After not unearthing the Clack in Jan, Feb, or early March where it should have been uncovered and ready to roll because of the unseasonably warm weather in the high desert Rockies, I got my ducks in a row, drug my buddy from Pinedale out of the Wind River shadow, and got a little 2-day float below Flaming Gorge put together last week. Word had it that the BWO's were starting to show up a little more predictably, despite gusty winds, and even some Cicadas were buzzing around WAYYY to early for a Rocky Mountain Spring.
This was my friend's first trip outside of Wyoming since he had open heart surgery last fall, so we knew we'd make it an easy, non-grind trip. That being said, we still tented it as the weather was predicted to be mild. I grabbed a campsite between Dutch John and Little Hole on Thursday that we could hunker down in for a few nights. Surprising amount of folks there already, glad I got in early on Thursday. Once site was secured and all our stuff jettisoned at the camp, we opted to run to the dam put in rather than set up camp. We dumped the boat, only one guide at the launch with an afternoon client, and ran our self shuttle. By the time we got back to the launch, there was nobody in sight, but plenty of gusts coming downriver. We opted to toss streamers first and hooked up on some light colored marabou baitfish patterns on light sink tips. The flows coming out of the dam are pretty minimal right now. Thinking that they are holding back as much water as possible for the what the downriver states are going to demand (via the old laws and agreements) later in the summer....Vegas and LA want their H20. The low flows made for some new rock garden challenges, and little drops in a few spots, seemed like longer drops! Anyhow, the fish ate streamers for a bit, then turned off during the dog-hours of the afternoon so we switched up to little terrestrials and BWO emerger droppers off them. That kept the action decently steady until about 90-minutes before dark. Switched back to streamers about 1.5 miles above the Little Hole takeout and had a steady streamer bite until we hit the ramp at dark. Broke out the 2-handers and had some nice eats on small "Goldilocks" wooley buggers...fun going back to the basics, instead of the monster, articulated stuff. Not another rig at any of the 3 takeouts. Never been the last rig on this well-traveled stretch of river!
Second day, we got going at the crack of about 11 AM after going up to Flaming Gorge Resort for a great breakfast then back down the hill to camp and grabbing the boat. Opted for a float lower down on the river as the A section looked like it was going to be pretty busy on a Friday. About a 40-minute shuttle, but it paid off as we were the ONLY boat on that section, except for one raft consisting of a young family just out for a river cruise who came by us right at the takeout. No hot and heavy hatches, but we had our fair share of pods of risers to target and pick off individual trout with BWO emergers, then run ants and little terrestrials through the riffles. With the 70-degree weather, the fish were looking up! Was pretty unique for March, but hope the Cicadas don't get too active too early. Winter is still coming in the Rockies...guaranteed!
Fun little kick off to the 2026 float season for me. (last pic is from last year in Dutch John, but kinda an iconic fun thing). Anyhow, thought I'd contribute something to the TR section. If anyone is headed this way, send me a message, and I can try to point you in whatever direction I can, based on the info I have!
This was my friend's first trip outside of Wyoming since he had open heart surgery last fall, so we knew we'd make it an easy, non-grind trip. That being said, we still tented it as the weather was predicted to be mild. I grabbed a campsite between Dutch John and Little Hole on Thursday that we could hunker down in for a few nights. Surprising amount of folks there already, glad I got in early on Thursday. Once site was secured and all our stuff jettisoned at the camp, we opted to run to the dam put in rather than set up camp. We dumped the boat, only one guide at the launch with an afternoon client, and ran our self shuttle. By the time we got back to the launch, there was nobody in sight, but plenty of gusts coming downriver. We opted to toss streamers first and hooked up on some light colored marabou baitfish patterns on light sink tips. The flows coming out of the dam are pretty minimal right now. Thinking that they are holding back as much water as possible for the what the downriver states are going to demand (via the old laws and agreements) later in the summer....Vegas and LA want their H20. The low flows made for some new rock garden challenges, and little drops in a few spots, seemed like longer drops! Anyhow, the fish ate streamers for a bit, then turned off during the dog-hours of the afternoon so we switched up to little terrestrials and BWO emerger droppers off them. That kept the action decently steady until about 90-minutes before dark. Switched back to streamers about 1.5 miles above the Little Hole takeout and had a steady streamer bite until we hit the ramp at dark. Broke out the 2-handers and had some nice eats on small "Goldilocks" wooley buggers...fun going back to the basics, instead of the monster, articulated stuff. Not another rig at any of the 3 takeouts. Never been the last rig on this well-traveled stretch of river!
Second day, we got going at the crack of about 11 AM after going up to Flaming Gorge Resort for a great breakfast then back down the hill to camp and grabbing the boat. Opted for a float lower down on the river as the A section looked like it was going to be pretty busy on a Friday. About a 40-minute shuttle, but it paid off as we were the ONLY boat on that section, except for one raft consisting of a young family just out for a river cruise who came by us right at the takeout. No hot and heavy hatches, but we had our fair share of pods of risers to target and pick off individual trout with BWO emergers, then run ants and little terrestrials through the riffles. With the 70-degree weather, the fish were looking up! Was pretty unique for March, but hope the Cicadas don't get too active too early. Winter is still coming in the Rockies...guaranteed!
Fun little kick off to the 2026 float season for me. (last pic is from last year in Dutch John, but kinda an iconic fun thing). Anyhow, thought I'd contribute something to the TR section. If anyone is headed this way, send me a message, and I can try to point you in whatever direction I can, based on the info I have!
