Welcome to High Country Fly Fishers

April Meeting

Todd Lanning from Trout Hunter in Island Park is our speaker for the April 1st meeting. Todd is the Manager of the fly shop at Trout Hunter. Todd will talk about fishing in the Yellowstone Country, a vast area that encompasses Yellowstone Park and lots of land surrounding the Park, including the Island Park area. You can learn about the area by Googling “Yellowstone Caldera.”

Yellowstone National Park contains hundreds of creeks and rivers, many with great fish populations. ChatGPT says that Yellowstone Park contains
About 1,000 rivers and streams,
Only about 278 are named,
Together, they make up roughly 2,500 miles of flowing water.
These waters are located on both sides of the continental divide, so some of the water flows to the Mississippi, and other water flows to the Columbia. However, from a fishing perspective, the Yellowstone Country extends well beyond Yellowstone Park. So, in a lifetime, you could only fish part of them. Todd will discuss some of his favorite waters.

The Henry’s Fork, AKA the North Fork of the Snake River, is outside of the Park and is probably the most famous fishery and the most challenging. It lies just behind Trout Hunter in the Last Chance area of Island Park. The Henry’s Fork originates from the outlet of Henry’s Lake and from Big Springs. While you cannot fish near Big Springs, you can view monstrous rainbow trout at the overlook. These trout live on a healthy diet of “bread scraps and crackers” offered by the area’s visitors.

Todd was born and raised in Idaho to a family of anglers. Some of his earliest memories were catching trout with his father and grandfather in Western Idaho. From an early age, he knew there were two things he wanted to do — follow in his granddad’s footsteps and be a United States Marine, and then become a fly fishing guide.

After being honorably discharged from the Marines in 1996, Todd moved to Ketchum, Idaho, and went to work for Headwaters Fly Fishing. Later, he moved to Idaho Falls, where he worked for a local outfitter, followed by a stint managing the fishing department at Sportsman’s Warehouse. After that day job, Todd worked with several outfitters before joining Trout Hunter.

Wasatch Expo Volunteers Needed

We need volunteers for the Wasatch Expo. The new signup process lets you select the activity to help with and the time slot. Signup here.

Wasatch Expo April 9, 10, 11, 2026

Our club president, Eric Luna, has reserved two tables at the banquet. If you’d like to sit with the club, please sign up using the button below.

The banquet will be held on Thursday, April 9 from 6:00–9:00 PM at the Hilton Garden Inn, 277 West Sego Lily Drive, Sandy, Utah.  Tickets are $80 and Fees are $2.

One of our major activities each year is the Wasatch Fly Tying and Fly Fishing Expo, which features 100 exhibitors, 50 fly tyers, educational workshops, casting demos, raffles, silent auctions, and other activities for children and adults. HCFF has participated in planning and conducting the Expo for over 10 years.

Adam Eakle, one of our greatest supporters and host of “KSL Outdoors,” a weekly TV show, featured High Country and the Expo on his December 6, 2026, episode, “Strawberry Stillwater with High Country Fly Fishers.”

The Expo is a joint venture of four Trout Unlimited chapters and two Fly Fishers International chapters, with net proceeds going to support fisheries-related conservation, education, and outreach.

HCFF members hold leadership positions in the joint venture. If you would like to assist in the planning of the Expo, please contact Eric Luna or Bill Quapp. Specific skills needed are project management, audio/video setup, and website support.

Support the Henry’s Fork Foundation

Nearly every Utah fly fisher has fished or dreams of fishing the Henry’s Fork. The Henry’s Fork Foundation (HFF) has been the lead organization since 1984 for preserving and enhancing the Henry’s Fork River, aka, the North Fork of the Snake River. A few years ago, the HFF expanded its mission to include the South Fork of the Snake River. These two premier rivers offer both outstanding fishing and beautiful boating. A trip down the South Fork through the stretch called the canyon should be on everyone’s bucket list. You could travel 1000’s of miles and not find any place more inspiring.

Next week, on March 20, the HFF holds its annual reception in Utah. This enjoyable event is a major fundraiser for the Foundation and helps to support the great work on both stretches of the Snake. More details are found in the attachment and on their website.

50% Discount for new Trout Unlimited Membership

Click the button below to receive a 50% first-time discount on your first year of Trout Unlimited membership.
With your membership, you’ll enjoy a subscription to Trout magazine, discounts on travel and fishing gear, and many other valuable benefits.