The Guide Archive Pt. I

By Connor Truman

I have been instructed by the Chief Editor, fellow founder, and all-around certified Degenerate, Mr. Rod Petersen that I need to write something for our next monthly web magazine. For me Personally (Connor) to write something I need to be passionate about it or I will sit here on the app formerly known as Twitter and never get anything done. So, as I am sitting here writing this intro in the Yellowstone Lake Lodge lobby. I have come up with a not-so-original idea but something I'm interested in doing, is a monthly compilation of stories, quotes, and photos from us, the crew at DFH, and our multitude of friends throughout YNP. Wildlife Guides, Fishing Guides, Historic Tour Guides, and even our Employee Recreation Coordinators who take fellow park employees on tours around the GYE (Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem) will get their say here. So enjoy and keep an eye out for future editions of The Guide Archive. 

River Day Uno 

Connor Truman 

Even though the season of taking tourists out on Yellowstone Lake for a chance at a 10lb Laker or a 5lb trophy Cutthroat has not quite arrived, I still have been guiding some of my buddies on the rivers. While not being paid in money, they make up for it by making memories and the occasional Jack and Coke. Joining me on this specific day trip were Coltin and Diego, both avid fishermen but, are relatively new fly fishermen. In my professional opinion, they have both picked it up quite quickly. We walked down to the river and it was quite higher and dirtier than we were used to. Coltin struggled a little to start as he hadn't euro nymphed in at least 6 months and Diego is just new to the sport. Even I will admit it was a little difficult with the higher water and quicker current to get the flies down into the strike zone. After a fly change or two and finding the right drift I finally hooked up with a few fish and knew it was time to assist the boys. I gave Coltin a few pointers on forcing the flies through the surface and his line placement and sent him off. He finally hooked into a beautiful PB Rainbow that tail walked across the river before Colt lifted him into the net.

While this was going on Diego was learning more about casting, getting a proper drift, and how different flies react to the river current. Now some will say this is luck but I will say it was pure unquestioned skill, I walked upriver to Diego and offered some advice on where to swing his small streamer, how to retrieve it, and what spots he should target in the river. Just as I said "You don't need so much line, bring some of that in" A striking red gill-plate flashed on his streamer and I yelled, "You got one". Diego then had to learn the hard part, getting the fish in. He shouted a "FISH ON" and lifted his rod and asked "Do I reel or strip?" and I instructed him to reel. After 30 seconds of reeling and battling I was able to net Diego's first ever fish on his Fly Rod.

First Fish on the Fly 

Diego Olea 

Having owned my fly rod for nearly a year at this point to only have it collect dust, I was overdue a fish and the only way to make that happen was to start putting in the effort. On June 2nd, Connor, Coltin, and I were fly fishing the **** River and I was determined to catch a fish and soak up as much knowledge about the practice as I could - I was in pretty good company to do just that. With the wind chilly and the sky cloudy, I stood at the bank of the river roll casting repeatedly over a deep pocket as I was instructed to do so by my teachers while they, being far better equipped, stood in the middle of the river comfortably in their waders (Connor's waders were leaking so his actual comfort level is still up for debate (“It sucked”- Connor)). This went on for a couple hours and while I had seen both the C's catch a few fish each, I was still roll-casting over the same hole with no luck. Seeing this, Connor waded on over ready to deal out some knowledge. While he was coaching me, the fish that I had been presenting my fly (small olive streamer) to with no luck so far must've sensed Connor's fishing aura because it surfaced and struck almost immediately and the fight was on! Although Connor knew that it had struck before I did, I still had to let him and Coltin know I had a "FISH ON!" I took control of my line and led the fish into the shallows where Connor netted my first fish on the fly. Expecting my first fish to be a 4-inch dinker, I was over the moon to see what I had actually caught was a silver, bright red gill plate, Cutthroat about 16 inches in length. Now the spin-casting fishing guide had officially, entered the world of fly fishing.

Joels Comments 

Joel’s thoughts written by Connor in Joel’s Camper with Diego 

Connor: "Hey Joel, any comments on the day?” 

Joel: "Well, Started off great, and thought we were going to dodge storms by getting gas station burritos. Which worked by the way. We arrived at Lewis Lake and saw 2 attractive rangers and Connor went inside to sweet talk em, but he realised that the boat inspection sticker had fallen off. Diego and I hatched a plan to get the sticker by trading a snow coach sticker for the inspection sticker." 

NOTE: They laughed and told me it was a cute sticker -Connor. 

NOTE: The sticker had hair stuck to it -Diego 

Joel: "We were given 3 options, buy another 80-dollar pass, go to Grant Ranger Station, or go back to Bridge Bay. We went to Grant and they were at lunch. We Contemplated going to Grayling dorm to play pool, but ultimately we drove back to BBM and I took a modest nap while the boys blew the porcelain off the ranger station bathroom. 1 PM rolls around and we received our sticker and drove the 30 miles Back.” 

NOTE: The stickers are a bad batch and it wasn’t Connor’s Fault- Diego 

Joel: "Due to the time passing the weather now was beautiful. We realized the dock wasn’t in and they were beached." 

NOTE: The 2 rangers had no clue that the docks were not in and had been there for weeks- All  three of us 

Joel: "We get the boat in the water and Diego had on zipp-offs so he had to get in the water BUT left his Xtratuffs on thus filling them. Idiot. 

NOTE: I didn’t want to step on the boat launch barefoot -Diego 

NOTE: He had also no raingear- Joel 

NOTE: I just came off Avalanche Peak in the snow- Diego 

NOTE: He lived here for years now- Joel 

NOTE: It was forecasted for rain all afternoon- Connor 

We jet to our honey hole to flat line because we learned the lake is better trolling. Within 30 seconds we hooked up and knew the day had just gotten started"