2 Weeks In Montana Report

[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

[flyfishmaster]

JS,

I'm very jealous now. Thanks for making my life look so meaningless.

Sad and pouting,

FFM

[fly2fish]

Jeff, great report and pictures, now we know why you were trading CD's for flys. I would rather take a trip like that than probably an Alaska trip with bigger fish. I was out there in July but didn't get to fish as much as I wanted. Now I know how to do it, go out a week ahead before the wife gets there!

Henry

[Terry Beeson]

Purty pics of purty pheeshes in purty country, Jeff...

How many songs did you write while there? GOTTA be inspired to cut some licks when in that situation...

[jjtroutbum]

We have all heard the quote before and it has been proved once again

"Trout don't live in ugly places."

Thanks for sharing. Great skills with the camera.

[Guest]

deleted

[snagged in outlet 3]

Thanks!!! That's a great report.

SIO3

[Phil Lilley]

Buddy- this warms my heart. I'm so glad I started this forum for just this reason!!!

Thank you so very much for sharing your experience and the images of God's blessing to all of us.

Simply awesome.

[TroutBum4wt]

Thank you!

[Danimal]

Sleeping in the car - no showers, sounds like my Panic-touring days . The pics are simply beautiful. Thank you for sharing them. Dan-o