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Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Walleye found in Swan Lake, Montana

Photo from: http://www.mnnature.org

























Two 17-inch, mature Walleye were caught in Swan Lake, Montana during the fall gill netting to remove invasive lake trout.  Walleye are not native to the Flathead drainage and have the potential to become invasive in Swan Lake which is one of the last remaining strongholds for bull trout in Montana.  

These fish were recently introduced by some asshole bucket biologists.  If you have any information call 1-800-TIP-MONT.  There is a $15,000 reward. 

Read more about the story at:  http://www.dailyinterlake.com/

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Mint condition Martin MG-7 fly reel!

My new, mint condition, Martin MG-7



I scored this never-been-used Martin MG-7 from an estate sale here in Butte, Montana.  I don't even know if this beauty has ever seen the light of day!  The research I have done, dates this model to the late 70's.  It came with the original leather pouch, a warranty, and instructions pamplet complete with the little metal logo.















































I've been debating whether to put it on the shelf as a museum piece or to fish it.  I'd love to put it on a glass rod!  I think I'll fish it and cherish it.  You should hear the sounds it makes!  I can't wait to hear it scream!

(Updated after work)  Ha ha ha.  I wrote this post in a huge hurry before work today.  I didn't realize how bad my grammar was and that I put the same picture on there twice!  Sorry, fixed it.

Friday, October 23, 2015

Clark Fork Coalition hosting Modesty Creek restoration presentation in Missoula (updated)

New channel for Modesty Creek now flows into the Upper Clark Fork
Photo from clarkfork.org






















Next Tuesday at 12:00 pm, the Clark Fork Coalition will be having a presentation about the recently restored/reconnected Modesty Creek as part of their "Walks and Talks" series.  The presentation will be at their office in Missoula at 140 S. 4th St. W.  The  restoration site is upstream from the town of Deer Lodge.  Modesty Creek is a tributary to the Upper Clark Fork and has been diverted and disconnected from the Clark Fork for a long time.

Visit the Clark Fork Coalition's website for more information on the project and the field trip.



Wednesday, October 21, 2015

Autumn is about more than just brown trout...

Giant Georgetown Lake brook trout

























I absolutely love brown trout!  I live in a part of Montana which is lousy with tons of huge, angry browns and fall is like the Superbowl of brown trout fishing.  However, it's always good to remember that there are some other great fall spawners worth pursuing as well.

Georgetown Lake, Silver Bow Creek, and the Big Hole River all hold larger-than-average sized brook trout.  The monster male shown above was over 20" long!  I bet folks back east didn't know they could get that big.  Our brook trout here in SW Montana (especially in Georgetown Lake) rival those found in Labrador, Newfoundland.

Other fall species to chase in Montana are:

  • Kokanee salmon (landlocked sockeye) - great fun and good food
  • Lake Trout moving out of Flathead Lake (yes, in the fall you can catch them on streamers in shallow water and the Flathead River)
  • Bull Trout (only in the South Fork of the Flathead!!)
  • Pike seem extra feisty in the fall and are easy to spot in the Lower Clark Fork and Bitterroot
  • There is even a strain of fall spawning rainbow in the Upper Missouri (above all the dams)
For all of these fish, you'll want to throw streamers.  Check out the streamer factory on my dining room table.  Priorities.

Red Boat Mark's dining room table

























It's fall, get out there!!

Monday, October 19, 2015

Montana Fly Fishing Magazine - Fall 2015!




In this issue:

“Moments” photo essay by Travis Bradford

“The Bighorn River” by Steve Galletta

“Artist Profile: Kelsey Dzintars” by Greg Lewis

“Try Hot Melt Glue” by Joe Nicklo

“The Unknown Angler” a photo essay by Greg Lewis

“The Legend of Pishkun” by Chris Hickman

“Complete the Circle” Poetry by Jesse Bussard, Art by Ben Whitehead

Gear Reviews

Don’t forget to tell your friends about this magazine, and that it’s absolutely free

Click the image below to read:

Saturday, October 17, 2015

Public meeting on Beaverhead and Big Hole rules this week

Beaverhead River, MT


























Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks is hosting two public meetings next week to take comments and questions about the Beaverhead and Big Hole River Recreation Rules.

The meetings are from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. @:

Dillon: Wednesday, Oct. 21 at the University of Montana-Western Block Hall #311
Butte: Thursday, Oct. 22 at the Butte Ranger District, 1820 Meadowlark Drive

Wednesday, October 14, 2015

"Two Rivers" the movie about the Milltown Dam story premiers Sunday!!



I am so excited and can not wait to see this movie!!  High Plains Films, the makers of "Against the Storm" about the bison in Yellowstone, the award-winning "Libby, Montana" documenting WR Grace Co. and the asbestos insanity and "All the Labor" about the band The Gourds as well as many other films will be premiering "Two Rivers" this Sunday at the Top Hat in Missoula!

Just watching the trailer made me emotional.  I live in Butte now, went to school with all the people from the Stimson mill who were laid off, and cut my teeth in restoration down in the Milltown floodplain.  I can not wait to see this!

Montana Tech Restoration Ecology Seminar Presents: Casey Hackathorn of TU



Casey Hackathorn is the Upper Clark Fork Project manager for Trout Unlimited National.  His talk is titled "Watershed Scale Restoration Planning for the Upper Clark Fork."  The seminar is on the Montana Tech Campus in Butte, Montana in the Chemistry and Biology Building (room 102) today October 14, 2015 @ 4 pm.

Read more about the restoration and trout conservation in the Upper Clark Fork Drainage here.

Monday, October 12, 2015

Indigenous Peoples Day





This image was taken from montanatribes.org.  Please take some time out of your day to learn about and celebrate the tribes and cultures of Montana's first peoples.

Friday, October 9, 2015

The Big Hole River, Montana in the Fall

Maiden Rock Bridge

























The Big Hole is arguably one of the most beautiful rivers anywhere.  In the Autumn, it is really out of control.  This river is predominantly a brown trout stream, making Fall even more mystic and exciting!  This is my first Autumn in Butte and the closest large river is the Big Hole.  I have a lifetime of exploring to do here and I'm really happy about it.





Yesterday, the fishing was great.  I'd rather have been in my raft all day but this was a quick after-work fix. The streamer bite is on!!  Yellow bunny streamers and darker Skiddish Smolts were the ticket.  The fish were in faster knee-deep riffles and absolutely pounded the fly.  It felt like I'd hit a boulder and then there'd be that brown trout, throbbing head-shake.

























I had the place to myself with the exception of this guy who fished for a little while in one spot.  He had brought his wife and kids who waited stream-side in their truck.  Poor bastard!!

























It was mostly cloudy but when the sun would break through, the Fall colors were outstanding.  I saw some really slappy rises from big fish here and there and figured there must be some remaining October caddis.  I put on an appropriate foamy and skated it over a shallow riffle and Boom, rainbow trout!

























There were some signs that the spawn is getting going.  I caught a couple rainbows on egg-type stuff and a guy came by and told me that he saw some browns sitting on redds in the upper river by Wisdom.  He also mentioned that the fishing was slow up there and that is was really weedy.  He was from out-of-state so it may just have been him.

























The Fall has really just begun here in Southwest Montana.  I can't wait to float the Jefferson for the first time, hit the awesome streamer maddness on the MO as always, the Yellowstone beacons as does the Madison, and there's huge brook trout on the spawn in Georgetown Lake.  Not to mention the Upper Clark Fork and the brookies in Silver Bow.

Too much awesomeness, too little time!!

Monday, October 5, 2015

Dun Magazine is awesome!




Their Mission Statement:
"Dun exists to celebrate women who flyfish, woman as diverse and amazing as the waters around the world."

Read this issue here

I love women who flyfish more than bull trout like sculpin!