Day 1: Arriving in Jackson Hole, Wyoming and fishing the Snake River

JOURNAL ENTRY BY BOB VOYLES

Yesterday, our 10 compadres all arrived in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. The flight from Atlanta was easy, and we arrived about 7 PM in the evening. Perfect for those who have work schedules and can’t get away till later in the afternoon.

Our Beyond host, Curt Benham, met us at the airport, and we traveled into Jackson, where we had a great dinner at Snake River Brewery, a local restaurant and brewpub.Following that, we settled in at our home for the next three days, Macker’s cabin, on Highway 191 south of Jackson, but very close of our outfitter for the next days of fishing.

The home is a typical western log home, crafted with round lodgepole pine logs and having bedrooms and beds scattered about, with a huge great room and obligatory fireplace. Outside on a rear patio overlooking a small flowing creek was an outdoor fire pit, and a very nice jacuzzi/hot tub which could accommodate six of us at a single time. The outdoor fireplace would become our after-dinner venue for the next four nights.

That evening allowed each of us to sleep comfortably and arise next morning ready to spend a day fishing on the beautiful Snake River. We split into two groups, four of us fishing the Snake south of our put in point, and six of us traveling north into the Grand Teton National Park, where we paired up and put in with three guides. Chilly at first, we enjoyed an incredible postcard view of the Grand Tetons for our entire day’s float on the Snake River. Our guides were provided by West Bank Anglers, one of the premier guide services in Jackson Hole for fly fishing in and around Jackson Hole. Our group each enjoyed a tremendous day of fishing, with some light overcast skies, beautiful weather, and cool breezes......

That evening, stories were swapped, and we enjoyed a great meal at Doran’s on a deck overlooking the Tetons as the sun set behind these magnificent mountains. Our Beyond host Curt Benham, the seldom reverend and excellent flyfisherman, who “moonlights” as pastor of Vinings Village Church, was a consummate host, handling anything our group needed. All in all, it was a very good first day!