Great day of fishing on Wyoming’s New Fork on the Bar Cross Ranch yesterday. A thick grey drake hatch had big browns sipping duns and emergers off the surface. Three guys each landed about ten fish each, and lost several more. The biggest was a fat 22″ brown pictured here, but several likely bigger fish got away.
A watershed’s ability to provide sanctuary for both the angler and the trout is an important and often overlooked attribute of prime trout water. As more people learn about the outdoor opportunities in the high deserts of the western United States, the pursuit of solitude here can be a challenge. Fortunately, the West has an abundance of trout-filled waters that largely flow through public lands, and on some occasions you experience that riffle or run all to yourself. However, imagine a wild, freestone stream that has the fertile growth of a tailwater without the crowds! The New Fork River of the Green River drainage in Western Wyoming has these characteristics and more. The river flows over ninety percent of its length through vast private ranchlands, which protects the resident browns’, rainbows’ and cutthroats’ refuge from constant angling bombardment.
» More: The New Fork River - Private Refuge for Trophy Trout
BY R. SCOTT SMITH
Across the American West there are dozens of hallowed trout waters, all unique with a variety of species, scenery and overall experiences to offer. As our world populous grows, we as fly fishers have the need to fulfill not only the heart-pounding excitement of a powerful trout on the line but also the mind cleansing quality of serene solitude. One special drainage south of Jackson Hole has the ingredients to satiate the hard core angler as well as the river romantic - the Upper Green River and its main tributary, the New Fork River.
Everything you could ever want to know about fly fishing ranches !
