Wild Trout Safaris Alaska Trips

The Fall 2007 Advanced Class was amazing, really. I can't think of a better group or more consistent fishing in any Fall class ever. We opened in the park, that is Yellowstone Park. We tried to collide with the fall Madison river run, and were quite successful. The Browns and Whites of Hebgen Dam make an annual spawning journey up the Madison to the Gibbon and Firehole rivers. Big Rainbows, although not spawning, still come up the river too. It is a bit tricky trying to time them and find them. I felt we were pretty good with it, far better than was predicted. The run was way down from past years, but we were right on em. Many in the class landed their first double figure day, some nice fish too. It is such a beautiful place to fish, even if we were empty.
However, hearing those whoops and hollers as we tangled with some slashing and jumping fish make this an excellent adventure.

This year's group was outstanding, after the first trip I knew it was going to be a fun class, even if we didn't catch fish. The group had jelled so very early, which made the pizza night in West a blast! We have so much fun in these classes when the students feel together as a group. The friends people make in the class will outlast the memories and the fish photos. Trip number two was also good. It was our float tube experience to Strawberry reservoir. The fishing was fast, faster for some than others. One in our group, Ben put 29 in the net before his dad made him call it quits. The Cutts of Strawberry are all large and make for fun float tubing.
Trip three could not have fished any better. The fishing was as good as fishing gets. We were on private property on the mighty Madison River in Montana. It was a cold day but bearable. The sun was out most of the day and the students caught fish, I mean lots of fish and big ones too. I think 36 was the high, but many were in the mid-twenties. That area that time of year, is perfect for feeling alive! The colors of the fish are vibrant and so is the mountain setting. We had cold, crisp weather with hot, cracking trout. If you ask me, the fish get more jumpy and lively in the "Maddie," during November. West Yellowstone starts to feel like home after our second stay in the same hotel and after all the fishing successes, the students are feeling really loose and empowered.

By this stage of the class, the group is also feeling very close to each other. We are all buddies now and we are all paying attention to others success rates. I've fished alone and I've fished with friends and no question fishing with friends is best!
The last trip was to the Box in Idaho. We fished the White Fish spawn on the Henry's Fork of the Snake river. The Rainbows (BIG RAINBOWS) follow the Whites up river to eat the roe. About half of the class delayed the journey home from the Madison and joined me on the research day on the Box enroute home. It was good idea too, because it afforded many the opportunity to fish the Box without having to make the trip back "up north," the next weekend. This in turn, made it a smaller group for me to help on the "real," fish day of trip #4 later the next weekend. Fishing both days was very successful. In fact, on the actual fishing day the week after, I put 50 fish (yes, I counted) in the net before 3pm. I stopped fishing at about 1pm with 30 fish, but then resumed fishing until I had caught 50. Because, well because no one needed my help and I could, I guess?
It was a fun class, yes, 2007 Fall Advanced class was great. How did it compare to other years? Well, maybe it was the best ever. Or, maybe I'm getting too old to remember the years past. I guess you'll just have to ask the students themselves, but I thought it was great!