This is where I covered many miles of river the other day. Mostly along its bouldery edge. Walking on round rocks all day is an art. I usually take shortcuts between river pools on the softer ground through the Cottonwood forests, meadows and brush in the river valley in order to get a break from the boulders. However, I didn’t this time as it’s wild berry season. There’s a bumper crop of Saskatoons this year. And bears love to feast on them.
The pools on this river are far apart and there’s not much fishable water between them, so you have to cover ground. You keep telling yourself “maybe the next distant pool has a good fish in it” and you rock-hop onward. The river holds a few quality trout so that’s the incentive to keep going mile after mile. It’s kind of like fishing New Zealand. There can be great reward for your effort, or sometimes not. That’s the deal.
I spotted a few fish with the sun overhead but mostly “fished the water” (prospected). I tossed a large black foam beetle. I had to twitch it to get the best one of the day to take notice and rise off of the bottom.
Before I know it my water bottle is empty, lunch and snacks are all gone, my shadow lengthens, and Harper, my dog, curls-up and naps riverside. It’s the sign(s) that it’s time to turn around and head back downstream; back to my vehicle.
While walking back I remind myself this is where Dinosaurs once roamed. This has long been the home of the Blackfoot. This is where giant prairie Grizzly bears wandered. This is where Buffalo once lived and travelled freely.
This is where I spent my day…
trout on dries 
I think I know this spot (and won’t reveal it!) Are you in Alberta?–AG
Amos Garrett–amosg@shaw.ca
Hey String Bender…it has been awhile since I’ve heard from you. Glad you are still out there and checking my blog from time to time. Hope all is well.
Yes Amos, fishing and photos in Alberta. Sounds like you know the place…hope you are still fishing and playing guitar!!
THanks for posting..
bob
Good looking monster beetle. I had the same bear thoughts on the upper Flathead this month. When I left the river bank for easy walking, I stayed really noisy and goofy, and was still a little nervous.
The monster beetle and mid- sized ones pull up fish all the time. Use it when prospecting water, on cycling fish, and when trout are nosing into shallow riffles( nymphing) at the head of a pool and slight dropoffs. The black is easily seen in all conditions and usually they can’t resist…( you know all this)they poke their head up and eat. I even fish the monster size during grasshopper season.
bob
Yes got to watch out for the bears…
Monster beetles and sore feet – I resemble that!
I recently concluded nearly a month of fishing the 17 year periodical cicada emergence on the big limestoners of central Pennsylvania. Size 4 and 6 black foam beasties. I took along some monster beetles patterns from my AB/BC/YNP boxes as spares (they nearly always outfish hoppers for me when I’m out your way).
Covered miles of bouldered and cobbled shoreline with my own Achilles heel – bone spurs. Nothing like feeling your heart beating in your foot to remind you you’re alive…
Greg: Great story…hope you caught some nice trout on those Penn Creeks as you dedicated a lot of time during cicada time/ emergence. ” Feeling your heart beat in your feet” ..I chuckled about that. What we put ourselves through to catch trout! Good luck on your next angling adventure. Thanks for commenting.
bob