The Snake

So Devun had a soccer tournament down in Jackson Hole, WY. So I thought I had better bring my rod as I did not last year and wished I had. We had sometime in between games so we hit up the Snake in Grand Teton National Park. The Snake has one of the most scenic backdrops ever, with the Tetons towering over the landscape. I was told it is a tough river to wade fish, but we found and nice mellow channel of the river, which was more like fishing a creek. I noticed we had a nice hatch of the area's fall drake called the Hecuba. I then I saw a few fish rise. It was game on. Devun had tangled his line, so I gave him my rod and with a few casts, I heard a big gulp and Devun's rod was bent over.

I could not get a good grip and grin of Devun, but I think this picture turned out better. Devun's nice release of a 18" Fine Spotted Snake River Cutthroat.

I finally got my rod back and was able to catch my first Snake River cuttie, not as big as Devun's though. For only fishing about 2 hours and a $14 Wyoming day fishing license, I think I got my money's worth.

If only I could fish more.

Wow, If I could spend more time on the water right now I would. The fishing has been awesome, the weather has been awesome, flows are great and so is the water clarity. Its terrestrial time! Well, the few times I have been out lately, the fish have been on the dries from hoppers, ants, and beetles. Been using the dry dry setup of late, with a bigger hopper trailed by either a beetle or ant. It is amazing how many fish will pass up the hopper to eat the smaller beetle and ant. Here are a few images and a video from the last month. Oh yah, these pics and video were all taken on Devun's new GoPro. Pretty cool device, Devun can't wait to use skiing.

Devun and I on a Backpacking Trip, Hidden Lakes

Hiking in.

Wolf Print, Soda Butte, YNP

Good times, Fishin' Soda Butte

Devun is getting good at the catching, now I need to work with him on the release, it looks like this little cuttie did okay on getting back to his hole.

Beaverhead

Had some free time to spend so I took off to the Beaverhead. I fished just down from Pipe Organ Bridge. The water was a little dirty there but not bad and the parking lot was empty when I pulled in at around 11:30. The fishing was not bad using an indicator with a worm and a variety of flashy small beadhead nymphs. Good day for me and my old dog Acacia who had fun too. Seeing the Jefferson at close to record flood levels on the drive over there was a sight to see as well, man there is a lot of water everywhere right now.

Yellowstone River Pre-runoff

Fished the Yellowstone yesterday, probably the last time before it blows. There were a few caddis coming off but not the typical floating mats of caddis with fish rising everywhere. Saw some aggressive rise forms signs of the fish were onto the emergers. I had a couple nice fish grab my soft hackle caddis on the swing that I was stripping in with short strips. My best fish a seen below took a size 10 tan wooly bugger I had above the caddis. It was a nice night just wade fishing for a couple hours before the sun set below carter's bridge. I guess at this point I hope it cools off some so maybe we could have some more pre-runoff fishing. If not I will have to join the crowds and hit some of SW Montana's tailwaters.

Start to the MT Fishing Season

First day out for the Montana fishing season, which started March 1. Picked up my fishing license and headed out with Devun to the lower Madison. It was a little windy below the Bear Trap so we headed up river below the dam. We were hoping for some midge action, but not enough midges on the water for the fish to start looking up. None the less we did good on the nymph rig with the best fly being the pink lighting bug. Devun hooked a bunch and landed the first fish of the day, which ended up being the biggest brown caught all day. On the way back we stopped and fished below the Bear Trap and the wind had calmed enough for some more action with plenty of fish to hand on the small cray. Here is a little March montage of some of the action today.

There she blows

The wind that is. Crazy windy day on the lower Madison. I found you could only really cast in one direction. The nice thing was it was not too cold. I had about an hour to fish and landed three and lost two nice bows. I was only using one fly because of the wind. That one fly was my tan cray. I was glad I got out despite the wind.

Blast then Cast

So since I was able to get my Elk on Saturday, I was able to pretty much relax and enjoy the rest of the three day weekend. So I took advantage of the warmer weather (low 40s) and headed over to the Lower Madison River for the first fishing of the new year with my Dad. We found the fish were into eating the crayfish more than little nymphs. Here is a video of two nice browns that both crushed the cray.

MT Right of Passage

So I got my first Elk today. Have lived in Montana for just over 8 years now and on my second season of hunting Elk. One shot was all that I needed to put her down,which hit her in the neck. It was an awesome day starting with watching the sun rise over the Sphinx mountain in the Madison Range as I walked the field towards a huge heard of elk. It took a little while but finally I was able to get close enough, which was I think about 200-250 yards. It was all that I imagined and was made easy by some fellow Montana hunters that helped me drag my elk out with their 4-wheeler. I was very pleased that I field dressed her without any complications. I have heard too many horror stories about people screwing up field dressing. So I know I will have to pass on the karma sometime dragging an elk out for someone else or help in dressing the elk for them. I was able to drop her off at the game processor and hope to be barbecuing next week. What a day, I'm tired and will sleep good tonight.