Written by Robert Russell
The state of Wyoming contains four species of cutthroat trout: the Snake River Finespotted Cutthroat, the Colorado Cutthroat, the Bonneville (AKA Bear River) Cutthroat, and the Yellowstone Cutthroat. For many people, the challenge to catch one of each of these species is an exciting prospect, and an achievement recognized by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department via their Wyoming Cutt-Slam. While these species can be caught in a variety of lakes, rivers, and creeks throughout the state, the simplest way to get three out of the four is a quick overnight trip to the Tri-Basin Divide. This area rests in the midst of the Wyoming Range and provides anglers with an opportunity at three species across three creeks.
Where to Fish & How to Get There
There are four main ways to access the Tri-Basin area: from the South via the town of LaBarge, from the West via the town of Afton, from the East via the town of Big Piney, and from the North via the town of Alpine. Depending on where you are starting your trip, any of these four entrances can become the most straightforward means of accessing the divide. However, for me, the most convenient manner of entering has been along Greys River Road from Alpine, Wyoming.
When entering from Alpine, you immediately find yourself driving alongside the Greys River. This river is a part of the Snake River drainage and is home to the Snake River Finespotted Cutthroat. This species is characterized by (unsurprisingly) the very fine spots spread across the entirety of its body. Where to fish along the Greys depends largely upon the time of year. This past August, with low water and warmer temperatures, I found that the lower part of the river is almost entirely devoid of trout. However, higher up in the river above where it joins with Bear Creek, the fishing begins to pick up. Focus on fishing eddies, undercut banks, and confluences with other creeks.
Along LaBarge Creek, the Colorado Cutthroat can be found in ample numbers. This creek is very different from that of the Greys; slow pools, tight water, and legions of willows make for a more difficult experience. But, while the fish in some areas may lack in size, they more than make up for that in flair. The Colorado Cutthroat is easily identified by its utterly unique pink hues along its sides and fins. To succeed at Labarge Creek, focus on finding the tail-outs of slow, deep pools and back eddies behind structure. Additionally, at the base of the dam (about a mile north of Big Fall Creek), larger fish can be found. This area is heavily pressured, so being the first on-site can be a massive advantage. Early in the summer, the creek below the dam offers outstanding fishing with chances at brown and rainbow trout in excess of 20 inches. However, around early to mid-July, this water gets warm, and offers little opportunity.
The final component of the Tri-Basin is the Bonneville Cutthroat found in the Smiths Fork to the West. This creek is a fascinating mixture of wide, slow, beaver ponds and steep-banked, fast runs. While the beaver ponds make for fascinating water, I (personally) have had little success in them. The majority of the fish I have caught in the Smiths Fork reside in pockets around or within fast runs. The fishing here is a bit strange, perfect looking water sometimes does not hold fish, and questionable pockets can retain the kings and queens of the creek. Do not be discouraged if the fishing is not quite as easy as the other two creeks. Rotate through flies, let fish rest, and keep moving if the spot just isn’t working out.
Gear & Flies
There are a number of things to consider when packing for this trip. A 4 or 5-weight rod should easily cover all of the water fished. LaBarge Creek above the dam could be more exciting with a smaller rod (2-3 wt), but this is entirely unnecessary. 4-5x leader and tippet should also be sufficient for the trip. If fishing Labarge below the dam, you could get up to 3x, but 4x should be fine.
Personally, I enjoyed using waders while fishing here. The ability to stay dry while frequently hopping in and out of the car was extremely useful, but wet wading would be simple as well. That being said, since you will be changing drainage basins at least three times throughout the trip, I highly discourage using felt-soled wading boots to limit the relocation of nonnative/invasive species.
As for flies, the following should more than suffice:
Now for camping. There are various sites along Greys River Road, LaBarge Creek Road, and Smiths Fork Road. You can easily use a camper, camper trailer, truck bed, or tent for camping. Make sure to bring sufficient potable water, food, and warm layers. Also, make sure to check the Bridger-Teton National Forrest regulations for campfires before even thinking about starting one as well. And, when in doubt, don’t.
Also, bring bear spray in case of unwanted encounters. The area is not particularly full of bears, but it does house a healthy population of moose, and safe is better than sorry.
My Rough Itinerary
