June 21, 2014. I think I’ve found my favorite river. People asked me that all last year, but I could never narrow it down to just one river…until now. At least at this particular place in time. We rafted about a 15-mile section on a day with a perfect temperature with so many fish, we became giddy. Oh… and dry flies the entire day with tons of stone flies and salmon flies. Truly, it doesn’t get any better.
Here’s one of the conversations. Ok… start casting now. Get your cast in that “V” in between those two streams coming together and just behind that rock. Ok… yes, good cast. Mend. Shorten your line. Oh, my gosh! There he is! You’ve got him! Hold on. Don’t fight too hard. Bring him in! You did it! Look at this beauty! A perfect westslope cutthroat! That’s the first time I’ve seen someone get that fish in that spot… says Russell, owner of the Missoulian Angler. I did it! I did it!
And this happened over and over again. If I cast to the right spot, there was almost always a fish there – and they were some of the most beautifully colored fish I’ve ever seen. And the surroundings – absolutely drop dead gorgeous.
OK, Shell – a little too enthusiastic. But wow, just wow.
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June 20, 2014. My husband Florian and I met David Hufman at the Grizzly Hackle Fly Shop in Missoula this morning. I had the pleasure of fishing with David last October under very different conditions on the Blackfoot. The Clark Fork ended up being too “big” and muddy from runoff, so we headed over to the lower section of the Blackfoot.
The area I fished in October was occupied by a Grizzly Bear and two cubs feasting on a dead carcass. A couple guides had the bear threaten them as they rounded a corner and unexpectedly ran into the Grizzly! It’s very uncommon for there to be Grizzlies in this part of Montana.
We saw all kinds of bugs rising up from the river and mostly fished with dries – both golden and salmon flies although we did catch a few under the surface with some girdle bugs and San Juan worms. We had a couple of double pickups throughout the day, but the photo here is of two really nice rainbows. Lots of west slope cutthroats – very cool.
It feels great to be back fishing in Montana – but nothing will ever match up to my amazing journey last year. Just need to make new pathways…
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For the next 2 weeks, it’s back on the rivers. This time I’m going fishing on the Clark Fork, Rock Creek, the Smith, the Missouri, the Bitterroot and Silver Creek. Three new, three repeats from last year.
Right now I’m in Sheridan, WY on the way to Missoula, MT in my ‘luxury’ camper with my husband. Luxury means 21 feet instead of my 13 foot SCAMP, a table to sit at instead of my bed, a microwave and oven, and a queen-sized bed. Just a means to an end, but nice the luxury model after a 5-year hiatus.
So, a seven hour drive through big sky today. The cloud patterns are beautiful this morning. I’ve got my camera and tripod out and I’m ready to capture this all too short 2 week holiday.
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