Montana Spring Creek

Done spending another week visit Big Sky country, and the hospitality of the all was impeccable. A little wind, rain, sun and plenty of fish. We were treated to many scenes like this along the way.

Silvey's Bead Head Caddis Pupa

This trailer continues to good producer combined with the Two-bit hooker, both in olive and black, dropped 18-24" behind the point fly.

Well Chewed

Water is high but fish are eating on the edges occasionally if presented correctly

and the fish are looking up. This pattern proved itself as it was well chewed but intact

and ready for more action tomorrow. 

Sometimes

Sometimes, the fishing gods are with you and sometimes not. This is the time of the year you dance with the devil. All the free stone rivers are going through there ritual of blowout flows and unfishable 

flows. Many folks turn to the reliable tailwater fisheries, that are often more stable, but are suspect to rising flows too, as reservoirs and impoundments need to release water to make room for additional water that is coming. 

Such is the case currently, on many tailwater fisheries. Increased flows can create opportunities that do not normal exist, as off-color and dirtier water allows larger flies to be fished.

Colorado River Brown

Always beautiful, the close-up photo of the brown trout skin is alway unique, especially to each river drainage. This patch comes from the Colorado River drainage. 

Guide Duties

Guide Duties - take on a different meaning to everyone. Many of the friends we have made of the years of visiting the great waters of the country, involve the friendships we have developed with our friends and guides we frequently visit and fish with on the river. Many simply love the fish, waters and all things involving fish and people. Many put in long, exhausting days, making sure the boat is clean, lunches are made, water is scouted, and if all goes well, some fish are caught. 

That is catching is great, and we have had some great trips, but we have also had some mediocre fishing and exceptionally fun trips because the guides add the humor, knowledge of the area and relaxation to the day. Far more important the just fish count, well for some, hope your not one of those.....

Find the goods one, treat them well, explore new water, find new ones.

Life is short.

The Royal Chubby

So very hard to find, the Royal Chubby should only be fished on those 

special occasions.

Wait till the fish have seen all the other patterns in the box, then break out the "Queen".

Sure to entice the most curious trouts .

riverside graffitti

Sometimes the river and it's surroundings are the perfect spots for love scorn people

to share their heart broken poetry with us happy go lucky fisherman. 

Obviously this poor sole had a bad day.

old skool -Simms

Takin' it back old skool this weekend with one of the first lids from Simms.

Keep it simple...

Smith River Line Up

A little throw back photo to one of our favorite river floats in the country. May June and July are the peak times to be on this glorious slice of heaven. Although the fishing can be decent, the float and camping is shy you go, at least you should. Catching fish is only a bonus to the entire trip. No permit this year, but we will try again next year, maybe as a resident it will help. 

Our Little River

Our little river is starting it's slow transformation toward runoff. With recent releases from several of the reservoir upstream combined with increased native inflows from the various feeder creeks, 

Although still very fishable in many of the stretches it seems the fish and fishing is a bit off of it normal "good - excellent" status. Fish are being relocated daily to new holding water, Once soft seams are now fast or roiling waves. Baren shore line is now starting to get covered up, and will become the new summer holding water. This is always welcome sight, as the river needs a flushing 

of silt and mud .

Get you last week or so in, time to explore your favorite still water fisher, ( might consider hiring Larry Friedrich's with Arkanglers ) for some great fishing on Spinney Reservoir. 

or find a tailwater that is not too overly crowded.

Find Your Water - " Desert Oasis" by Redington

After watching this nice short by KGB Productions and Redington, We will be adding the 

Devils River to our list of destinations to visit and float. The ambience of the desert setting, emerald green waters and variety of fish how can you say no.

Redfish Banks

The winding marsh banks lead to endless miles of redfish habitat during the right tides.

Poling these banks offers hours of great opportunity for tailing and feeding fish.

Copper Caddus

Copper Caddus

Hook: TMC 100 BL, Sz: 12-16

Thread: Veevus Tan 8/0

Body: Copper Halo Tinsel

Hackle: Whiting Brown Saddle

Wing: Elk

" Wildness " by Twofisted Heart Productions

Just a beautiful short by Twofisted Heart Productions, stunning footage and superb storyline.

Enough said, watch and enjoy...

Tails

" Tails "

by 

kuchynkaPHOTO

bk shrimp

" bk shrimp "

by

kuchynkaPHOTO

Terrestrial Orgy

" Terrestrial Orgy '

Ant, beetles, crickets and hoppers all together for fun.

Ushering in May

Mayday, mayday, snow would greet both Saturday's and Sundays fishing excursions. Blowing snow snow would be present on both days but would not hamper the fishing, Again, I would chose to throw streamers the vast portion of the time, the fish were not over eager to eat them again, We did get fa few nice ones to play, but they would favor the slow drifted nymph.