April comes once a year

Fly Fishing for Wild Trout 

This year, 2015,  brought a shorter winter here in Western Montana.  The cold and snow was drastic during late November and December, so much that trucks and front loaders came and the huge piles of snow were loaded and trucked out of town. Our mountain snowpack reached 100% of normal, a condition that is bringing moderate runoff and no spring flooding. The Blackfoot River is today flowing high, swift and brown.  

My personal condition has been good, although a recent bout with COPD has kept me off the water for a week now. I am determined to be strong and well, so resting and patience are my best friends. My doctor is a fly fisher as well and understands my passion.

Brown's lake, not far down the highway is just perfect today for fishing along the edges of ice. The trout are coming from under the ice to feed  and successful anglers are out in force. I am tempted to go tomorrow, but I must restrain myself for the sake of  the up coming trips to the Missouri and the Clark's Fork Rivers. 

 Those that know me ,understand that I am a catch and release advocate. The pleasure of the release, is two fold. The fish lives to procreate and enhance the population density in the river, and I do not have to lug a creel with me to keep dead fish.

                                                    The wild westslope cutthroat trout

Cutthroat exhibit beautiful colors

Meanwhile the brown trout mingle with the cutthroats.

I really enjoyed this catch

I am an older fly fisher.  Having been involved with this passion since the late 80's, 

I know that I am "old School". I also know I have much to learn and am excited by the prospect 

of my future relationship to the waters that run through my life.

Thank you for reading my blog, it is a great experience for me to share with you,

 my love of fly fishing!

James Savstrom

Extra Edition

Winter is gone!

The spring floods are now spiking the river, running high, fast and what I call murky. Friday the 13th was my last good fishing day on the river, made a nice catch on a rubber legs nymph. Nothing like the tug of a cut throat to raise my feathers.The weather was picture perfect, warm, sunny with no breeze. I enjoy poking around, walked through the thick woods following game trails, I came out on a slough, still half frozen. Bugs were moving under the water, a clear sign that the river is warming.

 I saw a hatch coming off the water but no fish rising.

I was happy that I had made a catch earlier, so no skunk, and I was in a great mood the entire day.

My long time friend Wayne Kennedy sent me his pictures from eastern Washington. Wayne is a class A fly fisherman. We have spent many days on different rivers, enjoying good company while fishing together.

So today I took off for the mountain that overlooks the river, testing my strength and endurance. To have the best season possible, exercise is extremely important. My muscles needed a push, my heart needed to work and my breath needed tuning.

 I climbed, rested, and climbed again. I had time on my side, and pacing myself was the only way I would make it to the top.

 Once a couple of white tails watched me, probably wondering if that old man was really a threat.

As I gained altitude, the view became the center of my attention. So much to see from the top, I lingered for a while, wondering about the springtime about to overcome the landscape. Knowing that the few green sprigs of grass would soon give rise to lush green carpets, I took in the view that is the end of winter!

 The Blackfoot River winds through some of the richest landscapes in the world.

The spring runoff this season will be slight, perhaps much less than last year. The hatches will be similar, but they will be different and nature's cycle will decide what will be.

 Along with the white tailed deer, I spotted a grouse, roosting in this Ponderosa pine tree.

 Elk have been around for a month or so, common to see them coming and going..

I love Montana. I am blessed to be able to submerge my mind in such a wonder of nature.

Spring knocks along the Blackfoot River.

Winter is continuing to give up some great times along the river.  I was out twice last week, both trips were great for exercise and the fishing was good! I have been using nymphs, San Juan Worms and Woolly Bugger streamers to catch cutthroat trout with great success.Here in the Montana Rockies, the snow in lower elevations has been quickly melting away, opening up feeder creeks,and dispersing good trout food.
 It's an early spring and I wonder what the spring run-off will be like.  Last year it included minor flooding of the river, but even minor means that the rivers and creeks were very high and muddy. I took road trips to other rivers for fishing during that time, but this year is looking like it will not be a big deal. I believe seasonal spring run-off will continue to be a slow steady one, keeping things manageable. Oh yes, there will be times of high muddy water, but not anywhere like the high level of last season.
Grasses and wildflowers are coming soon, the beauty of spring is empowering to me, the energy is of renewal. Already small migratory birds are flitting about, and only a hint of what is just about to occur. I get excited watching them arrive, Blue birds, grosbeaks, woodpeckers, sparrows, redheaded cardinals, yellow birds and many I do not know by name. I want to share with you some recent photos, all of which were taken when my endorphins were flowing. If you are at your desk at work while you take a peek, keep it to a whisper..

 Ice lingers along the shore.

 Wild cutthroat trout.

I loved catching this one.

 Although all waterways are public in Montana, some places are difficult to get to without walking along the shore. This stretch near my home is such a place, but the owners are friends and have given me written permission to go past their "no trespassing"signs. 

 I impulsively walked up a different creek. I wandered into this shallow seasonal pond, and photographed a flock of canadian Honkers! I also slipped and fell in the mud! I took off all my top gear, down to my thermal shirt to dry out.

The geese were a highlight, taking off as I approached, and they were wonderful. Nesting must be going on along the shoreline. It was very windy, my clothes dried quickly and I picked up and wandered the nearby woods, looking all along for sheds. (antlers).

It is a pure joy to be at peace with myself and my destiny.

   An easy winter after all...

Thank You for reading my blog, I know that many of my readers cannot do this fun stuff in their lives, but want to so very much. I am very happy to share my world with you. One never knows what the future holds, your dreams may come true as well. I hope so...

Jim

March Madness!

Those of you that live in the USA, are possibly more than just aware of March madness. Its the final 4 NCAA basketball finals that come along every year. Like daylight savings time it's a true marker of the arrival of Spring. Here in Montana, our winters are hard, every year.... the short days, the cold temperatures and the icy roads. But now, at last, the days have become longer and the daytime temps are moderating. Along with the the grand scenery, wonderful rivers, and wildlife, one should also take notice of the strength and perseverance that Montana locals exhibit.  Collectively we are happy to share Montana anytime, come visit in January sometime, to realize the complete experience. Winter this year has been unusual here, in that most of the very cold and snowy weather occurred early. November and December were the poorest weather wise. It was -40 degrees F. in December. We had so much snow that month, the state brought in an army of loaders and trucks to remove snow from town.

I have caught fish every month this past year, an unusual opportunity. 

My friend Erik and I floated the Missouri River in February, it was 60 degrees and sunny! 

My friend Eric Kottmann. A great outdoorsman, alpine climber and photographer. 

 The first choice of flies will be streamers, midges and then caddis emergers.

 The cutthroat trout will be spawning soon..

 This road today is still snowbound, but access is easy with a bit of walking...

 As the weeks roll by, weather will still be a factor, soon I will use nothing but dry flies and emergers.

 

 I love to sit in the green grasses of Spring.

 The tiny spinners are a good choice.

 Later on in Summer, the dry fly opportunities increase as fish feed on the surface.

 brown trout

And my favorite...the cutthroat trout