Montana Fly Fishing: Hot Fly...

When it comes to fly choice I'm pretty much old school, as in pretty much set in my ways. Traditional to the core you might say...Parachute Adams, Humpies, Stimis, Elk-hair caddis, PTs, Hare's Ears, Princes, Lightning Bugs...well you get the picture. Part of this behavior can be blamed on an aging mind just can't assimilate the flood of new patterns hit the streets these days like pouring rain. Of course every now and then one comes along just looks (even to me) too good to not at least give it a fair shot at gaining a permanent spot in my fly box. Such as the Bighorn Sally (above) which as its name implies is a pattern developed I suppose by a Bighorn guide (sorry don't know who) looking to come up with a simple pattern to mimic the Yellow Sally with a little twist to hopefully make it more appealing to the trout.

Based on the current "hotspot" rage--which by the way even I am slowly becoming a believer--the fly really is simple to tie--dubbed body, stack and tie in deer hair wing, tie in the hackle, ice dub the thorax, wind the hackle, whip finish and that's it.

The good news is of late it has become my go-to dry, far out fishing the old standby Elk-hair caddis, traditional yellow sally patterns and running neck and neck with X-caddis, a recent addition to my arsenal of down-wing favorites. The other day, after fooling several trout, I noticed the hackle had come loose so just for the hell of it I snipped it off, dried the fly and next cast my fisherman hooked another. Hm-m-m says I, so dried the hackleless version once again and soon found another in the net...My theory the hotspot is key, the hackle not so much, maybe even unnecessary...stay tuned. So far a #14 has been working best; but I've got bunch of #16 ready and waiting should the need arise to downsize the offering.

Anyway if caddis are hatching in your river give the ol' girl a go...I'd be surprised it doesn't at least make you think on becoming a hotspot devotee...over and out...Chuck

Montana Fly Fishing: Back In Action...

I haven't posted for awhile for a variety of reasons, not the least of which being a really long run (for an old man) on the sticks. Also I have been wanting to change the content from less a personal rant to a more one information driven. Assuming any of you once faithful followers are still out there, I hope you like the change.

For starters the fishing has been very good overall with a few exceptions, mostly due to changing conditions. For example a few days ago Ralph enjoyed a fantastic day pitching dries (X-caddis and Bighorn Sally were the hot ticket items) between Maiden Rock and Browne's Bridge (Big Hole). Except for one short period when the sun burst through the heavy cloud cover the action was pretty much non-stop end to end. Contrast that to the absolutely awful day before yesterday Burke and Chad experienced and, well it makes one wonder if perhaps there had been a fish kill; despite both staying totally focused we managed just a handful of trout, all but one on the small side, and even the whitefish (except for the 6-10 inchers) seemed to have vanished. If I were to guess what would have to blame the high, cloud free sky, bright sun and especially in the afternoon the river (Big Hole) seemed a little warm. Of course it could have been just me...feel free guys I got big shoulders and a tough skin to boot. Besides yesterday Terry reported nearly non-stop dry action in the same stretch of river and you guessed it cloud city once again saved the day. By the way they got the Big Hole Slam--brown, brook, grayling, cutthroat (cuttbow), rainbow and whitefish...an added attraction to be sure.

Not much to say about the Beaverhead other than if you ain't been you really should...great nymphing anytime and should the clouds roll in the dry fly fishing is really picking up.

Little creeks and Clark Canyon Reservoir are as they say on fire. Check the Anderson and Platt fly shop to see what's hot.

Montana Fly Fishing: Wild country, wild water, wild trout, wild flowers...

As they a picture really is worth a thousand words...in this case about says it all, don't you agree.