Pretty Monster

Pretty Monster by RBMark

A tribute to my little 3.0 Galvan

How to get the smell of skunk out

public domain picture

The Clark Fork has experienced a big push of cold water, starting yesterday, which made the fishing suck. It looks like the flow will continue to climb as we are expected to have higher overnight temps and some rain through the week.  Wind melts snow like the dickens.    

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to take a friend fly fishing for her first time ever.  I think she did great despite having me for a teacher and learning it all crash-course style on the river.  While the fishing conditions were not in our favor, the weather conditions were fabulous and it was awesome to be out on the boat.

I think everyone knows the only way to the smell of skunk out.  You go fishing.

Highlights From Down the Hatch 2014

Orvis' 2014 Down the Hatch Fly Fishing Festival in Missoula, MT was a great way to spend a Saturday  afternoon and benefit Montana Trout Unlimited.  If you didn't get the chance to attend, here are a bunch of pics.

Rope throw into Yeti coolers

Rod rigging contest

And this happened...

Then, we all went inside for tons of giveaways, Hank Patterson, and great films.

They gave away all the stuff on the stage and more!

Hank Patterson Fly Fishing Guide Extraordinaire 

First float of 2014 today with an old crush friend.  Stay tuned for pics from the river!

Fly Casting Phenom Stuns Crowd at Orvis Down the Hatch Festival

A complete report on the festival is in the making but this story needed to be separated out.

One of the events held at the 2014 Down the Hatch Festival was a target casting competition.  The target used was really cool. It is called the CasTarget. It is made out of that soft Velcro material.  The flies are colorful and made out of the sticky Velcro material.  The target is the official one used for the Fishing in Schools Program and was being showcased in the competition.

The contestants were all adults and they were all competent fly casters.  The first guy took a minute to figure out the right distance and then started to rack up points.  The second guy did better, and the third about the same.  They may have collectively scored 2 or 3 bull's eyes during constant casting over the allotted time.

When the competition ended, the announcer put in another plug for the target system and then said, "if there are any kids that want to try it out..."  Before he could even finish, this little boy and girl came running up.  The announcer handed over the $800 rod/reel combo to the anxious little boy without even the slightest hesitation.

While I, and everyone around me were still mentally digesting the developing situation and starting to form words...

      

He nails it on the second try!! Then, after letting another little boy and girl try...

He hit the bull's eye on the first cast and the crowd went nuts!!

What do you do when every fly fisher in America comes to your town and all the rivers are packed?

You go to the local borrow pit and chase steelhead sized, retired brood stock.

This huge bastard was well over 30" long.  I saw one other person all day.

Tune back in for a report from Orvis' Down the Hatch Fly Fishing Festival with celebrity pics, goings-on, and a look into springtime in Missoula.

Missoula County Fishing Report

I'm too broke to leave town.  That's ok, it's a big week for fishing here in town.  There is a lot going on with the fish and a lot going on for those who love them.

that downtown brown

Bitterroot: 
All of the local streams experienced a small push of water with the rain and then nice weather.  The "numora" is king on the lower half of the Root.  If you want to fish dries, it is where it's at.

For nymphing, use the same stuff you've been using all spring.  The worm in red is hot right now as is the SH Sow Bug.

I spotted one osprey on the Bitterroot yesterday, now it is really spring.  I'll keep my eye on osprey cam.

Clark Fork:
The river above the confluence with the Bitterroot just can't settle in.  It was close, but it got a push of cold water last week.  It basically ended the dry fly fishing that was shaping up and even put down the good nymphing.

Last week I hit the river below the Bitterrroot confluence on a cloudy day.  For a short while it was all out BWO heaven.  The big boys were up in the swirlys taking the adults (which look the size of green drakes after looking at midges all spring).  I love to go after the swirly fish with a "short leash" setup.

Blackfoot:
 I've seen boats heading up that way.  I would bet that the nymphing is good to great up there right now.  Deep nymphing big stonefly nymphs, small mayflies, worms and eggs will produce in the winter/spring type water.  Dry flies are probably a ways off.

Rock Creek: 
Shit-hot nymphing with stones, worms, and eggs.  No dry flies on the lower end.

Area lakes and ponds:  Beavertail and Frenchtown are 100% thawed.  Harper's will thaw next.
Walk the banks of Beavertail and look for red sided submarines.  Throw brown/green/white bugger at leading edge of submarine.  Hold on!  Repeat.