Post by Varmit on Aug 1, 2012 11:29:36 GMT -5
The trip of a lifetime is over.
To have the chance to hang out with Kirk Deeter (fly fishing editor for Field and Stream and Trout magazine), Chris Hunt (National Communications Director for TU), Bruce Smithhammer (The Drake, Pulp Fly), Rebecca Garlock (Founder of Outdoor Blogger Network), K.C. Walsh (CEO of Simms), and others was a major cool thing.
I want to tell you up front that there will only be one grip and grin photo in this post. The rule with these guys is that you can only grip and grin with a fish that tops your personal best. I only hooked one that was greater than 20". I caught Cutties, Browns, and one bow. The largest out of that group was 17" (Cutty).
Oh my....but the Lake Trout.....
This was the reason for the trip.
Lake trout are an invasive species in Yellowstone Lake and I was one of a very few people who have been selected to help the park service get rid of them. The little ones were caught in huge gill nets and some traps, The big ones were an absolute blast. Todd Koel (head fisheries biologist for the park) estimated that we ridded the lake of nearly 1,000 fish. Goal achieved.
We also did stream restoration and aquatic life assessment of Soda Butte Creek and Specimen Creek.
Of course we did do some fishing. Water temps prevented us from fishing the Firehole and the Madison, but I did get to fish The Gibbon, The Lamar, Slough Creek, and The Gallatin. Caught fish on all of them...alas, no grip and grins though I did have something give me a good run for my money on Slough Creek.
Gibbon
Lamar
Slough Creek
Slough Creek (with bear swimming across to play for a while...to close for comfort)
Gallatin
Here are a few of the sights.
More of the story to come........
To have the chance to hang out with Kirk Deeter (fly fishing editor for Field and Stream and Trout magazine), Chris Hunt (National Communications Director for TU), Bruce Smithhammer (The Drake, Pulp Fly), Rebecca Garlock (Founder of Outdoor Blogger Network), K.C. Walsh (CEO of Simms), and others was a major cool thing.
I want to tell you up front that there will only be one grip and grin photo in this post. The rule with these guys is that you can only grip and grin with a fish that tops your personal best. I only hooked one that was greater than 20". I caught Cutties, Browns, and one bow. The largest out of that group was 17" (Cutty).
Oh my....but the Lake Trout.....
This was the reason for the trip.
Lake trout are an invasive species in Yellowstone Lake and I was one of a very few people who have been selected to help the park service get rid of them. The little ones were caught in huge gill nets and some traps, The big ones were an absolute blast. Todd Koel (head fisheries biologist for the park) estimated that we ridded the lake of nearly 1,000 fish. Goal achieved.
We also did stream restoration and aquatic life assessment of Soda Butte Creek and Specimen Creek.
Of course we did do some fishing. Water temps prevented us from fishing the Firehole and the Madison, but I did get to fish The Gibbon, The Lamar, Slough Creek, and The Gallatin. Caught fish on all of them...alas, no grip and grins though I did have something give me a good run for my money on Slough Creek.
Gibbon
Lamar
Slough Creek
Slough Creek (with bear swimming across to play for a while...to close for comfort)
Gallatin
Here are a few of the sights.
More of the story to come........
