sheepdog
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I am reaching out and asking for a little help/advice for a trip that My brother and I will be taking in about a week from Northern California to Dubois, Wyoming. Our tentative plan so far is to drive straight from Sacramento CA to the Cokeville WY area on the 29th. We intend to camp there that night near Hobble Creek. The next day will consist of fishing Hobble Creek then pushing to Fontanelle lake that evening where we will camp in preparation for a drift boat trip with Larry Mcnerney on the 1st. After the 1st, our schedule is pretty flexibile and we will be fishing/camping our way to Dubois where we intend to spend a few days to visit and fish the surrounding areas. We are fairly flexible on a route as long as it goes in the general direction of Dubois or back home to CA. I am NOT asking for people to let me in on their honey holes, but simply asking for pointers on worthwhile places to fish on our journey. I have also been doing my own homework to see where productive waters are. I have to admit that most of our fishing will consist of park and play type stuff since we do have a deadline to make in Dubois, WY.
Here's a little Insight as to why we are making this trip...
In 2004 My brother was a Navy Corpsman with a Marine Unit operating in Ramadi, Iraq. On April 9th, the lead vehicle in their convoy was struck by an IED and disabled. Immediately following the detonation of the bomb, several Insurgents opened fire on the entire convoy. Many Marines were wounded during the battle and one unfortunately was killed due to a shot in the head while he was engaging the enemy machine gun positions from the crew served weapon on the tip of the Humvee. This Marine was one of my brother's closest friends and if it wasn't for him selflessly exposing himself to enemy machine gun fire, there's a very good chance My brother wouldn't be here today. This Marine's name was Lance Corporal Chance Phelps. We are going up to Dubois, Wyoming where the rest of the unit will be going to meet with the Phelps Family and pay dues to Chance at the local Cemetery where he was laid to rest. We made this trip in April 2014 for the 10th anniversary of LCpl Phelps' death. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star with the Combat "V" Device for his heroic actions that day. My brother was also awarded the Bronze Star with Combat "V" Device for his actions during the same firefight. There was a movie made about LCpl Phelps' journey home from Iraq. The movie is titled "Taking Chance" starring Kevin Bacon. If you are interested, I strongly recommend you take an hour and a half and watch it.
Anyway, I don't mean to get all sentimental on you guys but if nothing else, please take a moment to remember our service members who put their lives on the line for us so we can enjoy fishing in this wonderful country. I was a Navy Corpsman myself, just like my brother and I know that if he wasn't in my life, I wouldn't be the man I am today. So I would love for us to be able to fish some productive waters together as we remember Chance Phelps and thank him for letting us spend this time together.
Thank you!
Here's a little Insight as to why we are making this trip...
In 2004 My brother was a Navy Corpsman with a Marine Unit operating in Ramadi, Iraq. On April 9th, the lead vehicle in their convoy was struck by an IED and disabled. Immediately following the detonation of the bomb, several Insurgents opened fire on the entire convoy. Many Marines were wounded during the battle and one unfortunately was killed due to a shot in the head while he was engaging the enemy machine gun positions from the crew served weapon on the tip of the Humvee. This Marine was one of my brother's closest friends and if it wasn't for him selflessly exposing himself to enemy machine gun fire, there's a very good chance My brother wouldn't be here today. This Marine's name was Lance Corporal Chance Phelps. We are going up to Dubois, Wyoming where the rest of the unit will be going to meet with the Phelps Family and pay dues to Chance at the local Cemetery where he was laid to rest. We made this trip in April 2014 for the 10th anniversary of LCpl Phelps' death. He was posthumously awarded the Bronze Star with the Combat "V" Device for his heroic actions that day. My brother was also awarded the Bronze Star with Combat "V" Device for his actions during the same firefight. There was a movie made about LCpl Phelps' journey home from Iraq. The movie is titled "Taking Chance" starring Kevin Bacon. If you are interested, I strongly recommend you take an hour and a half and watch it.
Anyway, I don't mean to get all sentimental on you guys but if nothing else, please take a moment to remember our service members who put their lives on the line for us so we can enjoy fishing in this wonderful country. I was a Navy Corpsman myself, just like my brother and I know that if he wasn't in my life, I wouldn't be the man I am today. So I would love for us to be able to fish some productive waters together as we remember Chance Phelps and thank him for letting us spend this time together.
Thank you!
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