Great beginner rod available at Westbank Anglers

For anyone looking for a great back up rod or beginner rod, the Sage Vantage is what you need. I know that myself and the rest of the Westbank staff have all cast and fished the rod and have agreed that it is at the top of the list for bargain rods. The rod is has a medium-fast action which allows it to be a versatile rod for dry flies, streamers, and even some saltwater fishing. The Vantage is available in both two and four piece rods in 3-9wt. and its price ranges from $250-$255. Sage is also offering a package deal which includes a Sage 1600 series reel, a Rio weight forward floating line, and a rod/reel case. The packages are only available for the four piece rods in 5, 6, and 8wt. and range from $395-$405. It is not very often that you find such a great deal for a rod/reel/ line combo. Come stop by the shop to cast the Vantage. I know you will enjoy it. And as always, please call (307-733-6483) or email (info@westbank.com) us with any questions you might have.

Tight Lines,

Hunter Heumann

Green River Fishing Report from Mike May

Westbank guide Mike May just stopped in the shop after a trip on the Green River above Warren Bridge. Overall, fishing was fair. The group caught mainly small to medium size fish with a few bites from some larger fish. The flies of choice were small caddis patterns in the morning, small duns seemed to be the magic fly during some overcast periods during the day. Some more good flies for the Green are pmd's, and yellow sallies. No Hopper fishing yet, but a few fish on droppers. Thanks for the report Mike!

Hot Day on the Snake with Westbank Guide Charles Burd

Today I met Larry, a first time drift boat fly fisherman, for a day of fishing ion the Jackson Lake Dam to Pacific Creek section of the Snake River. Larry is a Special Forces Division Master Sergeant home on leave from Iraq. He is an avid bass fisherman and his wife's parent's gave him a present of a guided fly fishing trip during his family's vaction in Jackson Hole.

Fishing conditions were very good with crystal clear water, light clouds, and tons of bugs. Medium sized brown may flies were prevalent in the morning, small and medium sized brown and black caddis were sporadic throughout the day, and Yellow Sally stone flies avalanched in the late morning and early afternoon.

We started the day with a quick review of casting, line mending, hook setting, and fish landing. Bass fishing habits die hard, but Larry was enthusiastic and persistent and looked increasingly like a fly fisherman as the day progressed.

Larry got a nice cutthroat on every pattern we fished on top of the water as well as some trusty white fish on the nymph.

We had a great day.

Larry is hooked on fly fishing. He thinks he knows a river near Tikrit where he could catch carp on flies!

Dry Fly Action is Here!

Summer is finally in full swing and the dry fly action has arrived on the Green River. Yesterday, John Gendall, Mark Buljon, and I fished Warren Bridge down to the Hatchery on the Green. The water is down and the clarity is just about where we want it. We had some luck on some larger caddis patterns, some gray drakes, and some yellow sallys throughout the day. We are seeing more a more golden stoneflies by the day, so it might be a good idea to keep a few patterns in the flybox in case some you spot some fish coming up for them. We are also getting great reports of dry fly action on the South Fork as well as the Henry's Fork. Please feel free to give us a shout at the shop (307-733-6483) or email us at info@westbank.com with any questions you might have.

Tight Lines,
Hunter Heumann