Grayling Tour 2012

So the big rivers are feeling the heat of late, so I took to hiking in to some mountain lakes I have not been to before.  Tried out Deer Lake and Moon Lake just north of Big Sky in the Spanish Peak area.  It was about a 6 mile hike in up hill and you can guess a 6 mile hike down hill.  Great day, it did get a little smoky later in the day with smoke blowing in from the south.  Good camp spots up here, would be a great place to come back to and camp.

Deer Lake in the Spanish Peaks, full with Grayling.

Cork excited to swim after a 6 mile hike in.

Grayling, kinda like a white fish but way prettier.

High mountain fish always fall for the ant.

Moon Lake just below Deer Lake, caught a couple Rainbows here, no Grayling though.

Trail side snack, Huckleberries. 

A young cow moose, probably a little to close.  Cork notice her first and froze looking at here.  Then I noticed her and told Cork to stay until I could get her leash on her.  The moose watched us the whole time with her main spike up.  I was a little worried there for a few, but Cork was good and we just walked on by her.  I took this picture as I was feeling safe that we got by her.

Emerald Grayling

Fished Emerald Lake today. Nice hike and good fishing.  Cork enjoyed it too.  Caught my share of grayling today with an ant.  I also had a first at Emerald Lake catching a West Slope Cutthroat I believe.  It was a wet hike down with continuous thunder and lighting.  

Mouth Full of Chubby

Rainbow with Chubby

Summer is finally here in Montana!  Here are a few pictures of my last weekend journey on the Yellowstone just inside the Park.  The Salmon fly hatch has been awesome this year on the Yellowstone with the water shaping up perfect for fishing.  I have been floating the last week just above Yankee Jim and just below as well with great fishing.  I have been using a golden brown chubby with a little yellow sally stimi trailing behind with great success.  We should transition perfectly from the stonefly hatches to hopper season within the next couple weeks if not now.  I'll be in Truckee next week for some mid-summer fishing, probably going to be a morning and evening thing. 

This stretch was very good.

Cutthroat with Chubby

Varney to 8 mile

Devun had the day off from school so I took off from work as well. Had a nice spring day in the Madison Valley. The fishing was good. They were eating pretty much everything I threw; golden stone, micro-may, and of course the worm. The water was perfect, a light breeze and partly cloudy. Hope to get over there again soon, while it's good.