Fly Fishing In Jackson Hole

Recommended Equipment

Rods & Lines

Snake River Proper
With the wide variety of fly fishing opportunities in the Jackson Hole area there is a time and a place for just about any type of rod/reel combination from 7-weight on down to 0-weights. On the Snake River proper however, much of the time many of the lighter weight rods and lines will be of limited usefulness.

For the Snake River we recommend 5-weight and 6-weight rod/reel/lines for the vast amount of situations you'll run into. If your skill level falls in the novice to intermediate range and you could only have one rod to fish, go with a 6-weight. If you are a good caster you'll be able to get away with a 5-weight most of the time.

We also tend to prefer longer rods, 9' being just right, the vast majority of the time. They're perfect for driftboat fishing and wading. The shortest we feel comfortable is 8', with 8 1/2' being an acceptable compromise. The longer rods provide more power and are better for mending.

Bear in mind is that the area is subject to windy conditions, particularly in the afternoon. While 3 and 4-weights may get the job done in the calm of the morning, you may not have a big enough gun when the afternoon winds pick up. By all means, bring your light weight rods and lines, just realize you'll probably want a heavier stick when the wind kicks up.

Snake River Tributaries
Fly fisherman coming to enjoy our smaller waters of the Snake River tributaries can use lighter tackle than that normally used on the Snake proper and should be equipped with 4- and 5-weight rods, and even 3-weights in certain situations. Still, we do recommend 8 1/2' to 9' long rods. The longer rods are a big advantage for our conditions (like the afternoon winds), fly sizes (tend to be large), mending, and controlling line.

Leaders
In Jackson Hole, whether on the Snake River or it's tributaries, we have the luxury of using shorter, stouter leaders. 7 ½’ , 3 and 4 X will work fine while fishing attractor patterns. If you do get into a match-the-hatch situation (and it does happen) you may need to go longer (9' -12') and lighter (5X - 6X).

Lake Fishing Gear
We like 9' rods in the 5, 6, and 7-weight range. Besides the mandatory floating line, it is very helpful to have intermediate, Type I, Type II, and Type III full sink lines to round out your arsenal. Type II is the single most useful full sink line weight, followed by the Type I. Together they will cover 85% of the lake fishing situations you'll run into. The intermediate and Type III full sink lines can make the difference in the remaining situations.

Wading Gear
In the heat of the summer, we like to wet wade with sandals and shorts. Waders are good early and late in the season, when it's raining, or when temperatures drop in the evening. Hip waders are good enough for small streams and creeks, even large freestoners like the Snake River where deep wading can get treacherous. Chest waders are preferred on rivers like the Henry's Fork near Last Chance, the Yellowstone River and other slow, large rivers where deep wading is useful. They are also the wader of choice for inclement weather.

Clothing
In short, be prepared for anything. Never assume conditions won't change. Beautiful mornings can lead to blustery, rain swept afternoons. We've seen it snow 12" in Yellowstone on the Fourth of July weekend! The summer of 2000 saw many days in the 90's. You just never know when it comes to mountain weather.

Shorts and T-shirts are fine in good weather, but inclement weather requires more preparation. For the really nasty stuff we like to start with a layer of WaderWick by Simms or Capilene or Polartech Regulator from Patagonia. All do a superb job of wicking moisture from the skin keeping you warm and dry. On top of your wicking layer should go an insulating layer such as wool or fleece, not cotton. Finally you'll need a shell of some sort, preferably breathable, to keep out the wind and rain. Check our Raingear page for some of our favorite rain shells.

All of the items discussed on this page are available from High Country Flies, either from our online fly shop or by stopping by the shop. If you can't find what you want online and can't stop by the shop call us toll free at 877-732-7210 between the hours of 10am and 6pm MST for more information or to phone in orders.