Evening on the Deschutes River

As the sun slowly sets, and the last few long casts, and drifts with the hopes of 

landing that one last steelhead of the day, fade away. Soon we will loaded on the jet boat head

back to camp for cocktails and fabulous meal, cooked streamside.

What a way to spend a couple of days. 

Oh, so ready to go back and do it again.......

Contradiction by Redington

     

Escape to Montana's  legendary Bighorn River with Rich,  a fly angler and hard-rock miner form 

Billings who works hard to play hard no matter the season. he understands what it means to be a 

contradiction, and his store highlights the nuanced relationship every angler has with the river. At the of it all, though, Rich understands one vital truth about his identity. He's a fly fisherman, just like the rest of us.

Just around the Corner

Oh, just around the corner will be the Tax Day or Mothers Day Caddis hatches everyone 

loves to chase and fish in the Rocky Mtn. West. I just love the way the trout crash, slash, jump and 

explode out of the water to chase these great bugs. 

My recent favorite of past couple of years is the Delectable Caddis, fished with either the legs on , or 

plucked off, your simple choice. Either way will slay.

New Friends

It always amazing how you meet new fishing friends and keep in touch. Well when I met Bob and his wonder wife Nancy they were joining Mary and I for a wonderful saltwater trip chasing bones, permit and tarpon, while learning more creative ways to use our cameras. Since the Bob and I have kept in touch and will meet in Montana in a few weeks to pester the trout of the Big Sky country.

Heres to new found fishing friends and your old trust pals!

Fish Hard life is short.

The Home Stretch

The Home Stretch - as you roll from the dam or Wolf Creek Bridge into Craig on the 

Missouri River. Always means you can get the boat loaded and head to Joe's for a cold one.

Foundations by Shane Scherholz

A real quality story line and excellent videography by Shane Scherholz. A great morning 

watch with a cup of coffee, before the morning newspaper. Great inspiration....

Addition to the Family

Spring has spring, and so did the checkbook, as Floatfisher added another element to the camera arsenal, with the Aquatech Elite underwater housing for our Nikon D750. In following some of the great fishing photographers that are out there these days, the 50/50 shots and water releases are quite beautiful. As we get the opportunity to travel and visit a few more of the freshwater and especially the saltwater destinations, it could and will add a new element to our fishing and trips. 

 First big trip is to the other room to submerge and test in the bathtub. Yippee......

More to follow in the coming months.

Olive Midge Body Soft Hackle

Olive Midge Body Soft Hackle

Hook: Alec Jackson, North Country Hook, # 11

Thread: 8/0 Tan

Body: Montana Fly, Olive Midge Body

Soft Hackle: Premium Partridge, Blue Ribbon Flies

Head: Montana Fly, Olive Midge Body

Beautiful Art by Jeffrey Craven

Came across this very talented artist awhile back, but was reminded of him as he was featured in

a recent issue of Big Sky Journal. I am always fond of artists with skills of in watercolors and oil. In addition Jeffrey Craven resides in Ririe, ID, just outside of Idaho Falls on the South Fork of the Snake.

 " Browns and Diamonds on the Ruby " watercolor

" Mid Summers Eve " watercolor

" Evening Hatch " Oil on Board

Seattle Sights

Will be headed to Seattle in a few weeks, can't wait, as it is one of my favorite places walk around and see. Always so many photo opportunities, great micro brews and great sushi. The market is pretty cool place to cruise around and check out too.

Sure wish I was headed over to Forks, to cast to a few chromers while I was out there, sure do miss

fishing for Steel this year. 

" Soul of a City "

Every so often Yeti puts out another gem amidst the plethora of real nice videos shorts

that they put out every three weeks or so. Soul of a City is a good down home story of an

eclectic artisan, Evan Voyles. Yeti shares his store of a lost art of neon sign building, oh, so cool.

Ditch Day

A beautiful day would greet us for the maiden launch of the new boat to break in the 2017 fishing season. This by far is the latest start to the fishing season we have had on 6-8 years, and it showed because of the current level of stress. Well with work and family obligations now behind us, it is time

to get with the day on the river and fish. 

 The new boat would not disappoint, although a bit heavier that our 3 previous outfits ( this one has a few more bells and whistles) it tracked and rowed very nicely. We would also experiment with longer oars than we previously had, but again, work well and rowed like a dream.

Having caught the first $8000 fish, to break in the boat, an IPA would be in order, and aptly the new Vessel  would be named, "Melvin" after this delicious IPA for Melvin  Brewing. Melvin fits the boat perfect.

Trico Spinner by Greg Garcia

One of the first few Greg produced back in 2015, but a solid for the fly box. Greg shows

you a couple great tricks in this video, especially the tip on splitting the fibbet tails, and fishing 

the spinner drowned as a nymph. Sit back and give this a view, then twist up a few for your box.

It's Time

It looks like the stars will finally align to get the new boat out on the ditch this weekend.

It is far overdue, as my stress level has hit the all time high, and it is time for the first fish, a few photos and cigar.  That should put everything back in perspective.