March Rains in Montana

  Something about fishing in the cold rain is keeping me inside, watching, waiting and getting ready for spring. Our El Nino weather pattern has been warmer than average for a month now. The eastern plains are all brown, not a hint of snow.  I check Snotel Montana on line  for updates on our snow-pack, and their chart has us at normal levels. We are hoping for a moderate cool down and a slow run off. We will see!. Bears have been seen, a true sign of early spring.
Winter trout fishing on the river has been very good,I am sure  the warmer weather brings down more food and the fish have been reacting. I have been able to access areas usually snowed in. A perfect chance to go after some fine trout. The trout are  low now, and when a pre spawn cut throat trout gets going, the hit is dramatic. It is very exhilarating to tangle with these great, strong fighters.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     A good reminder as one prepares for the first cast....  CHECK YOUR KNOTS! All the planning, hoping and patience will turn into frustration when the trout slips the knot. Never let that happen.

  

Early February was snowy, but not cold. The month ended with rains and a few flakes. The trout have been eating pheasant tails, woolly buggers, and San Juan worms.

Brown trout mingle with the cut throat.

A hen hanging around

When I fish in winter, my preparations begin at home before I leave. I dress for the occasion, wool socks are on my feet beneath my waders along with modern synthetic and wool blend long johns. I carry a flashlight, fire, a cheap cell phone, snacks, water, extra gloves, and my wool cap. I also make sure my camera is on board along with an ample supply of flies, extra leader and tippet.. 

 I mostly fish alone, I let someone know where I will be. I take care to not get wet, Never slip, use Goat Head Spikes on the soles of your boots. 

 Brown trout are not as wide spread as west slope cut throat.

 

The rewards of fly fishing are as numerous as the people doing it. Health is at the center of my passion. My heart loves a hike and hours of casting and catching.  My mind captures the river and notices subtle nuances, Animals are wild here, it is always a possibility an encounter will occur.  That's why this is so perfect. Montana has "people friendly" stream access laws, Many people here spend time fly fishing. 

If you are planning a trip to Montana to fly fish, aim for August. The best of summer fishing with fewer people. 

Good Luck and tight lines. Thanks for reading my blog! If you like what you read and see, come back. I will be documenting my season as the months slip by! Maybe we will fish together? I would like that! Even beginners catch fish with me around.

Winter and great fishing

 February is here, Although the cold weather has not been excessive, my neighborhood did have several weeks of very cold temperatures along with snow! It wasn't so long ago when the sun set at 4:30.  I am so happy to be past that.
I have been out fishing and had several good days on the river. My hook ups have been with large fish, well colored with fighting spirit.  Most easy spots to get into the river are only snow traps, so with that in mind the winter stretches are limited. Snow shoes would be good. Today's SNOTEL reports has the snowpack to date at 95% of normal. 2015 reminded us here of how awful fire season will be with out a snowpack.

Temperatures have not been drastically low this winter, ice on the river has not been an issue. Too much snow for me to go many places, I will walk easily in the river, but post holing through the snow is for young people with no sense.

 Westslope Cut Throat Trout

Wild fish, never stocked here.

 

During a stretch in November temps hit minus zero degrees F. Thanksgiving and Christmas were cold stretches, but the continued forecast is for mild temperatures and only occasional precipitation.
I am guessing that the forecast is subject to change.

Fishing with flies is a year round activity for many anglers. Midge hatches will be everywhere  best imitated with a pheasant tail nymph, fished along the bottom. Sculpin and other young fish will grab the trout's attention quickly. Wooly buggers with a bead head get gobbled. Midge clusters with a zebra midge dropper will be effective also.

 Catching mountain whitefish is going to happen, they are busy cleaning the bottom. As I fish, running my fly close to the bottom, these characters like to hop on board. I never regret a catch, even whitefish are fun.

Trout fins define the character of the fish and it's unseen encounters with predators. Like humans they carry  tears and scars.

A fellow my age asked me today how long I wanted to live. I replied "as long as I can find joy!".

December Cold and Snow...

Merry Christmas

Happy Winter Solstice

Holiday Joy to All!

 The beauty found in nature is perfect, The hand of man seldom matches the wonders of our natural world. Human beings, often the unwitted destroyers of our most valuable resources, will soon learn the pain of losing that source of life!

Fly fishing for me is the juice that connects to the source of life. 

Cutthroat Trout eat year round. With patience and determination the reward, comes to the net. They are not easily fooled, making this a matching of wits. Nature and man, briefly westling one another, opening the door to the soul. As I carefully release every trout, I can feel the sigh of relief from the river.   

My soul mate, the river gives me endless times of joy. We are together as one, we flow during the most difficult of times. This is a gift for man to touch. We may live close by, but we cannot own nature. Man plows, paves, diverts and dams up the flow, but nature prevails. Hidden in the minds of men is nature itself. There to salvage it self from the drain.

 

 
The wonders of winter have descended upon the landscape
Montana is like other Rocky Mountain states. It is just clearly a beautiful place. The worst of weather comes in the winter, but it is not show stopper. Life just changes,slows down while  beauty continues to surround.

Snow now is starting to fall....

The long, never ending days of summer and fall have all moved along with the river. Time slips by faster with every everyday, I have been looking over my shoulder as the sun begins its early descent behind the mountain, knowing how quickly the light will fade. The days become colder now. The seasons dependably change along with fly fishing. Somewhat like going home from vacation. Soon the snows have come and everything changes. Love fly fishing, a bit of peace on earth.

A very interesting season on the Blackfoot River

I have to date caught and released more than 500 trout this season. Some rainbows, brown trout,and many westslope cutthroat trout.

I broke my fly rods three times

I wore out a pair of Glacier fishing gloves

  the studs on my boots.

Found a full  fly box, nice forceps and a lanyard full of tippets. I haven't seen a bear, however...

 moose, muskrat, beavers, mink, white tailed and mule deer,elk, bald eagles, osprey, dippers and herons, frogs and snakes.
Fishing meant dealing with low flows and "Hoot Owl" restrictions, and for a month, very smoky air.

I took a vacation from Montana and fly fishing for 8 days in the beginning of September. I traveled to California for my mother's 90th birthday celebration. It was relaxing and very exciting to be with family. It was good for my arm as well.

I would like to share some great trout and wildlife photos going back several months. Some have appeared on Facebook, but some haven't. For those that fly fish, they may be fun to see.  I know the internet is drowning in these sort of subjects, but mine are peculiar to me and what I personally experience.

Tiny midge takes a big cut!

Fly fishers love to spot these trout

The river id healthy, many trout are thriving in grand style...
 

  

Westslope cutthroat trout, common in the Blackfoot River

Rainbow trout caught and released in the Missouri Rive

Westslope cutthroat trout

Brown trout 

Heavy weight fighter...

August

The month of August has been some of the best fishing I could ever want. The Blackfoot River along with others, was on a shortened schedule, days ending at 2pm. Fishing restrictions have been lifted. Because of wildfires in the west,the skies have been thick with smoke, but finally today a front is pushing the smoke elsewhere.  I can only hope it lasts. I took off this morning stopped for breakfast at the Stray Bullet in Ovando, next door to the Blackfoot Anglers fly shop. Fished this afternoon in a thick smoke storm. I took a break, came home and grabbed my sweat shirt, and headed back to the river. The wind was blowing strong, so I opted for a protected stretch, a place I haven't fished in 2 months. I knew my way to the water and exactly how I wanted to fish it. I took a game trail through the woods, going to the end of the run first. I like to work back upstream, one hole in particular had my focus. I had caught some nice fish earlier in the day, but this evening time was great. The air cleared, blue sky appeared along with the mountains. It felt great to a day of fresh air.

I caught a huge cut throat, a fish I have caught before. He loves a yellow, PMD cripple fly. Drifted into the hole from the edge of the river, he sprang from down deep to take the hook! I was thrilled to know he had survived countless fly fishers all season long.

 Yesterday, at the end of August, the call of the river was strong. I went to possum run, a favorite spot to fish. Beginning around 11:00 am, I tied on an emerger pattern and started catching trout. Quickly I brought in my first fish and the day continued to be spectacular.

Mature cut throat trout sport excellent colors, their bodies are works of art. Lots of spots, head, tail and fins coupled with a bronze gill plate, They play hard and do not give up their fight easily. Spitting the hook is seemingly part of their genetics.

During the last days of August, smokey conditions have limited time on the water. Fishing has been spectacular. Wonderful large cut throats and browns are pleasing every outing.  The time for hoppers, ants and beetles is such a fun time. Perhaps the easiest time to find a lunker is at the end of August.  Summer fades, the wildflowers have started going to seed and the cottonwood trees are turning colors. It's been a great fly fishing season , with two months to go...Love fall fishing on the Blackfoot River!

Wild cut throat

Sunset in the smokey Northern Rockies

 

 The beetle I would love to find again

Bull moose munching along the edge of the river

I leave you with this. It is difficult to share my personal time with the river, only because my words will never do it justice.  The immensely powerful force of the river is endless and will forever be...