Author: René Harrop

  • The Gifts of October

    In many ways, it is difficult to celebrate the passing of summer in a place where it is the shortest season of the year. However, for residents of Henry’s Fork country, the arrival of fall can bring a notable sense of relief. This applies in particular to those who serve the needs of fly…

  • A Beautiful River

    A Beautiful River

    I fished a beautiful river today.With slow, clear, current gliding over lush green vegetation, the Henry’s Fork flows in stark contrast with the conditions that dominated all of July and early August. For weeks, high and murky water concealed trout feeding almost exclusively beneath the…

  • Hot Days and High Water

    For good reason, June is the month chosen by many fly fishers for a visit to the Henry’s Fork.Consistently would describe the primary elements that June typically brings to the fortunes of those who probe the fertile waters of the world renown trout stream. This applies in particular to…

  • Mixed Blessings

    In terms of delivering favorable fishing conditions, most of us in Henry’s Fork country would describe the spring of 2022 to be among the worst. In a year when winter precipitation measured well below average, the prime snow producing months ended with a dismal forecast for the water supply…

  • The Magic of June

    With the zest of variety as a basis, June could quite easily be declared the most magical of months in Henry’s Fork country.With snowfall and freezing temperatures left largely in the background, the halfway point in the year opens the door to summer and all that it represents to a fly fisher….

  • The Gateway to Summer

    It is not in the too distant past that May in Henry’s Fork country was owned by local residents that do not leave during what is known as the off season.With fishing as the primary attraction, seasonal closures that restricted that activity until the Memorial Day weekend offered little…

  • The Energy of a New Season

    The Energy of a New Season

    In mountain country, Spring is a process measured in small increments of change. It begins with a slow accumulation of daylight hours that finally exceed those of darkness, and the world responds accordingly.While the withdrawal of snow can be painfully slow, this obstruction to river access…

  • TroutHunter in Winter

    At thirty-five miles, it is not a long drive from winter home at St. Anthony to another home that Bonnie and I occupy for half of each year. However, the change in scenic view is constant and quite extreme along a north bound route that will see an increase in elevation of nearly two thousand…

  • 2021 in Retrospect

    As in any other year, the Henry’s Fork fishing community experienced highs and lows in 2021. Continuing a recent trend, winter release from Island Park Dam provided the vital streamflow required to sustain the population of trout in the most vulnerable section of the river through the coldest…

  • Late Fall Diversity

    The short hours of daylight in a rapidly shrinking season can present a challenge for one seeking to squeeze in as many days of fishing as possible before winter puts an end to it all. Even the best days are additionally shortened by the need to wait several hours for the temperature to rise…