Ian and Charity getting some time to use the equipment on the Madison River
We’re back from our group trip to West Yellowstone, Montana and WOW was it a good one! Charity and I hosted a group of 18 fly fishers from across the country at the Golden Stone Inn and we fished with our favorite guides from Big Sky Anglers. Everyone in the group was such a pleasure and we all enjoyed our time together when we weren’t on the water. And so you know, these aren’t all the good photos, just the greatest hits from this year. There were so many nice fish caught and great photos taken. And apologies since we’re not even sure which of the group or guides took some of the photos, but the majority were not taken by either of us.
Our group with some of our guides and staff at the Golden Stone Inn, West Yellowstone Montana
West Yellowstone is an incredible place for trout fishing it is located smack in the middle of so many quality rivers, streams, and lakes. It sits at the junction of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho right at the western gateway to Yellowstone National Park.
Everyday we had anglers spread out perhaps as much as 100 miles apart as we all went in different directions with our guides each day. On the same day some of our anglers were with a guide in the northeast corner of Yellowstone National Park casting to native cutthroat trout while others were far to the west in Idaho on the lower Henry’s Fork stripping streamers for brown trout. Some in our group were further upstream on the Henry’s Fork catching rainbows while still others were drifting the swift waters of the Madison River and still others were wading the Gallatin River.
On our first day on the water Susan caught this magnificent native Yellowstone Cutthroat in the national park while Joe Matteo was hooked up to a nice trout on the upper Henry’s Fork while a moose watched him.
Ian and Jonathan Heames, our dear friend, and one of the owners of Big Sky Anglers and Golden Stone Inn
We’ve known Big Sky Anglers and Golden Stone Inn owner Jonathan Heames since 2011 and we’re all on the same wavelength. Sure, we all want to catch trout, but we’ve made the long trip to Yellowstone for a deeper connection. A connection to the natural world and other like minded anglers. You’ll know what I mean if you’ve ever fished with us here in the Smokies. Fishing should be fun, interesting, and educational while you catch fish. And there’s no pressure if you miss fish! Have fun in the moment and learn in the process.
Kevin and Wes are a fun father and son team who have travelled to the West with us on a previous trip. These guys can fish and make the most of this special time together in an awesome place.
Tom and Gary are brothers who live on opposite sides of the country, one in East Tennessee and the other in California. This trip united them for a great week together.
Seeing wildlife is one of the many thrills of fly fishing in and around Yellowstone.
Barry Smith hiked three miles into the Yellowstone backcountry to catch this native westslope cutthroat trout from a pristine lake.
This was both Amy’s best fish ever and first brown trout. And in all seriousness, she smiles like that even when she’s not holding a big trout!
Linda had an epic day with her guide fishing up to the base of Gibbon River Falls in Yellowstone Park
Steve Young at the headwaters of the Madison River, the confluence of the Gibbon and Firehole Rivers in Yellowstone National Park
Cory at the Golden Stone Inn is the best host we’ve ever seen and took great care of our group at all hours. Nancy is a talented artist and angler in our group.
Golden Stone Inn doesn’t typically provide dinners in the evening, but we arranged a caterer to come to the lodge every night. We had appetizers and cocktail hour at 6:30. That provided plenty of time for everyone to get back from the river without rushing. Dinners were at 7:30, then most evenings there was a casual gathering around the firepit in the courtyard.
Rich and Terry enjoying cocktail hour on their porch in the courtyard at Golden Stone Inn
There was a lively recap of the day’s fishing every evening over appetizers and drinks on the patio and in the courtyard.
Andy and Mark, our two longest tenured travelers with R&R western trips, kept everyone, and each other, in line
Laurie and her crew fed us well every evening
Shrimp cocktail with garlic bread and soft cheese and tomatoes
BBQ night featuring ribs and chicken
Steamed mussels
Smoked salmon flatbread during the appetizer and cocktail hour
And now back to our regularly scheduled fish pictures….
Damn! Another slab cutthroat for Susan!
Michael and Doug learned streamer tactics with their guide Miles on the lower Henry’s Fork.
Even though these are some of the most famous rivers in the world, our guides can usually manage to find out of the way places for us if that’s what we want. This is a remote section of the Henry’s Fork away from all roads.
Ian caught this solid rainbow during a lunch break on the Madison
Charity making waves on the Madison
Joe caught this exceptional brown trout in the most remote and difficult section of the Henry’s Fork, Cardiac Canyon
Guide Chris Daniel celebrates with Charity after he netted a rainbow for her that took them on a jog down the river
