Spin fishers seeking numbers of trout will do well tossing standard-sized Mepps, Rooster Tails, Panther Martins, Kastmasters, marabou and tube jigs. Small crankbaits and countdown Rapalas are popular. If big trout are your bag, up the size of the offerings several notches.

To reach Palisades Dam, take U.S. 26 east from Idaho Falls; Mennan Buttes and the confluence of Henry's Fork is several miles north, west of U.S. 20.

BIG HORN
Twenty-miles south of Thermopolis, Wyo., is Boysen Dam. Below the dam, the Wind River runs through a deep canyon for about 13 miles to Wedding of Waters, where the Wind abruptly ends and the Big Horn begins.

The first several miles, down past the famous Thermopolis Hot Springs, comprise one of the West's best and least well-known tailwater trout fisheries. That it fishes much the same in January or July does not hurt its appeal among serious trout anglers.

Flows peak in June and ratchet up again in September but for the rest of year the river runs a constant and comfortable 1,000 to 3,000 cfs. The combination of constant flow and a stable, ideal water temperature regime combine to grow many bugs and fat, healthy trout in upstream sections. While the Big Horn tailwater is first-rate, it is also short-lived. Wedding of Waters to Black Mountain Bridge (WY 172) eight miles below Thermopolis marks the end of productive trout water; the river is too warm to sustain trout from there to Yellowtail Dam in Montana.

Rainbows, browns and cutthroats in the 1- to 5-pound range feed on the river's fertile bug soup. But do not expect blizzard hatches and wall-to-wall surface-feeding blitzes. What looks like classic dry-fly water in truth is the domain of a race of notorious bottom feeders. Day in day out workhorse patterns are nymphs, scuds, worms, eggs and streamers; think of dries more as emergency rations.

The river, thanks to a fine gravel bottom, is easy to wade except at high water levels. Access is limited to the several boat launch sites, three of which are in town. Therefore, the best way is to float. There are no rapids, but floaters need to be aware of bridge abutments and diversions. It's important that you scout the river prior to launching.

SOUTH PLATTE RIVER
To reach Cheesman Canyon on the South Platte, turn off U.S. 285 south of Pine Junction onto CR 126 and head toward Deckers. Or, from Colorado Springs, take U.S. 24 west to Woodland Park, turn north on CO 67 toward Deckers to CR 126. From the parking lot, follow the Gill Trail upstream to the canyon, at least a 20-minute hike. Those with the lungs of mountain goats access the canyon via the vertiginous drop from Cheesman Dam itself.

If you aren't sure where to go in Cheesman Canyon, just follow the crowd. Being lonely here is not possible.

The Decker's section, including the canyon, is not just heavily fished but pounded daily, 24/7/365. Fishing pressure does taper off during winter, but you can expect weekends to be crowded.

The lure, of course, is the opportunity to fish over fat, difficult trout -- rainbows and browns that average 15 to 17 inches, with plenty of 20-inchers to go around.

Insect hatches are legendary and fishing to them can be memorable. But, as a guide friend puts it, "Bug hatches tend to be thick but sporadic as political candor." Nymphs are the order of the day; tiny nymphs, size 18 to as small as you care to tie. I tend to toss in the towel once things deteriorate to sub 24s, but there are smaller hooks if you have the eyes and he patience for them.

Spin fishers lean toward ultra-light outfits spooled with 2- to 4-pound line. Small spinners, spoons, tube and marabou jigs, and crankbaits are the order of the day.