Scott Smith, owner of Grand Teton Fly Fishing, takes us on a journey through the Yellowstone area. We’ll uncover tips for fishing the area’s rivers, learn about pre-hatches, and hear Scott’s biggest tip for landing those tricky fish sipping bugs off the surface.
Scott will also share stories about his mentor, Jack Dennis. This is going to be a good one!
Show Notes with Scott Smith on Grand Teton Fly Fishing. Hit play below! 👇🏻
Find the show: iTunes | Stitcher | Overcast
(Read the Full Transcript at the bottom of this Blog Post)
Sponsors and Podcast Updates
Episode Chapters with Scott Smith on Grand Teton Fly Fishing
02:03 – Scott grew up fishing creeks in North Georgia. Fly fishing for him came later when he picked up a rod at 12 at a garage sale and taught himself through magazines and VHS tapes. He eventually met Jack Dennis, who became his mentor.
Check out our episode with Jack Dennis.
Starting Grand Teton Fly Fishing
05:52 – Scott moved to Jackson Hole in the late ’90s. Over the years, he built a career, mentored new guides, and created a loyal client base. In 2011, he and Mark Fuller took over Jack Dennis’ business and started Grand Teton Fly Fishing.
11:55 – Scott tells us about the waters they guide in western Wyoming. They cover Yellowstone National Park’s lakes to Grand Teton National Park’s Snake River headwaters. Scott says they customize trips based on how long guests stay and what they want to do.
Fishing in Jackson Hole
15:41 – We hear about what fishing looks like throughout the year in Jackson Hole. Scott says they do a lot of driftboat fishing to cover large rivers like the Snake, but there’s still plenty of Wade fishing when the conditions are right.
- March to October is the best fishing season, with good hatches and fewer crowds.
- Early March is great for dry fly fishing, especially with midges and blue-winged olives.
- The peak fishing season starts in mid-June and continues in July through September.
Fishing in September and October
23:20 – We talk about the fishing conditions in September and October. The fishing gets better as the water cools down, with some great hatches like the Hecuba fly. Scott says this is also when the Jackson Hole One Fly event usually happens.
28:09 – Scott says that the Snake River is both forgiving for new anglers and challenging for experts. The Snake River is home to the Snake River Fine-Spotted Cutthroat, which is a subspecies of the Yellowstone cutthroat.
34:52 – Scott says that when he’s guiding, he always looks for spots where fish are likely to be. The key is looking for subtle sips, usually signs of bigger fish feeding.
40:10 – If you’re not seeing much action on the surface, Scott suggests switching to attractor patterns or terrestrials like beetles and ants. You can also add a dropper fly, but it might limit how close you can fish to the bank.
Scott’s Top 8 Fly Patterns
- Small chubby (black, purple, tan)
- Small black foam flies
- Golden Stone Water Walker
- Parachute Adams
- Parachute Hare’s Ears
- Mercer’s Missing Link
- Callibaetis Flies
- Small streamers
Check-in with Scott on Instagram @grandtetonflyfishing
Visit their website: https://www.grandtetonflyfishing.com
Grand Teton Fly Fishing Videos Noted in the Show
Related Podcast Episodes
WFS 217 – Jack Dennis on Fly Fishing – Western Trout Fly Tying, Curt Gowdy, Gary Lafontaine
Read the Full Podcast Transcript Below
Conclusion with Scott Smith on Grand Teton Fly Fishing
If you want to take Scott’s expert tips to the next level, get out on the water with him! Head over to Grand Teton Fly Fishing and book your trip. You can also contact me if you’re interested in putting something together.
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