jscheetz

Spent the last week of Sept and the first week of Oct in MT (and WY). The first week was by myself - trout bumming it - sleeping in the truck, not eating much but power bars, fishing at least 10 hours each day, and not bathing much. I realize this isn't really a "vacation" to some people, but was paradise to me! The second week my wife came out, so while I did still get a few days of fishing in, we hiked a lot, and we ate at restaurants, slept in a bed and there was more bathing. I didn't have a camera with me on every stop, but did manage to take a few pics to share - so if you want to look at some pics and read some rambling it's here. I never fished the same place twice (although I probably should have since some were so good), and the biggest fish I caught were a few in the 3 to 4 pound range - so no real monsters. But a couple of the best days I had I was catching 12 inch fish in the most beautiful place on earth so the size wasn't really an issue. I fished the first 9 days in a row and caught fish every day so it was pretty good. The weather was perfect - sunny and 60 to 70 the whole time except for the first day. Mornings would be in the 30s to start with, but as soon as the sun peeked over the mountains it warmed right up. Anyway - Stopped for a day at the Bighorn. Was pretty high for this time of year. There was just too much moss down river to wade fish. The drift boats were doing OK cause they could keep up with the moss - but from the shore it was too much floating by. Moved up close to the dam and it was much better. Started catching fish immediately there. This was the only time except for one other spot in the whole trip where I was nymphing instead of dries -the rest of the trip was all on top! Was standing in the river as an Osprey landed in the tree right above me - a few minutes later he tucked his wings back and spearheaded right straight down into the water about 15 feet from me - my heart skipped a beat or two it was so powerful. He emerged with a nice trout in his talons and flew across the river - pretty cool to see up that close. A good way to start the trip - Caught a couple dozen fish on a zebra midge and sjw combo. A couple of pretty nice sized ones - I did catch a big mountain whitefish - unfortunately they fight like a walleye There was a swarming black caddis hatch in the evening - got a few fish rising - Went up into the Bighorn mountains and fished the North Tongue river for Cutts. The morning was cold and the fish were pretty inactive - not unlike myself. But as the day progressed, we all started to get more into it - caught lots of fish drifting a Griffiths gnat. I mostly sight fished as you could see them laying along the bends of the river - then just throw something in the right spot ahead of them and..... - I did use one of Tim's Roaring river beetles to entice a couple of 17 inch fish that wouldn't take anything else. Beautiful colors on these fish - I spent the next couple of days fishing the Stillwater and the East and West Rosebuds. Caught lots of fish. The West rosebud has a nice inlet to WRB lake where there were lots of small rainbows, and then on up the mountain is a nice pool stream. The Stillwater is a much larger water, which is always harder to figure out exactly where the fish are - but did pretty good on a hopper. There were lots of hoppers about - last year at this same time there weren't any so that was kind of nice. One night I found a nice spot in the Stillwater and as the sun went down the fish started to rise all around me - couldn't figure them out at first - only bug I saw was a tiny little evening dun or something like that - but must have been a size 46 - So I didn't have anything small enough apparently, but I started stripping a hackle and that did the trick. Sun was setting, fall colors were in full spectacle - standing in the middle of the Stilly with fish all around - then as I was pulling in a nice 16 inch fish, a huge bald eagle flew right up the river and over my head - - - - sure beats workin'. The Stillwater - kind of big and intimidating in spots - Farther up the mountain the Stillwater gets pretty crazy - there are HUUUUGE fish in some of those big pools. You could sometimes see them sort of get carried by the current and lifted up towards the surface. Only caught smaller ones in the pools - couldn't get down deep enough to harass the big guys. Maybe go back with a 9 wt and some splits - - -or maybe a baitcasting rig and a big gob of nightcrawlers........ (Lord, please forgive me for that previous evil thought, amen)...... that's better. This fish isn't big, but the background where he was caught is pretty cool - Same deal here - Fished Rock Creek in a couple of places and speaking of nightcrawlers... The one disheartening thing of the trip was that at the two big holes in one stretch of the creek there were styrofoam cups half full of nightcrawlers left there. - and of course no big browns in those holes like I caught last year. Now before you bait fisherman get up in arms - I know that bait fishing is perfectly legal there - however, it's my experience that any idiot who would leave half empty bait cups and a few beer cans laying along a pristine mountain stream are the same people that string up every fish they catch regardless of rules and regulations and take em home. But I did catch a couple of decent bows up that creek - was a bit higher than I like to see it for walking up, but still not bad. Small tan caddis seemed to work best there. Headed over the beartooth highway. Stopped up top and fished Little bear creek. Walked a couple miles down the stream - must have caught 60 brookies. A few nice 10 to 12 inchers - but quite a few 8 inchers as well - still fun on the 3wt and with the settings you are fishing in. Just find a slight pool, drop in #14 Adams, and voila - fish on. Could have caught them all day, but had to move on - Brook trout heaven. A few larger pools like this one (I caught 6 fish from below that riffle until I slipped and landed on my rear in the middle of the stream) that tends to spook 'em - should have had a video of that! Nice colorful brook - Overlooking the Clark's fork basin - bound to be some fish down there somewhere! Yep - there was. Spent the day and hiked about 4 or 5 miles up the Clark's fork, just a few miles outside of Yellowstone. Caught an absolute ton of fish - mostly on an Adams, or small gray caddis. Never saw another soul - was all in the wilderness - it was 75 and sunny with no wind all day - the river all looked like the picture below - it was truly a day of Heaven on earth - one of those days that you really don't want to end. Just wish you could spend eternity wandering up an endless river that looked like this.... If you need to take a lunch break - you could do a lot worse than this spot - After my wife arrived we did some hiking higher up in the mountains. The Beartooth's are overcrowded with brookies - most of the smaller lakes are filled with 'em. But one lake we did go to about 3 1/2 miles up that I had been to last year and caught a ton of nice fish was completely devoid of life - it is a shallow lake and must have silted in enough that a hard freeze wiped it out. You see strange things in the mountains. But I did fish a few lakes and caught lots of fish. I always am a sucker for the streams on the way up to the lakes - sometimes these are a bit tought to get to but that just adds to the challenge for me. Of course my wife thinks I'm crazy scaling down mountain sides to get to a pool, which is why she feels compelled to document it with a photo - but..... she loves me anyway. Standing in the middle of the lake.... but once again - beats workin' - There were other little places and side streams - there were lots, but we headed back through Yellowstone and the Tetons - didn't have time to stop and fish but it sure looked good!!!!! There were more people fishing in the park than I had ever seen before - and it was on a Wednesday! I guess since the season got started a bit late this year they are making up for lost time. Pulled into the Tetons and the colors were breathtaking - Stopped at the Snake River - and took some pictures of a big bull Moose that was there - but most people were taking pics of the colors - I had been there before during peak season, but don't think I have ever seen it more beautiful - Took this one right before the sun finally set on a blessed trip - The first week and a half I didn't listen to any radio - saw no TV - no news at all - and when I finally got to a town and checked my messages, a friend had called telling me about all the "financial crisis" and meltdown that was happening in the market etc etc - - - but I had just been fishing through it - seems like a better deal! Now I'm back, and have to hear all about it - and deal with all the election nonsense etc etc etc etc - - This leads me to believe that maybe Thoreau was on to something!!!! Anyway - thanks for sharing my trip - you all were there with me in spirit! JS

Thanks Terry - YOU are the man!!! Growler - good points about using stuff without permission - nice to have someone sticking up for us poor writers in this time of torrents and winmx fever that we live in! Brian - I would second Terry's thinking about checking out myspace etc - you might find what you want. I checked out the video and it didn't really strike me as what I would call "folky" - more just acoustic instrumental stuff might do the trick for you in a search. If you find something you like I would just shoot an email to the guy and tell him what you are doing and that you would like permission to use his song. I would think most people would be happy to grant permission. I get asked this kind of stuff all the time "I want to use one of your tunes in a family vacation video" - or "My church is putting together a canoe trip video and want to use your song" etc etc - I always appreciate anyone asking, and if it is not a big profitable thing I have no problem letting them do whatever they want with the tunes. But like when someone uses my stuff for a commercial on radio or tv - and there is money being made..... like to get a little of it. You can find some "royalty free" music out there - but it is a lot of times pretty nasty crappy stuff imho - If you guys want to hear how to play acoustic - check out a couple of friends of mine on youtube - search - Trace Bundy or Andy Mckee - these guys are crazy good. And Brian - if you ever need any slightly more rockin' stuff - It's all yours - you know where to find me JS

I love this board and all the thoughtful caring fisher people we have on here. And I am the most positive guy I know.... However..... I just don't think that any "regs" is going to make much difference without enforcement. It's the old deal - It's not the responsible gun owners that are out there killing everyone - it's the criminals. When a guy like me who is a C&R guy anyway drives 3 and a half hours to fish for Trout or Smallies or whatever - I pick up my trash, don't tear up roads and stream beds, take care of the fish best I can, etc etc. As I am sure many on this board do whether they are C&R guys or catch and eat guys - above all we are responsible sportsman who take the care of the resource seriously. However - the local that lives a couple of miles down the road who doesn't care much about the "sport" of fishing or the environment is gonna keep every fish they catch and throw their beer cans back up in the weeds. It's just the way it is. Been that way since I was a little kid fishing and it is still that way today on many backroad streams and lakes. So while the "Only keep one smallie over 18 inches" is a rule that many of us would follow - it certainly will have no bearings on the old guy who pulls up in his 73 ford truck with his bucket full of minnows. And on small streams guys like that can CLEAN the fish out - I have seen it happen. Not every "local" who lives next to a stream is that way of course - but I know most of you have seen that same situation while you were fishing in the rural areas. I grew up on a farm in Iowa and it was the same thing there - until I developed some understanding of conservation, eco systems etc - me and my buds just kept fish when we caught them, whatever they were, however many they were. Not really intentionally trying to break the law or get away with anything, it's just that sometimes in the rural areas a lot of "laws" you follow are based on traditions and what all the other people in the area do instead of what some "outsider" lawman tells you you can do. So some more education to local communities on how valuable and perhaps sometimes delicate their resource is would maybe help. Kind of like how many organizations are dealing with the poaching crisis in Africa - instead of just going after the poachers, they are teaching villages how much more money they could make from tourism etc if they HAVE those animals in their backyards. Next thing you know the villagers are policing the poachers themselves and defending the resource. Sometimes you take for granted what you are around everyday. - The first time I went to Crane Creek -I drove into town and fished, and caught several of the famous McCloud rainbows - a real thrill for me. It was just a beautiful place and an awesome fishing experience. I then stopped up at the local station to get gas and the lady at the counter asked how I was - I told her great cause I just caught some trout. She said "Where". I said down at the creek - she said "Crane"? as she wrinkled up her nose - I am sure I looked sort of confused since I had driven almost 3 hours to get there and planned the trip for weeks!! But the other girl at the counter said - "Yeah, my kids swim down there sometimes". Like it was no big deal. This little stream that is a mecca for many afflicted with the trout addiction was just the local creek to these girls. And as I drove through town, it just struck me as funny, it was just a regular day, folks going to work, or walking through town, just like the little town I grew up by - except this little town had CRANE CREEK FLOWING THROUGH IT!!!!! WITH THE MCCLOUD RAINBOWS THAT CAN ONLY BE FOUND A COUPLE PLACES IN THE WORLD!!!!! hehehehe - Just funny how perceptions are different for different people depending upon how you look at things. So back to the topic - what's the answer? Well, it probably won't happen, but more officers and enforcement of the laws that are already there would be the immediate fix. But the other thing is as I said, educating people and communities that their resource is fragile and important and that they are the "local guardians" of it - get people to feel as though they have a vested interest in something and they will pay a lot more attention to it. Because hopefully there is still hope that we can become a people that is more focused on taking care of things instead of just taking things. JS

Yeah - Joe is the man! Think he's up here in KC in Aug - Definitely get his earlier CDs also - they are more rock with some bluesy edge - he was fairly un-noticed until he did the all blues CD - Blues Deluxe - Then he put out several that were fairly straight blues (but still rockin) and really got accepted by the blues crowds and started doing more blues festivals, and was able to really spread the word. I still like some of the earlier CDs the best - but the new stuff is killer as well! JS

I just wanna say I love you all. JS

First off I can't BELIEVE that I was away from the forum for awhile and missed all the excitement about the big brown! Well, more specifically about the opinions. Then dang - the thread got closed And I missed it again. Boy Shawncat you are right about the sensitivity around here. Phil or Dano can we have an area where we can go and be funny and make fun of people and ourselves and no one is allowed in who takes life too seriously? I mean you gotta admit Fat kids and hillbillies using powerbait was FUNNY!! Come on now. Unless you are one of the above -that had to make you chuckle - if not, please check into your local DE-sensitivitiy facility. Then talking about fly fisherman with lace panties - - hehehehe GOOD stuff!!! But several people immediately came to the defense of Fat kids and hillbillies and I think they are getting preferential treatment on this board. I don't think that we should put Fat kids and hillbillies interests ahead of panty wearing upright fly fisherman. I think this board has crossed the line. As a slim boy who grew up in Iowa I feel very left out. JS

Just reporting on the first reconnaisance trip I did to Big Buffalo Creek and a couple of places - I posted it with some pictures in the "other ozark waters" section. JS

OK - so I am posting this here in "other waters" because that is probably the proper place for it. This stems from the thread I started in the general discussion section on nice streams close to KC where there may be fish. So after seeing the Black Crowes on Tuesday night, I had the day off Wed to go explore a bit. Decided to head over to some of the tribs east of Warsaw. Went to Big Buffalo Creek CA. Was a really neat place with some campgrounds and a very park like little drive along the creek. Unfortunately the fishing was not much to speak of - water was too low and warm to support the smallies that I had hoped to find there. But like I said it was a beautiful little stretch of water. Man, if this was in the mountains there would be little brookies tackling the caddis below every riffle. But alas, it was not. Saw no fish larger than 6 inches - caught a couple of bluegill, a creek chub, and then this bass - not the right one Finally got upstream to the deepest hole I found - about 3 feet deep and wide, by 10 feet long - kind of a trough - and this turtle was fiddling around in the bottom of it. Hope he had more luck than I did! Anyway - was a nice walk and a neat place - just no fish. Maybe in the spring when the water is up there would be more fish, they may have just all moved back downstream when the water started dropping. I then went to Cole camp creek - it was real muddy for some reason? Then went to Mule Shoe on the little Niangua - caught quite a few 12 to 15 inch largemouths there, and some nice gills, but no smallies. Recon mission number one accomplished! Will report again! Over and out - JS

Great replies guys! Will check a couple of these out and let you know - have a couple of potential days off this week and wouldn't you know it is supposed to storm all week! Any more finds just let me know - JS

OK - so I live just south of KC - it's 3 hours drive no matter where I go to catch trout - can't get around that. But is there a closer Ozarkian type of stream to potentially catch some smallies? Doesn't have to be completely pristine with tons of fish - but the little blue river next to my house doesn't quite qualify. Is there anyplace closer than the usual Ozark streams next to AR etc etc - Just thought I would see if I am overlooking something that would be a little less drive to get a nice small stream experience - either wading or kayak, but at least with a few fish involved. Thanks JS

Brilliant! JS

Thanks Al - Might have to check one out when I am up there next time - JS

Hey Al, Hope your summer is going well - I'm sure it is up there! Do you ever fish any of the $ spring creeks, like Depuy's or Armstrong etc? Since those are over in your neck of the woods figured you might have some insight. Had a friend said Depuy's was really cool - but at a hundred bucks a rod now it is kind of expensive. Was up there for 8 days in the fall and fished every day and still didn't get to all the free places I wanted to - and caught fish every day - so it's hard to pry that cash out of my pocket to pay for more of the same. But if if was really amazing or something....... anyway - should be up there in two months!! whoooohooooo!! JS

Thanks Don! And Thanks for speading the love Terry - Glad to give you 20% - of course 20% of what I make probably won't put gas in your truck! JS

Sounds like fun! I've caught a lot of cutts in that Soda/Lamar area - it is just usually really crowded in the summer - Good to know the wolves are still safe in the park - I read an article that said in the 61 days after the elimination of federal protection of the wolves - 69 were killed! Here is a pic of two years ago this same time in June in Yellowstone - hiking alone up Slough creek. Looked across the river and saw a mother grizzly and two cubs walking - then all of a sudden two wolves came at them. The mother just sat down with the two cubs next to her and the wolves stood on either side - each taking turns running in at them - trying to get the mother to chase one so the other could steal a cub. The wolves finally got tired of it and couldn't get the mother away from the cubs so they left and the bear family wandered up the hill. I was on the other side of the river using a 300mm lens so didn't get real great shots - but you can at least make out the bears and the wolves on each side looking ominous. It was one of those times in the wilderness where you feel like you have been treated to seeing something special! Keep the updates coming! JS

Thanks for the pics Al!! THAT'S what I am talking about!!!! JS

Hey Al - pictures???? You could post a few photos along the way to help our flatlander souls back here! Our land up there is just down the road a spell near Red Lodge. Neighbors there told me there is more bear activity around there this spring than they have seen before. Maybe all the late snow up high is driving them down a bit more than usual. I won't up get there for another couple of months - but you should wander over to the Bighorn, I know it's up right now, but at least not blown out - when I was there last Sept - had to fish with a Musky lure just to keep the little 18 inchers off your line JS

Hey Thanks Greg! Yeah that's fine whatever you think - I said a handful instead of a number cause I'm up for whatever you guys think is fair - figure most of us on here are fair guys. Not really trying to come out ahead on this - just thought it might be fun to do something different for OAF folks. Can't wait to see the flies! JS

Just posted in the Taneycomo forum about swapping CDs for flies!! Check it out - might be Crazy good fun - JS

I'll post this in the music forum too (where it probably belongs) - but since my favorite flyers hang out here, thought I would mention it here too. Thanks to everyone who responded to my post about my new CD being out - I appreciate it - Now - thought I would do something weird and OAF is just the place for that kind of stuff! If anyone wants a copy of my new CD - just send a handful of tied flies to the address below and I will send you a CD! A variation on the fly swap, but since I spend all my time in the studio recording music instead of at the vise - this is what I have to offer!! Seemed like a fun crazy thing to try so have at it - (if you want a different CD from the website other than the new one you can just let me know - and don't forget to include your address when you send the flies) Rock on - JS Address: Bam-Zoom! music PO Box 481171 Kansas City, MO 64148 website - www.jeffscheetz.com

Sounds like you are speaking about a few of our forum members. JS

Thanks Mike! Glad you dig it - JS

WHAT?? Nooooooo!! Say it isn't so - - Noooooooo!!! I refuse to believe it!!! In the Ozarks???? Can't be! Ollie, I think you have stepped way over the line here to suggest even so delicately that there could be Yahoo's in southern MO, and what's more that they may occasionally shoot something "just because". I think that is just mean spirited. JS

Lots of water today - was there for just a few hours early afternoon. No wipers But caught some whites and pesky crappie. There were 8 guys lined up 6 feet apart throwing topwater stick baits - it was kind of funny watching them - it was like a line of mini jet skis coiming across the water - if there were any bass there they were probably ducking for cover wondering what kind of an invasion this was!!! Did see them catch 1 hybrid - small one - Just too many people there right now for me - not really worth it unless you are catching some serious fish - JS

Sorry GF, didn't know you were such a C&R guy. I just figured it would be hard for you to release 'em after digging your big treble hook loaded with corn out of their gut with your rusty pliers. Sometimes I really am too funny!!! JS - "Fish molesting, looking down upon you, C&Rer" And hey - the mystical mythical is often really much better than the stick-in-the-mud reality!