Wyoming Cutt Challenge

 Fishing challenges have caught my attention the last year or so and I have looked into several challenges in the west including the Western Native Trout Challenge.  After looking at countless maps ,several informational websites, and the help of several friends Scott Hunter for Wyoming and Jeff Creamer for the Utah challenge.  I had my goal set really high to accomplish the Wyoming and Utah Cutthroat Challenges.  After a long solo roadtrip and using great directions I pulled into the East Fork of the Wind.  The water looked in great shape and no one was around.  I had my mind made up I was going to complete this challenge using just my Blue Halo 3wt fly rod. On some streams it would be a little under gunned but my heart fully is with a 3wt I could own 20 different 3wt rods and still need another, they just have a feel when in your hand and the full flex just makes the rod come to life.  I quickly strung up a chubby and hoped for some top water action.  The wind was pretty tough and nothing was happened quickly tied on a dropper and found fish fast and often.  With the first day and the first fish the Yellowstone Cutthroat under my belt I felt pretty confident I could complete this challenge still. 

 After Scott calling in and giving me unreal directions for another spot just off the Snake River I was on the water again.  Not the biggest fan of bears and after seeing several sign my head was on just a little bit of a swivel.  Went with the hopper dropper again at first and moved nothing new water is always a challenge but you just look for the holding spots like you would in any stream.  So I finally go back to my trusty favorite fly the classic woolybugger and wham a trout hookup in no time so I am feeling good well the feel went away fast after a long distance release.  After a little longer on the stream and I am feeling this may not be possible my unicorn could be the fine spotted snake river cutthroat trout.  After sleeping on it and doing some sight seeing the morning I decided to try some headwater stream but road work didn't allow for that so the morning was in disarray.  Found another stream and again no cooperative trout.  After a few miles on some of the Wyoming back country roads I finally end up on North Cottonwood Creek and found an easy pull off.  Strung up the dropper hopper ring and had a fish on top water in no time.  A nice Colorado River Cutthroat trout so now we have 2 out of 4 challenge fish so maybe we have at least a shot to complete this part of the journey.  Fished a little longer down the stretch and several more chunky little fish took the dropper before we packed up and headed to our next destination.  

After an awesome scenic trip over the pass I end up on the upper stretch of the Greys River.  Again since it has been working and I found some nice runs I am thinking dropper hopper rig again and we are in good shape.  Moved one fish but not really a lot of action.  So tried another spot that had some good structure and a deep pool so again when all else fails went back to the old reliable black woolybugger and hoping the dream would stay alive.  After a few casts wham and this time there was no long distance release a snake river cutthroat was in the net and we are finally at 3 out of 4 so the challenge is still achievable.  After some more fishing and more snake river cutts back into the car and onto another stream to try and finish this challenge. 

 It was getting late and I considered giving Salt Creek a shot before dark but slide into the campsite and hoped for better luck in the morning.  The sun was out the hope was holding on so walked up to the little trib with a yellow humpy and a nice beaver pond and the Bonneville were more than eager to take the fly with one in hand the challenge of 4 native Wyoming Cutthroat trout was complete and another 4 new fish to add to the species list.  

With some hope still alive I decided to hop into the car and try another state and hopefully another milestone.  So packed up and went south into Utah.  The water was running good in the Logan River and I threw all I could think of at several different spots but for me this day the Bear River Cutthroat were not willing so the drive into Logan and over a Guy Fieri approved peanut butter burger decisions had to be made stay on course head through Utah and push on or head back to Wyoming and enjoy some more fish and views of the Snake River area.  I headed back north to enjoy more of the awesome state of Wyoming.  Challenges are awesome but sometimes the biggest challenge is the ones we give ourselves.  Until next time Utah will still be calling looking forward to marking another challenge off the list!

WV Trout Management Plan

 Lots of great things are being done in the Mountain State and our DNR is doing some of that with an awesome new Trout Management Plan.  I’ve had the very fortunate opportunity to represent the people of WVAngler at these discussions with a diverse group of individuals.  I’ll hit some of the highlights in discussions right now but as always I welcome your feedback as I am a voice for you.  Lots of great ideas coming from the Stakeholder Advisory Committee and being sent to the Technical Advisory Committee.  This as a whole would be great for everyone lots of possibilities and opportunities in this state to improve on making things better!  

Funding, Investment, and Capacity 

-Lots of discussions on finding projects from stocking to habitat projects and land access.  Working at more ways to generate funding to be able to provide more of these options mentioned.  

-Diversifying and  Enhancing Public Fishing Access

Need for more access spots and keeping areas cleaned and enhanced.

- Habitat 

More habitat wild trout, improved water quality, reconnecting headwaters, and identifying restoration projects.  Habitat has been one of the big discussions as you clean the water and improve habitat everyone wins no just the trout and fishing but everything downstream.

-Diversification of Stocked Trout Opportunities 

One very big thing was delayed harvest discussions that would give everyone a chance to use the resource.  Increased fingerling opportunities.  And the increase in events like gold rush which has been good getting kids and others involved. More diversification to possibly extend fishing seasons.   

-Enhancing Native and Wild Fisheries 

Protecting and enhancing.  Working on habitat to enhance fisheries.  Understanding the threats they face better not only as managers but fisherman.  

-education and youth information 

Getting kids more involved in fishing.  Better communication with public on things DNR is doing or involved in.more education to the public as a whole on things like fish handling and importance of wild trout.

On The Hunt For A Record

Photo courtesy of Zach Adkins

Sometimes when you go fishing you truly are not sure what the day will bring and what you will be blessed with catching.  That is true for WVAngler.com member Zach Adkins.  McFishin as most board members know him by his screen name.  Fishing challenges is becoming more popular across the United States.  Different states have native fish challenges that reward an angler for catching certain species of fish in there home waters.  Adkins is one of those people who always enjoy the challenge of the catch, the only WV sport-fish that Zach has yet to catch is the Chain Pickerel.  He says he has had several close encounters but can never seal the deal.  As far as records Adkins says, "I've tried a couple of times to target a record.  In the late 90's there were hybrid versions of several species stocked all over the state.  By the mid-late 2000's the states Saugeye population was nearing the end of its lifespan, all those fish were getting old...and big.  Same with the hybrid stripers and tiger musky.  I tried various locations across the state for all 3 species and actually came somewhat close on the Hybrid and Saugeye for length but not close enough.  I did lay eyes on a true Tiger musky that would've rivaled the record but it was a single lazy lure follow that never committed and disappeared."  Adkins started the day throwing a swim bait targeting the large bass that live there or the few northern pike that are supposed to be in there.  It was a foggy day on the water but Zach noticed some surface activity.  With the fog and cloud covering hampering his view he was led to assume it was a big fish chasing bait.  Casting to the area out of his Vibe kayak and before you know it he was hooked up with the swim bait.  Adkins says, "It was an unintentional snag and it honestly didn't fight as you'd think it would.  The fish as old and definitely on its way out. "  None the less a fish of that size 53" and 59 lbs getting a fish of that proportions to the bank is a challenge in itself.  Speaking of the record Zach says. "I knew when I first say this fish it might be close but did't think it would actually beat it.  It's pretty cool getting to have my name in there.  It's always been a goal, ever since I was a little kid.  The circumstances and species of this one are definitely not the way I thought it would happen but take what's given I suppose. A state record has been my longest running fishing goal but honestly, being able to complete my life list (every sport fish in WV) from public waters will mean more to me.  For 28 years I've honed and worked at being able to catch all kids of different species, on all kids of different water, on all kinds of different gear, and the more I switched form one species to the next the more I learned how they actually all aren't that different...food, cover, reproduction."  Due to the grass carp being a non game fish unintentional snagging is allowed for records in the record book.  As for now Adkins will continue to try and land that Chain Pickerel and he will be chasing the Fallfish record.  As he says, "There are way too many 18-20" Falllfish in the Potomac drainage for their not to be one greater than the 21.25" record.  I catch most of my fallfish while targeting smallmouth  though, but have learned the water Fallfish prefer, so when I fish a specific hole I cast in the smallmouth holding areas first, the switch over to the more fallfish friendly areas."  We congratulate Zach Adkins on his record and wish him the best on catching that chain pickerel.