Yellowstone Trip: Day 3

Yellowstone Trip Day 3
September 12, 2008
Camp 2S3, Slough Creek, Yellowstone National Park

Night was cold, but several layers helped keep me warm inside the sleeping bag. Sleep wasn’t too bad considering. We did our best to sleep in. Our tents are pitched several 10′s of yards from our eating area, as recommended, and uphill in a stand of trees. That helped to keep things darker longer. Jason and I awoke to a "smack" of small pine cones hitting our tent. We could’ve swore it was a group of militant squirrels bombarding us, but learned it was something far less nefarious – simply falling pine cones.

Jason, Geoff and I got up first. Frost covered the ground – and my wading boots – and the water left in the cook pot was partially frozen. The sun, however, had reached the eating area which helped us warm up. Our camp is on the east side of the valley – which runs roughly NE  – so it takes a while for it to be in the sun. With no watch, we had no idea what time it was.

Jason fired up the stove and got the boiling water going for our breakfast. Instant oatmeal, hot chocolate (w/a spot of instant coffee courtesy Jason) and a protein bar for me. My "go to" backpacking breakfast since the first trip I took in 5th grade. All that was missing was a Pop Tart, a little treat my mother always put in our backpacking breakfasts.

After breakfast – and the morning constitution – Jason, Geoff and I began rigging up for the day’s fishing. It was at that point that Scott finally emerged from his tent. Scott quickly ate as the rest of us puttered around. We definitely weren’t in any hurry that morning.

Finally, we headed out to the creek. Jason and Geoff headed downstream a stretch, Scott headed upstream, and I went straight down to the creek to the bend where I’d caught my fish the night before.

I approached slowly and peered over the 4′-5′ bank and through the gin clear water could see many, very nice sized cutthroat trout cruising and sipping bugs. I walked quietly downstream and started fishing. I was using a two fly rig with a grasshopper on top and a black ant on bottom. The fish spooked easily, particularly if you false casted out over the water. So I was careful to cast over the shore/field behind me as much as possible. After a few refusals on the hopper, I swapped it out for a beetle, keeping the black ant on the bottom. Again, several refusals on the beetle. But then, one of the biggest fish in the hole sucked in the black ant which had become water logged and sunk. I set the hook and the fight was on!

Landing a very large trout from a 4′ high bank isn’t easy! I grabbed my net – still attached to my tackle bag which drug along behind – and tried to work the fish downstream to an opening in the bank where I could hop a couple feet down to some dirt. Upon landing, I promptly sunk knee deep in mud, but was able to net the fish, a beautiful cutthroat about 18" long. Fatty, too! I pulled the fly from the corner of his mouth and let him go – after a photo of him in the net, of course.

The challenge wasn’t over yet, however. I still had to haul myself back up on the bank. Pulling a foot out of the muck, I tumbled sideways into the river going belly deep. I was wet wading, so the cool water definitely got my already pumping adrenaline going even more! I managed to get back to the mud and then used the grass to pull myself back on the bank.

My second fish of the day was equally exciting. I cast the beetle/black ant combo out an as soon as the ant hit the water a big trout charged from midstream and hit it like a freight train! Again, the challenge became how to land him. Not wanting a repeat of my muddy wet landing before, I opted to try another method: Lay flat on my belly and reach over the bank with the net. Fly rod high overhead in my left hand, I found a lower section of the bank to lay on. I reached down with the net in my right hand and netted the fish. Slightly smaller than the first (16"-17"?) he was nonetheless a great fish. I dropped my rod on the bank so I had both hands over the edge to remove the fly and set him free. I tossed the net up on the back and promptly lost my balance! I began sliding head first toward the river. I clawed and grabbed at the bank with desperation to save myself from a head first dunking in Slough Creek!

Fish three for the early session circled the fly a couple times before sucking it down. The landing was a lot less exciting as he shook the fly as I was reaching to net him. I ended up fishing a stretch of only 20-30 yards before we headed up for lunch. (Again not knowing what time it was).

After "lunch", which was just before sundown, Jason and I headed downstream to a spot he’d done quite well at that day. He picked up two more fish. And, he guided me into a nice trout he’d tried to catch earlier. I cast my mayfly/ant combo into a little back eddy and as I set to recast, missed the take. So I went right back to that spot and hooked him! Beautiful fish and great way to end the day.

Dinner, drinks and fellowship preceded bedtime.

(Additional photos by Jason Hoff, particularly the underwater fish shots)

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