The God Dam

Holter Dam on the Missouri River

Here's a unique view of Holter Dam on the Missouri River here in Montana.  The MO is fishing good and it's only going to get better!

Rain, wind, movies, bighorns, and some trout

Bighorn sheep at Holter Dam

Had yet another epic weekend in Craiglandia, USA.  This weekend brought a movie festival, some new friends of the "true local" variety, first-trout-on-the-fly for 2 people, and enough rain and wind to chill you to the bone.  Next weekend will hopefully be a bit warmer as we stay in the neighborhood and stick some Big Hole pigs.

Montana Fly Fishing Film Festival

Some trout are more willing to get the whole, "getting caught" ordeal over with...

The spawn is on!

The rainbow and cutthroat trout of Montana are on the spawn.  Last week, I witnessed the massive trout orgy that takes place near Holter Dam on the Missouri.  There, the trout make dinner table-sized, community redds.  I can sit there and watch them for hours.  The big colored male and the female getting it on while three smaller males wait in formation for the opportunity to sneak in there when the big guy is distracted chasing away other males.  I was surprised to see that the other people around were oblivious to the redds.  People were fishing them (I honestly don't think they knew they were there) and dropping anchors and parking boats over them.  It was hard to watch.

Yesterday, I took a walk along the banks of Rattlesnake Creek in a local park here in Missoula. Rattlesnake Creek is a major spawning tributary for the fish in the Clark Fork around Missoula.  It is a beautiful creek that comes out of the Rattlesnake Wilderness.  It mostly gets ignored by fisherpeople but it is a fine trout stream all year long. Right now, the Rattlesnake is lousy with spawning fish.  They are everywhere!  

Go check them out and show the kids but do not mess with them.  The creek is closed to fishing for two more weeks to allow the spawn to take place.  It is a great way to see the WILD,  amazing, huge, and beautiful trout that live in the Clark Fork and watch real world biology in action!  Real fish porn.        

large male rainbow on redd

mating pair of rainbows on redd

Betula occidentalis - western water birch blossoms

The Improved Rainbow Czech Nymph

Improved Rainbow Czech Nymph

HOOK: Size 18-14 (I like 16) standard scud hook
THREAD: 6/0 pink
BEAD: any color <1/8" dia.
BODY: Hand blend dubbing mix which incorporates UV shrimp pink, damsel blue, and some background Antron for balance and cohesion.
RIBBING: Small dia. black wire
BACK: Clear plastic from a little baggie some tying materials came in

SO WHAT MAKES IT "IMPROVED?"

I use the small dia. black wire for ribbing instead of black thread or floss.  Every Rainbow Czech Nymph I've ever bought from a shop or tied myself, which was ribbed with thread/floss, prematurely succumbs to fish teeth and or/ the ribbing just slides down the body and builds up in the bend of the hook.

Not only is the wire a million times more durable, it also helps the fly sink.  You can pretty much fish this fly 365 days a year over on the Missouri River below Holter Dam.  It is a great sinker fly when fishing another super-tiny nymph in tandem.

If anyone has any advice for how to take good macro pics with a 18-55mm lens it would be greatly appreciated. I will get a macro lens as soon as I can afford one; might be a while.