Fishing time on the Missouri River

Greetings from Montana USA!

The weather here along the Mighty Mo was hot and dry. Giant trout fins were slicing through the water, exciting the fisherman as he knew the day was to be extraordinary. The Missouri River had pulled me over the continental divide, the pass elevation nearly 6,000 feet. As I drove along the highway, down hill all the way, the forests were left behind and the plains open up as far as one can see.  A few ranches dotted the landscape, the grasses were rich green, and the bluebirds were flitting by. It is an hour to the river, and when I arrived in the small town of Wolf Creek, I drove over Prickly Pear Creek flowing through town along with the interstate freeway.  I didn't bother with either as I quickly arrived at the Wolf Creek bridge, and turned off the paved road.

It was a great day of fishing.

The Missouri River is not home for me. I normally enjoy the waters of the Blackfoot River, more isolation and many cut throats.This river is different, heavily fished, and populated with thousands of trout per mile. I have fished many waters in the west, caught many trout, but this season, spring began with the Missouri, I am learning something new. I was daunted by the challenge, but with patience and persistence the reward has been tight lines with pesky, big rainbow trout. Very exciting!

Howdy from Montana

The hook-up here is fast and furious. These trout will break off or spit the hook as well as any. Having my line stripped from my reel, several rainbows ran for the middle of the river, I was palming the reel to slow the fish as the line came close to the backing. Patience, no hurry, slowly I brought in the line, the fish running and fighting. Once he was in the net, I felt wonderful and snapped the picture.

I didn't have time to get rid  the shadow behind me. Great rainbow to the net!

The second fish was also a blast.
I drove home that evening feeling joy that comes with a day of great fishing. For the next months of summer, I will not return to the Missouri, but spend my fishing hours on my home waters, the Blackfoot River. I love catching cut throat trout. The fine long summer evenings, with trout rising to the dry flies still wait in the wings..
Thank You
Jim Savstrom

Watching for rattlesnakes as I took this shot of the Missouri River

Pure thrill 

Swim free 

Helena Montana, USA

Close to Helena Montana, the area is strikingly beautiful. The state capitol is not a huge city, but it is huge for great fly fishing opportunities in a user friendly setting. 

The best on the river.....

May on The River

The Blackfoot River 

May 30th, 2015

The spring floods are here, The water did rise again this week and the clarity is very stained. 

Not perfect for the dry fly fisherman. I was lucky and found some excellent fly fishing this month. Spring fly fishing on the Blackfoot River can be the most frustrating of all seasons. Warmer rainy weather causes higher river levels and clouds up the river quickly. Some snow still lingers up high, but very little.  Rain now is a positive weather trend, mitigating any possible river closures later in the season. I look forward to some clear water, easy wading and plenty of hatches. Blackfoot River fishing is different than many other rivers in that the primary target is the cutthroat trout, some browns and many cut/bows. 

Not far down the highway is the Missouri River, brown and rainbow cutthroat trout are everywhere in the mighty Mo!. It is a popular destination for fly fishers from around the world. I like to fish for the big trout there, and I am not bothered by the crowds of people that gather when the bite is on. 

I drive my Toyota pick-up when I go fishing.  Now that I am older, I can easily forget something, so my pre fish routine is always consistent.I sit on the tailgate to pull up my waders and boots.

 I feel fortunate to live in Montana.  My truck has never been bothered while I have been gone fishing. It always waits alone in the woods while I leave it to hike the river.

That said, let me go to my irresistible point."Never be surprised". Any cast could bring a fish and it's an essential mindset for the fly fisher. Be alert while fishing for what's going on around the shoreline.  Animals of many species live along the river, and coming in contact with them should always be a good one. I haven't been wearing bear spray for years, but now I do. "Live and let live" is a great way to be part of the scenery.

 I always try to avoid other anglers, mainly because I respect their space on the river and I want mine in return. I do however come in contact and I enjoy speaking with them. Many are genuinely good people. Certainly not all fly fishers are meant to be comrades, something to remember. "Never be surprised".... 

Casting up stream and floating over the riffles brings great results

I could say "Epic"

A large male Cutthroat

The beautiful brown trout among the Cutthroats

A local submarine

Montana will be a busy fishing destination this year. Travel by vehicle is now affordable. I have encountered visitors a couple times recently. Nice people, common ground, courteous. I share some stretches and don't complain. Most of the unpleasant types wind up fishing the famous rivers with a professional guide service. I don't envy the guides, they must adjust their sport for the sake of a career in fly fishing. Personal sacrifice for the happiness of a client can be tall order.

It is best that visiting fly fisher comes prepared.  One should should scout the area on-line,read a book, and bring appropriate gear, and good manners. Most locals don't mind others that come on vacation, but do object to competition for our own special places. We aren't all fishing guides. Many of us live here, year round. You are welcome to visit

Thanks, have fun and be safe...

Jim.

For me fly fishing in May is the most difficult time. Our winters are cold enough to make me feel like a couch potato. Springtime means getting the engines to fire on all cylinders. My best friend, my body, has not been completely forgotten.  I have, all winter been hiking, fishing, moving forward every chance I had. The next important component about getting fired up for spring is mental. Those that fish all year, usually don't miss a beat when this season begins. Those that haven't, need to re-think gear, technique and do some planning. My equipment was upgraded this winter, a new reel and rod have given me a chance to work on my casting.  Comparing set-ups, helps me with the feeling of my equipment. Knots need to be practiced, and checked every time. Flies need to be sorted and organized. Clippers, tippet, leaders, flotant, forceps, repellent, among other details all need to be accounted for.
Fishing license?  If your game warden is as active as ours, do not forget. It's really bad to have to turn the truck around to go back and just because you forgot to buy a licence.
Speak to your significant "other" about having fishing time together if you don't already. More time on the water is a bonus.
My final words...Never be surprised! One never knows for certain what the fish will do,or how the river will flow!

Spring fishing on the Blackfoot is very challenging 

The Westslope Cutthroat Trout

The river moves fast during  May, this season it is much lower than normal...

Returning to the river spots that were favorites in the past is really a treat.  Logs have moved, The beavers have been busy, .................................   Selecting the fly is always a challenge. The river is always changing.  Insect hatches and feeding fish are the easiest ways to help choose a fly. Otherwise, try a range of generic flies. see if anything turns a fish. You will know quickly what will work. On the other hand, if no fish are rising, and no bugs are coming off the water, a bit more searching may be needed. Midges, nymphs, terrestrials? Smelling a skunk? Take a walk and try another spot, or just kick back and relax.

Happy Cutthroat!

I used a #16 Parachute Adams

When you see this, you are in the game!

This stretch of freestone river is gin clear!

Cool trout loved the San Juan Worm

Bonus catch for Christine Plourde,  Deer antlers are awesome.!

Christine's first trout in Montana She used a caddis emerger.

Finally the trees have sprouted leaves, the willows are growing on the shoreline. 

 The Blackfoot River

I hope all my friends catch their fish with joy, and that the fishing gods smile.

April means green grass, clear water and midges....

I am so happy that winter has past, and a new season of late evenings, insect hatches, and rising trout has begun. Along with spring grasses, a new crop of visitors is arriving in Montana to catch trout with a fly rod. The magnetic energy of Montana is strong.  People look to the "Big Sky" country for relief from the congestion of life. Fly fishing is going on all over the state, an abundance of happy anglers. If your plans include Montana, have a great time.

 I hit the highway down to Wolf Creek, near the Missouri River.

When I arrived, I already knew about the midge hatch going on, and the blue winged olives coming off the water at dusk. What a fun day of fishing.
Usually it's a cutthroat or brown trout on the Blackfoot River. The Missouri has an great population of huge rainbow trout. 

 I tied up a midge cluster with a zebra midge trailing. I watched the trout cruising along the riffle, their fins rising out of the water.  They looked like wild sails.  I realized it was in fact the beginning of a great season.  

The Rainbows were big fish. 

 Lively fish, always putting on a show!

a #20 bwo emerger, small flies, big fish!

And then a walk up the local river and cutthroats were rising and antlers were found. 

Christine's first Montana trout! 

and her first shed!

Companion Fly Fishing

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.