Fly Fishing: Big Hole River...

Tuesday was indeed "a really bad day at the office." The wind started early and at times blew such it was hard to control the boat...later we learned gusts exceeded 60 mph with sustained wind around 35 mph. Needless to say Bob and Rob found casting flies difficult at best, out the question at worst. Somehow I managed to negotiate the rock garden below Wise River with nary a bump...well sort a nary anyway...and we did even manage to boat a trout or three...

Vowing to get even Wednesday morning started off a bit slow but then Craig started beaning trout and the hot bite continued all the way to the take out...one of the best days in recent memory neither of us have any idea how many but trust me a bunch felt the sting of his hook. We didn't land any real monsters but there were plenty of nice ones in the mix...and of course a few ubiquitous white fish joined the party. Dry/dropper, just in case you wondered and yes that is all the information I'm willing to part...

I've been playing around with shooting video on my Canon A640 and until now at least the colors have been more or less correct...Along with this short clip I shot three others that day all with same pink cast...Anyone know what's up I'd forever be beholdin'...

Sorry haven't posted for a while...only excuse end of the day brain shuts down and...well you old guys know...you young guys git 'er done now cause...okay enough bawlin'. Day off yesterday and we took advantage to revisit a pet creek see if perhaps had dropped and warmed enough to cause the brookies to start foraging topside. Gale was up first and time she finished first run our questions were answered in the affirmative...sort of anyway. Crick is still running full bore and from all the shivering Annie did all day pretty damn cold still. But we found enough hungry trouts to more make the long hot drive worth it...onward and upward, tally ho.

For you big river cats and rats good news is both Beav and Big Hole are fishing pretty good most days anyway. Lots of flies, PMDs, Yellow Sallies, Caddis, Drakes, Golden Stones, you name it are popping on the Big Hole...especially cloudy days which have been scarce of late but there are those afternoon periods. Beav is crawling with PMDs, Caddis and Yellow Sallies and go figure but competion is slim to none some days...Two days ago we did Pipe to Barretts and shared it with a few tubers and NOT ONE BOAT...Strange as hell, yes but hard to wail for sure....

Fly Fishing: Salmon Fly Strategies...

Big Hole/Pintlar Range (click to enlarge)

Every fisherman I know has his own idea how best to attack the Salmon Fly Blitz...ahead, behind, in the midst of and so forth...In my experience each has its merits and all work wonders provided of course your game plan happens to mesh that of the fickle (elusive?) bugs. Right time, right spot bingo, fish on! No surprise there, eh? Hard to argue chasing the big bugs and the big trout often gobble with gusto bears looking into. But hard to argue also crowd control can be and too often is overwhelming...and perish the thought you should guess wrong and find the fishing sucks...or close enough the scant few fish in the net hardly makes a dent in the hassle factor.

Truth is solitude becomes non-existebnt at the mere hint (rumor) the big bugs are about to hit town. As word spreads Fish Trap to Notch Bottom take on more a circus atmosphere than anything like your basic fishin trip, another kick-back lovin every minute boat ride. Fish? Hell, who needs a slimy ol' trout ya know this is after all the "last best river in last best place." Anyway...

Yesterday George, Arch (above) and me decided to blow off the circus and instead see if we might find a little peace and quiet on the upper river, maybe even catch a couple in the bargain...Turns our not much in the way of big bugs or maddening crowds (we saw one other boat all day and that for about five minutes it took to pass by). George and Arch got to fish several hours nearly non-stop rising fish (caddis, pmd's). Missed some, hooked some, more to the point, shared whatever spot I happened to drop anchor to their ownselves, watched a couple bald eagles at work, enjoyed an up close and personal with one biggest beavers on the planet, and last but not least floated one the best, prettiest spots on the last best in the last best left...Consensus? Can't beat it...