Steamer Dreamer

This past weekend has a little bit of everything mother nature could throw at us, starting out with just a a lot of snow, sleet and rain on Friday and into the evening. Saturday we woke to overcast but nice windless conditions, which would be perfect for throwing streamers and hopefully attracting some of our larger finned friends.

The morning started in cool fashion, beanies and jackets and coffee were in order. However the fish

did not mind, and were on the chase from the onset.

As they say, the tug is the drug, and the boy were we flying high.

Pounding the banks, the fish were right on them. Pulling the lighter streamers through the shallow riffles, the fish were on them. Watching the chase is half the fun.

Might be Sick Longer

Check out the Baetis on the Missouri. No better time to play a little hooky and go fishing this week, strong hatches, fish heads poking up and eating and few people, it Montana…. in April, during the week.

Mark Raisler Photo

Get over and visit Mark, Sara and John at Headhunters, you will not be disappointed.

April Snow Storms Past-

In honor of our little April snowstorm, I was reminiscing of past April storms 

Ms. Floatfisher and I have spent floating, fishing and camping rivers of the west. We hope

we do not have to run into many more of these events. The motel and 5th wheel works just fine 

these days.

 Who left the blessed seat up, this will really piss you off for the morning

ritual. Sure a pretty view though.

 It seems every night we stopped, it had to snow on us. The first night it

was beautiful, the next couple you were over it. 

 Sure makes loading and packing the boat and extra chore.

 When life gives you lemons, you make lemonade and add a little vodka.

Fishing sucked but the float what amazing.

 At least we had a cabin for the onset of the snow, this was just the beginning.

by the end you would not be able to make out the boat.

 Partway through the dugout. 

Moral of the story, don't let a little weather detour you from your expedition.
Sack up and row. Life is short , Fish…….

Oh Baby ............ Gonga

 With the 12-17" of snow that fell the day before, I was hoping for a little more of the nasty, overcast 

weather to bring on the streamer bite. The past couple of weeks, just have not been there, but he dry fly fishing has, so one cannot complain.

Well back to the days fishing, waking to the hopeful day, only to forget that the 15" inches of snow and ice would be waiting in the boat to be scooped out and removed before any fishing would be done.

Being smarter than the average bear,we decided to head up river to the car wash and put hot water to work and remove the ice and snow. A mere 6.75 later and 12 minutes, along with a stop for breakfast,

we were back on track.

Blue skies graced us, much to my dismay, we trudged on , hell bent to make streamers work anyway.

Having slight color to the water, was certainly a help, but it took many changes until we found the pattern the fish would not leave alone.

Damn , yet another Charlie Craven pattern that railed fish all morning long. 

If you have not fished the Baby Gonga Pattern is worth tying or buying as it along with the Dirty Hippy is a proven fish catching machine. The Baby has two hooks in the body, and no fish that hits the fly, escapes. Not only did we bring many to the net, the chases were incredible.

Another great morning on the ditch, nice to see a little snow and moisture.