Back In Action...

 

Only excuse I can come up with for not posting for near a month now is...just too damn worn out following several too long guide runs...I knew for sure the ol' boy was fast losin' the battle when one night I dreamed a brown trout maybe even weirder than above...whoo-ee baby, best a grip, eh? OK, nuff bawlin' let's get serious, down to the nitty-gritty, at least my take on the current state of affairs concerns the local trout wars.

 

The Beav has been hot and cold of late...one day we would really spank 'em next day the trout beat us up but good. When it was on size 16 & 18 nymphs such as Lightning Bug (green, gold, silver), Copper Bob, Micro Mayfly (brown or olive), sunken ant, B.H. brassie, B.H. Flashback P.T. and Ray Charles (tan) worked wonders. When it was off...who the hell knows?

 

August trico and caddis top water fishing some days was mind boggling; lately we've been doing a good business on various hoppers, ants and the old reliable Luna Negra...afternoons of late we've done pretty good dropping a brassie just for good measure.

 

Only did the Madison once and that day top honors went to the San Whammy (short and wine color seemed to please 'em most). Reports from the Jefferson have been similar to my take on Beav...hot one day and...

 

I quit the Big Hole after getting stuck way more often than I'm capable of dealing so for the latest update go to my pal Al's bigholetrout.com Apparently he's still fool enough to...well you know...old man, addled mind...

Montana Fly Fishing: Big Hole is pretty skinny...

...With the Big Hole river at Maiden Rock running 259 cfs enjoying anything like a leisurely float is of course out the question. Should you choose to embark anyway plan on lots of dragging and good luck not getting downright stuck. I did a few days ago and with two guys in the boat uncapable of getting out to help thought I might be a goner...obviously (luckily) I survived but...

I understand the Big Hole Watershed Committee is about to ask MTFWP to restrict angling to mornings only and ask farmers, ranchers and Silver Bow Water Authority to restrict water useage. Personally with water temps in the high 60s to low 70s most afternoons the fishing all but dies and unless you play in the few trout you might catch quickly and release immediately chances of survival are slim to none anyway.

Al and I were talking yesterday and we both agree what with the low snowpack, hotter than Hades July (hottest ever, by the way) and an early August that has not been much better the Ol' River held up pretty much as well as could be expected.

The morning fishing has held up pretty damn good as well; currently tricos are the main morning event and the trout continue to grab an assortment of big flies: purple haze, para adams, elk hair caddis, small hoppers and even large attractors such as chubbies, gypsy kings and so forth...



Birding Trails Montana: Five down...

...one (Custer Country) to go and my new book Birding Trails Montana will be ready for publishing. With over 200 birding sites described and directions how to get there I'm hoping the book will prove a valuable reference for prospecting birders hoping to check-off the 400 plus birds found in Montana. The book is scheduled for publishing in early 2013; prepublished orders can be had by contacting Wilderness Adventures Press, books@wildadvpress.com or phone 1-866-400-2012