As a 25-year veteran fishing guide I know what I love to fish most. Steelhead on the swing, Tarpon on the flats and big trout on Hoppers. I bring to you “HOPPER PALOOZA 2023”. For the last 4 seasons I’ve been going back to SW Montana and have added Wyoming into the mix. This season with 8 of my best friends was one of the best ever. I got to visit my favorite guides and water in SW Montana. Where we hit the hopper season on the nail. In Wyoming, I’m pretty sure we started the Hopper season day two on the Wind River portion of our vacation. Smashing hoppers onto the bank the entire river. The guides here are used to big fish and many of them and are biased towards a dry dropper for very good reasons. We played along to ease the pressure on the first day. Day two was all business on dry or die and we struck it rich. Clouds and willing trout make for unforgettable fishing.
We found a wonderful VRBO outside of town about 17 miles half paved and half gravel of course. It sleeps 10 has 5 bathrooms and is 10k square feet of awesomeness. Equipped with a basement, pool table, multiple bedrooms and a couple family rooms. Of course, the views are stellar Wyoming countryside. A pond in the back with a buffer of huge cottonwoods. The large casement windows sucked in the evening breeze to balance out the inadequate AC.
We were blessed by a visit of two of our incredible guides Niel Strickland and Rob Weiman. All the guides in Monatna @4riversfishingcompany and Wyoming, Niel Strickland @fishopolis, Rob Weiman @wy_dude or @Bobby_quatro, Chris Ryan @bighornguideservice and Tyson Probst are top notch. The Wyoming group assembled by Neil the guide extraordinaire! We were so lucky to have Jami Laya @wyflygirl be our chef and biggest fish catcher of the trip. What is it with the girl chefs always catching the big fish?
Thats her big Brown on front cover pic.
We already have the Log home booked in Wyoming and will be booking space in Twin Bridges at Four rivers fishing company. Our plan is to go for 9 days next year starting July 17 departing Ellensburg for Twin Bridges, fishing Thursday, Friday driving into Yellowstone Park Saturday. We will overnight in Cody do some creek fishing and meet back up in Thermopolis. Arriving to the Log house with Jami on Sunday afternoon the 21st. Staying and fishing through Friday departing Saturday the 27th of July.
This opens up a couple of packages.
1. The whole thing from start to finish. July 17 to 27 (2day 3 night in Twin – 5 day 6 night in Thermopolis w 2 days touring in between.)
2. The combo two days in Twin and three day in Thermopolis July 17 to 23. (2 days 3 night in Twin one day travel one day hotel and 3 days fishing two nights at log cabin lodging)
3 The fade away arriving in Thermopolis the 23rd and departing Saturday the 27th (4Day 4night)
Lots of variables and options, we also have the option of walk wade fishing a spring creek 1.5 hr north with huge brown trout.
Contact me about 2024 Hopper Palooza you won’t be disappointed.
