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...

Fly Fishing: Beaverhead R&D Trip

Al Lefor, Great Divide Outfitters and your reporter did a R&D trip on the upper Beaverhead River today...while I would like to report gangbuster fishing truth is was sort of slow...Clark Canyon Creek had things mudded up again, not terrible but not so hot either...hey you know all us pro's can come up with a fine line of BS at the drop of a hat so...Anyway we worked hard, had a good time, enjoyed the nice day probably did not learn a whole lot but what the hell, tis after all fishin' OK  perhaps more to the point wishin'...whatever. (click on photos to enlarge)

 

Yes, I know both trout are sportin'  San Whammys...what can I say other than we did try a bunch of other stuff including dries after Al thought he saw/heard a riser...true story, hallucination, too much sun who knows, who cares...

Fly Fishing: Guide Wars Part 1

Cased caddis were difficult to find in the Beaverhead River below High Bridge...

...following the countless tons silt deposited in the river from Clark Canyon Creek three springs ago. But thanks to a the powers that control the outflow from Clark Canyon Dam for upping the winter discharge and to Mother Nature's remarkable healing powers cased caddis as well as the rest of the indigenous aquatic insects appear to well on the way, if not all the way, recovered. At least that is my take after rolling rocks Sunday in between tending to John and Cleery who were enjoying a fine day of fishing. No hatch to speak of nymphs turned the trick: Ray Charles, Micro May, Serendipity, BH PT and well, just about anything in size 16 and 18 did the trick. As usual the big ones mostly got away and there were of course those did not quite make it to the net but as the man once said, "the catching is but a small part of it"...Right.

Bob had the hot hand yesterday, putting a feisty rainbow in the net at the launch while I got the boat ready...

Cleery I think would agree struggled mightily early yesterday and on the Big Hole Saturday but...

...to his credit persevered and around lunch time caught his first trout...

Which buddy, Todd, masterfully netted. Shown here lending a helping hand to his hard working guide, Wes. And from then on there was no stopping him as he hooked up several more between here and the takeout.


Saturday we fished the Big Hole. Conditions pointed to a great day but as we all know conditions are not always what they appear. While we did catch a few the hook ups were indeed few and far between. There were caddis around but the trout seemed uninterested. So we stuck to nymphs: SJW, Prince, BH PT, Caddis emerger, Pat's Rubber Leg. We saw little wildlife but a  baby moose, apparently all alone for mama moose was nowhere to be seen, wandering the banks bawling pathetically was sort of heartwrenching...hopefully both were soon reunited...