Falling into Perfect Shape

After a great flush some of our great river sheds are rounding into perfect summer shape, by the time Ms. Floatfisher and I return from rivers far away, our home waters will be in perfect shape.

We look forward to the season know as " silly season" , that short window of time, right after high water, where every fishing in the river is on the feedbag and willing to eat dry flies, especially big

foam gaudy ones.

Arkansas River at Wellsville

The Ark is at 3200 and change and dropping nicely give it another week, it will be still high but really nice for the floating angler, pounding the edges with some large golden stones.

The Colorado is also just a week or so away from being ready, flows are really dropping fast, with the width of this river to disperse the flow, and the flush, there should be some spectacular summer fishing on hand soon. Are you ready.... I am.

Rio Grande River 

Probably pretty damn close , would like to be down there if we did not have a spey casting class 

to attend. Although still slightly high and in the willows, streamers and the nymph rig would wrangle a few, not far away from some green drakes starting to show up.

The Art of Bill Hartman

Bill Hartman lives, fishes and paints in Key West. He studied with internationally-known watercolorist Dong Kingman. He is also a member of the Society of Illustrators. His work has appeared in newspapers and national magazines, including Field and Stream. He also illustrated several children’s books for a national publishing company and also for a toy manufacturer.

His art is inspired by the elements of the natural world and his passion for the outdoors, especially sport fishing. These passions, which have taken him around the world, provide his subject matter and color palette.

His watercolors, acrylic (and digital) artwork are not always representational…his goal is to capture the intrinsic atmosphere of their location and reflect special moments in time and place and bring these to the viewer
Digital on Canvas Prints

 "Broken Off"

" Permit Shot" 

"Splash"

Wild Hair

Ya know, when you get a wild hair and you just decide to load the boat and go.

We giddy up, we did. Thanks to a great tip from a good buddy who suggested we

head up to 307 country and try some fishing. He mentioned the water should be dropping

and fishing improving.

The Adipose getting broken in on another western river, the we reduced the cost per 

fish just a little bit more. 

 My guide enjoying a cool refreshing PBR after putting client on a nice 

brown trout. Damn Greenies think they can just come up and catch all the fish, well

we didn't but we sure had fun.

After a day on the great day on the river, nothing tastes better than

a couple of ice cold Paco IPA's at the Hotel Wolf. 

 The bug hatches were incredible, with large caddis hatches coming off, some fantastic

PMD's  and some yellow sallies thrown in to the mix. This crazy bastard took a purple chubby

just for shits and grins.

 Back channel fishing was fantastic both Saturday and Sunday mornings before 

the big heat of the day, some nice large rising fish. I love summer.

The river was still a little big and off color, but dropping 200 cvs. daily , this weekend

should be the bomb, wish we could be back to enjoy more.

Saturday night featured on of the best meals we have had in a very long

time. When visiting Saratoga, I would highly recommend eating at Bella's, make sure you

make reservation, hard to get into, unless eating very late. 

All plates were amazing, pasta's out of this world as well as the Wyoming beef, but save room

for some of the absolutely best homemade cheesecake.

We will be back..... Maybe on our way back from Montana

"Plated" by kuchynkaPHOTO

"Plated"