Fly Fishing: Big Hole Once Again on the Rise...

The Big Hole is once again on the rise, 6470 cfs this morning. With rain forecast for the next three days no doubt it will go much higher. How high is, as I've mentioned previously, more than I care to guess. Obviously judging this video of Wise River any drop in the near future seems unlikely, rain or no rain...

The crick we had intended to fish was also in full flood mode. I did swing a couple soft hackles through a beaver dam and hooked a very cold brookie which got off just as I was about to slip the hook from its jaw. Further harassment seemed foolish so we took a drive to a nearby crick, also in flood, where for reasons still escape me I rolled up my sleeve and...reached down into the maelstrom to check the bugs...bad idea. I'm here to tell you plunging hand into a bag of ice could not be any colder. I mean my hand and arm went instantly numb...I know at my age should be way beyond such foolishness but...

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...

Fly Fishing: Tiny Troublemaker Strikes Again!!!!

When it comes to dumping mud Clark Canyon Creek is one tough hombre...

Two years ago you might recall CCC runoff is what essentially trashed the fishing below High Bridge; hopefully this time around the silt job is temporary...

Just below High Bridge the mud line disappears and the entire river turns brown, sort of like weak coffee with too much milk added...

This is right below the dam, benign flow of around 300 cfs, obviously clear and good to go...

Now what do you suppose these three dudes are up to? You mean to tell me true blue "sports" such as these three would actually stoop to...Shuffling! NO WAY! 

Seriously, at least to my way of thinking, scenes such as this have become,  way, way too common of late. The "shuffle" (or San Juan Shuffle if you prefer) is no different than chumming and unless I'm mistaken "chumming" has never been, at least in the trout fishing circles I know, accepted practice. But as they "times they are a changing" and...Well hell, how's a fella expected to keep abreast... Who knows?...Who cares?...Right?...over and out...