The Grand Tetons -
After reaching the tetons, I head for the hills in search of my nirvana. I had visited this stream about 5 years ago and it was the greatest place. I decided to check it out again on my way home from Montana. I'm glad I did. It was even better than I remembered it.
The hike into the stream -
I think about this meadow stream all the time. It's my perfect place. I've only been there twice and it has made a huge impact on me. This is the spot I daydream about. I think of it all the time, that magical spot in my mind. This is the stream I fish in my head. It is unreal, and an extremely powerful place for me.
The first time I was here, it was mid August and we hit a good green drake hatch. I was hoping to see the drakes again. I was not disappointed. I saw fish rising at the first bend that the trail intercepts. I looked around and sure enough saw the large mayflies -
My favorite shot of the trip, a drake on the Finespot Rod -
I decided to fish my friend's rod in his absence. He unfortunately wasn't able to make it on the trip. The native trout and green drakes were able to give the rod even more good mojo, it's a great rod. I hope he enjoys it when he finally takes custody. The rod was perfectly suited for the stream. I decided to name the rod the Finespot in honor of this wonderful place and the fish that inhabit such a beautiful stream.
The native Snake River Finespotted Cutthroat trout were on the feed. The green drakes were on the water in good numbers. I tied on a green drake cripple and right away started catching fiesty cutthroat.
A nice cutthroat cutbank -
These native trout slash the fly so quickly, you have to be very quick on the set or the fish will spit the fly out every time - they rarely hook themselves. It's a tricky hook set, but it doesn't take long to figure it out and have that hair trigger reaction.
The drakes lasted most of the afternoon, but eventually tapered off. I started having more refusals and not as many sure takes on the drake pattern. I noticed fish that were rising that would refuse my big mayfly imitation. I saw some caddis fluttering about, so I changed to a caddis dry fly and starting catching the fish that were earlier refusing my drake.
The Finespot Stream -
I fished upstream until the sun ducked behind the western ridge. Then I decided to find the trail and work my way back to my fishing bag I had stashed at the first hole. I hiked back and found my bag and the cold beer I had stashed in a side spring of the stream. I sat down and drank my Dale's in perfect contentment. The stream was perfect and just how I remembered it, what a great day.
I sometimes look for heart shaped rocks to give to my girls when I return from a trip. I thought it would be great to have a couple rocks from this magical stream, so I looked around a little by where I was sitting on the bank. I quickly found four or five wonderful heart shaped rocks right at my feet. It tickled me, but didn't surprise me too much, this is my perfect place after all. I picked the best two rocks and put them in my bag. I crushed my Dale's can and threw it in my bag. I broke down The Finespot rod and returned it to the sock for the hike out. I took one last, long look at the meadow to fill my memory for the remaining years until I can return to this magical place. I hit the trail out, back over the mountain and back towards camp, my soul fully charged and my body dead tired.
I didn't sleep well that night. I woke up many times and tossed and turned all night. I woke up early and it was cold, with temps in the low 30s. I could see my breath and my fingers were getting numb outside my tent. I decided I didn't want to spend another night in the tent and I really missed my girls. It was the perfect day on the stream yesterday and I didn't want to ruin that, so I left my fishing stuff packed up, took down my tent and got back on the road towards home.
I got home in good time and my girls were very glad to see me. I was glad to be home and felt better than I had all year. I love these trips and always look forward to the next one. I will have many fond memories to last me a long time. I hope you will be able to join me sometime on the stream of my soul, the Finespot stream.