Van Horssen Group » Fly Fishing & Supercars

Or The Worthy Union of Simplicity and Modernity

Fly fishing for some is akin to a religion. It’s an experience that is so simple yet inspiring, challenging and fulfilling that people will devote their lives to it, or at least a week or two every year.

Much of the problem in squeezing in an incredible fly fishing experience in one week is the long hours spent driving in a crappy pickup truck to get from one fishing spot to the next. I have a profound respect for nature and the waters in which we fish, but does that mean speeding down a swooping mountain highway in some of the finest Italian metal is incongruous to the tranquility of fly fishing? Perhaps to some, but not to me. We’ve been doing our annual Fish & Drive Tour for three years now and I am convinced this is one of the greatest combinations since the rod and reel.

Getting There…

Thanks to all the losers in Vegas, Nevada’s highways are so smooth it’s like riding a meticulously ironed asphalt jet stream. This made my enviable task of getting a Porsche Cayman from San Francisco to Idaho Falls, very quickly, for the start of the 2006 Fish & Drive Tour that much easier.

In Idaho Falls I met the closed carrier delivering the Ferrari 575M Maranello GTC and Lamborghini Gallardo. The assembled cars now formed a trio of powerful, fast and fun cars that would be our humble transportation as we explored some of the best fly fishing destinations and scenic roads in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.

Parked among dirty pickup trucks and nondescript daily commuters, the three spotless cars took on an even greater degree of rarity, beauty and prestige. After the participants arrived and cleared security, they were politely unburdened of their luggage and given a thorough introduction to their vehicle. Once comfortable with the car, each participant was given a detailed tour book which guided them to the first destination and all the others others along the way, including side trips for those with extra energy.

Tranquility & Extravagance Realized…

The first night’s stay was at Henry’s Fork Lodge in Island Park, a small town about 90 miles north of Idaho Falls. The rustic charm of the lodge, the warm hospitality of the staff and the unbelievably delicious meals have made Henry’s Fork Lodge one of the most desirable places to stay when in the heart of America’s finest fly fishing.

Waking to the sound of the Henry’s Fork running below the lodge set a sublime tone for the rest of the day. Powered up with fresh juice, coffee and breakfast made to order, we met our guides for the day, Bob Lamm, Smitty, and Curt, three of the best guides in the region, all from Henry’s Fork Anglers. Because we had anglers of all levels, the group split up to find water that suited everyone. At the end of the day, over bottles of wine and perfectly prepared steaks, it turned out everyone had good stories of catching fish!

Our next stop was in Yellowstone and though many have toured Yellowstone in a car, minivan, or maybe an RV, rolling through that spectacular National Park in cars from the Private Collection was something special. And by now, after a couple days getting used to the cars, the intimidation factor was gone and we drove them like they were meant to be driven. Heading east out of Yellowstone, after a short stop to view wild wolves in the distance, we traversed the incredibly daring landscapes of Beartooth Pass and hit 10,974 feet of elevation. Needless to say we did not see any other Ferrari’s, Lamborghini’s or Porsche’s at the top.

Although Montana’s “Reasonable and Prudent” daytime speed limit has been replaced by the standard 75mph, the Montana interstate turned out to be one of the few places where the Ferrari 575M Maranello, one of the world’s greatest GT cars, felt truly at home at speeds hovering around 120mph with much room to spare. The last 100 miles of the day took us through the Crow Indian Reservation to the Bighorn River in Fort Smith, down roads that see very little traffic, and exemplified the reason behind the term Big Sky Country. Once in Fort Smith, our gloriously accommodations at the Bighorn River Resort and the abundance of fish in the Bighorn River put this place high on everyone’s list.

Before returning to Last Chance, there was one more chance to try our angling skills in some of the most challenging yet rewarding private waters of Nelson’s Spring Creek just outside of Livingston. Although there were fewer fish on the line, this was where each angler needed to muster every ounce of skill and learning to be productive.

On the final morning, loading the cars on a truck for shipment back to the city, I wondered if it was really worth it to bring cars like this, or could we have had just as much fun in an F150? Yes, it was worth it. And with that thought, we pulled the Lambo off the truck, cancelled our plane tickets and drove it the 1000 miles back to Phoenix.

Scott Harrington
Director of Programs

Posted Wednesday, July 11th, 2007 at 5:39 pm | Road Trips | Leave a comment