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...

July Hoot Owl

Happy Summer Time 

I am having a great summer so far. The drought conditions have changed my internal clock so that getting up early is okay again. Hoot owl restrictions on the Blackfoot River have been in effect for several weeks, a necessity for the survival of the awesome trout population.  I admit that being a clock watcher is affecting my strategy for fishing. As the hours slip quickly by, I find myself sketching out each section of river I want to fish and budgeting my time. It's for health of the fish, otherwise I don't usually wear a watch. The pressure is on, I want to make the most of any hatches  going off! 2PM will not wait for one more cast!

Fishing has been tremendous! The terrestrials aren't happening yet, but the trout have not been shy about going for a variety of imitations. I haven't removed any nymphs from my boxed yet, but I should thin out my selection, as I have no need to cast a nymph right now

My very favorite target

. Yes, the trout eat nymphs  all year, but during the summer I indulge myself and make them come up so I can see them. 

 Use "DRY FLIES"

Guaranteed to be your best catch! 

The trout rush to this attracter, and compete for it!

A cow moose and her calf watch me pass by

Spending such good hours, moving around the river ,

Turning a trout and returning for the hook up.

Sweet spots...

Westslope Cut Throat, champion fighters...

I often take some time to dial in the right fly, and when I am lucky it happens sooner than later. When I discovered emergers, I was able to take fish during pre hatch moments.

I am waiting for terrestrials, my friend has told me of some action close by. I have turned and caught many cuts with the Madam X. Better with the red.

Down river, beyond most visitors knowledge.

One leg of the path

Hoot Owl Hours have modified my fishing habits for the time being. Early to bed, early to rise and early to fish. Early morning holds a special fascination, everything is cool and fresh.  Dew drops reflect the light as I head to the river.  A whitetail jumps from the woods and bounds through the woods. The grass has hidden the game trail, making the power of observation so important. The deer, elk and moose are pretty good about sticking to certain routes. Their roads are my roads. Birds are being a big part of my short days, the woodpecker is always cool.  When the hatch is on, the groups of swallows tell everyone. I love it when I approach the water and see them jetting along the river. They are the first to get their share.

A wristwatch is now part of the checklist. 

July on the Blackfoot: a low running river.

Take heart.  Fly fishing is not an easy sport. Patience and perseverance will catch more fish than any special equipment or clothing. Now that summer is here, many people have been out fly fishing, some thrilled by the experience and planning their next trip, others may be feeling disappointed, not what they were looking for. Sometimes it is an elusive quest, where no satisfaction is to be had. I do feel for the guy down the way that doesn't catch a fish,

A brown trout with a scud in his gullet 

The west has been upset with low water flow issues with hot days and some streams and rivers in Montana have had fishing hours reduced for the health and the survival of the wild trout. The Hoot Owl hours came along from FWP after 10 days of great fishing, I personally enjoyed the evening hatches, the moon and the setting sun adding a rich flavor to the night air..In compliance, I made it to the river on Monday morning, and quickly ran into fish. The cut throats and browns were slamming my stimulators, caddis and pmds.
I read something about gearing up in parking lots. The writer was trying to point out that an angler could not possibly know what to tie on without being on the river. I don't agree, but really I don't care. Fly fishing has nothing to do with the habits of others. I had an adams pattern already tied on from the evening before when I left my truck. We all have issues, but for me I just try to make sure my truck keys are safely stowed.        

 Daisies along the Blackfoot River

      At any rate, fly fishing offers many experiences, everyone has a different perception and also a responsibility to no one but themselves. You never know when nature will jump out of the bushes either. I love it when wild life appears and puts the right perspective back into my time on the river.

An adams fly is one of the great innoventions
 the old school brings to the table. It represents so many different aquatic insects, it works great as searcher pattern for just getting the feel of the river. Always look to the time of year figure what sort of insect activity will occur, checking on-line and asking any locals might just get you a fish when least expect it. Patience and perseverance will, in the end be your sharpest hook. Enjoy summer...I hope your waters run clear and clean.
JIM

Always something to enjoy while moving along the river.

What a wonderful catch. 

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.