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.

10-10-10 Lower Madison

So it has been awhile it seems since I've been out on the river. Soccer season is done and fall fishing season has begun. I've got my buddy Matt coming out in a couple of weeks so I thought I better brush up on my skills. Landed this nice brown on a crawfish imitation on the lower Madison today. Hooked a bunch landed a few. It seemed they liked a little action on the crawfish since most of the fish took it on the strip rather than dead drifted. Got the day off tomorrow and it sounds like it will actually be fall since the forecast is for some rain and overcast, hope to fish streamers.