and still managed to bring to hand about 25 fish in an hour and a half. Tough on my old eyes to see a size 22 dry fly amongst all the flies coming off the water.

It’s going to hard to top 2024 but looking forward to a 2025 trip planned in early April to fish the Big Hole and the Beaverhead in Montana

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welcome back! I’m jealous; I hardly got out of my back yard this year.

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Now that I’ve retired back home, I hope to have as many days in. Working in TX and AZ with limited vacation time did not allow me hardly any time on the river.

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Great report and photos , 2025 is going to be another
great year for me well, This relaxed life can’t be beat.

Best to you as well for another year like 2024 has been for you.

Peace.

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Nice report, you got out many more times than I did.
Rick

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Trout Seeker, Thanks for the report and pictures. I’ve been to a lot of those places. Was worried by a few bison in Yellowstone on the Madison and a few at Firehole. Jim

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