Hawnjigs
KISS
Was actually intending to stay further north this year in Central WY Wind River area, but the fishing was poor and chiggers were an annoying problem. Guide books and internet reports of big trout opportunity were either exaggerated or obsolete dated. The Wind River Reservation was particularly disappointing with highly touted Bull Lake & Creek, Dinwoody Lakes, and Wind River Canyon a near skunk after 3 days of hard shoreline pounding. $65 Res pass for 1 fish. Since the publicised spots were a flop, tried the unlisted spot (1st pic) I glimpsed driving by and lucked into some very decent trouting, including a PB 24" beautiful dark colored rainbow. Its a very limited resource and I won't disclose the exact location out of respect for a local regular I met there.
View attachment 8
The rainbow and a few brown trout were mostly aggregated in a 100 yd or so stretch of canal, so my catch #s steadily declined and after a few days I decided to re-experience the Miracle Mile. I was surprised and appreciative that my old tent site was vacant so I set up camp for the next 2-1/2 weeks.
View attachment 9
As Pic #2 shows the water color was off this year and the shorelines had some disgusting sludgy algae(?) growth I hadn't noticed last year. Lots of broken weed debris in the water that got worse further downstream. Pic #3 shows a view of the lower tail end of the actual 6 mile stretch of the Miracle Mile from a hillside. I didn't actually get to fish the near side cuz the drop "road" to the river was 4wd only.
Fishing: was much tuffer this year. The productive pools of last year were mostly barren including my 2 fave lower river honey holes. Had to expand to identifying and presenting to micro holds in fast riffle water which I left to the flyguys last year. Also had to concentrate on harder to access non-roaded areas by wading or trekking in. One good thing about the tuffer fishing was the crowds were way down. In the end, think I got a fair share relative to availability, and had another great WY vacation.
Sorry, I travel light and don't lug along a camera on the water.
View attachment 8
The rainbow and a few brown trout were mostly aggregated in a 100 yd or so stretch of canal, so my catch #s steadily declined and after a few days I decided to re-experience the Miracle Mile. I was surprised and appreciative that my old tent site was vacant so I set up camp for the next 2-1/2 weeks.
View attachment 9
As Pic #2 shows the water color was off this year and the shorelines had some disgusting sludgy algae(?) growth I hadn't noticed last year. Lots of broken weed debris in the water that got worse further downstream. Pic #3 shows a view of the lower tail end of the actual 6 mile stretch of the Miracle Mile from a hillside. I didn't actually get to fish the near side cuz the drop "road" to the river was 4wd only.
Fishing: was much tuffer this year. The productive pools of last year were mostly barren including my 2 fave lower river honey holes. Had to expand to identifying and presenting to micro holds in fast riffle water which I left to the flyguys last year. Also had to concentrate on harder to access non-roaded areas by wading or trekking in. One good thing about the tuffer fishing was the crowds were way down. In the end, think I got a fair share relative to availability, and had another great WY vacation.
Sorry, I travel light and don't lug along a camera on the water.
