Absaroka TIM Dispatches from the Field 9/22 Greybull River, Shoshone National Forest, Wyoming

Cody resident and outstanding fly fisherman Dave Sweet took our small group out for a remarkable fishing outing on the Greybull River, one of the strongholds for the imperiled Yelowstone cutthroat trout.

A bluebird day with a wild river running through it. The Greybull flows cold and strong out of the Absaroka Mountains to the east of Yellowstone National Park. The upper stretch of the river above Meeteetse holds all Yellowstone cuts – it’s the second most important water for these keystone fish next to Yellowstone Lake. Watching three skilled anglers work the river and release 16-18″ native trout was uplifting – we have a healthy, functioning ecosystem with all of the animals that are supposed to be here! I got in the act and caught a few too and it occurred to me later that this was a rare time in my life on a truly wild river. It’s a special place.