Montana Fly Fishing: Promising Forecast

Weatherman's promise of cool nights and lower daytime highs over the next week or so should bring an end to at least some of the current hoot owl restrictions on Montana trout streams. On another track the dam operators appear to be slowly reducing the outflow at CCR which should make for better dry fly fishing in the near future. Whether or not the draw down is permanent is of course more than I know though I fail to see how, with the dam now down to around 40% full, the high flow can continue much longer.

The Big Hole flow is currently running 333 cfs this morning at Maiden Rock; I look for that to drop drastically as soon as all the hay is gathered in the upper valley and ranchers start irrigating again in order to insure a good cover crop come winter. Not so good news of course if you are thinking of a leisurely, drag free float anytime in the next month or six weeks or so.

By the way my old fisherman buddy, Steve, is hooked fast to what turns out a dandy brook trout in the above pix.

Montana Fly Fishing: Little Crick-Awesome Trout

Click on Photos to Enlarge

Been a bit hectic around here of late, at least that's my excuse for not posting in awhile. Anyway when not rowing the boat Gale, Annie and me been off in the hills exploring a bunch a cricks most a you know little or nothing about...that is don't (haven't ever) appeared in print. So far as I know none are part of the usual gab heard in the local fly shops and since the trout  are "small" you know as in "got one, oh hell another minnow" ain't much chance of catching the whereabouts in the local pub.

Not that you might be interested but yesterday we fished a really little crick--yeah, even a might tinier than above--Brushy as all get out the hard part was gettin the fly in the water but...oo-ee-baby the cutts that swim there...knock yer socks off they will...well maybe not "your" socks but did ours. Couple almost big enough to gobble the one in hand...honest, cross my heart..well, you know all us fisher folk might a been born honest but...Sorry the girls swore me to secrecy...the rest of the story you will have to uncover your ownself.

Montana Fly Fishing: Rods for Western Rivers...

Yesterday a guy showed up with a nifty bamboo rod, a well-crafted, beautifully fitted creation, a typical work of art created by the "Boo Boys" at Sweetgrass Rods in Twin Bridges. A fine rod to be sure but not one at all suited for the challenging, ever-changing conditions our big western rivers demand. At 7' for a 4wt. the rod ranks right down there with your 7' foot any weight as one the worst, if not "the" worst rods no matter what made of or who made it.

In my experience most anglers, especially those who land in my boat, have no idea how to cast such rods in the first beginning. Beyond that should the conditions warrant tossing big, air resistant bugs or, perish the thought, rigging for deep running...for-get-it. Experts perhaps but rookies and intermediates no way.

Back to yesterday's fiasco: Right from the get-go it was obvious this was going to be one of those days. Either get the fly in the exact right spot, with the exact right drift or suffer the consequences. My guy, though to his credit he tried really hard to get it right, never did. When he did manage to get it out there in almost every case the fly landed in a heap or three feet off the mark or without the proper mend in the air to control drag or worse...Worse being the more frustrated he became the worse his casting and many, many casts ended up in snarls which of course only worsened the frustration quotient. Stubborn to the end he refused to put the pretty rod away, get it on with a "real" rod and well, what can I say.

Trust me, you will have a far better time chucking bugs with a rod at least 8 feet long--9 or even 9 1/2 feet is better. A four or five weight works but a six--the forgotten weight it seems these days--is even better. Rigged properly and, perhaps with a little help from your guide, even if the fish don't cooperate you can at least take satisfaction in knowing you got-er-done as best you could. Better still unlike my guy who went home totally frazzled, actually arm sore, you can at least go home and enjoy the evening--physically and mentaly pain free, even...Imagine.