jemas-ranch

Prairie Creek's Restoration, Part I Fall 2025

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 03:47:14 GMT

A look at Prairie Creek before the restoration process. Notice the enlarged banks.

Restoring Prairie Creek, Part 1

Brief History of the Land

If you've visited us, you know we're in Daniel, Wyoming, about an hour southwest of Jackson Hole. If you haven't been here, let me give you a lay of the land so you can visualize it. The ranch spans about 350 acres of grasslands, with two spring creeks, ponds, and several large lakes. We're at an elevation of about 7,200 feet, and surrounded by mountains on the west, north and east.

For the last few years, we've been working with the Wyoming Fish & Game Department on restoring one of the spring creeks called Prairie Creek to enhance the fish habitat. Prairie Creek runs throughout the property diagonally for just short of two miles. The creek provides a significant habitat for water fowl, birds of prey, moose, mule and whitetail deer.

Jemas Ranch - under other names - has been a cattle ranch for well over 100 years. Our water rights on the Green River and Grass Creek were deeded as far back as the late 1800s. Today, the ranch still operates mainly as a cattle ranch, grazing several hundred head of cattle and producing hay from the irrigated fields. There's no question that cattle are good for the land and many positive things come from raising cattle. But with streams and creeks, cattle grazing has a devastating effect on the water quality, impacting fish, insects and other animal habitats. Creek banks become enlarged, mud and silt cover the creek floor, which eliminates aquatic insect life, and also destroys riffles, pools and undercut banks that fish need for protection and survival.

This Incredible Property

One look at this property and this beautiful creek, and we knew Jemas Ranch was destined to be the ultimate fly fishing haven. This beautiful creek is truly what gave us the vision. We had a lot of work to complete, but the biggest labor of love has been the stream restoration. To make Jemas Ranch into a place we would want to bring our family and friends and invite you to do the same, we knew we needed to restore the stream, turning it back into a productive fishery.

The Stream Restoration Process

Stream restoration involves much more than digging out pools for fish to be kept in. It is taking something that is not functioning and making it functional. It is turning a dead creek into a living creek, full of trout. Our goal is to leave this land better than we found it, so when work is done, we want it to look like we were never here, with the spring creek maintaining itself as a fishery, where fish want to inhabit and stay for decades to come.

We were fortunate to have all the resources need for an amazing restoration right here at our fingertips at the ranch, from a multitude of willows, to some of the best fine gravels, to vast amounts of sedge grasses necessary to reclaim banks and stream channels. For this enormous undertaking, we called in the experts. We engaged the help of Louis Wasniewski , a professional Hydrologist & Stream Restoration Expert as the head engineer, and Tara Hicks of Rockin' T Construction as the artist whose paintbrush is a long reach track hoe that she operates with unbelievable finesse to deliver the finest details when constructing pools, point bars, riffles and runs. It is really something to experience. When designing a project like this, much consideration is given to water flows from spring to winter. Functionality can't be lost between high water to low water winter flows.

Prairie Creek, Fall 2025

Designing The Creek

Much collaboration has gone into the design process. Here, we have the perspective of the angler vs. that of the hydrologist, and luckily we have a mediator. Jemas Ranch owner Jeff Aleixo, with a lifetime of fly fishing under his belt and years of experience in walk fishing on spring creek and small streams, is concerned with approach, fishability, and creating areas where fish would hold in a pool or tail out. Hydrologist and stream restoration expert Louis, on the other hand, has been focused on relative elevations through the system, with calclulation on volume vs. fall, and velocity and fuctional scouring, so pools and riffles remain clean for enhanced spawning and insect activity that silt in within a few years post-stream restoration. Tara's unenviable role has been to bring those two points of view together and create a stream that functions from an engineering standpoint that is approachable and fishable, and has the artistic value and optics that enhance the spring creek and its banks overall.

The end result takes an enlarged silted in spring creek that is properly sized for efficient flows that promote insect life and trout habitat.

Ready for Fishing

The north part of the creek will be fully restored and ready for fishing in the spring of 2026. That stretch is about a mile long. Restoration will continue on the rest of the creek through 2027, and will hopefully be ready for fishing in the spring of 2027.

We are creating a Vintage Creek Fishing Experience, complete with bamboo rods. Jeff has a large collection of vintage fly fishing equipment, and when you book, you'll have the option of adding in this unique fishing day.

We can't wait to fish with you!

Jemas Ranch owner Jeff Aleixo, Tara Hicks, owner of Rockin' T Construction and Jake Wells of Yellow Dog survey the almost completed restoration Prairie Creek's North end, an almost-mile long stretch of creek.

Best Fly Fishing Gifts for Anglers

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 20:51:28 GMT

Santa baby, slip a fly reel under the tree

This may not be the season for fly fishing in Wyoming, but it's certainly the season for gift giving! Jeff, the owner of Jemas Ranch, has put together his ultimate wish list. If you're wondering what to get the angler in your life, look no further.

Top 10 Fly Fishing Gifts for Anglers - Plus 2 Bonus Ideas

Dyna-King Ultimate Indexer Vise
Sage Igniter Fly Rod
Hardy Bros Lightweight Fly Reel
Hardy 1912 Perfect Fly Reel
Fishpond Thunderhead Grande Submersible Duffel in Eco Cutthroat Orange
Men's ProDry Fishing Jacket by Simms Fishing
Men's Wading Jacket G4 Pro by Simms Fishing
The Great Divider Boat Bag 26L by Patagonia
Dry Creek Z Hip Pack Simms Fishing
Scott 50th Anniversary F-Series 3WT 7'
Bonus - Trip to Jemas Ranch
Bonus - Brook Trout Fly Fishing Canvas Art - Etsy - by EngraveElevate

Why We Love Them & Where to Find Them

Note: we are not affiliated with any of retailers or manufacturers below - we just love the products.

Dyna-King Ultimate Indexer Vise - You can find this at several online retailers, including Trident Fly Fishing. It has 8 adjustment positions at every 45 degrees in a full 350 degree rotation that allows for a variety of tying angles combined with easy indexing adjustments.
Sage Igniter Fly Rod - If you're reading this in December, order now because it's on sale at Trident Fly Fishing! The Sage Igniter Fly Rod is highly specialized for technical situations. It's made for rough weather conditions - strong headwinds, heavy flies and heavy fly lines.
Hardy Bros Lightweight Fly Reel - This lightweight fly reel is made in England and has stood the test of time for 80 years! Simple, classic and functional. Easily changed from left to right hand wind.
Hardy Bros 1912 Perfect Fly Reel - This fly reel combines some of the best features from past reels and is named for the 1912 Perfect check mechanism. It has a classic pre-1920s narrow spool design and a red agate line guard.
Fishpond Thunderhead Grande Submersible Duffel - Eco Cutthroat - This duffel has a massive 100L capacity, stowable backpack straps and exterior attachment points. We vote for the Eco Cutthroat Orange color, but you can also choose Riverbed Camo. This durable bag has been tested in some of the most demanding environments around the globe. If it's good enough for critical service professionals, it's good enough for us! Also, It's made from 100% recycled single-use plastic water bottles with no petrochemicals.
Men's ProDry Fishing Jacket from Simms Fishing - It's durable, waterproof and breathable with GORE-TEX fabric, keeping you dry and comfortable in tough conditions on the water. It was designed by serious anglers for serious anglers.
Men's Wading Jacket G4 Pro from Simms Fishing Products - This is another quality jacket from Simms Fishing, a 45-year old company that makes high quality fishing gear. We love the superior waterproofing with waterproof zippers and watertight cuffs, plus it's breathable. This one is a little more expensive than the other one, but as they say, it's the highest-tech wading jacket out there.
The Great Divider Boat Bag 26L by Patagonia - The key detail about this bag is that it's structured. How many times do you dig around in bags trying to find what's hiding in the corners? It's also water-resistant, making it an excellent choice on the water.
Dry Creek Z Hip Pack by Simms Fishing - This may be more expensive than a Lululemon fanny pack, but one of the best options when you're fly fishing. It's so waterproof it's actually submersible, and very rugged. It has nice interior mesh pockets and a cushioned waist belt keeps it comfortable.
Scott 50th Anniversary F-Series 3WT 7' - Why will you love these? We will share Scott's own words: "We picked one rod from each decade that exemplifies Scott innovation and, in some way, changed the way we fish. Each was chosen from an award-winning series of Scott rods that are even more celebrated by the anglers who fish them. For those anglers, these are 'never part with' rods."

Now For Our Bonus Gifts

Bonus 1 - What year would be complete without a visit to Jemas Ranch? We had a very soft opening in 2025, and May 2026 will be our official grand opening. With stellar reviews, we're thrilled to offer you this beautiful fly fishing retreat just an hour outside of Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Bonus 2 - Growing up in a family of artists, Jemas Ranch owner Jeff always had a keen eye for artistic talent. The walls of the homes at the ranch are filled with handpicked work collected from family, antique shops and local arists. This impasto-style trout painting on Etsy by Engrave & Elate has beautiful colors and texture!

Good luck with your shopping and Happy Holidays!