It was late in the bar of my hotel in Devon, I was with a group of friends and we were celebrating a good days fishing, the celebrations may have been a little over the top for the days catch, but were still in full swing.

We were all exchanging fishing stories, as fishermen do on these occasions, when one of my party announced that he was going to America that summer, fishing for Rainbows in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho and Yellowstone.

This obviously to any fly fisherman would be a trip of a lifetime and he thought there was still a place available. Three days later and a visit to the bank manager, I also was going to America to catch Rainbows in their natural habitat.

So, I found myself some months latter in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. This is in summer a wonderful place to any fisherman with fishing shop after fishing shop packed to the ceiling with fishing gear. The location could only be described as breathtaking with the Teton Mountains as a backdrop.

My first trip took me to the famous Henrys Fork, a wonderful spot with a fast moving river and lined by trees either side, the water quality was clear; we fished large weighted patterns to get down deep in the water and fished across the current. Soon I hooked my first wild Rainbow, I had caught hundreds of Rainbows in stocked lakes before, but this was a wild fish in its natural habitat, it raced off down river and gave a wonderful fight.

I was taken back by the size of the fish for the fight. It was like most Rainbows I had caught before, a beautiful magenta strip and very very spotty, but a massive tail, slim, and muscular through years of fighting a strong current, I quickly returned her to the river and watched her swim off none the worse for the experience. That was my only fish that afternoon, but was a wonderful introduction to American Rainbow Trout fishing.

A few days later, I found myself on a two day float trip along the Snake River, we were fishing mainly from a boat and would be casting large flies towards the banks, mending the line and then drifting the fly along the current and then re-casting.

As a chalk stream fisherman, I found casting such a heavy fly a new experience and managed during the morning to clip my boat partner with a low flying fly several times! Luckily he was also able to return the favour equally.

Again, I must say the scenery was amazing, as it was the start of the fall and the mountain slopes were a blaze with colours, I had limited success that day though, as I became slightly unimpressed with my casting.

The next day we struck camp and continued our drift, I had made a decision the previous night that I was going to fish the Snake, As I enjoyed fishing with small nymphs and dry flies, I would be fishing and enjoying my sport, if I did not catch anything I would have the scenery to compensate.

Soon we found ourselves in a small bay with a little stream joining the river; the slower water suited my tactics. I felt right inside and this gave me confidence, which is the magic formula for any type of fishing, soon I had a Rainbow and the day had only just began!

Talking to my guide later, he showed me his fly box and to my amazement and deep joy he had Pheasant Tail and Golden Hares Ear pattern, nymphs in his box. These flies originally devised by Frank Sawyer for Grayling in England less than 30 miles from my home in the fifties and sixties. I guess the fish have the same weaknesses all over the world.

A day or so later I found myself fishing a small stretch of river near Jackson Hole, it was just like being at home, for the water quality from the mountain river’s was as clear as any chalk spring on Salisbury Plain. Here you could see and stalk your prey this time they were cut throats, these fish took dry flies this day with great relish and gave wonderful sport to all.

With my trip next taking me to Yellowstone and the Madison River things could only get better.