A Slam to Remember: Greg and Maria's Wyoming Cutthroat Adventure
- Charles Dayton
- May 14
- 4 min read
Every once in a while, a trip comes along that reminds me why I love doing what I do. Last July, I had the pleasure of hosting Greg and Maria from Illinois for a three-day fly fishing adventure—one they’d been planning for nearly a year. The mission? To complete the Wyoming Cutthroat Slam.
Before we dive into the story, here's a bit of background for those unfamiliar with the Slam.
What Is the Wyoming Cutthroat Slam?
The Wyoming Cutthroat Slam is a unique angling challenge that celebrates Wyoming’s native cutthroat trout. To complete the slam, anglers must catch (and photograph) four native subspecies in their respective native ranges:
Bonneville Cutthroat
Colorado River Cutthroat
Snake River Cutthroat
Yellowstone Cutthroat
The cool thing is that it's part fishing challenge, part conservation effort—helping to raise awareness and appreciation for these iconic Western trout species.
Our little corner of Wyoming is special, as it's one of the few places you can catch three of the four subspecies (Bonneville, Colorado, and Snake River) in close proximity. When Greg heard this, he was all in. He booked a three-day trip with me at Cottonwood Fly Fishing—two days for each subspecies, and an extra day just in case. No rush, just great fishing and good company.
Day 1 – Bonneville Beginnings
After nearly a year of messaging, I finally got to welcome Greg and Maria to the Cottonwood Ranch in late July. After warm embraces, we got them settled in at our cozy cabin for the night.
Fishing Day 1 was a half-day warm-up targeting our home waters and the native Bonneville Cutthroat—our most common trout here on the ranch. The bite started slow, but about an hour in, Greg landed his first Bonneville. The smile on his face said it all—cutthroat subspecies #1 was in the books!
We fished a bit longer, but with slower action, we decided to rest up for the more intense backcountry days to come.
Day 2 – Backcountry and Double Slam
We hit the road at 5:00 AM, heading deep into the Wyoming backcountry. Along the way, we were treated to postcard views and even a bull moose sighting before reaching our first stop—prime water for Colorado River Cutthroat.
The fishing was hot from the start. Using a caddis as the point fly with a PMD as the dropper, Greg hooked several cutthroat early. Just before lunch we found a beaver dam with some rising trout. We tied on a small Dave's Hopper with a corn fed caddis below, and the trout keyed in on both. After catching a few, Greg hooked into the prettiest fish of the whole trip— a stunning Colorado Cutty with a vibrant red belly and bars, picture-perfect.
We decided to end on a good note and head to our next spot for lunch. But with that last fish Greg had definitely found his Colorado Cutty submission for the Slam.
After a satisfying morning and a tin foil lunch, we moved on in search of the Snake River Cutthroat.
Greg didn't waste any time—he hooked into one right as I was cleaning up lunch. The Snake River Cutts were keying in on the Dave's Hopper, and after a few more hours, we knew we'd sealed the deal: three subspecies in two days.
Day 3 – Fishing, Art, and Friendship
The last day of a good fishing trip always feels a bit bittersweet. But it was made even more special because Maria decided to join the fishing that morning. Something I haven't mentioned is that Maria is an incredible artist and had been painting Wyoming's beautiful backcountry throughout the trip, but this time she decided to pick up a rod and join us on the river.
We fished some of my favorite Bonneville waters, hoping to get into some bigger fish. I guided Maria while Greg explored upstream. Fishing was a bit slow early, but after a hearty hamburger lunch, Maria returned to her easel and Greg invited me to fish alongside him.
We switched to a Bionic Hopper and had a little luck right off the bat, but soon after found a beautiful pocket near some overhanging willows and pines. This was the perfect habitat for caddis and spruce moths, and the trout were tuned in, hungrily sipping the combo of insects as they fell into the water. With an elk hair caddis and spruce moth, Greg fished the feeding lane, picking off hungry trout just below the hole.
The rest of the afternoon went similarly as we jumped from hole to hole, catching some nice ones and losing some as well. But it was a beautiful day and a perfect way to close out our trip.
A Perfect Close
Greg may have come to Wyoming for the Cutthroat Slam, but I think what we all gained was something even better—new friendships and shared memories on wild waters. It was an honor to help him achieve his goal and to spend time getting to know him and Maria.
As a guide, I cherish moments like these the most. Sure, the fish are fun—but it’s the people that make the experience truly unforgettable.
And for those wondering—yes, Greg completed the Slam! A few days after our trip, he headed north to find his final subspecies. Not long after, I got a text from him with a photo of a big, beautiful Yellowstone Cutthroat—his fourth and final native trout. Slam completed!
Here’s to many more slams, stories, and friendships forged on the water.
Tight lines,
Cottonwood Fly Fishing
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