Night Fishing Report

[Phil Lilley]

Rolan and I drove to the dam at 7 pm tonight. We stepped down the TU stairs and what did we see? High water. You'd think after 23 years I'd know better and CALL before driving all the way to the dam. They were only running one and it was starting to drop so we stuck to our plan and waded on out to the Big Hole. It wasn't too hard.

So we threw some new flies and the old faithful... but they weren't so faithful again tonight. I got 2 strikes and Rolan one. I took and tried some of Leonard's leaches he ties with BackCountry's sparkle leach dubbing- no luck. But things were about to light up for us... literally!

I think it was about 8:30 or 9:00 when the tree in front of us lite up, flashing like a white strobe. I thought... lightning? Someone taking pics? Then the rubble followed. Then I knew- fireworks! Celebration City? It was from that direction. The trout didn't appreciate it- the surface of the water broke up and all the fish in the shallows headed for the channel. We couldn't believe we had so many fish around us! But they were gone- so we turned and watched the show. Impressive- esp the last burst... 10 times bigger than any I've ever seen.

Anyhow- our fishing was over for the evening... we thought. We started walking back to the parking lot and up walks Leonard. He wants to fish! So we walked back out and fished till 10 pm. The moon came up at 9:15 and that's when I got 6 strikes- hooked 2 fairly heavy fish but the hook pulled out on both. I was using a white, unweighted wooly bugger about a size #10. I got every bite while standing out in the middle of the channel- just down from the rock at the wash (some may know where I'm taking about) and holding the rod directly downstream not stripping or moving the fly at all. I think I fell asleep a couple of times only to be wakened by a jolt. Rolan got a couple of strikes and Leonard- not sure if he did. We quit at 10 pm.

[Terry Beeson]

Then I knew- fireworks! Celebration City? It was from that direction. The trout didn't appreciate it- the surface of the water broke up and all the fish in the shallows headed for the channel.

Sure, they appreciated it, Phil. They moved to the channel to get a better view of the fireworks! Didn't you hear them saying... "OOOOooooo.... AAAAaaaaaahhhhhhhh!!!!!!"

Then, Leonard shows up, blows his "magic trout callin' whistle" and you're into them again...

Sounds like a pretty good night. Good report.