Ushering Out 2015

Wow, seems as though 2015 just started and now we are ushering it out. How fortunate Mary and I were to enjoy a great year, catching fishing every month of the year. Our first ever, hopefully many more to come, now that the easier years are coming in our life, hopefully to enjoy the warm water species in the colder months of Colorado.

 January and February started out with several small trips to our favorite haunts on the Arkansas River, then culminating in San Diego working the bay with shoot heads and sinking heads fishing for a plethora of small fish. 

April and May would provide some amazing BWO and streamer fishing on both the Colorado and Arkansas Rivers, as water was plentiful due to great late snowpack. 

Mid-summer would take us to the Rio Grande to hoot and holler a little with friends and catch a few the nice brown fish that reside on this side of the state. Certainly a watershed that has a short window to float, but well worth the trip and the beauty factor is a 10.

July would also that us to two weeks "holed" in Montana fishing the Missouri River, fishing those pesky Tricos , PMD's , Caddis and terrestrials. If you have every wanted to find a great place to see 4th of July fireworks, Craig, MT will not disappoint. Needless to say, we are going back this year, what a hoot.....

Dancing in the streets , Fireworks launched off the roof of Headhunters, cocktails at Joe's. Fishing at sun-up, now that is a recipe for FUN.

 The Adipose spent a lot of time on the Colorado River this year, the water and fishing was very good. Streamers, Streamers, Streamers... Did I say Streamers were very good.

 September put us on the Deschutes for our first Spey only trip. Another great trip as both Mary and I were successful in landing several steelhead on the swing. Not bad for a couple of rookies. The camp, food and jet boat trip up the river was great time.

 Proof - 1st steel on the swing.

kuchynkaPHOTO continues to keep me very busy, as year # 2 was a complete success, thanks to great friends to help me out. 

78 fishing days later, the 2015 fishing season has come to an end in Louisiana , with our first trip chasing these beautiful creatures. We are hooked and looking forward to our next trip to the marsh.

I could do this all winter too.

With 7 different State fishing Licenses purchased, 18 different rivers fished, 7 "new" species of fish  

added to our list of fish caught, we say Thank You 2015, what a great year.

Baby's Lipstick

Baby's Lipstick

Intruder Shank: OPST Intruder Shank

Thread: Fl. Green UTC 70

Body: Lagartun Fl. Chartreuse Flat Mini Braid

Collar: Medium Pink Palmer Chenille

Top Wing: Purple Holographic Flash

Under Wing: Silver Angel Hair
Collar: Medium Grey Palmer Chenille 

Intruder Wire: Senyo Intruder Wire - Red

Hook: Gamakatsu Octopus # 4

Head: Fl. Green UTC 70 Thread
( coat of Clear Cure Goo)

Bloom' s Tungsten Dart

I found this pattern several years ago when fishing the Missouri River, since then, this fly has been a staple fly for the many caddis rich rivers we fish in west. A fantastic nymph to use when running through the riffles, or dragging behind a dry if that is your thing. Pattern does not require many materials, and is very simple to tie. Get a row in you caddis box going.

Bloom's Tungsten Dart

Hook: TMC 3761, Sz: 12 - 16

Bead: Silver Tungsten

Thread: Tan 8/0

Body: Golden Brown UV Ice Dubbing

Soft Hackle: Natural CDC

Collar: Golden Brown UV Ice Dubbing 

Midge Box

We are in the deep throws of winter and small midges rule the deep, slow 

pools that are free of ice this time of year. Time to get out and enjoy, those iced up 

guides. Fish on....... 

Let There be Peace on Earth

Merry Christmas to all, may your day be filled with joy and family. Now is a

to reflect and be thankful for all the wonderful people in our lives. Along the way,

we get to visit and see some amazing places too, I am grateful. 

Merry Christmas to all...

Little Havana

 I will just let these artists tell their story. I believe the photos capture it best.

Morning Joe with Howler Bros.

A little Orphan Girl and coffee on snow filled morning . If you have not tried the bourbon cream liqueur from Butte, MT called Orphan Girl, you are missing something special in your morning coffee. 

Just Sayin'

Produced by Headframe Spirits, Butte, MT,

Holiday Tail

Ho, Ho, Ho, a little tail a dressed in red for Santa.

Just missing the milk and cookies....

" The SONNY "

Lookin' for a little something crazy for the holiday, well belly up and order 

a Sonny. Let's just see how tough you are. 

" The SONNY"

1 1/2 onces vodka

3/4 ounces Kahlua

3/4 ounce whole milk

Ice

Cocoa Puffs , to taste

Chasin' Tail

Focus, focus, Focus - our guide Shane Mayfield had a keen eye and intense focus

while standing on the platform scanning the flats and oyster beds. Patience is also a virtue of Shane's ,

as we "muffed" a few casts, could not see the fish, or could not tell "Flats Time" and was casting or looking to the wrong area. Damn rookies. 

The mark of a great guide, never said a word, put us on many fish, and we had a great time.

" Above ILiamna " by Jason Ching

Right in the heart of the Pebble Mine debate and area, Jason captures absolutely 

stunning footage of the sockeye salmon spawning run. If you are not inspired, as to 

we need to protect these native, wild and pristine area's, then kick back and watch this.

This is not about one fishing trip, a bunch of hero shots, just simply mother nature at work.

Wrong Line

Once in a while if you do not scout, or you pick the wrong line to run a rapid, it can have disastrous results. On a recent trip on the Deschutes this nice aluminum dory was the scene of river excavation and rescue. The unfortunate rower, was unharmed, but sank the boat in a very dangerous rapid, by not scouting the rapid he was unfamiliar with . 

Obviously by the picture, he totaled his lovely boat, paid for a river rescue and had

a little humiliation from all the on lookers.

At least he and his cargo passengers were safe and unscathed in the incident, that is most important.

Scout your lines.....

ShuttleSnap

Shuttles via APP, shut the fuck up. Now you can do it. Our friend, guide and one very talented photographer Brett Seng has recently developed an online mobile application for help us to 
arrange river shuttles. As you will read on his website it combines the services of marketing and reservation tool into one, for the licensed shuttle providers, making a one stop shop for us the consumer .
Having used the service several times last summer, it made the process of finding as reliable shuttle
service much easier for the "out of towner". Yet still supporting all the local fly shops and vendors.
The best of the best.

Partnering up with many of your favorite fly shops in Montana and Idaho, you are supporting many great small businesses. Just a few of the great shops that participate in SHUTTLESNAP. 

HeadHunters Flyshop- Craig, MT - Anderson and Platte- Flyshop - Dillon, MT - 

Sunrise Flyshop - Melrose, MT - Four Rivers Fishing Co. - Twin Bridges, MT

The Stonefly Fly Shop- Butte, MT

Give ShuttleSnap.com a try when in western Montana or on the Henry's Fork

Chasing Bad Luck -Livitfilms

The video short keep getting better and better as the DSLR's , drones and editing software 

come into the range of the average joe. With all that said, it certainly takes the talent behind 

each discipline to pull off these film.

Enough of my muttering, pour a cup of joe, maybe a little Baileys to supplement the flavor this

morning and enjoy.

" Chasing Bad Luck" by Livitfilms

                  

Flats "Floatfisher" Edition

Just fading into the background as these great fish deserve the limelight.

The shrimp, crabs and watching these guys flare there gills and inhale the flies.

Woodland Plantation

There are fishing destination and then there are fishing destinations, the Woodland Plantation does not

disappoint. Planted near ground zero for some of the best Louisiana Red Fishing one can imagine. Hundreds of miles of marsh flats along with the open water just out of Venice.

The Big House is home to nine spectacular room, as well as a great porch for having your favorite cocktail and cigar.

The plantation also has a few of these critters roaming the grounds, nothing you have to worry about,

but pretty neat to see for a boy from the west. A pretty awesome sight to see a bunch  of red beady eyes looking at you in the light of a full moon, not to mention the sign the reads, BEWARE OF SNAKES and GATORS.

All thats missing is a bottle of Balvenie and couple cube of ice. Come on now....

" Spirit Hall" formally St. Patrick's Catholic Church, circa 1883, was moved to Woodland Plantation in 1998 for Someplace, LA, 14 miles south of Woodland and restored into a beautiful dining dining and reception hall. With huge vaulted barrel ceilings, chandeliers and gothic stained windows, mahogany bar with arched panels and Brazilian cherry wood floors, Spirits is truly and exquisite, and soothing and historic building.

The stained glass window in Spirits Hall were amazing, and the glow at night even more amazing.

Spirits Hall, would be the main gathering place for fresh shucked oysters at happy hour, amazing meals that would include rack of lamb, fresh grouper, gumbo's, corn and shrimp chowders.

They even prepared two Thanksgiving Dinner for us, one at 2 PM and 7:30. 

Crazy, amazing food.

" Magnolia Store " cabin sits at the front of the property, and houses three rooms in the front, and
two single rooms in the rear.

Our view many evenings after fishing while enjoying a cigar and scotch.

Farewell Woodland, Thanks for a great trip and memory.

Photo of the Day - Fall Brown

" Fall Brown " by kuchynkaPHOTO

Randoms # 873