The Green River running through the sprawling high west landscape near Pinedale has to be one of my favorite discoveries of the summer. Fiona's been here before and told tale of it, but I was preoccupied with the South Fork and the Teton. Very few people (as of September), hungry whitefish, and plenty of open space for camping. We're likely to go back next weekend.

We jaunted up here for the Wind River Brewfest and also took the opportunity to do what I've termed "fishsploration" where we drive around random dirt roads parallel to rivers or creeks until we spot something worth casting at. The road along the Green is purpose-built for poking around.

What worked in mid-September: #16 bead heads of almost any kind. Fiona caught three on a purple thrasher.

Lots of little guys. Mostly brookies and rainbows on my paddleboard.

We took a day and drove down from the dam to Spring Creek Bridge in Swan Valley to explore little fishing holes on the side of the dirt track.

I caught 11 and Fiona, 7. They just grow bigger in here. Favorite catch of the day: The chonker of a brown I pulled out of about a foot of water.

What worked: Pat's rubber legs (rust colored), and BWO nymphs (size 16).

My childhood best friend Oli is visiting us in Teton Valley. We've been fishing a bunch over the past week, though with not much to show for it yet. Still working to get Oli something in the net.

We've had some heartbreaks. Oli and I both had gigantic trout on the line near Upper Coffee Pot campground near Island Park, but they both broke off. I lost three lures in 30 minutes too.

We've been fishing primarily at my favorite bend on Fox Creek, but also a float from Packsaddle to Harrops.

Our friends were super gracious and took us out on their Flycraft, while I followed along on the paddleboard.

Fiona caught her first fish on a fly rod! A beautiful little brookie, and on her birthday.

I landed four: A brown (one of the more beautiful trout I think I've ever caught), a whitefish, and two brookies.

Nothing today. But felt good to keep up the ritual.

Nothing better than hitting up Fox Creek on a hot ass day. Water was crystal clear and we could see trout patrolling, evaluating bugs, and popping up to swallow them. One little brookie, one little cutty.

Fiona scored her first fish fight on a fly rod!

Really sparse! We flogged the water for hours across Friday, Saturday and Sunday and got one tiny trout on a lure. He broke off at my feet so I didn't get a get look at him. Gorgeous country though. Quick notes on the water:

• Henry's Fork upper near Big Springs: Really fishy, but very popular summer river float destination. Not my favorite for that reason.
• Henry's Fork Lower near Ora Bridge: I know this place rocks, even though I wasn't able to pull anything out. Will be returning.
• Harriman's Fish Pond: No go! We stopped to check it out and at least when we were there in early July, it was an algae-choked swamp.
• Madison River: We dipped up into Montana to check out Three Dollar Bridge. Again, another super promising looking spot, but the river moved quickly and so the drifts were very short. Felt like we needed a demo of how to fish it.

This is my happy place, even if the fish don't bite. Throwing double PMD, PMD + emerger, hoppers, and even chucked a lure to try to inspire some confidence. Nothing worked with the picky buggers tonight.

Lots of rises, wasn't able to figure out the insect or possibly presentation.

Took Fiona's new rod out for a spin. Chucked some lures with the paddleboard rod and landed a couple small brookies.

one beautiful brookie. no pics

Went out to Packsaddle for a few flicks this morning. Water was boiling with rises, but I couldn't seem to throw anything they wanted seriously. Looked like small PMDs, emergers, some spinners. I think I need a fleet of the smaller sizes and to work on my presentation. Correction to swap to 4x tippet with a triple surgeon on the end of my leader came likely too late. Still learning.

Not much to report on today, other than the thunderstorms rolling their way across the valley. One hit on a small cutty (I think). Trying out some single hook lures on the new spin casting setup.

South Bates has a problem with algae the other put-ins don't seem to. Floating islands of green scum wander past you. It gloms onto dries and nymphs alike.

I caught a single cutthroat, but it was beaute. It hit on a pink worm fly somehow in the middle of all of the algal muck.

First float of the season on my neighbor's Flycraft. 8 fish total for me. Lots of success with duracells and pheasant tails.

Big descent into the canyon for some pocket water.

Awesome time. 11 Fish. Mostly rainbows and brookies.