Steelhead in the Standard?

Idaho will implement catch-and-release only steelhead regulations. We've got our hands full with environmental issues here in Butte, Montana.  So, you know it's a big deal when our local paper runs a story about steelhead in Idaho.  The article comes from the Lewiston Tribune.  Read it here.

Slow-mo carp release: some fun with your iPhone

A friend recently showed me how to take really cool slo-mo release shots with my iPhone.  The videos start at normal speed, slows down, and then go back to normal at the end.  It creates a really cool effect that is perfect for releasing fish.

On your iPhone, open the camera, select the slo-mo option and have fun!

(updated 10 minutes later):

Ok, so when you export the slo-mo movie you took on your iPhone it will not play in slo-mo like it did on your phone.  I researched why and it has to do with the way the iPhone records these videos.  They are not actually filmed in slow motion, the phone's app just makes it look that way. Don't fret, there are a variety of ways to get around this.  Here are some links which helped me out:

Stack Exchange Forum

Mac World

I ended up just downloading the free iMovie app, adding a filter which didn't change the video much, and then saving it.  Now, it will export with the slow-mo effect!!  You have to add the filter or do something to it in the app, but that's it.

A Broadwater County Almanac: And Sketches Here and There

Montana Mirror Carp Scales

It has been another very busy summer for me.  Between finishing my degree, making enough money to live, and fishing my ass off, I've had my hands full.  I have slept in my house just a handful of times in the past few months and have been happily far away from the internet.

Montana's hot, dry summer has caused me to go all in on carping for the most part.  There is some ok trout fishing to be had, but why the hell would anyone pass up great technical fishing to large, hard-fighting fish for mediocre trout fishing?  The trout will be back soon.

The mirror carp above was caught on a Stalcup's Cluster Midge.  Yep, a dry fly.  And no, not a hopper.  It was my last fish of the day and it ran all the way across the river and took me deep into my backing.  It was one of many carp caught on the surface that day.  It was also my first mirror on a dry. I'd bet that even the old carp guard folks have never caught a mirror on a dry!! Cool.

Upper Missouri River Elk

When you have the river to yourself, the big animals come out to hang out with you.  This mother elk and her 2 babies came out to spook up some of my carp.

Missouri River Moose

I was happy that this guy (gal?) was on the other side of the river!!  To date, the only animal that has ever chased me and scared the shit out of me is a moose.

Don't fear Montana's mussel decontamination stations

Photo courtesy of MTFWP at montana.gov

I went up to Canyon Ferry Reservoir yesterday to chase some mirror carp, cool off, and also check out the mandatory mussel decontamination stations.  I had been reluctant to launch the boat on Canyon Ferry because I didn't know what the decontamination at the end of the day would entail. At first, the idea of power washing my newly refinished wooden boat with hot water made me a little panicky.

To be clear, decontamination stations are at the boat launches on Cayon Ferry and Tibor Reservoirs (water bodies with detected zebra/quagga mussels).  There are boat checkpoints all over the state that have the ability to decontaminate a vessel but these decontamination stations are a bit more comprehensive.  My plan was to fish all day and then take a few pictures or a video of the decontamination process to share with folks that may be apprehensive or just curious.

So why then, is there a picture from Montana.gov and not a bunch from me?  It's because it went so fast that I didn't even have a chance to ask if it was ok to film!!

Here's why it went so fast.  At the launch, while taking my boat out, I made sure to:

• Drain the boat 
• Removed all my flooring mats  
• I left the oars in place and my trolling motor attached.  
• I took out all my fishing stuff and pulled the gear out of my storage compartments
• I used my Montana FWP sponge (free at checkpoints) to quickly wipe up any water that did not drain

I then drove up to the decontamination station and turned off the truck to ready myself for a hot wash and some picture taking.  By the time I got out of the truck and walked over to talk to the inspector that was filling out the inspection form he said, "ok, you're good to go!"  In that time, 2 other inspectors had checked the entire boat (it's a drift boat so, not much to inspect) and I passed inspection. It was just as fast as the checkpoints and because I made sure to show up with a totally dry boat, it honestly took about 3 minutes and I didn't have to be decontaminated.  I essentially did it myself when I dried the boat at the launch.

So there you have it.  Go to Canyon Ferry and have fun.  It's no big deal.  There is a mandatory engine flush for larger gas powered boats which will take a couple more minutes, but still.

Sedges have edges

Photo of traveling sedge

The annual and usually predictable traveling sedge hatch on Georgetown Lake, Montana has been anemic this year, to say the least.  After 3 weeks of heartbreak, I think it's time to move on the some of the year's best carping.

To be fair, the fishing is still good up at the lake.  There are daily spinnerfalls of callibaetis and the damsels get going around noon.  The fish will eat a damselfly nymph slow stripped or fished below a dry or bobber.  The sight fishing on sunny days in the shallow flats has been really fun and many of these fish are eating dries as well as your perfectly cast damsel nymph or small leech.  I did see the sedges.  Each day I saw more and more.  Right at dusk, you will see quite a few and if you've never seen the hatch at full bore, you might think it looks ok.  But, it's not.  There should be more bugs, the fish should be so keyed in on them that they eat the dry all day, and it should definitely be going strong by now.  The lake has been full and we had a nice normal wet spring.  Maybe it's still coming; I don't know.

Anyway, it's hot in Montana and so is the fishing.  It's also prime time for giving the trout a break from the summer crowds and exploring all over Montana's carp country.

The dog days of summer

Lexi the figurehead

The scorching-hot dog days of summer have taken hold across the great state of Montana.  However, unlike the last few years, there is still lots of water and the fishing is shit hot.

Still water carping in the reservoirs is about as good as it gets right now.  The fish are post-spawn and hungry.  Early morning into early afternoon is the best time as they start to fade off when it gets mega-hot.  You'll find them but they won't eat like they did earlier in the day.

We've been hitting Georgetown every weekend for the past couple in order to hit the traveling sedge hatch.  These huge caddis are awesome and this is one of my favorite hatches.  Due to the high lake level and the cool spring, the water temps were just not warm enough yet to get them to pop on a grand scale.  We saw a couple here and there and had some surface eats on our not-so secret pattern but the hatch had yet to materialize.  Since last weekend, it has been hotter than 2 hamsters farting in a wool sock.  I would bet the dog that they're going off tonight!

The damselflies are a major factor for the G-town trout and the still water carp now.  Putting a damselfly nymph a couple feet below your high riding "caddis" pattern will get you into fish at G-town all day long.  Additionlly, dropping one in the action zone of a large, slow-cruizing carp may result in excitement and hilarity.

Stay tuned for Georgetown updates and some summer carp action!