The Super Bowl of Fly Fishing... For a Cause

The Birth of One Fly

The idea for this fresh-water competition did not catch fire initially when Dennis and Brunn started talking about it back in the 1980s. But the economic argument that a One Fly tournament would encourage more angling business in what used to be considered a "shoulder" season for Jackson helped generate buzz and momentum. The first year there were 10 teams, then 20. And so on. Today, it's capped at 40 teams to limit the impact on the rivers and the selection process is about as stringent as they come. John Holland, One Fly Foundation Board President and longtime One Fly evangelist says, "The One Fly event has such a rich history. The founders—Jack and Paul and all the others who helped them get this tournament going—created a homecoming of sorts for the fly fishing community in Jackson, a way to say goodbye to a fishing season while also inviting others to get a taste of it." From those early days, it was clear that One Fly was just special. "Today, it's like a generational conservation story that we weave, one cast at a time," John says. "The founders still participate and we have multi-generational teams—father/son, mother/daughter, father/daughter, mother/son teams. I was on a team with my dad in the past, and I can't wait to fish the One Fly with my daughter one of these days."

Photographs by Neal Henderson @nealreactionphoto

Choose Wisely

Each team is made up of four fly fanatics, but only one member of each team can be a "pro" angler or a guide. The two-day event utilizes two rivers—the Snake River in Wyoming and the South Fork in Idaho. A draw determines who gets what stretch of which river. Each team member fishes on that randomly decided stretch of river with another randomly drawn member of another team. Each matched pair gets a guide and a boat... and yes, one fly per competitor. Can you imagine the pressure put on that one fly? And the excruciating decision—which fly will be nimble to take on all that the Snake and the South Fork throw at you but strong enough to withstand the beating of cast after cast. About the gravity of that choice, John says, "Choosing your fly is the ONE thing you can control out there. You can't control what stretch of river or which river you draw. You can't control the weather. You can't control who your guide or your fishing partner is, and you certainly can't control the way the fish behave once you're on the river, but you can control what fly you choose." So choose wisely, young Padawan.

The Fly Tyers or Rockstars?

If you're going to put all your eggs into one fly-sized basket, that fly better punch its weight. John says, "There are so many talented veteran glue sniffers—and some of them have earned—over time and by delivering results—a reputation for building durable flies. Scott Sanchez for one. Our founder Jack Dennis is an epic fly tyer. Will Dornan from the historic local haunt Dornan's and Jay Buchner ." That list isn't exhaustive either. "I choose my fly really close to go-time," says Scott. "You've got to read the weather and you've got to find out about which stretch of river you'll be casting on." So many signs to read, so little time before that 8:30 a.m. launch.

Master fly tyer, Scott Sanchez showing off one of his in-demand flies and enjoying 2023's One Fly festivities.

The Legacy of One Fly

This highly-anticipated annual fly fishing extravaganza has a higher purpose beyond the shenanigans that go on in the name of the One Fly title. For nearly 40 years, The Jackson Hole One Fly Foundation has worked to support the health of the Upper Snake river corridor. "The people who participate in and support One Fly want to see our river corridors remain healthy. In our nearly four decades in operation, we have directly raised $3M, and we have partnered with other organizations to raise and additional $22M. That money goes into conservation projects that protect fish, our rivers, and this vital lifeblood of Jackson Hole."

A Big Fish + A Helping Hand

Having participated in "more than 15 but fewer than 20" One Fly comps, John has seen and heard a lot of the tall tales that really do live up to their stature. In his own experience, one story stands out. Last year, he was paired with a competitor whom he had never met and who was new to the tournament. They were having a good day on the river—Day One—and his fishing partner "got a good one" on the line. A big fish. "The guide was 'oohing' and I was 'ahhing.'" But, "As these things go, the fish can just really change the energy of the entire day. This big fish just rockets back upstream...we were in the bow and the fish went right around the back of the boat, wrapping around the anchor line—threatening to break the line, lose the fly, and generally just ruin this guy's day." John who has been fishing in the One Fly since he was seven is quick on his feet and reacted more with instinct that forethought. "I told him to hand me his rod, made some maneuver I'll never be able to repeat, and somehow untangled his line and rod and handed it back to him. Then, he pulled in that fish and went on to fish the rest of the day." John acknowledges that pairs don't usually work in tandem like that, but he "just didn't want to see his boat mate sit around all day when there was so much good fishing to do."