PUBLISHER ’ S LETTER
A memory maker of a fishing trip : Pat Hoglund and his son Peter in Yellowstone National Park .
Was It Worth It ? denly
I
sometimes try and squeeze a square peg into a round hole . It ’ s my nature to overschedule myself and I end up coming and going in six different directions . When this happens life becomes a little hectic and stressful .
This past summer I was on a family vacation to Jackson Hole , Yellowstone and Glacier national parks . Along with two other families , my family set out from Portland for a twoweek road trip . It was not a fishing vacation , mind you , rather a family vacation where the three families would raft the Snake River , take in sights like Old Faithful , and hike through Glacier NP . It was anything but a fishing vacation . In fact I was reminded that this was not going to be a fishing vacation , rather a family vacation with emphasis being placed on family . Totally understandable . Certainly I could go two weeks without fishing .
After rafting the Snake and taking in the sights of Jackson Hole , the three-family caravan drove north on Highway 89 into Yellowstone . We scheduled three days in the park . Among other attractions , we had planned a chuck wagon dinner , a day hike , a visit to Old Faithful , check out the hot springs and hopefully see some bison in the park . We had four days of sightseeing and three days to do it in . This is where I ’ m good at complicating my life . In spite of myself , I couldn ’ t help but pack my fly rods . I was , after all , going to be in our nation ’ s trout capital .
Next , I asked Peter and his good friend Noah if they ’ d like to consider skipping the next day ’ s event ( traveling to the north end of the park for a day hike and a picnic ) and fly fish the Madison and Gibbon rivers . Cunning and calculating , I know .
“ Just the three of us ?” asked Peter . “ You bet .”
At dinner that night I brought up the topic with the group . “ Seems the boys would like to go fly fishing tomorrow . Is anyone opposed to that ?”
Most everyone was in agreement . I didn ’ t dare look at my wife . The boys were ecstatic .
Mary reminded me that we had to meet at 4:30 the next day for the chuck wagon dinner event . We had prepaid and the wagons leave sharp .
“ Just don ’ t be late ,” she said . No problem , I thought .
The next morning Peter , Noah and I drove into West Yellowstone to stock up on flies and get some advice on where to fish . By now it was 9:30 in the morning . We met the legendary Jack Dennis at his fly shop and he told us what hatches were coming off and what flies to use . Then he looked my fishing partners over and asked how about their skill level . Seems the educated trout of the Madison and Gibbon rivers would be too much for them . “ Take them up to Indian Creek . Fish these flies and you ’ ll catch a mess of brookies . They won ’ t be very big , but they ’ ll catch a lot of fish .”
Driving back into the park we stopped to fish the Madison . Peter and Noah saw the “ Fly Fishing Only ” sign and it seemed the perfect place to start . We pulled over and fished the famous Madison . I looked at my watch and it was noon . We had not touched a fish and the boys were getting discouraged . We decided to try the Gibbon River . Same results . Now it was 1:30 in the afternoon and the boys hadn ’ t yet caught a trout . We made a beeline to Indian Creek , parked , and walked up to the first bend in the river .
First cast , Peter was into a fish . Then Noah . Then Peter . Then Noah . They took turns casting to small brook trout and sud- noah jordan photo the hard knocks they took on the Madison and Gibbon were forgotten . They were doing exactly as Dennis said they would . I looked at my watch and it was 3:30 . I had an hour to get to the chuck wagon dinner with a 45-minute drive in front of me .
As we drove past the Mammoth Hot Springs we turned onto the main highway and made our way up the Blacktail Deer Plateau to begin our drive to the horse stables at Roosevelt Lodge . I had it timed perfectly . Or so I thought . If you ’ ve ever been to Yellowstone you know you just don ’ t drive to a meeting place in an hour . There are bison traffic jams , elk traffic jams , and as luck would have it , bear traffic jams . When “ wildlife ” is spotted by a tourist , he or she will stop and take photos . The problem is they stop in the middle of the highway , leave their vehicle and take photos . Traffic comes to a stop . Literally . It ’ s crazy , but it ’ s part of vacationing in Yellowstone . Throngs of people were snapping photos of a black bear eating huckleberries on the side of the road . Normally I wouldn ’ t care , but the words “ don ’ t be late ” ran through my mind . Seconds turned into minutes . Minutes seemed like hours . It was agonizing knowing the chuck wagon wouldn ’ t wait for us . Here I was squeezing a square peg into a round hole .
Thankfully Yellowstone NP is well staffed with park rangers that are on high alert when it comes to tourists stopping traffic . Within 30 minutes they had the traffic jam moving allowing me to travel at a high rate of speed to meet my wife and daughter and our family friends . It was 5:00 when I pulled into the parking lot . I was late . The chuckwagon was still there .
“ I hope it was worth it .” That was Mary ’ s only comment .
It was at times stressful , and at times trying , but as we drove back to our cabin in Canyon Village that night , my 12-year-old son answered the question .
“ Thanks , Dad . That was one of the funnest days I ’ ve had fishing .” Worth it ? Hell yes .
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