“Buffalo Fork?”
“You want to drive an hour plus to go fishing on the Buffalo Fork?” That is my question to my dear friend David, who has taught me most of what I know about fly-fishing. He has been coming to Wyoming with me to fish in the late summer for a dozen years. He is rarely off when it comes to trout fishing. "The Buffalo Fork?"
The Buffalo Fork, I recall, crosses the highway north of Jackson - about 30 miles. It looks like a small stream, not one that would hold many trout. We have fished that area in the early trips to Wyoming. In fact, one of our early “go to” places, places we knew would produce trout, was nearby. We loved going to that place so much that we named it “Number One!” It was scenic, situated east of the Tetons, and east of the Snake River. Number One frequently had a herd of buffaloes south of our fishing hole. The Buffalo Fork seldom even got a thought as this expansive, breathtaking, wonderful place in Wyoming.
My friend, however, has earned and deserves the benefit of the doubt. He is right when it comes to fishing, more than he is wrong. Anglers know that fishing is a strong statement.
“Have you been there before?” I asked. He replied, “I have hiked up there with friends.” Whoa! He had been there before. David has an eye for trout water. This is an entirely different story. “When do we leave?” I responded. “7 a.m.,” he replied.
Hmmmm…he is not an early riser. This must be special.
We were on the road at 7 a.m. It was a beautiful Teton sunrise, the kind you see in magazines. The pink light on the faces of the Tetons was spectacular.
What I learned about where we are going: we are going to where the North Fork and South Fork of the Buffalo Fork meet. In addition to the drive of likely 60 miles, there is an additional 4-mile hike up to where we are fishing. This is Bear Country, and we are not talking black bears - we are talking Brown Bears, aka Grizzlies.
The car is parked. We get on our gear. Yes, bear spray and a bear gun included. The adventure begins!
It was a spectacular hike. There were views of the Tetons and beautiful forests, and horses had been up the trail. Then, a peak at the river through the pines. Beautiful! How did they get that big river up here? There is no way this is the same Buffalo Fork! Stunning! Beyond my wildest dreams.
My friend catches a fish on his first 6 consecutive casts. The water is narrow, so I head upstream. I have a slow start, and the morning doesn’t improve much. It is so beautiful I don’t care much about how many fish I caught. I am loving being here.
We move down to the confluence. There is an “Eddy,” which is where two currents meet, and create a seam where the water goes a different direction. I love fishing those. I usually, almost always, pull a nice fish out of Eddy. This time, first cast…BAM!!! A big Cutthroat eats the hopper. I was fortunate to land this one, a 17-inch Cutthroat. Fish of the day! Happy ending…until…
….I fell in the river. Ouch!!! I fell on my reel, right on my ribs. Ouch!! It hurt.
I take a quick inventory. Broke my reel. My ribs could be broken as well, though I think not. We have a 4-mile hike back to the car. Hmmm…I guess just keep fishin’? Yep!
The moral or the story: things aren't always as they seem. There is often more than meets the eye. This reminds me a little of the current economy and market - bumpy. It's kind of like my fishing day on the Buffalo Fork!
A once in a lifetime moment, after I was certain it wouldn’t be worth the drive. Keep showing up - life is a trip.
Enjoy the day…R2
This is not a specific recommendation. Each individual needs to consult their financial advisor, for specific recommendations. Your financial advisor knows your situation, and risk tolerance. They are best suited to make individual recommendations for you.
