Fly Fishing: Fishing Report and...

I continue to hear mixed reports on Clark Canyon. Ranging from okay to not so hot and pretty much everything in between. My take has been and falls heavily on the not so hot side; slow fishing though is one thing, like could very well be just me but where the cruisers has me baffled. In several afternoon sessions I have yet to see more than a handful up on the banks as is normally the case this time of year...go figure, I'm sure at a loss.

On another track the Big Hole continues to fish well, most days especially for you streamer addicts. A neighbor reported the other day Maiden Rock to Melrose three of them boated at least 15 and probably more. Al has apparently heard a similar tune in the shop. Alas, except for the one day Al and me nearly got blown off the river I have been buried in work and unable to get even...oh well.

Same neighbor reported really good fishing recently Tash to Trash (Beav). Didn't say how many or what they were throwing but did say some of the fish were pretty hefty; showed me a brown on his phone as proof...

Still not hearing much on the Ruby or Madison and not a single mention of blue wings showing up anywhere except the Lower Madison...wind a course could be the culprit.

On yet another track this will probably be my last post this month. We're headin to Oregon tomorrow sometime and will likely be out of touch until at least next Wednesday and since we're going there to work don't look for much in the way of posting. We plan to attend the big fly tying expo in Idaho
Falls on Friday so if I get a chance will fill you in on that extravaganza. Also in Bend Or hope to visit the fly fishing golf course and perhaps even wet a line as free time allows. Promise to fill you in first chance...Anyway that's about it for now...over and out...

Montana Outdoors: "Big Game Hunting"...On the Fast Track to...

...oblivion...at least in the traditional sense. Traditional in that "to hunt well meant to stalk up close and personal, put the pill where it belonged; anything less than a one shot quick kill was deemed a failure and...And being labeled a good hunter meant the same thing as being labeled a woodsman which used be about as high an accolade as one could aspire to...No more; today's hunting heroes are measured mostly in how far off did you shoot that "shooter" buck, bull, you name it...

The above 1000 yard tack driver (first test fire put 10 shots inside 7 inches at 1000 yards, 9 shots well inside 6 inches) was put together by a Pennsylvania pal to kill paper targets; but such super accurate long-range rifle/scope combos would fit right in with the latest rage in so-called big game "hunting" crowd.

Ever since the last March Madness bucket dropped my Saturday evening (you know, cocktail time) channel surfing has hit rock bottom; like if you can't cuff stuff like the In-Fisherman what the hell next...Jack and Jill Romancing the Whitetail Deer Ad Nauseum or, perish the thought, Best of the West How the Hell Far Off Can You Whack Em starring Smilin Jack and sponsored in part by the The Best Little Dildo Shoppin Mart for Far Out Shoot Em Ups...or whatever the handle.

Long ago, in a rare moment of enlightenment, I concluded enough already. Like how many ways can you stick a whitetail , while settin a tree surrounded by Booners leased to the hilt by Mathews Awesome Cams or whatever the latest whiz bang widget is labeled these days? Sorry gang, just ain't doin it for me no more...Thus I all but gave up the so-called "sportsman channel" and their kind as well...

But as I say, no b-ball to watch, yet another lousy hockey game and well hell, ya gotta watch somethin to slow down the booze consumption so...We come to last nights...ah-h, show...Sorry,  don't know what else to call it so...Back to my rant...

The "show" starts off okay with Smilin' Jack bragging on a well-worn guide (about to help dude 100 punch a bighorn sheep tag). Guide and hunters ride off into the sunset; cut to youngster's first antelope hunt...kid whacks a nice antelope...way to go so far except now amid all the whoop-ups and high-fives we learn the range 497 yards...helluva shot, you bet, but to call it a hunt or label the kid a "good hunter"? Sorry, ain't buyin' that one....Back to the sheep after a couple days hard going in rugged mountains and passing up a couple "shooters" the guide finds the "one" and you guessed it...another crack shot this one 897 yards, I think...could have been 997 but hell, when you whack a "shooter ram" damn near or slightly over a half mile off who am I quibble a mere hundred yards or so...

To the dynamic duo's credit did appear to at least be horsing and tramping around in real sheep country, steep, rocky, a real bitch, is in no way stooping as low as whacking a "Booner ram" out the truck window while grazing grass at the road berm as one hero I know did recently but c'mon a half mile shot and call it hunting...no way. I rest my case...

Montana Outdoors: Lichens 101

Wolf lichen is one of many common lichens found throughout western montana forests growing on tree trunks and decaying logs and limbs. Adds a pleasing bright green splash to what is so often a mostly dull, drab brown landscape.

Lichens are used birds, insects and mammals for a variety of things including food, shelter and building material.

We (some of us) use lichens for food, drink, dyes, clothing and decorations. Indians sometimes warded off starvation dining on lichens; pets have been fed lichens for similar reasons.

Some lichens, such as wolf lichen, are poisionous. Wolf lichen got its name from Europeans who mixed it with glass to poison (kill) wolves.

  Wolf lichen didn't kill this elk but another lichen Byoria sp. did kill several elk recently in Wyoming. Curious since antelope routinely eat the same lichens with no ill-effects whatsoever.

Ringbilled gull soaring above Clark Canyon yesterday made for an interesting shot to play around with in Lightroom. And yes, no doubt ringbilled gulls would not know a wolf lichen from a wolf...

The unsettled weather of late has not done much for my fishing but it sure does make for some interesting photo ops...Enjoy.

Fly Fishing: Big Hole Bust...

River rising, high wind (howling upstream actually) made for slow fishing and heavy duty rowing, especially ornery for geezers such as Al and me. At times even hauling on the oars backward the wind flat out stopped our downstream progress. Rowing the entire time, mostly backwards to get more thrust, it took over 4 hours from Maiden Rock to Melrose (aka Salmon Fly). No we did set any catch records but we didn't get skunked either. And then there was the mature cow moose with last year's calf high in the rocks (where normally sheep only go) at the bottom of the canyon; several bald eagles, one on the nest above Merriwether; a couple sandhillls, a great blue heron, a hawk or three, numerous geese and a few ducks and note to self to not let Annie loose anywhere near the Connebear trap set for beaver across from eagle nest...not good for nosey dogs such as she...The ordeal did emphasize (at least to this ol' boy, can't speak for Al) how bad a shape and, more to the point, how much repair work I need to get in afore the real rowin' season gets underway...over and out...

Fly Fishing: Southwest Montana Fishing Report and....

...what's up next....But first an update...

The recent snow storm which dumped around 6 inches in Dillon,  a bit less in some spots and a lot more in the mountains is now history...I think? The forecast in the near future calls for gradual warming thru Wednesday then another day of rain/snow then another upturn and so forth. Depending on which forecaster you choose to believe the wind will either be howling most days or as some say, light and variable...watch out for the variable is all I got to say on that...

Clark Canyon is now completely ice free. In my experience, based on 4 brief afternoon sessions, the fish have yet to heed the call; in other words the fishing is slow,  actually really slow. Though the rumor mill has it some days have been OK and other days not so hot...no surprise there, eh? Though everyone seems to agree the bite is still far from red hot...go figure.

Chronomids, marbou jigs, San Juan Worms and buggers, brown, black, olive, purple, tan; the usual rigs amongst the local lake rats...

Beaverhead is flowing around 250 out the dam, okay for floating (closed above Pipe remember) and pretty easy wading as long as you pick your spots to cross. Not much happening on top except for those brief, elusive afternoon periods when the wind gods are on break and cloud gods sneak their way in...Bwo nymphs 20-18; midge larvae 18-invisible; scuds, SJWs all work but the best fishing right now is pitching buggers tight to the banks. 

Big Hole spiked last week to almost 7000 has come down nicely to below 1500. Running clear and cold (around 40 in the afternoons) as long as the predicted warm-up doesn't melt the recent snow too fast the fishing over the next week or so should really start to pick up. Even if the river does spike again I don't think there's enough low snow and ice left to approach last week's surprise...though please don't spread it around you heard it here first...Streamers, rubberlegs, SJWs, streamers and if you feel lucky try throwing your favorite skwalas in the afternoons...Haven't seen any yet but don't forget Al says he pitched one awhile back and...OK I don't buy it either but, hey, give the guy a break, you know a long winter of too much hot sun, sand, dancing babes and conch salad...as I say give the guy a break...

Ruby is spilling from the dam around 150; pretty easy to get around and rumor is the streamer fishing is pretty good; nymphs are always a good bet). Pick the right day and the olive and midge fishing might surprise ya...(closed above the dam until opening in late May).

Lastly a word of advice: Get you a wirehair and pack her along. As Annie proves over and over again there just ain't no bad fishing days...like the fish don't bite, why hell why not point (attack), half-drown self in a wave or two; or as she likes to do given a creek or river see how many times can swim across and back and still shake your boogie somewhere this side a North Dakota or...as I say wirehairs just flat out keep you grinnin...over and out...

Fly Friday: Mastering water temperature trends...

Trout being cold blooded critters as water temperature trends upward toward (or downward away from) the ideal (60 degrees give or take a couple depending on species) so goes metabolisms and....And thus go our fishing propects.

Given water temperatures hovering in the mid-30s to mid-40s usually equates to slow fishing regardless but should the water temperture suddenly drop, such as late afternoon when the sun settles behind yonder hill, the fishing is almost certain to shut down, like slow-mo to non-existent in a flash.

Water temperatures generally trend the same as air temperatures only slower; one notable exeception being the warm sunny afternoon in spring when the snow suddenly starts melting infusing said river with many gallons ice water...not so hot.

Cold water and low temperture downward trends do not affect trout health wise. Though prolonged cold snaps plummet water temperatures to near freezing, metabolisms all but shut and some might lose an ounce or two not eating. The flip side is another story. Prolonged high water temperatures (81 degrees is deadly) can be fatal, especially so if we anglers add to what is already a really stressful situation.

As water temperatures trend above 70 degrees the effect on trout metabolisms is similar to sudden downward trends and extreme low water temperatures. Trout stop eating, activity slows to a crawl and if trend continues for more than a day or so migration to cooler water is imminent.  Cooler more oxygenated water is ideal but just getting to cooler water is paramount to survival--spring holes, colder tribs even the bottom of deep mostly shady pools. Unless trout have become somehow acclimated to high water temperatures (like the Firehole) little, if any feeding or activity, for that matter, occurs in 70 degree water.

The best thing for us is to leave them alone, hope for a change in the weather. Montana's so-called hoot owl mandate is designed for just that reason...to get us the hell off the water until conditions improve.

Birding Trails Montana: Bird photography...

...is not easy: Starts with a plan, add a decent lens (in most cases 300mm is bare minimum), a tripod helps big time but is not always possible, so image stabilization comes in handy and lucky sure doesn't hurt. But even so like with most things in life some days you get steak: the killdeer is a prime cut.

Some days you get chicken... alas this shot of a junco is close but..OK, the pose is spot on, the eye sharp, the background none too shabby, though cast a keen eye and you will see Mr Junco is not quite tack sharp...My excuse is poor light (juncos tend to hang in dark, forested places), hand-held, too slow shutter speed and sticking with a too low ISO 100...As I say chicken baby and be damn glad to get it for...

 ...had this fumbled hairy woodpecker shot been judged best in show...Well you know, like no din-din tonight unless of course the dog is willin' to share...over and out...

On another track a rare afternoon of almost no wind we packed it in at the office and scurried to the lake...Hardly a ripple, hardly any competition (as it soon became obvious MIAs knew something I missed) and not a single bump. Despite diligently offering up several choice looking jigs, a couple nymphs and a woolly or two; yup, two hours up near the dam and a half hour so at Horse Prairie and nothing, nada; flat out skunkoed go figure? If any consolation I noticed the four brothers plying the dam face were pretty much, no make that, summarily skunkoed as well...Skunkoed. Sort has a nice ring don't you agree...

Montana Outdoors: Old Montana

Another day of howling wind and no fishing (as I said not for me) we spent the day hiking and poking around the Birch Creek country not far from town. Lots of history here, ranch homesteads, Farlin silver mine and smelter and so on...Obviously scenic too...This shot is as it came out the camera...The rest are cropped and tweaked in Lightroom; heavy on the presets...obviously. Hope ya like 'em...

In case you are interested the presets allow you to tweak the look of the photo; in the above photo the settings accentuate the rust and of course gives the entire photo a lot more pop...not for everyone I know but since this is my party...

 This old shanty is slowly settling into the sagebrush; the roof is all but long gone; but as this crop shows what's left is still pretty damn plumb, level and square...at least to the extent log construction and minimal hand tools allowed way back when. Can't say how many hard working miners this one housed but since is only about 10wide X 8deep X 6 feet high...sure hope they got along...

Whoever built this one knew what he was doing; note the careful fit of the logs especially around the window frame; the inside even sported a fiberboard ceiling and walls. Evidently someone used it after the mines shut down (hunters) and had big plans for restoring juding the pile of new metal roofing stacked outside; but again judging the broken windows, doors ripped from hinges, ceiling and wall smashed and other signs...a bunch low-life vandal bastards ended those dreams?