The BilletHead's Ride again. 2016 Adventure The offical report.

[BilletHead]

    Blackfoot, Grave and Graves creeks,

So we then headed towards the Blackfoot drainage to explore. Had a book with us and I had seen a stream called Cooper creek. Had a pretty good review and said it was not a drainage of Cooper Lake. Never did find Cooper Creek but did find Copper Creek that drained from Cooper Lake. Now Copper Creek had a ok review, we seen it but it ran through a burned out area and was a mess. This turned out to be a wild goose chase driving all over we spun our wheels. Did see some nice looking water on private ground and although you can stay below the high water lines and go on any creek in this state we would of felt funny jumping a fence to do it. Not an option for us. Also we were beginning to be in areas under "Hoot Owl Closures" No fishing after 2PM until I think 10PM. Parked for the night and would regroup first thing in the AM. Next morning we went to the National Forest Office in Lincoln. Found a nice young flyfishing kid working there familiar to the area. H. e recommended going up to the end of the road up the North Fork of the Blackfoot river. Also fishing the Blackfoot right in town. First we drove up the North Fork Blackfoot. End of road. Seen a few horse trailers and vehicles of all sorts. Talked to three spin fishermen from ST. Louis that were going to hike up a trail to some falls. We opted to drop into the canyon and fish our way upstream. We could hear the water below but not see it. No trail either. I figured if we could get to water we could surely find a way back out? . We stumbled our way through the brush, trees, rocks and dead fall to one of the most beautiful places we have ever seen. Gin clear water, deep holes where you could see the bottom. Right off the bat I turned a couple of small fish. They would dart up from the bottom like a rocket, hit the hopper and go back to the bottom disappearing into the rocky bottom. Working our way up the river I ran into a bunch of brush. A sharp twig went right up my nose. The blood flowed and freaked out Pat. Finally got that mess stopped! Proceeded to miss a two foot plus bull trout that rolled on my hopper. I shook from that strike. Then a long no hit stretch. Puzzled we could not figure out why? Then as we both peered into the depths we seen a huge bull trout cruse by. Not saying a word we both turned to look at each other. Like silently saying did you see that? We did. Next hole we again could not fathom what we seen. There were seven bull trout. I mean the size of dreams. Two to three footers, fat giants. You could see the brilliant colors. White tipped fins. No wonder we were not catching. Apex predators right in front of us. To feed this bunch of behemoths could clean out a hole fast. We seen two more sections like this.. What a sight. Endangered I thought ? Guess so. Finally ran into another fisherman. He was nymphing deep missing a couple of fish. He was going downstream and I told him what he was in store for. He had never seen a Bull trout. I asked how they had come in. Well ask my buddy when you see him. Ok How do we get out of here he responded. I told him how we had got in, what to look for. Ok I still hope they found their way out . Found his buddy who told us of a trail. Said it was pretty steep. Instructed us to keep gong up until we found the horse trail leading us back to the parking lot. He had caught two fish. We did not hook anything. Up the trail and I mean up. Taking our time, helping each other no more blood was shed. Back at the truck our net was missing. Despite this and the bloody nose it was all worth it. What we had seen that day is still burned into my pea brain. The next four pictures do not do justice to this gem of a place. Someday I hope to try it again,

   Our sore beaten bodies headed back to Lincoln for a campsite and real shower. Huveos rancheros on the menu with the pot licking dog waiting for her share,

   Next morning a small amount of vengeance on the smaller Blackfoot right in the edge of Lincoln. Small rainbows,and rainbow cutt hybrids. Small dries. Madam X and Trudes,

   More a bit later,

BilletHead 

[Flysmallie]

19 minutes ago, BilletHead said:

Proceeded to miss a two foot plus bull trout that rolled on my hopper. I shook from that strike. 

 

There would have been tears. And possibly more blood. 

 

Awesome report so far. 

[Ham]

I'm gonna bet I could make a Bull Trout hit a Zig Jig.

[ollie]

Great report!!  Love the pics as well.  Some day I will make it out there myself.  I like that you didn't really have an agenda and just took the road to where ever.

[JestersHK]

Once again BH I am envious of your amazing trips!  Great photos and great report!  Thank you for sharing.

[BilletHead]

     Yep no Agenda. Just make a decision at the right moment and act! So what next? Hey what about heading North? Way north to almost Canada? Sure lets go for it and we did. We decided to revisit Grave creek. This is where last year we caught some westslope cutthroat and juvenile bull trout. On the trip up we finally hit some rain. All over the state it is needed. Took the blacktop off the main highway which turned of course to gravel up to where we had camped last year. Muddy, sloppy mess. Drove out of there and headed farther up. Checked out a couple of spots and when we did came around a corner to find in the middle of the road a giant young man splitting huge logs of pine. We waved as we negotiated around his truck. I told Pat now that is a man as I looked in the rear view mirror and heard the whack as the ax hit the log. After looking more we decided to go back to a spot we liked the best. As we drove back by the wood cutter I stopped to chat. I said you are the man. He smiled and we started to converse. He inquired to what we were doing. Told him our story and he said you going to have a fire tonight? Yes if we can find some wood. Just then I heard a crash and down from above us a log came rolling onto the road. Is that your partner, nope my son as another big young man came from the woods. Son lets split these folks some fire wood. I got big eyed, we can find some, no this is good stuff and we can share. Whack, whack, whack and into the back of the camper. What do we owe you guys? Nothing. No I will buy you some gas. A few bucks, a thank you and we were on our way for the afternoon and night. Set up, cool so we put on the waders and into the water we went. Nothing, nadda, not a strike. Still do not know why. Looked good, felt good. Expected it to be like last year. Weather change? Water pretty cold as it was glacial melt? Who knows, did not matter look where we were!

   Time for some chow. Olive oil and rosemary seared deer loin, mashed taters,more homegrown Mo. tomatoes and our sour dill pickles.

     A quick heating of stream water to clean up with and fire going it would be a relaxing evening.

   Another location tomorrow. Graves Creek

BilletHead

 

[MOPanfisher]

Now that is my kind of road trip.!!

[BilletHead]

      We will call this installment Graves Creek although there is much before reaching the creek

 South we headed to Kalispell where we stopped at a fish and game office. We had a couple of ideas and wanted to ask the local experts for info. Went in and asked the young lady at the counter some questions. I have only been here three days let me get some help. Guy comes to visit. We ran some things by him. Well he said water is pretty warm, fishing slow but you can go to lake X and catch. Wanting streams I said. Oh you had better go to Snappy's to ask that question. Go here and turn here and look for this car dealership turn right and there is Snappy's. We finally find Snappy's and go to the fishing counter. Fellow there says he doesn't really work this department let me call for Joe. Joe shows up and we grill him. Well all he knows is there have been lots of hopper patterns of all types purchased. Then everyone have been going to the top end of Hungry Horse Reservoir, driving to the end of the road and hiking up the South Fork of the Flathead. He said long bumpy road, fill up before you go. Might check out Handkerchief lake on the way up. State record grayling was caught there. So a plan was hatched and we began to prepare. Stopped in Columbia Falls to do laundry, eat lunch and top off the water tank in the camper. Laundry dome and road grime washed off the truck and camper we began to look for water. Spied a big campground. Keep in mind we are really close to the entrance to Glacier Park. It was a good Sam campground which we are Good Sam Members. The membership pays for itself as we get three cents off a gallon of gas at Pilot and Flying J stations. We have one at home and I use it to fill truck and car. Pat is driving so we pull in, I head for the store. Guy in front of me so I look around. Find a collapsible step stool we need as the one we use for getting in and out of the camper went South and broke. Get closer to the counter to hear the guy having a heated conversation with the lady behind the counter. Guy wants to know why he has to move spots after being there for days. She says we have yours reserved for another camper, well why don't you move the reservation to the spot you want o put me in? She says sir you will have to move or vacate the campground. He agreed to move and left in a huff and sigh rolling his eyes at me as we passed. I bought the step stool and asked if I could get five gallons of water at one of the empty campsites. She gave me a funny look and said I will have to call someone. Well someone came in and said no we are full and have people moving spots. I say five gallons and five minutes right here at site 1. No again. As I go out I see Pat having a conversation with one of the campground workers. He said with a grin good luck getting anything or any help here. We leave and find a city park for lunch hoping for a water faucet. No faucet and lunch ate I spy a chamber of commerce building. Went in to a self serve kiosk full of pamphlets from the area, sign said help yourself to anything needed. Well outside there was a water faucet so we made like pirates and borrowed some water! Problem solved. Onward and upward we went. Huckleberry this and that all along the road on signs. Stopped by one more tourist wannabee fly shop to look around. I asked about all the huckleberry signs. Season is winding down. Got to go high now to find any. Big deal he says. So along the West side of Hungry Horse Reservoir we go, getting later and road getting worse. Washboard Sadie pacing in the back seat Pat and I getting grumpy. Looking at the map we see a campground at the lake we had been told about, campground listed on the lake. Small lake this will work and turned off. Went up a more rough road to the lake. No campground. Ran into a couple of destitute looking man and woman coming out of the woods where a beat up car with Washington plates. He was not moving fast and she ad a cane. I stopped and cracked the window down. Asked if there was a campground? Not here and we have been all over. Ok I ask as I seen them with a container. Are you picking huckleberries? Ah yes kind of sheepishly. Found any? Ah a few. How many. Ah about a quart and we have been at it all day.  I wished them good luck and we headed back to the main road. Up a bit further we see a campground sign and turn off up a road. It follows a creek that is naimed Graves. Humm we just came from Grave creek maybe it was a sign? We find up the creek a small pull out with four picknic tables, three fire pits, an outhouse and the creek next to all. We have landed. Set up and of course hit the creek while we had light. First cast a rainbow, tiny rainbow but it was a fish. We began to explore upstream catching many, many fish. Rainbows and rainbow cutt hybrids. All between four and eight inches. Almost every cast. Again fun was had. Pat spied a small bush of huckleberries, I feasted on the treats thinking maybe there is something about this berry? Back at camp I fired up the grill and again fat mallard breast was on the menu,

 

 

   A good nights sleep and out of that bumpy road in the morning,

BilletHead

 

 

[Ham]

Ever considered a ceramic water filter as an emergency backup water source? Does Sadie enjoy the locations? Does she get to drink straight from the stream?

About the 4-8 inch fish. What weight rod? 2 or 3? Tenkara? Non trout species available? I mean iffn you're going to enjoy/endure 4 inch trout, there may be chubs and native minnows that rival that experience.

Did you get to see any fun mammals or birds? Any rattlesnakes?

[BilletHead]

   Ham,

We do carry a water filter when fishing and use it a bunch. You would be surprised how parched you can get in low humidity fast. We do carry some bottled water for drinking and even making coffee. Do not even like to drink straight from the water tank. Just wanting to top it off because you never know if you get stuck or hung up somewhere. We have been places we did not see anyone for a couple of days. I have had a case of giardia one time when bowhunting for elk in my younger days. I would not wish that on anyone. Well maybe my enemies?

     All we had was a couple of five weights each. I know we might of pinched in a couple more rods or gear but space was at a premium. Not into tenkara yet but you guys have me thinking. In the meantime I will cut a long straight branch like we used to use bamboo poles for bluegill .  Yes there is other fish to be caught but we did not try. Seen lots of native sculpins in the creeks. I think the locals call them bull heads.

   Lots of dead rattlesnakes dead on the road. None while out fishing. Mammals yes will get to some of that on another installment. Birds ,yes and some neat ones. We seen some goldeneye ducks on Grave creek. Fast whitewater mom was swimming upstream with her little ones following. They would all disappear in the waves, now you see them now you don't. I could hardly believe it in such a small stream. Maybe that is why we blanked there. They ate the fishes . The neatest thing bird wise on the same creek was the cedar waxwings. The small flock actually followed us up and down the creek very unafraid. While high sticking a run I had one try to land on my rod tip. If i had not been swinging with the current it would of lit,

BilletHead