Jackson Hole One Fly

Saturday was not a great day on the water!  I watched fish after fish reject my fly. So I decided to switch to an old reliable dry so I could enjoy the canyon on Sunday, and hope for better fishing. Ryan Troy (Top Guide 2021) had something to say about my choice of fly. We debated the merits of his little size 16 against my big fat size 6 foam. I was adamant that an itty-bitty size 16 wouldn’t improve my chance, our team was a long way from first place, and I still had a hundred bucks in the Big Fish contest. I relented the next morning at the boat ramp, as a famous phrase came to mind, “trust your guide.” I went with Ryan’s size 16 fly. Little did I realize what a great day it would be! We watched beautiful fish dance on top of the water right before us, as I caught not only the second biggest fish but the third biggest fish, and the fourth biggest fish. At the same time filling my score card. Thank you, Ryan, for teaching this old dog a new trick. I salute you, Crystal Frenchie, the little fly with the big heart.  -Matt Hyde
 

I first learned of the fly Stella four years ago in my very first One Fly. I was so nervous and had no idea what to fish. I drew guide Mike Jensen in the canyon on the Snake River. He asked me if I wouldn’t mind throwing a nymph. I was so scared to lose my fly, and was very hesitant. He looked me in the eye and said “Don’t worry if it gets hung up, I will swim and get it.” Mike named the fly after his daughter, Stella. Mike Janssen was so perfect, and I am so grateful to him. Stella has been used the last two years I won Top Gun. Thank you Mike! — Brian Byerly

“The Eyes Have It”- Tied by Scott Sanchez (It’s his version of a classic pattern from Bob Quigley) "Despite some concern on my part that I might not be able to see the fly on the water (size 18 seems smaller and smaller every year), the confidence of my terrific guide, Josh Gallivan, not to mention his keen eyesight, convinced me to go for it.  Scott Sanchez’ great fly and a good number of willing Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat combined for an epic day.  All thanks to Scott Sanchez and Josh Gallivan."  --Greg Case

Several years ago I caught 2 large cutthroats eating large sculpins and i thought that it would be nice to develop a better sculpin pattern for use in the One Fly. At about the same time the fish skull sculpin helmets became available and i thought it would be great to develop a One Fly pattern utilizing weighted heads, which slide over the hook just like a cone head I have used the pattern at least 1 day during the event for the last 4 years, making modifications each year. As we al know, in order to have a good day during the event the starts have to align -- the fly, the river section, and most importantly the guide. Last year I fortunate to have Cam Hopkins and Ed Emory put me on to nice fish all day long -- Drew Miller

I originally tied this fly as a possible choice in the 2013 JH One Fly.  The second day of the competition that year I fished Deadman’s to Moose.  The river was blown out, but the fly managed to attract fish.  The next year I again fished the same fly.  Not just the same pattern, but the exact same fly! It brought in the fish, and I scored enough points to win the individual title in the 2014 event.  I started calling the streamer pattern the Scharp’s Skunk Works Minnow, hoping it’s identity would remain secret like the Stealth Bomber. For the 2015 JH One Fly, I had no choice but to try the same pattern.  It again out scored the field and once again I had the top individual score.  Even though it’s identity is no longer a secret, knowing how to fish it will remain one.

The first question my guide, Curt Hamby, asked when I met him at the South Fork was “What technique are you most comfortable with fishing day-in and day-out?” I told him nymphs. He smiled and pulled out a small box of weighted size 14 Tungsten Pheasant Tails. Aided by strong coffee, he had tied them at 3:30 that morning. With a confident nod that only years of guiding can exude he said “This is the one then.” You could tell there was a lot of goodness wrapped-up in what was otherwise a pretty simple pattern. The remarkable thing was this tiny nymph’s capacity to turn big fish as easily as smaller. Saturday, about mid-afternoon, a deep drift in a side pocket produced the “big pull” which turned out to be the events big fish, 21.25''. We raised 18 fish (8 measurable) on Curt’s Tungsten Pheasant Tail that Sunday. — John Holland