Last week, Jerome Powell, Chair of the Federal Reserve, spoke from a podium at Jackson Lake Lodge and somewhat stabilized markets after a tumultuous week by suggesting no further interest rate cuts from the FED are on the immediate horizon.
Since 1982, the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City (one of 12 in the US central banking system) has met in northwestern Wyoming. Prior to that, however, the economic symposium changed venues.
So how did Jackson Hole come to be the fixed focal point for the economic eyes of the world each fall? Legend has it that it was the fine spotted cutthroat trout.
According to a Business Insider article from 2012, proceedings at the 1981 conference in Vail drew little attention. Looking to boost the profile of the event, organizers hoped to lure then-FED Chair Paul Volcker to speak at the next year’s annual conference. Volcker was avid fly-fisherman.
Organizers hoped to find a venue in Colorado that provided a scenic backdrop for the conference but that also had good fishing for Volcker. After speaking with fishing experts, however, the conclusion was Colorado’s rivers were too warm in late August to afford good fishing. Someone suggested heading north to Jackson Hole, and the annual conference has been held there ever since.
As the valley crests the hill of summer and starts to slide into fall, fishing around the region reaches its peak. Annual events like the Jackson Hole One Fly (where more than 40 teams from around the world test their mettle on regional rivers and can only fish one lure for the entire day) highlight the blue-ribbon fishing opportunities that sunk its hooks into Volcker and countless others.
If you’re looking to explore some of Jackson Hole’s rivers and streams, a number of local outfitters are available to help you navigate a day on the river:
- Grand Fishing Adventures (grandfishing.com, 307.734.9684)
- Westbank Anglers (westbank.com/, 800.922.3474)
- Jackson Hole Fly Fishing School (jhflyfishingschool.com, 307.699.3440)
Your Jackson Hole Sotheby’s International Realty Realtor might have some suggestions on some secret fishing holes too!