Fly-fishing in beautiful Jackson Hole, Wyoming can truly be a magical experience. How should you prepare for your fly fishing trip in Jackson Hole? According to David Ellerstein of Jackson Hole Anglers, getting ready for your fishing trip is really a matter of personal preference. “If you’re a beginner, you don’t need to do much more than talk to us about the kind of experience you’re looking for,” he says. “If you’re more seasoned, a little practice before your trip will ensure that you get exactly the results you’re hoping for.”
Come as You Are
When you book a trip with Jackson Hole Anglers, Ellerstein says, you are welcome to show up with nothing more than the clothes on your back. “We’re happy to take care of absolutely everything,” he says. “If you don’t have your own equipment, that’s no problem - we provide all the gear, all the food, all the transportation. You really don’t need to worry about a thing.”
Get in Some Practice
“While you don’t need to bring any gear along for your trip,” Ellerstein says, “if you really want to maximize your experience and you’ve done a little fly fishing in the past, you may want to spend a little bit of time beforehand beefing up your skills.” Ellerstein recommends practicing your casting, doing a little reading on local conditions and fish, and getting “in the game” mentally.
If you have quite a bit of experience, he says, there are certainly some things you may wish to do in advance of your trip. You may choose to practice your mending (adjusting your line to reduce drag), for example, which is one of the most important but often overlooked skill sets for fly fishermen to have. “When you fish in a drift boat,” Ellerstein says, “mending makes all the difference in the world.” If you’ve primarily spent your time wade fishing, he says, then learning to mend your line properly will make your day on the river with Jackson Hole Anglers that much more enjoyable. “The better you are at mending and presentation, the better results you’ll have when you’re out with us.”
Communicate Your Goals
Perhaps the most important thing to do in advance of your fly fishing trip, Ellerstein says, is to communicate with your guide about your skill level and goals. Each fly fishing trip, he explains, is tailored to the customer’s needs. If your primary goal is to catch lots of fish, then your guide will put you in the best possible position to do just that. If you’re more interested in enjoying the scenery and relaxing on the river, that’s fine too. The better your guide understands your goals for your trip, the better able he’ll be to deliver the experience you’re looking for.
“All of our guides,” Ellerstein says, “are expert fly fishermen and outstanding educators who absolutely love what they do. Each and every time they go out on the river, they’re there to ensure that you have an amazing time doing what you’ve come to Jackson Hole to do, whatever that may be.”