So, I guess I'm a fish torturer...

So You Want to Live in Montana...

I hear North Dakota is nice.

Xerophyllum tenax

Xerophyllum tenax - beargrass

I've been seeing lots of bear poop up in the mountains.  Most of it has been full of some kind of plant material and huge amounts of ants.  Also saw lots of rocks turned over.

You know how to tell the difference between black bear shit and grizzly bear shit?
Black bear shit is full of seeds and berries; grizzly bear shit is full of bells and whistles and smells like pepper.
-Dumb old Northwest joke  

CSI Montana

I came across this crime scene on my walk home from fishing downtown yesterday.  I suspect this trout was dropped by an osprey due to a lack of any other logical explanation as to why there was a rainbow trout in the middle of 3rd Street.  The missing head provides further evidence, as trout heads are a known osprey delicacy.

Looking west on 3rd St. in Misosula

Rainbow trout crime scene

Just imagine if it fell on your windshield - or shoulder. Ha!

Beer Fish Eye

Close-up of the beer fish's eye.

The tarpon egg

This super effective tarpon fly was designed by Eastgate Anglers out of Cody, WY.  Leave it to some trout fishermen in Wyoming to develop one of the most successful saltwater patterns of all time!

The tarpon egg

Hook:  15# galvanized halibut hook
Thread:  Orange nylon twine
Body:  1 large navel orange
Tying Instructions:  Lay a base of nylon twine.  Insert hook through orange.  Sew orange to hook with a large needle and twine.  Hint from Easgate Angler: Cast to rising tarpon; dead drift with occasional small twitches.

This fly has saved many a day for guides in the saltwater flats from Cuba to the Texas Coast.  When the tarpon are on the spawn, snook and redfish will follow them around to gorge on their eggs.

I like to fish it under an indicator (20" crab pot buoy)

Don't forget to use plenty of weight to get it down, eggs don't float!!