To Portage or NOT............ NOT.........

On a recent float we were told we would come across a "low" bridge. You often hear about this, but most times you shrug it off and say we can make it. We proceeded to ask a few more questions and decided we could take off the leaning bar just to be on the safe side.

Up stream side of the "low" bridge. Either side looked or appeared the same height

 Straws were drawn and Ms. Floatfisher would maneuver the bridge. No fast water, just had to line it

up, tuck the oars and duck. As you can see the seat hung up in the middle of the bridge, it was definitely a "low" bridge.

 Ms. Floatfisher looks for her audience, to say she made through. Golf claps were heard through the valley. Just a mere scrap on the top of the seat.

 The overall scene is pretty with the bridge, barn and imposing storm. After all said the storm severely damaged the nearby Bannock State Park and many of its historic buildings.

 Time to pickup the photographer and fisherman.  All in the name of catching nice large fish.

Tuesday Morning Cinema- "Yearning" by Outside Bend Productions

Yearning from Outside Bend Productions on Vimeo.

Wake up and enjoy your morning cup of joe with this nice little flick from Outside Bend Productions. Nothing better than seeing a bunch of rising fish on film, better yet, right in front of you. Since we can't this morning. Enjoy "Yearning".

Topping It Off

 Not all weekends are created equal, but most are pretty fantastic. They are hard to beat when they are spent fishing and enjoying life. Fish were on the feed hard again, after a week of off color, dirty water. Fishing the edge of the clear / green water edge line proved deadly to the brown and rainbows that looked up. The usual suspects worked like a charm, with the special tie stimulator taking the largest of the fish. Other great flies included the hot, hot pink chubby . 

 Can't leave out my other favorite little friend, Purple Haze, he participated in the

reindeer games too.

The weekend was capped off sitting by the fire and an evening long rain shower. So, so nice.

Sometimes I Don't Get It

This weekend we were back to our home waters fishing, it had been a while.

After watching the water flows and some other fishing reports in the past weeks, 

area has been getting some much needed precipitation, bringing on some  dirty water from

side canyons and washes to the ditch. As always this sends the area guides and there clients in search of

clean water and places to fish. Earlier in the week as the water was the color of chocolate milk down

stream, everyone floatfishing was forced upstream, however, as the stream cleared late in the week

the lower water was beautiful.

Meanwhile every boat was fishing together on the upper water? Along with every pleasure boater and kayaker and tuber. Down river not a sole, just a little, I mean little off color water. 

This becons my question that I just don't get it?

Many guides will suggest waters to fish that don't look picture perfect to the clients, to the guides know will be totally killer. The clients are simply after hitting the button on their fish counters to mark the success of their trip for the day. It is only about catching fish.  If only they would have listen to their trusty guide, they would caught more fish and had a nicer experience.

I certainly feel sorry for the guides, as they work their asses off, but most clients don't listen, especially when they pay very good money for the day.

All alone down river


Sorry for the rant, don't do it much. Just Don't Get it sometimes.

Salad Days on Silvercreek by bloodknots

SALAD DAYS - Silver Creek from BLOODKNOTS on Vimeo.

A nice little video short on fishing the fabulous

Silver Creek. The team at Bloodknots did a nice job 

of capturing some great bug and fish shots, especially

the last sequence. Enjoy

Random Act of Photo # 1

RAP

Random Acts of Photo is an inspiration of all thing associated with Flyfishing.

Drift Boat Stickers

 Stickers and boats go hand in hand, some of my favorites.

 Streamers, lots of the them, enough said.....

The fishing rig. Lots of aluminum, No spinner rims though.

 Flies, Flies and more Flies

Cigars, there is a reason our boat floor has small holes in it. courtesy of these bad boys. Easier to patch

than quit.

Gimme Some More Tail

The quest continues to get the perfect shot. Must keep working!

Floatfisher Swag Unveiled in Montana

The first batch of Floatfisher swag was delivered and given a test run in Montana. A selection of hats 

of various styles, sizes and colors were given the sniff, logo and dry run with friends, acquaintances and  a few give out for good measure. 

 In addition, various shirts where given the test and run through to make sure the quality and durability were there. Darlene sporting the weathered look and Floatfisher logo while looking for some rising fish.

Ms. Floatfisher, just drinking a little wine and admiring the view. Oh what a view.

Batch #2 on the way, pictures to come.

Side Channels

Sometimes side channels look really good, well so good that you need to stop, get out and fish them.

Much was the case on this small creek in Montana last week. Ms. Floatfisher puttin' the sneak on a weary fish.

 Success, fish to the net. never pass up the opportunity to stop and at least toss a dry or streamer into that great looking spot. The rewards can be very gratifying.

A Little Slice of Heaven -

Once in a while your wife requests to spend a milestone B-day and vacation in the Big Sky State. We were fortunate to have two very nice bosses that allowed us to escape for over two week to float the irrigation ditches of Montana, fish and eat fine foods.  Over the next couple of days I will share some of the sights were lucky enough to see.

Here a just a couple of the highlights.

 We did not have enough fun several days before when Ms. Floatfisher and I took the wrong channel on another ditch and had to portage around a couple of fallen trees, this time we decided to play "Boat Limbo" with the lowest bridge we have ever seen on a creek. We were floating with our great friend Darlene, we thought it would be better to walk around and snap pictures while Ms. Floatfisher ekked through.

 The Chubby is always a constant producer this time of year, along with the purple haze, the Turd and other assorted staples.

 The Big Sky State was well represented with nice browns, rainbows and we can't leave out Mr. Whitey. 

A constant pose for Ms. Floatfisher. Fish On, 

 Not all floats are created equal. Some of the better fishing required rough treatment on the boats. This  particular take-out required the boat to be hauled up the ramp with a tow-strap. Clackacrafts are one tough boat.

 Good friend and fellow blogger Joe Willauer, aka Evolution Anglers was gracious enough to host Ms. Floatfisher and I for a couple of days on his favorite ditch. he did us right. WOW. 

 No trip to western Montana is complete with out breaking one of my Winston's. Might as well drop it off while passing by, beats shipping it at least one way.

 Our great friends Darlene, Jim and Jan completed our trip and made great memories. Along with all the beautiful sights of Montana. Until fall or next year, See next time.

Photo of the Day- "Montana Tail"

Tail shots are cool, I continue to work on the shots, and will until I perfect them, over and over. I love how the light penetrates through the opaque tail, the colors are brilliant.

Happy Ending

Every venture, trip, escaped, escape or just plan old vacation must come to an end a some time. Ours ends tomorrow. Ours ends with a brilliant Montana sunset, thanks to a recent intense thunderstorm and fires to the west. You can not reproduce the brilliant colors of mother nature. 

Than you for a spectacular 20 days Montana. Big Sky Country. 

Camping in the Airstream

Airstream's are cool, everyone seems to want one, especially one of the old classics. Love to see all the caravans of the "oldies" heading up the highways and freeways durning the summer. Our good friends Mike and Barbie have a classic 67' all fixed up and cool lookin'. Here was there break-in trip after it was all gone through and cherried. 

Now it is time for a good old fashioned road trip and get funky.

Dry Flyfishing Montana Style

Floatfisher has been busy floating the rivers of Montana. Spent the day fishing with good friend Darlene and Ms. Floatfisher on another unnamed small creek in western Montana. Water levels are dropping, but fishing is good early in morning. An amy's ant took this beautiful hook jawed brown.

85 miles + floated and counting. Back to fishing. See ya.

Unknown River in Montana

Thanks to Joe Willauer with EvoAngler and Stonefly Inn for hosting Ms. Floatfisher and I for a couple of days on his special waters. Good times, laughs, missed fish and toads were caught during our time on the river.  More photo's of Joe's and EvoAngler to come.

 Joe and Ms. Floatfisher discussing the plan for after lunch. Joe telling Mary that she will catch more large browns and rainbow, she needs to "buck up". A little pep talk to rally the troop.

The little blue boat is a fish railing machine. The little engine that could.

This Hasn't Happened in a Long Time

Have you ever take a side channel that looked so nice, so promising , that it should be filled with fish

from side to side.  Well we did today, just after lunch, we had a decision to make. Do you go right or left, we chose left and man it was great, for the first three bends, then it started to get shallower and narrower! We knew we would be alright, because the main channel was just over the other side of the

trees , by the cliff.

 Just when we thought we were out of the woods. Whamo, the first of two trees across the river, fallen by our little beaver friends. What would we have to do, but go up and over the tree with raft and all the goods. Thank goodness it had a fresh couple coats of 303 to assist with sliding on the grass and misc. tree limbs and tree trunks.

Tree # 1 up and over, without any hassle. Yippee.

 Ms. Floatfisher laughing at the fact I had to document her decision to pick this channel with the camera. At least it didn't end at an irrigation ditch, there is always something to be thankful for.

Thank You Fishing Gods!!

Tough to Take this Much Fishing

Another day on the ditch and catching a few willing participants. The fishing in this part of the state are very healthy and strong, even the smaller fisher are very, very scrappy and hard fighters.

 This is RO Country with a Clackacraft scattered in for good measure. Lots of skiff , which if you have not fished out of them, are a pleasure, as you can sit, spin and cast effortlessly. No crap in the way.

Just the way I like it.

Bighole bound tomorrow for new stretch of water. 

Every Have one of those Mornings?

Ever have one of those mornings when the "fishing karma" is just off. Well yesterday was that kind of day for Ms. Floatfisher and I, you might have guessed we spent a little too much time a the local watering hole the night before, but not the case. Not a cast to go in the right place, pocket or seam. Seems like the casts were "just" a little long into the trees, snagged and tangled. Guess we just did not want to play the bobber and lead game!

 Finally we rounded the corner and the PMD's and Sally's were out in full force. Fish faces everywhere and rising like the Last Supper, always a sight you like to see. This is when the luck changed to the better. Got rid of the split shot and droppers, went to a single dry and BAM!!

 Thank you for treating us to another day great day on the ditch. 

Just a shout out to my Loyal Floatfisher followers who spotted Ms. Floatfisher and I, on the ditch yesterday. Always pretty cool to be out and about and have folks spot you. At least a hack like me.

Thanks.

The Other Day......................

 In every journey you need a great place to remember our trip. We have one, cabin for two, with a mere

1400 acres to enjoy the afternoon sunset, grill a steak and have a little wine.

It's all good. 

Ms. Floatfisher hooked up on a beautiful strong fish. No rowing today,

all fishing for Ms. Floatfisher today. Big fish, no whammies.

Channel Surfing- Montana Style

Fresh off the river, glass of wine in hand, spending great time with Ms. Floatfisher.

This is how you watch TV Montana style. Sit there long enough and the skies and scenery changes.

New From Yeti- The Tank 65

Still on backorder most places, sure to be the next hit, great for camp, the BBQ, a gathering of any type, hell just for keeping you Tecate's cold until your off the river. Maybe even throw the Tank 65 in the back of the drift boat and gather every one up on the next gravel bar. 

Get yours on order. What a great Christmas gift.

Rocking the Floatfisher Swag

Floatfisher swag being rocked out by Kaden. Got to start them young.. The next breed of young fisherman.

Before and After the Fires

Just a few weeks ago we floated the very beautiful Rio Grande River, in SW Colorado. As many

of you have read, the area has been devestated by one of the states largest forest fires, now over 100,000 acres. Thanks to our great and heroic firefighters they managed to save the small historic town of Southfork and Creede, CO.

As you can well imagine, the landscape will forever be changed in this area, the once plush green, littered with beetle kill is now fire scarred.  Yet another western river that will have to survive the test of  time with silt and ash .

God speed to a quick recovery for all the people, homes and our precious river. You are still able to fish it and it is fishing very well right now. Get down and support the folks of Southfork if you can.

"Mayfly Emerger" by flymage flytying

FLYMAGE FLY TYING 13 from Flymage Fly Fishing Magazine on Vimeo.

Although the video has captions, the fly is well done and is one that should be tied and placed in your box. Well done by Mikel.

"Riverrat Squid- Fly Pattern

"Riverrat Squid"

Photo of the Day- "Rusty Nutz"

"Rusty Nutz"

It all about sums it up! 

Fly Pattern of the Day- Marabou Steelhead Pattern

Marabou Steelhead Pattern (Variation)

Hook: TMC 7999, Sz: 2-4

Thread: Black 6/0

Rear Marabou: Fire Orange

Krystal Flash: Red (In between two colors of marabou)

Flashabou: Gold

Front Marabou: Red

Head: Black 6/0 Thread