Utah Cutthroat Slam - Day 1

Tom's daughter was nice enough to decide to get married in Utah, and my daughter, a bridesmaid, got tickets to Panic! at the Disco in SLC, so it was an excuse to come down early, reconnect Melinda with fly fishing, and prequel the cutthroat slam for our brothers' trip labor day week.

For those who aren't up on flyfishing, the Utah Cutthroat Slam consists of catching each of the four species of cutthroat native to Utah in their native range. Mel and I are trying to do it in two days, and the first day was a success!

We stayed in Boise last night and got an early start so we could have about 3 hours in the Raft River Mountains in NW Utah, right at the Idaho border. The Yellowstone cutthroat is native to only a few small streams that drain into the Raft River, which, when it isn't dry, drains into the Snake River. Did I mention small? Really, really small.

This is a small stream, even by my standards

Arriving right on schedule at YCT stream 1 (thanks to good 60 mph gravel roads except the last couple miles up the canyon), we hopped out at the lower end of where the trout are found. Walking over to the trickle of a stream, it was mostly heavily overgrown, and I promptly spooked a trout in the first little bit of deeper water. Working upstream, I spooked more, and never had a cast to one before it spooked. After 100 yards or so, we climbed out and decided to drive a little farther and walk upstream where the creek leaves the road.

Segment 2, more of the same. Very difficult access, very nervous fish. Lots of pathways, so it looks like these little guys are seeing a lot of people in the accessible areas. About 1/2 mile upstream, I finally came on a deeper hole where it drops over a log. I saw three decent fish at the lower end under overhanging branches, which spooked before I got anywhere near. So I went up above, found entry mostly clear of branches, and dipped the irresistible wulff at the top near the water plunge. A nice cutthroat immediately came up and sucked in the fly, and with a gentle lift the most difficult species for the slam was in the net for the picture. Now, it was time to get one for Mel.

A beautiful Yellowstone cutt

Searching for anywhere she could get a fly on the water, I saw about a 7-inch cutt holding in soft water at a three foot high cut bank. We were somewhat protected from view by a tree, and perhaps the lighting since the fish was in full sun, because it didn't spook. I positioned Melinda, shortened the line to a few feet, and handed her the rod. She threaded the rod and line through the branches and dropped the fly on the water ahead of the fish. It didn't move a bit as the fly drifted over. Mel repeated this multiple times, and the fish still didn't move. I told her to jiggle the fly on the water, but it kept pulling up off the water. Still the fish hadn't moved. So I took her hand and showed her how to jiggle just the tip. The fly danced on the water just ahead of the fish. It moved! First forward a few inches, then a slow rise to swallow the fly. Mel and I lifted together, brought the fish to the net, for the second YCT. But we wanted one for Mel without any assistance.

Mel with the one we caught together

A bit further upstream, found another little drop into a bit of a pool, completely overhung and fully shaded. Creeping under branches, I shortened the line to about 18 inches, got Mel into position, and watched her dip the fly over the drop. Nothing. I turned to move out, and she pulls out a fish. She couldn't see the fly, but felt it take, and pulled out a cute little guy all by herself. Mission accomplished! Both of us one quarter of the way through the slam.

Mel's very own Yellowstone cutthroat

I wanted to visit one of the other YCT streams, so we headed back to the car and drove about 20 minutes to the next stream. Had about 20 minutes to explore before we had to go. Found another similar size stream, and caught one the first cast (got tangled in the grass and off before the picture. Then very brushy, and with Mel in shorts rather than her waders for the quick stop, she didn't want to bushwack (she detests bushwacking, even fully clothed). I found one more little guy, and we were off to SLC. Tomorrow, Mel has a couple errands at BYU, then we are going to try to pick up the next three species along a path I have mapped out. Hoping tomorrow will be a little easier, and just as successful as today!

Very thankful for these guys!