JACKSON, Wyo. —The Jackson Hole Historical Society & Museum (JHHSM) will welcome guest speakers and longtime local anglers Boots Allen, Paul Bruun and Jay Buchner for an evening Beers & Banter conversation on Tuesday, Aug. 30 at 7 p.m.

The trio will talk about their experiences fly fishing in Jackson Hole and the program will be moderated by JHHSM Executive Director Morgan Jaouen, following an informal, conversational format. Entrance to the history museum will be free for the program, and beverages will be available for a suggested donation. Doors open at 6:30 p.m.

“We’re looking forward to gathering in the museum for a return to an in-person Beers and Banter program; with a longtime, beloved Jackson Hole activity, fly fishing as told by the folks who live and breathe it!” said Jaouen. 

All three guests have long fly fishing resumes, so here’s a bit about each speaker to get you ready for the evening. More details and general history will be shared during the program. 

Boots Allen

Boots Allen is a third-generation fishing guide whose family has contributed to the development of fly fishing in Wyoming since the 1920s. Allen began guiding for his father and uncle while still in high school and has continued for 30 seasons of guiding on the waters of Wyoming and Idaho. Allen also hosts fly fishing trips to international destinations like Belize, the Bahamas and Brazil. 

Allen is the author of four books on fly fishing, pens articles for national fly fishing magazines and co-produced conservation films for Jah Trout Productions. Regional and national television programs have featured him as a guest. 

Paul Bruun

Paul Bruun began working as a fly fishing outfitter and owner of South Fork Fly Fishing Float Trips after coming to the valley in 1973. While guiding on the Snake and other western rivers, he teamed up with Ralph Headrick to manufacture the first high-performance, low-profile fiberglass drift boat called the South Fork Skiff. He also served as Patagonia’s first fly fishing consultant, where he is still a Fly Fishing Ambassador today. Recently, Bruun has been honored with two national awards recognizing his many achievements in fly fishing.  

Running parallel to his career in fishing, Bruun has worked as an editor and journalist. He served as the Jackson Hole Guide Editor beginning in 1973 and founded the Jackson Hole Daily newspaper in 1978. He currently writes a popular column called “Outdoors” for Jackson Hole News&Guide, which has been in print for nearly 50 years. 

Jay Buchner

Jay Buchner learned to tie flies at age eight from his grandfather. His fishing experience covers the gamut, from bait fishing for catfish in the Maquoketa and Mississippi rivers, to plug fishing and fly fishing for Northern pike and Smallmouth Bass in the lakes of Canada, to fly fishing for trout in the cold waters of Australia, New Zealand, Poland, Czech Republic, and England, Sweden, France, Spain, Slovakia, Portugal, Finland and tigerfishing in the Zambezi River of Africa. 

After moving to Jackson, Wyoming, in the late 1960s, Jay turned his love of fishing into a career, guiding fisher people in the Jackson Hole area for nearly 35 years and owning and operating both a retail mail-order fly fishing catalog and a fly fishing shop in Jackson. 

Limited seating for the program; doors open at 6:30 pm and talk begins at 7 pm. For more information visit the JHHSM website or call 307-733-2414.