Does it Get Any Better?

Once again I visited my early season love and once again was rewarded with a better day of fishing than most anglers could conjure up in their imagination.  Each time I pull into the parking area I expect my secret will be out and there will be three cars and I'll have to go someplace else.  It hasn't happened yet, as I pulled up to an empty parking area once again.  I hiked right into the good area, bypassing a spot that holds 1 good fish 50% of the time that I usually take 5 minutes to fish.  It started slow and I began to think that perhaps the good fishing was winding down on this stream.  It is amazing that in just 9 days it has gone from off color and spilling over it's banks to gin clear and 18" below the banks.  That's the beauty of low gradient streams though, one day you feel like it will be dirty for a month and a week later it's in perfect shape. 

I got a couple of fish and thought it would probably be a good day, just a bit slower than it has been.  With the caddis, pmds, and small green stoneflies I was seeing I started wondering if I should start fishing some different bugs.  Then I caught this beautiful male Rainbow.


The worms in the net were regurgitated

 After I released this fish I counted all the items it regurgitated in the net.  The result was 13 worms and 1 leech.  The interesting thing is I've been fishing a tandem set up of a leech and a worm with the ratio of hookups between them about the same, 12 fish on the worm for each fish on the leech. 

With confirmation that switching flies wasn't the answer I started working the water a bit faster, assuming now that I would probably just need to cover more water to find the willing fish.  The strategy paid off pretty quickly with plenty of fish being hooked up and most actually being landed. 

I made the decision I would venture further upstream than I ever have in the past.  The willows get thicker and visibility of the surrounding terrain drops dramatically in the upper portion of the stream.  This has kept me from fishing it, particularly by myself, as the possibility of running into a bear or moose goes up pretty drastically in this area.  I also wasn't sure I'd even find many fish in the upper reaches as the assumption is that none of the quality fish are full time residents and the further I would hike from the lake the less likely I'd find good fish. 

As I worked my way up I continued to hook up.  In fact I hooked up a heavy fish that I got a glimpse of as it was on for a minute or so, but never saw it in it's glory as it got off.  I was optimistic at this point and when I turned the bend I saw this perfect looking water.

At times I'll do stupid stuff like make a 50' cast when I could cover the same water from a different angle with a 30' cast.  This time I consciously moved myself into the best position to get a drift under the willows on the right.  Before casting I tightened my drag as I believed there could be a large fish under the willow and if I didn't get it out of there quickly I'd get broken off in a hurry.  I made one perfect cast and the take was exactly where it was supposed to be.  I might have been able to set on this with my eyes closed as it was one of those moments where things went exactly how I envisioned them from the placement of the cast to the very spot where the fish took.  Immediately a football shaped Brown exploded out of the water 2'.  I turned the fish out from the willows and got her on the reel and watched her explode out of the water another time.  It's at these moments when I question the choice of the 3wt rod I've been nymphing with exclusively of late.  However, I was able to get her turned and ultimately get her to the net. 

22" 4lb Brown

That's the second Brown of 22" and 4lbs or better I've landed in this stream in the past 10 days.  Keep in mind this is not only not a fertile tailwater, it isn't even a stream that is considered to be worth spending time on.  I had the entire stream to myself yesterday once again. 

As I hiked out I couldn't help but think, how fortunate I am to have days like this.  There are rivers in the area that get written about in books and magazines that people spend thousands of dollars to come fish that won't deliver as many 16" fish in a summer of fishing them hard as I caught yesterday.  Forget about 4-5lb Browns, contrary to the lore, very few of those get caught in freestones in Montana in a summer at all.  The best part though, is that I had this gem all to myself, as is usually the case.  If I were a billionaire I couldn't improve on that, it's like I have my own private fishery full of big, beautiful, powerful fish and don't have to share it with anyone.

Thrill of Victory....WTF

So I've been paying attention to my springtime mistress of late having fished it 5 times in the last 8 days.  The water is now clear and dropping daily and the fishing remains fantastic.  As I prepared to drop down to the creek I scanned the meadow for grizzlies.

No grizzlies in sight so I dropped in and got to work.  The first deep bend, that a week ago was impossible to drift the bottom of as it was too deep, delivered 5 fish.  Meanwhile I saw 4 fish rise, the first fish of the season to rise on this gem.  It wasn't enough to get me to put on a dry as the fishing was just too good down and dirty. 

I worked my way upstream slowly and methodically, hooking up more 15-19" Rainbows than anyone has a right to in a day.  Unfortunately I had my share of breakoffs and other losses but enough were also making it to hand that it was all good. 

I fished a familiar spot hard as it usually delivers a few fish.  It didn't disappoint as some quality Rainbows were caught.  I figured I had probably taken as many fish as I was going to in this spot but figured I'd make one more cast.  The result was a heavy hookup and large Brown flying out of the water.  The fish was a few pounds and in the low 20 inches.  It proceeded to kick the everliving crap out of me.  It made a beeline downstream, making the drag on my reel scream.  It became apparent I wasn't going to be able to stop this run so I got in the stream and waded as quickly as I could downstream and eventually across the stream in pursuit. 

The Brown was hooked where the picture was taken, landed around the bend downstream.

Finally, a solid 100 yards downstream from where I hooked up I had it close enough to see.  What do I see?  The freaking thing is hooked on the gill plate.  I thought it was fair hooked as I could feel the head shake and when it jumped it was apparent the fly was in its face.  While in it's face, it wasn't in it's mouth so I couldn't count it.  Believe me, I wanted to say, "it was hooked in the mouth and during the fight it slipped out and hooked the gill plate".  Perhaps, but probably not.  It is funny how something that provided the exact same amount of thrill and excitement as if I had it hooked in the mouth turned sour when I realized the hook was 1.5" away from where I thought it was?  Strange game we play...

I felt the need to get a picture, but not the need for a good picture.

Favorite Spring Fishing Spot

While summer is set to officially arrive on the calender tomorrow, here in the Northern Rockies it feels more like early spring.  We continue to have cool, wet weather and our rivers and streams continue to be mostly chocolate milk.  After 6 months of winter it does start to get old. 

There is however a stream that fishes best this time of year, in fact, in a normal year I might only fish it for the first few weeks in June.  This year it is over its banks and will likely hold fish well into July.  It is a stream that the local shops insist is crap.  They say it used to be good before the fires of 89, they say it isn't worth risking bumping into a bear or moose.  They say if you must go, take several fishing buddies and plan on seeing some pretty country but not catching any fish.  To be honest, on any given day all of this might be true.  I can spend a few hours there and wonder if there are any fish in it.  I've yet to run across a bear or moose but in all likelihood will at some point as the area is directly in a migratory corridor. 

However, on a good day, I get the stream all to myself and catch plenty of fish while experiencing one of the most beautiful places to fish that I know of.  The fish are not usually easy to come by but patience and persistence are rewarded with fish that average 18" and with virtually none under 16".  Meanwhile most anglers in the area are elbow to elbow on the Firehole vying for their chance to catch a 12" arsenic laced fish. 

This weekend I spent half of each day on this favorite spring time fishery and was rewarded for my labor.  Saturday I took my life into my hands and ventured out by myself.  While it started slow, when it finally got going, it was fantastic.  The smallest fish was a 17" Rainbow with the biggest being this 22.5" Brown that was pushing 5lbs. 

I was shocked when this fish took my offering as the fish in this stream are generally Rainbows 16"-19" with an occasional Brown in that range.  Had someone asked me to provide odds on landing a pig Brown in this spot they wouldn't have been high.  The fish fought hard, especially considering I was fishing my 3 wt, and with the stream having gone over it's banks it was a challenge landing it as even 50' from the edge of the stream the water was 12" deep.  I was able to scoop her up and run to the nearest spot I could lay her down, measure and photograph.  Needless to say I was pretty excited as 4-5lb fish are not a common occurrence, no matter what the fly shops would have you believe.  Let alone on this under appreciated, bear infested stream.

After hearing of my good fortune on Saturday my fishing buddy decided he'd use his Father's Day hall pass to head up to creek with me on Sunday.  Again, we had a slow start but we stuck with it and finally were rewarded with quality fish.  He didn't knock them dead but he did land a quality 19" Rainbow and I was able to get a dozen or so that maintained a solid 17" average.  Of course there was one that got away that I'd suppose was much bigger.  By the way it pulled, doubled over my rod, and promptly broke off I think it was a heavy fish.

With the summer bed and breakfast season in full force in our house I plan on hitting this little gem again next weekend.  Who am I kidding, I'll be back before then. 

19" Rainbow

Here are a few bonus shots of some mountain goats we had the pleasure of seeing at another spot.  As rare as these are to see, we've been fortunate enough to see this family last spring and this spring at the same spot.  Amazing animals to watch climb nearly vertical slopes.

One fish wonder

So my buddy called me and wanted to sneak out and fish for a few hours today.  There are next to no options right now to fish moving water near Bozeman as run off is underway and will be for some time. 
He wanted to head up to the nearest "clean" water and give it a shot.  Bottom line the fishing was bad.  However I did land the biggest Brown I've caught on this river.  It wasn't huge, but it was a good 18" Brown, which is a big fish in this spot.