Most of us have had this experience. One time I left my extra waders at home, and pair that I did bring started leaking. (Not good at 9000 feet and 38 degree water.) We were just lucky to find a fly shop open in a little town in middle of nowhere.

Needless to say, I always take an extra pair of waders with me on every fly fishing trip. The point is, had I used a checklist, I would have had my spare waders on that trip as well.

Now all that's left is to go through your check list and make sure you have everything you need. Once you're sure it's all there, hit road. And have a great Wyoming fly fishing trip.

Fishing pocket water

I like to use dry flies when fly fishing pocket water in a small stream. The fish will usually be holding out of main current but close enough to grab any food that comes floating by, and a drifting fly is often too tempting to resist.

Often it is not necessary to match fly closely to whatever is hatching. Instead I like to fish a fly that is visible enough for me to see in fast moving water. Something like a light elk hair caddis works well. When strike comes I can see it and I catch more fish this way than missing strike by using a less visible, hatch matching fly.

Fly fishing small stream usually requires a more sensitive approach and a finesse that is not necessary in larger rivers. Experience and practice are great tellers here. Ability to read water is more critical as fish are often more easily spooked than their big water cousins. But when you make your way home at end of a successful fishing day in back country you know that time spent learning to fly fish small stream has been worthwhile.