Some favorite photos from the past several years…
Favorite tree
favorite license plate
favorite river trail
favorite trout on trico
favorite sun
favorite picnic bench
favorite riverkeeper
favorite sheep herder
favorite brown on dry
favorite patriarch of valley
favorite peanut shack
favorite porch
favorite reel
favorite riverside burrito place
favorite bug shot
favorite net shot
favorite address
favorite pier
“You better cut that pizza in four pieces because I’m not hungry enough to eat six”
-Yogi Berra
river path
Sight fishing is generally not easy. You need the right conditions to be successful and rarely do all the stars align. When things do come together it can be quite memorable; it makes your season. Lately the sight fishing in my region has been real challenging. Of my three favorite tailwater rivers, two are off color and the third, every time I go there, is being wind beaten to a froth. The reservoirs that feed two of the three rivers are so low they are releasing cloudy/silt-laden water, and it is going to remain that way until next season. Too bad. The visibility on them is only about two feet. That’s a huge limitation when you’re trying to sight fish.
silt flow
brown trout
On Saturday I hiked a lot, covered a few rivers and did manage to locate one good fish in spite of the off color water. I couldn’t entice him to take on the surface. After several casts he moved off and disappeared. I returned the next day with a different strategy; Plan B. I showed up around the same time and found him subsurface feeding in the same area. Like us, trout have their feeding spots. This time I tried one pass overhead with a grasshopper pattern. Like the day before, no reaction. I tied on a small bead head nymph (fished subsurface) but had no success. I then tied on a larger heavier nymph and connected. As Yogi Berra said, “It ain’t over till it’s over”.
brown trout
It was a tough weekend. I covered a lot of water in high wind and connected with only one trout…but it was a good one.
cloudy water
road out of river valley
“He hits from both sides of the plate. He’s amphibious”
-Yogi Berra
“Among famous traitors of history one might mention the weather”
Ilka Chase
snow on the great divide
Some pictures taken over the long weekend. The conditions were tough: some snow, heavy rain, and worst of all high winds when the sky started to clear up which dampened the Baetis hatch. Some rivers were off color; some ok. Sight fishing was real challenging. Oh well. Here are a few trout picked up on dries.
brown trout
riverside cottonwoods
brown trout
a calm clearing moment
rainbow trout
Getting back into a fishing groove wasn’t easy after a two-week absence. A lot changed while I was away. There have been river closures in my area: low, hot water. Most are now re-opened. My favorite sight fishing river is still off-limits. The smoke-filled skies have made spotting trout difficult (reflection) and the hatches have changed and are quite sparse, which is not unusual for this time of year. Fall blows (wind) are also underway.
walk down to river
I spent a couple of days on a river (tailwater) I used to fish a lot but haven’t in recent years. It holds some great trout but not a lot of them. When you go there you have to be prepared to get skunked as the river can be quite fickle. It can be a frustrating place, which is why I generally see few anglers there. Often it seems void of trout. However if you “hang in” and put in your time, it can be quite rewarding…sometimes! Rivers like this can be quite special. They’re a challenge. If they were any better or easier, anglers would be all over them. Since they are not easy people tend to go elsewhere. Therefore, on many days you can have the place to yourself.
brown trout
I saw a couple of young guys fishing it the right way. Their backpack vests suggested they were out for a full day and they were covering a lot of water with their black Lab…working pool after pool.
Most people who fish it seem to cast over one or two pools with a streamer and then go home. They either hit a home run or strike out…the latter usually being the case. In good grasshopper years you can switch from a streamer to this big bug and have some exciting angling. This hasn’t been one of those years even though it has been hot and dry. After run off some fly fishing guides float the river with their clients as there is enough water. Once the water level drops the rafts disappear and angling pressure is minimal as visitors who pay to fish generally don’t want to walk far.
brown trout
I learned several years ago that this tailwater fishery (bottom release from a dam) can have some good (not great) small fly hatches which can get the attention of some sizeable fish. It was one of the few local waterways I was seeing some bug life on and the occasional riser, so past experience taught me to stick with it.
smoky sky
The river meanders out on the prairies way down in a coulee. From a distance you wouldn’t even know it was there. To fish it you have to walk a lot of steep hilly terrain…it’s all up and down. The holding water (pools) are often a quarter to half mile apart, sometimes further, so you have to cover great distances to improve your odds. I use the elevated areas to locate fish when the lighting is right. Much of the river bottom is covered in a yellow sometimes tan to brownish algae so it is difficult in most places to spot trout hugging the stream bed as they simply blend in. High flow areas polish (clean) the river stones and trout show up better in these locations, so it is always wise to carefully watch these spots. Rainbows with their dark backs and flashing silver sides show up better than the brown trout. The browns, master camouflage artists, just don’t show up.
brown trout
The trout generally need to be actively feeding on emerging insects (rising to mid levels or near the surface) in order to be seen, or prowling the surface current lines for grasshoppers which blow off the cliffs when they are around.
All the trout I spotted were eating small stuff and being ultra picky. They were focused on emergers and rarely poked their heads through the surface. However, some shallow water feeders were enticed to do so. The trout featured in this post were caught on dry flies. I put in two long days watching the water and was rewarded with a few good fish.
old river valley homestead
best of the day, brown trout
The river is a challenge. It’s a sleeper. It’s a special place.
rainbow trout
grassland hike to river
“The Littlest Birds Sing the Prettiest Songs”
-The Be Good Tanyas
When I moved to the West to fish its many trout streams I was anticipating the big fly hatches: Salmon flies; Golden Stones; Green and Brown Drakes; etc. I soon realised the emergence of these exciting big bugs is often brief and unpredictable. What was reliable, however, and brought trout to the surface day-after-day all season long and then some, was the small stuff. It was the littlest bugs. That’s what I consistently caught my best fish on. Quickly my fly boxes started being filled with tied Midges, Olives, PMD’s, Tricos; small Caddis flies; and little Beetles. Just about all of the trout featured in this blog have been caught on small stuff (small dry flies).
Then one day I came across a book that clearly described what I was experiencing on the rivers in my region: Small Fly Adventures in the West, Angling for Larger Trout by Neale Streeks. Neale, a seasoned and observant Missouri river guide, wrote about why smaller flies are often more effective at catching more and larger trout. As I turned the pages I kept saying, “Yes, yes…yes”. What he authored matched what I encountered every time I slipped into my waders.
brown trout on pmd dry
If you fly fish tailwater rivers, spring creeks, and other rich (alkaline) flows with dry flies you owe it to yourself to find a copy of this out-of-print book. It will make you a better angler and you’ll end up enjoying sweating all the small stuff!
same brown trout
Here are some photos from a recent outing. All the trout featured were caught on small flies (PMD’s).
a little midge after my breakfast burrito
sheep creek rd
Sheep Creek road; North Picabo road; Kimpton bridge road; Spring Coulee road…and the list goes on and on. What they all have in common is they are dirt roads; back roads. Follow them and like the North Star or Southern Cross guide an ancient mariner, they deliver you to rising trout. All are in the middle of Nowhereville and Nowhereville is always a good place to be if you are into trout. Here are some photos taken while casting dries somewhere up Sheep Creek road.
rainbow trout caught on micro may fly, size 20
river side cottonwood shade
travelling light
sheep creek rd, wet sock on dashboard reflection
brown trout on dry
brown trout on dry fly
My favorite book about dry-fly fishing hands down is Spring Creek by Nick Lyons. Nick wrote it after spending a full month each summer for several consecutive years fly fishing an amazing private spring creek somewhere in Montana. He often had the place to himself. Lucky fellow. Although it’s an angling story and not a “How To” book, it simply oozes with valuable information on how to fish to selective rising trout on slow clear water. I have read it several times and return to read sections of it every winter.
Nick says he became somewhat obsessed with this type of angling and the creek, and eventually had to put pen to paper. He was searching for trout angling that was more challenging and he wanted to try to catch “harder” fish. Spring creeks and tailwater rivers offer that challenge. Nick had a rude awakening when he first cast on the creek and over time he had to refine his tactics, equipment, flies and skill level in order to connect with the spring creek trout. He is helped along the way by the owner of the ranch and creek, a gifted and intimidating angler who has fished it for many years and problem solved many of the challenges and mysteries of the creek. This character alone makes buying the book worth it. All of what Nick writes about rings true to me having spent the past 14 yrs wading and casting dries often on similar water.
oldman river, alberta
rainbow trout, oldman river
Nick often describes how his mood and thinking on any particular day affects his fishing. There is little room for error on the creek and impatience, poor concentration, poor observation and even self-doubt, and other internal variables, influence his success as much as, if not more, than his skill and knowledge level. I call this the internal side to fly fishing. It is how you “Manage Yourself”. And on spring creeks and tailwater rivers you need to do this well in order to be consistently successful. What you bring to the river affects your day. If you can manage yourself and have a reasonable skill set and understanding of the type of water you are on, you’ll be able to trick fish. Of course, how you manage yourself can change with each angling outing and even within a particular angling day, or even when casting to one specific fish. Even when you get pretty good at it you will experience times when it seems you don’t have it; that you’ve somehow lost it. Of course it is still there.
dry fly side channel
brown trout, oldman river
If you can get good at managing yourself you’ll be rewarded on those challenging creeks and rich tailwater rivers. It is a big part of what I find so enjoyable about this type of water. A good day (a few good trout) means I managed myself well. The internal and external come together. A good day means I blended in; I watched the water patiently; I spotted difficult to see fish; I approached the fish cautiously; I calmed myself when necessary and made my cast at the right time; I watched the fly being sipped and then paused before gently raising the rod tip or sweeping it to the left or right. In baseball, the best percentage hitters don’t swing at every pitch, they wait for the right pitch. They manage themselves well at the plate…as in baseball, as in fly fishing…as in life.
2 foot rainbow on dry fly
march browns
Some middle of May trout tricked and released while sight fishing with dry flies on the lower Oldman, a tailwater river, in SW Alberta. The hatches: BWO’s, March Browns and some Skwala.
stalking trout, nick in spring creek
By perseverance the snail reached the Ark.
Charles Spurgeon
I spent the last two weekends fly fishing the Missouri river. The place was buzzing with anglers. The first weekend was cloudy and cool. The second one sunny. Not surprising the dry-fly angling was better when it was overcast. Trout are more likely to rise in low light. The main hatch: Blue Winged Olives; secondary hatch March Browns.
brown trout
A lot of people nymph the river. Many also throw streamers to the banks while drift boating it. The river has such phenomenal insect life that I can’t imagine fishing it any other way than with a dry-fly when the conditions are favorable and the bugs are out. I find that walking the river in search of a few good rising fish is just about as exciting as trying to trick them with a fly. It’s the hunt! Any garage sale or flea market aficionado would understand.
dry fly side channel
Missouri river
On this trip(s) I was trying to spot Brown trout. I eventually located a few good ones feeding in the shallows. I spent most of my time focused on one particular trout as it proved to be a challenging fish, at least for me. I spent more time than I care to say trying to fool it. I spooked it several times and then had to sit for long periods waiting for it to settle down and then reappear. Waiting was easier when my retriever, Brooke, was with me. She’d sit by my side often leaning against me while we watched the water and I’d occupy myself and let time pass by picking hundreds of burrs out of her thick golden coat. Her presence made me a better angler.
brown trout
brown trout
I had hooked that particular trout a week ago but it tugged me around and eventually broke off. This weekend I pulled a fly out of its mouth, and then later “nicked it”. I did eventually land it on a size 18 olive…more perseverance than skill. Late afternoon shadow on the water pulled it out of its lair and it started feeding with more of a rhythm. A fish eating this way is easier to trick.
olive hatch
perfection
riverside bush bunny
When I tried taking a picture of the trout my camera batteries failed. I did, however, manage to fiddle around and get a few shots. I would have liked to get more. I had spare double AA’s in my pack but decided to release the fish as it took a fairly long time to land it.
late april light snow
brown trout
brown trout
Here are some trout (brown and a few rainbows) and western landscape pictures. It was nice to spend some long Spring days outside by the river and witness all of the life along it, and be part of it. All trout were caught sight fishing with small dry flies, size 18 olives, in shallow water.
rainbow trout
trying to match the hatch
crawfish
cold afternoon on favorite trail
warm morning
rainbow trout
After a winter of fishing blind with a two handed rod it was a real pleasure to sight fish with a light 4wt rod and dry flies this past weekend. I spent two days walking and wading the Missouri river in Montana. I tossed midges all weekend and on a couple of occasions a small beetle. Most fish were on emergers (bulging the surface). A few could be found eating dries, especially when the wind died down in the flat water sections of the river. Some bulging fish could even be enticed to eat on top; however, many would not. A lot of the midges were clustering in the mid afternoon so cluster fly patterns worked fairly well. A few Blue Winged Olives were out but not many. This hatch should be developing soon which will make the dry fly angling easier. All of the fish below were caught on dries. I spent my time fishing flat, shallow sections; slow wading ankle deep water. Some great fish landed; many more missed. Some humbling moments. Trout fishing doesn’t get much more challenging or better. If you love dry fly fishing you owe it to yourself to one day visit this river.
misty late day leaving the river
brown trout on dry fly, beetle
beetle fly, chewed
craig, scene
rainbow trout on dry fly
craig fly shop
shallow side channel
rainbow on dry fly
easter eggs on river island (goose eggs)
rainbow trout on dry fly
craig, montana
caught on dry fly
horse shoe pit at local fly shop
side channel
another pic of brown trout
“Faith consists in believing when it is beyond the power of reason to believe”.
-Voltaire
brown trout
MID-WEEK I CHECKED THE WEATHER REPORT FOR THE WEEKEND. It predicted temperatures around zero or slightly above for Saturday and Sunday. Next I looked at the wind chart as mild temperatures usually mean a big blow along the eastern slopes. That’s what was in the cards: a wind warning. Saturday looked a bit sunnier and seemed like my best opportunity to fish. Besides on Sunday there were two good football games scheduled.
side channel
I never really watch a complete NFL game. I just kind of listen to it, do other things and then pay close attention when there is a big play. I’ve learnt that the Championship games are often better than the Super Bowl. Last year the Seattle versus San Francisco game was a classic. In comparison the Super Bowl was anti-climatic.
So, Saturday it would be. I was into it as I hadn’t been out since before Christmas as the weather had been arctic like.
side channel
I went to my local tailwater river as it doesn’t ice over, and swung flies real slow near the bottom while the wind whistled in my ears. The fish weren’t active. I’d often get a slight “tap” but with no hook up. I did best by swinging my fly back to the spot where I had found some life. Sometimes I had to pass the fly through several times before getting another “hit” and the occasional hook up. I caught some rainbows this way.
rainbow trout
In a side channel I got my first good aggressive strike but no hook up. I kept tossing my fly through the same spot hoping for a repeat hit. After a dozen or so swings, “fish on”; I had made a connection. This one didn’t make the standard run. Instead it tugged a lot, shook its head, stayed deep and zig-zagged. I thought ” brown trout”.
brown trout
When winter fly fishing you gotta have faith.
brown trout
trout on dries 
