Fly Fishing: Fly Friday...

...Not long after devoting self to becoming the High Priest of fly chuckers that I found in a heap of socks and underwear beneath the Xmas tree a box marked "Master Guide Fly Tying Kit" or something along those lines...And so began yet another quest...Master...well, you know... 

With nothing much to go on save knowing what a proper trout fly should look like and not a clue--other than a few crude line drawings included in the MGFTK Instruction Manual (at no additional cost, imagine)--how to roll a trout fly...proper or otherwise...

...Well, as was my style back in the day (and some might say continues unabated all these many years later) I gave the  "Instruction Manual" the once over...Then proceeded to whip one up MY WAY...No surprise then the OM pretty much blew it off, "Nice son, but for now think I'll keep on buyin' mine at Dewey's (local sporting goods store). Later he really took me down a peg or two when I heard him say to an uncle, "Don't tell the boy but to me it looked more like a crippled bird."

OK so it might take awhile to rise to the top of the heap, eh?

Admittedly, the Stimulator (above) fell off the vice several decades later...But c'mon now, you gotta admit this baby is way more "proper" than your basic "crippled bird"...Right? Right.

OK any illusions of rising to the top of the fly chucker/tier heap (or to the top of any heap actually) have long since been flushed down the drain. For many years now I've been content in knowing some of my deliveries will fool some of the trout some of the time and for me that is more than good enough all of the time. I know also that of a dozen Stimis rolling off the vice at least a couple in the bunch will turn out "proper" enough to fool at least the dumbest trout in the pool...the rest? Who cares...for if the past half century and change flailings (failings) have taught me one thing...always another pool and...you guessed it...yet another dummy in waiting...Don't spread it around but bottom feeding really ain't all that bad a deal...over and out

Fly Fishig: Times Past and Far Away Places

Early on I discovered the Hornberg...Wet or dry didn't seem to matter so long as I pitched 'em on the straight and narrow...

...but that was later. In the beginning we drowned garden hackle but the bait of choice, seined minnows--run stripers in case you are interested--really got it done. We fished almost exclusively for half-starved brook trout since Pap ran the show and as far as I know never in all his life fished anywhere near where the stock trucks dumped "those friggin' fakes the bastards try to pawn off as trout." Pap was, you might say, somewhat opinionated when it came to fish and fishing methods. Later after I had decided to dedicate my life to becoming an "expert" fly chucker, Pap snorted at the idea. Said to the old man, "Charlie there's somethin' wrong with the boy, I mean, gezzus mighty, fishin' a sissy stick!!!

But as I say flies came later; half-starved brookies were flat out suckers for a strung up "minnie" as we called 'em.  And while it took a few seasons to get the hang of it by the time I graduated high school, not to brag, the hardest part of hauling a limit (8 daily, 6-inch minimum) was keeping the minnies alive in the jar, e.g. for the uninitiated in the audience, "dead minnies work but not for much."  Pap... 


Spinning rods were out there I guess but I didn't own one. Instead made do with telescoping steel poles and later el cheapo bamboo which of course were better though not much. My first bamboo was made somewhere in Asia--probably Japan--back in the day "Made in Japan" was something of a sick joke. The OM won it on a punch board at the Legion and I'm pretty sure the only reason he gave it to me was to try and appease Mom for yet another boys late night out. But that was their business. The important thing was "I" was now proud owner of a "real fly rod" and...Well, as they say, the rest is history; albeit a rather convoluted tale which I will continue to post off and on in the near future as time and duty dictate...over and out...

Fly Fishing: Fly Friday

The Black Magic is one of many spinoffs of the venerable Chernobyl Ant...What the trout think is of course more than I know? But if I was a hungry trout...well I'd be hard pressed to let a buggy lookin' critter such as it is pass by...And probably that's all there is to it...Another one of those imponderables just is...

In my boat, as an attractor patterns go the Black Magic ranks right up there with the Wulffs, Purple Haze, Stimis, PMXs, Gypsy Kings and all the rest. Some days it really is "magic" especially anytime the light dims--early mornings, storm clouds rolling in, darkness falling--but there are days particularly on the upper Big Hole when trout gobble it all day long, bright sun, high cloudless sky be damned...

Such a day last summer serves as prime example...Two older, as in more ancient than even your intrepid reporter, N.C. gentlemen scoffed as I rigged their leaders with Magics...John Robert actually guffawed quite nasty like I might adds...."Sam I told ya'll we shoulda canceled soon as Al pawned us off on Chuck here...In all my days ain't never seen a guide tie on a stupider lookin' bug and two of 'em mind!!!"

Fast forward now to lunchtime...See the pair of Magics, one bears no legs and most of the wing is missing; the other minus a pair legs, just a few wisps of wing hair remains and half the foam body is flat out gone! What you thinkin' now Bro? Chuck you are the MAN! No less a friggin' genius...I rest my case.

Fly Fishing: Why God Made Bourbon...

...spring creeks and tailwaters may not be the Montana's only game in town but to me trumps chopping holes in the ice...period, end of discussion...even if getting around in the snow can and often is a wee bit too much like trying to navigate on stilts...

Chucking bugs in a blizzard is certainly nothing new...your intrepid reporter has been card carrying participant for oh, say three decades and counting. Nor is really all that tough. With today's gear--breathable waders, cushy winter friendly under armor, rubber soled wading shoes (no more felt thank you), windproof fleece, neoprene fishing gloves and such--why hell, most days the toughest part is knockin' little ice from the guides every now and then. Especially if you have the luxury of living close to open trout water and can pick and choose when and when not to go.

Once you get past the idea of freezing your butt, losing fingers, toes and/or the end of your nose to frostbite
or worse, perish the thought, eating skunk you just might find winter fly fishing...dare I say it...kick ass fun. Don't spread it around but trout--especially those lucky enough to live the Life of Reilly immersed in water never freezes; not all that different temperature-wise than early spring or late fall--do eat, most days anyway; better still eat pretty much the same stuff you might try feeding in say July--true story, really. Oh the bugs might be a wee bit smaller than standard fare--#22 midge instead of #18 bwo; you might better slow down the bugger retrieve a little...but in the end winter operations aren't much different than any other season...just a wee bit chillier is all...And that folks is precisely Why God Made Bourbon...here's to ya...

Fly Fishing: Fly Friday...

Pat's Stone, or as we know it in this neck of woods, Pat's Rubberlegs, or just plain Rubberlegs, or perhaps more to the point, the "turd" in the ever popular and productive rig, "the turd and the worm" is indeed one of those "simple ties for simple folks." Best thing is the damn thing catches trout almost anytime, almost anywhere.

So far as I know the "turd" is the handiwork of one Pat Bennett, a guide of some notoriety who works out of Hyde in Idaho, primarily on the Henry's and South Fork of the Snake...At least that's what I hear...

Anyway, as flies go the "turd" is a really simple concoction...lead wire base, chenille body and of course the rubber tails, antennae and legs but...DO NOT SUB rubber for the real deal Flexi Floss or you will I promise be sorry...Yes, the Flexi really does make a difference...Who knows, ask the trout...In other words another of those imponderables just is...

I fish 'em in sizes 4-10 with size 8 probably the most effective day in day out in tandem usually with a San Juan Worm but sometimes some other nymph beneath a bobber. On freestone rivers such as the Big Hole it is a rare day I don't give the "turd and worm" at least a chance to strut its stuff...I can't tell you how many days the pair has saved my butt...And from what I hear most other local guides would second that idea in a heartbeat.

On another track there has been yet another grizz/hunter run-in this one on the Rocky Mountain Front...
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20111111/NEWS01/111110327 

Bears, Bears and....

...more bears! Black bears, grizzly bears, bears in the news almost every day...Run-ins with hunter, run-ins with poachers, run-ins with idiots, run-ins in town, run-ins in wilderness, run-ins everywhere...Pray tell just what the hell is goin' on....To get an idea check out the links below   (click photos to enlarge)

Two Cited for Bloody Bear Bowhunt in a Montana Town....    http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/crime/article_2e1da2e4-09a0-11e1-9b52-001cc4c002e0.html

 Black Bear on Campus Prompts Lockdown....   http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2011-11-02/features/os-bear-scare-high-school-20111031_1_lockdown-ocala-national-forest-tree

 Montana: Nine Grizzlies Trapped and Transferred in Two Weeks                      http://www.dailyinterlake.com/news/local_montana/article_7d070610-01db-11e1-9e25-001cc4c002e0.html

Grand Teton Elk Hunter Injured By Bear
http://www.rexburgstandardjournal.com/news/bear-injures-hunter-in-grand-teton-park/article_e31495e6-03c8-11e1-bd9b-001cc4c03286.html

Grizzly Activity Closes Another Montana Trail
http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_24fb464b-7afc-5e52-8e7d-b3d388b394ef.html

 Bear Attack Leaves Hunter with 40 Stitches
http://www.twincities.com/ci_19211117?source=most_viewed

Montana Elk Hunter Injured in Grizzly Attack
http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_4c9067d8-fdc6-11e0-86e3-001cc4c03286.html

Grizzly Takes a Swipe at a Wyoming Hunter
http://www.powelltribune.com/news/item/8883-hunter-attacked-by-grizzly

 And believe it or not those are just headlines dating back to October 18!....Do you suppose the bears got together over summer and decided something like "OK sharpen your claws tis high time we get even"...over and out...

Snow Goose and Tundra Swan Migration...

...is apparently in full swing judging how just about every puddle we passed yesterday was brimming with both species; and it seemed all afternoon you could hear their cries as flock after flock passed high overhead. Swans setting down on local lakes and ponds this time of year is an annual event. But most years, for whatever reasons, snow geese pass us by; rarely do we see many on the water. No doubt the visit will be short one so...                           (as always click photos to enlarge)

Note the two swans in the right hand corner wondering it appears like c'mon you  guys what's all the fuss is about?

Tundra swans: pens, cobs, cygnets...

...OK quiz time. Pen is the ???? Cob the ???? And cygnet ???? Hint: there are two cygnets in the above photo...Answer: the off color pair at the front of the group. You know that right, just like you know Pens are females and Cobs are males...Those of you who aced this short quiz take a bow...Those who failed, well what can I say...

Snakebite Victim Update...

It's been 15 days since Gale shot this gruesome photo; some 12 hours after Annie's run in with a rattler in the grass beside Freezeout Lake. As I posted previously up until a week ago the leg was not looking good, things were not going well. She would not drink unless forced to and was eating very little. She would not put her foot down instead continued to hop about on three legs...Trust me, for us it was damn frustrating, difficult to deal with and tough to watch. But then last weekend something of drastic turn for the good, the swelling began disappearing, the discoloration began to fade, and every now and then she started using her foot. Better still she began eating although still not drinking anywhere near normal, she did drink.

The above two photos shot a couple days ago show how fast the healing is progressing. The swelling is gone, hair is growing in and except for the two places where dead skin sloughed (also sloughed between her toes where the snake hit) if it weren't for the short hairs you would never know. Especially if you saw her running through the snow this morning...leaping Annie of old fashion from the concrete to the deck...twice mind you...Well hell, can you blame us for cheerin' like two little kids at Christmas...Anyway Dandy Annie is if not herownself at last, my take is she's damn close...Hooray!

The "Last Best River In the Last Best Place" Is Today Even Better...

thanks to Montana's Future Fisheries program. Since 2006 more than 32 miles of the Big Hole River and tributary streams—including Bryant, Swamp, LaMarche, Rock, Big Lake, South Fork Big Swamp, Fishtrap, Berry and Deep creeks—have been or will be restored or protected by the projects.

Projects have included riparian fencing to protect stream banks, stream-channel restoration, and the restoration of riparian areas by planting native grasses and shrubs. In addition, restoration workers installed fish ladders to allow fish passage and constructed additional pools in the river to improve grayling habitat, fashioned hardened cattle crossings, laid pipelines, installed water-measuring devices, and built solar paneled stock-water wells and stock-watering areas. The new stock-watering areas are designed to encourage grazing away from the stream to protect stream-side vegetation and to improve late-summer flows critical for fish survival.

Most of the work is taking place on lands owned by ranchers participating in the nation's largest federally approved Conservation Candidate Agreement with Assurances program. Approved by FWP and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services in 2006, the Big Hole River CCAA includes 32 local landowners with 152,139 acres of private land and 6,030 acres of state land enrolled.

For the rest of the story, work that is ongoing all across the state go to http://fwp.mt.gov/habitat/futureFisheries/