#cuttslam

Weather was fickle the day we attempted our Snake River Cutts. The rule was we moved on as soon as all 4 anglers had their cutts. Three of us got it in early and helped spot for and direct our fellow fisherman. We were burning daylight when the one remaining angler was coaxed into the idea of a nymph being used. Within 5 minutes his Snake River Cutt was caught. We raced for La Barge. It was well after dark before we made camp. Temps dipped into the 20’s that night with blowing sleet. The road is a pain even in good weather, and the precipitation turned the road to gumbo. We crashed out hard. Morning brought stunning views. A pot, or two of French press coffee coupled with the realization we were half way through the slam got us going. We started low working our way upstream. The water was still.. we weren’t seeing any fish. #flyfishing #catchandrelease #cuttslam #cutthroattrout #jeep #msr #wyoming #finnprovisions #tailfinn (at Wyoming) https://www.instagram.com/p/CUZ6VniLiII/?utm_medium=tumblr

So Fisch flew in late Friday night.. I swooped him up from the airport, and we raced back to the house to load gear. I had just got the wife a new Rubicon, and it was woodsy Jenga getting her loaded. Feeling good with the Yeti’s iced down we hit the interstate west driving all night for Cokeville, WY. Population a few.. sheep a plenty. Now I’m not going to hotspot any particular creeks we fished… if you recognize a spot.. keep it to yourself I kindly request. Our native species have existed in these creeks for eons, and If we all do our part they’ll be there for many more to come. If you want intel and are interested in the how, what, where, and why.. look to the Wyoming Game & Fish website for general locations and get out your maps and follow the blue lines. So we got into Cokeville about nine am, and the vets driving separate were scheduled to rendezvous at 1pm. We took the morning to scout the water I had fished for my slam previously, and good thing because it didn’t look healthy. Few fish were seen.. mostly whities at that. We bounced over to a nearby stream and hiked the beaver ponds back in. There were berries o plenty back in there and the bear prints and scat to match. There were however fish holding in the little pools and downed timber tangles littering the stream. It was bush whacking and bow and arrow casting up that canyon, but we found success. All anglers in the party had their Bonneville Cutthroats by dusk of night 1. We were feeling good at camp that night… chicken gyros and it was lights out. #bonnevillecutthroattrout #cutthroattrout #cuttslam #flyfishing #tellicooutfitters #tailfinn #finnprovisions #wyoming #catchandrelease (at Wyoming) https://www.instagram.com/p/CUWFFDqDO4Y/?utm_medium=tumblr

Over a year ago I joined back up with my local Project Healing Waters chapter here in the Black Hills of South Dakota. At the very first meeting I was approached by a couple of veterans interested in the Wyoming Cuttslam. One of the vets being a prominent bamboo rod maker suggested we attempt the slam all on bamboo fly rods and traditional dry fly. Months passed… plans were made.. provisions stocked, and the route was set in stone. I had called up an old fishing partner in Tennessee and pitched the idea of the Slam to him. He booked some tickets and voila we had a party of four. For those unfamiliar with the Cuttslam.. Wyoming is home to 4 species of Native Cutthroat Trout. The Bonneville, Snake, Colorado, and Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout have existed in Wyoming waters long before colonization of these United States. The requirements of the slam is to catch each species in its native tributary, photograph it, and record the date and river where caught. Once all 4 species are caught and documented… a form is filled out and upon review a certificate of completion and medallion is sent to the person who achieves this task. This was to be my second slam.. my first taking place during runoff and fishing streamers. For my 3 friends.. this was their first. Off we set to western Wyoming.. #flyfishing #catchandrelease #cutthroattrout #Wyoming #cuttslam #tailfinn #finnprovisions #bambooflyrods (at Wyoming) https://www.instagram.com/p/CUU6k9nL475/?utm_medium=tumblr

My God... I miss Wyoming! #Flyfishing #catchandrelease #tailfinn #cuttslam #flyfishwyoming #yellowstonecutthroattrout #snakerivercutthroattrout #bonnevillecutthroattrout #coloradorivercutthroattrout #liveyourdreams #foreverwyoming #leterbuck

So we went up to Horse Creek on a lead from the Pinedale Game and Fish office. It was hot... Really hot. With the warmth came the mosquitos. They about carried us away they were so thick. Pretty country I tell ya. We saw a few moose, and were chased by some mule deer. The water was ripping. I followed it quite a way up, and instead of the water clearing.. It just became more choked with sediment. From black to white and all colors in between, I threw it all at them. The previous 3 species had all eaten streamers so I was adamant on keeping the trend. I just couldn't get it to work... No mojo. We pulled out to hunt a new watershed. Cottonwood Creek was equally a mess. We tried our best, but in the end all we had were a couple good meals. I was running out of water... The original plan was to fish La Barge, but that road washout kept us from getting over the pass. We made the decision to drop down to the town of La Barge and take the long way up. #Flyfishing #catchandrelease #tailfinn #horsecreek #coloradorivercutthroattrout #cutthroattrout #flyfishwyoming #cuttslam

11,958 miles Colorado Cutthroat Trout 4/4 of the #cuttslam 12 species year to date. And so concludes the chapter. #Flyfishing #catchandrelease #tailfinn #flyfishwyoming #cutthroattrout #coloradocutthroattrout #nativespecies #neverquit #winning

10,328 miles Bonneville Cutthroat Trout Salt Creek/Thomas Fork Drainage 3/4 Wyoming Cuttslam 11 Species since Jan. 1st. Time to celebrate! #Flyfishing #catchandrelease #tailfinn #bonnevillecutthroattrout #cutthroattrout #nativespecies #trout #cuttslam #flyfishwyoming #winstonrods #galvanflyreels #msrgear #venturingangler #liveyourdreams #neverquitfishing