Fly Fishing: Montana Backcountry...

There's a lot to like kicking about the high lakes of Montana. Not the least of which are nifty views: Rarely out of sight of a spiffy mountain or two; wildlife encounters are a given. Pine scented air, clear, icy-cold water and solitude--mostly the sounds of wind and water lapping the tube--ideas increasingly harder to find as you lose altitude and the lakes give way to our overrun trout rivers...

No, the trout aren't as big but any lack of size is more than made up for in beauty; colorful, perfect (as in not a hook scarred lip in the bunch) wild, fiesty, gobble flies with gusto, good eats (Yes, go ahead, the catch and release police aren't looking...Hell, probably never even heard of No-Tellum Lake and besides nothin' up there but silly little brookies anyways)...I rest my case.

Montana Outdoors: Bison, Cougars and House Cats...

are recent headline grabbers sure to rattle more than a few cages before the furor dies...For more click the links below...

Bison as our national mammal?...Whoo-ee baby wait till you hear the uproar this one will most certainly stir up out here in the land of big hats and pointy-toed boots...
http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/senators-seek-to-name-bison-national-mammal/article_a7592088-40dc-5d03-8d50-3a0e52564617.html

For you cat owners who somehow are in denial how destructive cute, cuddly kitties are when allowed to run loose click below:
http://www.telegram.com/article/20120529/COLUMN10/105299907

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2012/05/23/20120523clay0524-studies-show-outdoor-cats-can-menace-songbirds.html

And lions killing wolves in the Bitterroot? "Unpresedented" according to one MTFWP biologist. But does sort a makes one wonder where the folks at Defenders of Wlildlife, who rake in millions constantly railing the plight of wolves, will stand on this one. Anti-lion?

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20120528/NEWS01/205280309/Mountain-lions-kill-two-radio-collared-wolves

Fly Fishing: High Water and Fishy Art

Checked out a couple mountain cricks yesterday...Still a bit too high but running clear and dropping day by day. Barring getting dumped on should be good to go next weekend. The surprise was how little snow remained from three day storm and how little effect it seemed to have on the overall runoff. During the afternoon it rained off and on, at times coming down pretty good but nothing like a real gully washer. Didn't even rig up a rod but did enjoy tramping around, seeing two more moose (uncharacteristically spooky, no chance for pix?), several elk, lots of mule deer and a few more wildflowers popping than we've seen most places this spring. On the plus side high water sure does make for good photo ops...shot above is obviously doctored a bit but still...

 I like rainy/snowy days, especially so during extreme dry spells such as the one haunting us more or less all winter and spring. Storms often bring on the best fishing and usher in the best light for fishy pix...I can't remember where or when we caught this rainbow but judging the exposure out the camera I'd bet the farm on a nasty day. This morning while searching for photos to submit for stock I came across it as well as the well-doctored version...Fish Art with mucho thanks to Lightroom, can't beat it...

Fly Fishing: Deserted River

Okay, deserted is something of a stretch but for a holiday the upper Beav sure was far from over run...a few wade fisherman, a handful boats and that was about it Barretts to the Dam...who knows but sort of refreshing compared to past Memorial Day weekends. Big Hole leveled out the past couple is now running about 3200 which is not to say low by any means. Streamers are the way to go and from what I've been hearing from guide buddies the river is fishing about as good now as any can remember in the recent past...Forecast calls for gradual warming trend over the next week or so and that can only bode well for near future prospects. Hopefully I manage to get the boat out of dry dock soon and join the party.

What do the sandhills have to do with all this...why absolutely nothing, just another good Gale shot I thought you all might enjoy... (yesterday not far from Clark Canyon in case you wondered)

High Water, Moose Blitz and....

Yesterday it rained and then it snowed. No, not the 10-20 inches forecast previously but several inches of the wet, heavy stuff; enough it seems to at least help the wildflowers, the sorry yard and allow our trees to breath a sigh of relief. No doubt a temporary delight but a much needed one nonetheless. Determined to not let the wind and promised big storm keep us at bay as had the previous couple days we packed a lunch, tossed the fishing gear in the truck and headed for the hills. Alas most of the time the hills were hidden in storm, the back roads a sea of mud, the little cricks we hoped to fish a bit too ripping and the wind chill such long johns never did become a burden. So instead a fishing we spent the day poking around...

 We found the upper Big Hole surprisingly snow free, though it did rain most of the time. As I've mentioned before the upper Big Hole moose herd has been devastated in recent years by wolves. To make a long story short, elk and deer migrate out of the valley to avoid the notorious harsh winters. That leaves cattle and moose for wolves to munch...Anyway where we used to expect seeing moose on a fairly regular basis these days spotting one is a real treat but...

 ...yesterday we found three. Look closely and you will see all are bulls. Two of the three are obviously sprouting first antlers but the one in the rear in the top photo is just as obviously larger and older though still several years short of trophy class. All three were living in a recovering burn (Mussigbrod Fire, 2000, eventually joined the Valley Complex Fires and torched over 200,000 acres) thick seedlings, acre upon acre of blown down trees doubtless no big deal for long-legged moose to negotiate might not be so hot for wolves. Maybe, just maybe, should FWP ever get handle on wolf numbers perhaps burns such as this will provide enough seed stock for the moose to make a full recovery...Probably a stretch but one can hope...Right.

Mule deer sign was heavy everywhere we hiked. While deer have been far less impacted by wolves here or anywhere I'm aware it's good to see them looking fat and happy following any winter...even the wussy one we just endured. Notice Mom is all but shed out, a sign won't be long until she runs junior off and starts tending another family (her other yearling was just a bit too far off to include in the family portrait).

Fly Fishing: Restoration of Silver Bow Creek Official...

Lost to trout for over a century Silver Bow Creek below Butte is once again a viable fishery. Thanks to hundreds of millions spent to cleanup the Nation's Largest Superfund Site. Restoration efforts targeted not only the creek but surrounding landscape laid waste by the once booming copper mines of Butte and Anaconda. For more click the link below...

http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/fishermen-mark-restoration-of-silver-bow-creek-fishery/article_6b5d2ad7-f7f0-5012-abdc-3801d509153a.html

For more good news regards the upper Clark Fork and Silver Bow Creek click the link below...

http://missoulian.com/news/opinion/mailbag/clark-fork-river-good-news-for-restoration/article_5d42ffac-9630-11e1-aa79-001a4bcf887a.html

Big Hole spiked up about 200 cfs overnight but is still in great shape considering the relatively high flow (3600). According to Al visibilty is in the neighborhood of 3 feet and streamers and nymphs are still the best ways to go. Big brown trout continue to show up with fair regularity all up and down the river. We both stand by our earlier predictions "the worst of the runoff is over." Barring heavy downpours cool, cloudy weather over the next several days should bring it down even more...

The Beaverhead is running just under 700 cfs out dam and near 900 at Barretts. Whether or not the high flows continue is of course up to the irrigation bosses but if I were to guess don't look for it to come down anytime soon...The usual nymphs--scuds, flashbacks, micro mays, lightning bugs, crane fly larvae--and streamers remain the hot ticket items...no surprise there, eh?

Fly Fishing: Escaping Montana's Opening Day Madness...

Yesterday being opening day any chance of finding solitude and trout usually means get off the beaten path or for...get...it. We've also found later in the day is better...like give the thundering herd time to catch a couple and head for the nearest watering hole to brag the big one in the net or, perish the thought, drown sorrows, trying hard to forget the big one got away. Don't they all?

So yesterday we worked awhile in the morning, enjoyed the free lunch (really good by the way) at Rocky Mountain Supply and then headed for a certain little crick about as far off the proverbial path as one can drive to anyway. However, much to our surprise we found a bigger, way more popular crick all but empty...No doubt the Utah/Idaho gang usually overruns it opening day decided to forego the long drive thinking the several 80+ days would surely have blown it out by now. As you can see the creek was anything but blown, actually scary low for this time of year.

For us the empty crick and relative solitude would have been more than ample reward but sure was fun hooking a few in the bargain...Damn ain't wild cutts purty as all get out... In case you wondered Gale got the most but I...I got the big one, a fine male of about 15-16 inches...Honest.

Fly Fishing: In Montana B=A+...

Montana's "B-Rivers", Beaverhead, Big Hole and Bighorn deserve high marks in any list of Blue Ribbon trout waters. The Big Hole tops my bucket list of top trout waters anywhere...but of course your's is no doubt different. True the Beav and Bighorn probably hold larger (on average) trout and certainly both wins hands down in the trout per mile race. But neither (in my humble opinion) hold a candle to the 'Hole in terms of scenic, wildlife, history and that intangible (and difficult to measure objectively) quality we call charm. The 'Hole is indeed a charming temptress who if you don't watch will reach out and grab you...such you just might find yourself woefully unable to resist...

 A course all three do hold bigger than average trout, some true monsters which of course don't come easy no matter where you find them. Browns and....

Rainbows best measured in pounds. All three lure anglers from across the country and around the globe. I have guided folks from Norway, Sweden, Germany, Japan, Texas, California, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, Maine, Georgia, North Carolina, Colorado, Washington, New Jersey,  Minnesota, Michigan, Maryland, Kentucky, California, Idaho and Oregon...sorry if I've left out yours, memory fades ya know as ya git  older...Anyways you get a chance try our A+ B-Rivers guarandamnteed you will find them as advertised is, well, damn near a given...

Fly Fishing: Nice Fish...

All these fishys have several things in common...All fall under the broad umbrella expressed ad nauseum as "nice fish"(video strutters take a bow); worse I did not catch them; worser I did not even photograph them; worsest I am jealous as all get out; bestest, catchees have sworn to cut internet access should I even hint where in the hell...sorry.  But hey, ya gotta admit all really are damn nice fish...Right.

OK, at risk of losing internet access or worse, I will say 3 of 5 were caught (and released) somewheres in ol' Montany...Imagine!

Fly Fishing: Montana's Trout Season...

officially opens this Saturday. But many streams and most lakes are open year around. For the most part until Saturday major rivers are the only game in town. But read the fine print and you might be surprised to find a favorite tributary as an exception.

Such is the case with "no-name" creek. Full of brookies such as the one pictured above and open year around to fishing for brook trout it's become something of a tradition to kick start our crick fishing adventures as early as melting snow allows access. Last year, for example, snow and flooded roads kept us at bay until well into June. This year we probably could have started in mid April. We finally got there over the weekend.

Low snow melt already history and with the high country melt down yet to happen we found no-name early summer low and clear, although still damn cold. Way too bright (no doubt borderline cold) we did not expect much and as turned out our expectations were pretty much rewarded. But the outing was far from bust: elk, deer, antelope, an entertaining otter, eagles, hawks, ducks, songbirds, squirrels and no doubt a couple critters I've forgotten provided all the excitement needed...like who needs a bunch a slimy trouts on a fine day such as this...Right.

There were a few caddis and small stones popping as well as a couple small dark mayflies but so far we could determine the trout were not the least bit turned on...just in case you wondered.

On another track the Beav is running around 600 out the dam; the Big Hole topped 3000 last night and with 80s predicted next couple should continue to rise. Still barring heavy rain in the mountains I stand by my earlier prediction "seen the worst of it." Warm and sunny though should bring on the BH MD caddis blitz big time.

Fly Fishing: Big Hole River Foundation

The BHRF is dedicated to protecting, preserving and enhancing the river many believe is truly "the last best river in the Last Best Place." One of the few free flowing rivers remaining in the West the Big Hole is also one of the most diverse.

Born in the Beaverhead Mountains of southwest Montana the river runs for about 170 miles to eventually join the Beaverhead just downstream of Twin Bridges to form the Jefferson. Throughout its run the landscape constantly changes as does the character of the river itself. Bound at various times by conifer forest, willows, sagebrush, ranch and farm land, steep rocky canyon walls, tall cottonwoods and so forth the Big Hole is float fisherman's delight. Drawing anglers year after year to sample its wares the 'Hole has champions from litterally around the globe. Alas a mere handful of which actually belong and support the Foundation.

The good news: Those of us who do, and we are not all anglers, by the way, are as a whole generous giving both time and money to support the Foundation's energetic mission statement.  If you would like to learn more just what this great organization is up to click here .

On another track last evening the Foundation hosted a "meet and greet" BBQ for outfitters and guides. While many more missed than took advantage all I can say is too bad on you. Good eats, good drinks, good talk and lots of interesting and valuable input from local FWP Fisheries biologist, Jim Olsen, to say nothing of the awesome tour of the big house at the entrance to Merriwether Ranch, I must say a good time was had by all.

And last but not least a hot tip: The river is fishing really good right now, top to bottom, streamers, nymphs underneath, March Browns and caddis (yes, caddis) on top. Most of the guides in attendance feel the river has seen its last big spike (has risen about 600 cfs over past four days but real gentle like) and many feel we just might see Salmon flies afore the month is over...Tight Lines...over and out...Chuck P.S. As for River Ambassador, I are one and you could be too...give 'em a holler.

Fly Fishing: Big Hole Runoff Prediction and...

Talking snow and ice mid-May in Montana is certainly nothing new. But after yesterdays brief though nontheless hot spell (81 on the front porch) does seem a bit odd, eh? Anyway talking to Al this morning we both agreed with the snow still hanging on up high in the Pintlars and Beaverheads string a few 80 degree days in a row and the Big Hole could very well be once again rippin'...how high is of course merely a wild guess. But if I were to take a wild stab let's say somewhere in the 5000-7000 cfs range should about cover it...You know why get yourself too far out on that proverbial limb...right. By the way the icicles above were shot in a shady nook in the Morrison Lake outlet on a sunny afternoon in the low 70s just last weekend so...Yes,  really does take a while following your basic chilly night at 8000 feet for old man sun to git 'er done.

Dire runoff predictions aside the Big Hole right now is fishing pretty well. Streamers in the morning and whenever the clouds roll in; dries such as Purple Haze cripple when March Browns are about. And of course turdnworm works most anytime...

Caddis have been on Beav for awhile now but no reports so far of the trout taking much notice--on top that is--nymphs rule and streamers are right up there. Above Pipe, by the way, is still off limits.

Ruby and Clark Canyon continue to run necknneck in the not so hot race...at least that is seems to be the word on the streets...


Fly Fishing: Kids Day on the Big Hole

Here are a few shots of kids, guides and volunteers in action Saturday at Meriwether Ranch on the Big Hole River outside Melrose. As you can see all involved seemed to have a rollicking good time and from the intense look on some of the kids, apparently they take their fly fishing lessons quite seriously.

Russ Kipp and friends...

Brent Taylor lending a casting hand...

Love dem bugs...

What would we do without a Cookie?

Cheesburgers and chips, can't beat it...

As I say, serious business...

Malheur NWR...Oasis in the Oregon desert...

 This Black-necked stilt shot is just one of many outstanding shots Gale captured during our day-long visit to the refuge. I'm a little busy at the moment but soon as I catch up will post more for your enjoyment. If you ever find yourself in southeast Oregon we highly recommend taking time to poke about the refuge...like satisfaction guarndamnteed.

As I mentioned in a previous post the southeastern corner of Oregon is the least populated in the Lower 48 states. Highway 78, in the opinion of many including your intrepid reporter, is way lonelier than Nevada's famed Highway 50...the one Charles Kuralt (I think?) labeled the "The Loneliest Highway in America."

Regardless, Malheur National Wildlife Refuge sits amid high desert, a semi-arid landscape dominated by sagebrush and juniper clad and rocky barren hills. The refuge itself is surprisingly wet: big shallow lakes, marsh, the Donner and Blitzen River and several lesser creeks. The lakes, marsh and wetlands are almost entirely snowmelt runoff from the Steens Mountains. There are no outlets to the lakes and the underlying geology is impermeable so any water loss is left to evaporation.

As you might expect wildlife, especially birds--waterfowl, water birds, songbirds, game birds, raptors, you name it--flock to this oasis like bees to wildflowers. Something like 320 species have been observed many of which nest within the refuge. Spring and fall migration attracts waterfowl and shorebirds in mind-boggling numbers--tens, even hundreds thousands at a clip. 

The surrounding high desert is considered semi-arid with a scant annual precipitation of about 9-inches per year. Many, many square miles signs of human habitation are all but non-existent. Pronghorn abound; in fact  south of Malheur lies the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge (Lakeview, OR.)

Fly Fishing: Back Home At Last...

 April 19th we left Dillon bound for Bend OR and the 2012 NOWA (writers/photographers) Conference. We camped the first night at Mud Lake (ID) having knocked off about 3 hours of the 12 or 14 hour trip. Next morning we detoured to downtown Idaho Falls to checked out the annual Fly Tying Expo. A must-do on any Rocky Mountain fly tyers bucket list we were somewhat surprised at the size and number of tyers and of course vendors of just about anything fly fishing related.

That afternoon we made a second dent traveling 4 hours or so to Three Island Crossing State Park (Glenn's Ferry). One of our Idaho favorites and a spot we've visited and hunted out of several times previously. Annie found the park quail covey particularly interesting. Had time permitted no doubt some of the Snake River carp would no doubt be nursing sore lips but...

Duty called and so on to Chickahominy Reservoir about 30 miles west of Burns/Hines where we stayed 3 nights. We spent the next day at Malheur National Wildlife Refuge photographing a slough of waterfowl and water birds (will post soon) and enjoyed some the emptiest (as in no folks) country anywhere. The southeast corner of Oregon is actually the least populated in the lower 48. The bad news Chickahominy fishing sucked...not only did I manage to eat skunk not a single rainbow did I see on the hook. The few other anglers I talked to boasted similar regrets...unlike most of us fisher folk excuses were about as scarce as hook-ups...

Arriving Bend the day before the gavel dropped I fished the Deschutes River and though it did fish better nothing even close to red hot our entire 6 day stay...who knows? 

 
Yes, this is the closest you will ever see me to participating in the activity we call golf. This is indeed "golf with a fly rod" though Orvis Bend prefers to call it simply "Our 18-station fly rod casting course" or something like that? Anyway upon finding not much else of interest in Bend, OR...you know the fastest growing mob scene in the WEST where "those who visit here tend to stay here"...LOL...One day during a rare free moment in the hectic NOWA conference schedule we decided to bite the bullet, risk the life-changing drive across town...an insane madness I'm somewhat at loss for words to describe...Scary as hell fits but still does not do justice...and check it out.

With wind gusts to 30 mph plus admittedly not the best day for slam dunking the course. Which is arranged on land and water about a 1.2 mile course around what is known as the "Old Mill District." I did somehow manage to at least get close every now and then and at this station actually landed a couple on target at the "Advanced (Expert) Distance" (50 feet or so, I think and yes I'm using the Orvis language not mine). With the wind the short "Beginners" targets were all but impossible.

The course is said to be the only 18-station in the country though there are several smaller renditions scattered about Orvis Land--I've no idea where? I actually did enjoy the challenge. And while I did not find time to complete the entire course I did scout a couple stations which would surely stretch the casting skills of all but the so-called "world class gang."

The rod in my hand is a loaner from the shop. A top-of-line Helios (I think that's right?) which I found to be the best Orvis casting machine I've ever handled...Despite the stiff head wind which at the above station was more a slight cross-wind than full head-on I had no problem turning over the leader, getting the windage right did take some doing. But one can hardly fault the outfit for that...right.

The course is free; open 24-7-365; just rig up and go. Keep score or don't, compete with your buddies or just practice casting. From where I sit, no way could you not come away a better caster...with due diligence hell you might even get your "expert" card...A course good luck surviving the road wars in downtown Bend.