With such a diverse region as Jackson Hole it is impossible to list all of the fly patterns an angler might need. Having said that, most of the streams and rivers in Jackson Hole proper, like the Snake River, are not overly technical fisheries (Flat Creek being a notable exception). Attractor patterns, terrestrials, and larger than normal patterns are the norm, not the exception. A good selection of the following streamers will go a long way towards making your fishing excursion successful. Continue reading →

Snake River Proper With the wide variety of fly fishing opportunities in the Jackson Hole area there is a time and a place for just about any type of rod/reel combination from 7-weight on down to 0-weights. On the Snake River proper however, much of the time many of the lighter weight rods and lines will be of limited usefulness. For the Snake River we recommend 5-weight and 6-weight rod/reel/lines for the vast amount of situations you’ll run into. If your skill level falls in the novice to intermediate range and you could only have one rod to fish, go … Continue reading →

In short, be prepared for anything in the northern Rockies. Never assume that conditions won’t change. Beautiful mornings can lead to frigid, rain swept afternoons, and vice versa. We’ve seen it snow 12″ in Yellowstone on the Fourth of July weekend! Proper preparation means you can continue to enjoy our amazing fishing opportunities without running for cover, on the border of hypothermia, or nursing a crippling sunburn through the rest of your vacation. It’s a basic rule of being outdoors – plan ahead and you can continue to enjoy your time outside, no matter what happens. The first important thing … Continue reading →

In Jackson Hole, whether on the Snake River or it’s tributaries, we have the luxury of using shorter, stouter leaders than you may be accustomed to elsewhere for most situations… Continue reading →

Waders are really nice, if not downright essential for early and late in the season, when it’s raining, or when temperatures drop in the evening. Wader design has also come a long way in the last few years, with waterproof-breathable fabrics greatly extended the comfort range from the old days of thick neoprene… Continue reading →

For lake fishing, we suggest 9′ to 9-1/2′ rods in the 5, 6, and 7-weight range. Besides the mandatory floating line, it is also essential to have intermediate, Type I, Type II, and Type III full sink lines to round out your arsenal for lake fishing. Type II is the single most useful full sink line weight, followed by the Type I. Together they will cover 85% of the lake fishing situations you’ll run into. The intermediate and Type III full sink lines can make the difference in the remaining situations.

With such a diverse region as Jackson Hole it is impossible to list all of the fly patterns an angler might need. Having said that, most of the streams and rivers in Jackson Hole proper, like the Snake River, are not overly technical fisheries (Flat Creek being a notable exception). Attractor patterns, terrestrials, and larger than normal patterns are the norm, not the exception. A good selection of the following Nymphs will go a long way towards making your fishing excursion successful. Continue reading →

Sage Fly Rods — The Industry Leader Exclusive Interview by High Country Flies In the Spring of 2003 High Country Flies co-owner Howard Cole conducted this exclusive interview with Marc Bale, VP of Sales & Marketing for Sage. In an effort to give our (and Sage’s) customers a different perspective and possibly better understanding of our sport, Marc provides an insiders look into the leading fly rod manufacturer and the fly fishing industry in general. HCF: Could you give a brief history of the company, as in what year, how, and by whom Sage was founded? MB: Sage was founded … Continue reading →

Umpqua Feather Merchants — Changing The Way We Fish Exclusive Interview by High Country Flies In the early 70′s Umpqua Feather Merchants revolutionized the way business was done in the fly fishing industry, particularly in regard to the most indispensable piece of equipment used by every fly fisher…their flies! Few anglers today are aware of the impact Umpqua Feather Merchants has had on their enjoyment of the sport of fly fishing. This exclusive interview with Jim Watson – Quality Control Manger for Umpqua Feather Merchants – was conducted by our own Howard Cole. Jim’s wealth of knowledge gives us a … Continue reading →

“Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants so long as it is black.” –Henry Ford Fortunately, such is not the case for modern fly fishers and their fly patterns. Fly designers have long debated the relative merits of the “big three” elements of fly design: size, silhouette and color. What every fly tyer and angler wants to know is, of the “big three”, which is most important? Some would say that this is an essential question to answer. Dialing in on the perfect fly takes time and a little luck. Opportunities can come and go … Continue reading →