2012 in Review and what to look forward to in 2013

I would have to say I did more fishing and caught more more big fish than I have in any year prior to 2012. It was a great year for me and a lot of other fisherman I know. I would just like to take some time out of the day today to thank the fish gods for making this year one hell of a ride and all my fishing buddies for the great days on the water along with memories that will last a lifetime.

 GOODBYE 2012!

2012 Is going to be one tough act to follow but I have a couple ideas... You'll just have to wait and see. What I can say is that I will be making more higher quality videos thanks to Santa who brought me the new Go Pro Hero 3. I also have plans to explore more rivers and creeks in Montana farther away from Missoula like The Big hole, Yellowstone, Madison and many more. Don't take Vermont Trout Bum off your blog roll just yet, he is just getting started. Stay tune for an action packed 2013!!

Photo by: Bob Prince

Vermont Trout Bum's photostream

Vermont Trout Bum's photostream on Flickr.

Last Chance

After looking at the weather last night I realized today was gonna be the last warm day that I could fish before I leave missoula for the holidays. When I woke up this morning without thinking twice I set off up the Bitterroot to strip some streamers. The days started off slow until the temperature warmed up to around 40 degrees and I started getting some action. I was able to land one average size brown and another larger male brown with a serious kype jaw. Bringing a 22+inch brown to hand is not a bad way to leave Montana if you ask me.

I head back to Vermont on sunday for 3 weeks and Im sure I will have some things to share from back East. Happy Holidays!

Latest Adventures

Last Sunday I headed to Stevensville, MT to meet my friend Bob who runs a great blog called Bum Trout. Check it out! Bob and I hit the road to meet one of his friends for a couple hours on the water. We were early to meet his friend so Bob showed me some new water that I didn't even know existed and it was right under my nose the whole time. As much as I wanted to hop out of the car and go fish Bob had bigger and better plans. We met up with Bobs friend Kyle and headed up to a spot that "shall not be named". The story of the day... Bob hooked up.

Bob releasing a trout

All in all it was a great day exploring some new water with two great guys! I always love fishing with other people especially older people. There is just so much opportunity to learn from them and improve my own fishing skills. I look forward to my next fishing trip with Bob, It is always a enjoyable time, fish or no fish.

Tying on a rubber legs with numb fingers

My fish of the day

Tomorrow is going to be the last warm day before I head back East for the holidays so I think Im going to try out some of the new water Bob showed me. 

It's NOT all about the fish.

Today was pretty stressful between exams and final assignments due before the end of the week. By the time classes were over I had to clear my head or I was going to snap. I drove home grabbed my waders, 6wt, streamers and set out to clear my head. While driving to the river I couldn't help but think of the feeling I get when I take that first step into the river to make a cast. All the Biology, Calculus, Writing, Grammer, Work, Bills, Deadlines; they dont matter anymore. Its like all your worries and problems drift down the river with the current and your free. When I tell people I just came from fishing, 98% of their responses are "Did you catch anything?" I smile and proceed to answer their question as honestly as possible"Ya I caught a couple" or  "No not today" but what they dont know and what keeps me sane is that I loose everything as soon as I step foot in that river. Everything is erased and you get to start the journey over again! What journey is that you ask? Its simple, Either the journey up river or down...

Thanksgiving break

It has been an incredible past few days in the life of Vermont Trout Bum. From a 16lb turkey deep fried on Thanksgiving to some killer streamer fishing on the Missouri river, I couldn't have asked for a better break from school. 

Woke up to snow on Thanksgiving and had a great morning on the water. Only to be short lived because I had to hurry home to make food for Thanksgiving.

The Friday after Thanksgiving I hit the road around 6am en route to the Missouri River. The trip started off slow when I realized I had forgotten my jacket when I was already 30 miles out of missoula. I thought about just calling the trip off and heading back to missoula but the experiences I have had on the Missouri River lingered in my head and before I knew it I had me jacket in hand and was on the road again. 

 It wasn't long before I had big rainbows and browns ripping through my drag.

The streamer fishing was great and many fish like these two were eager to smack my streamer with every ounce of energy they had.

When I wasn't on the water I was siting by the fire or eating Thanksgiving dinner leftovers and enjoying the peace of being alone on the river with no one to answer too.

"I can see for miles and miles"

With 2 weeks of school left before exams, It is time to stay focused and finish the semester strong so I can continue to enjoy Montana and all the wildlife it has to offer.

Change

The recent change in weather from Fall to Winter here in Montana has got the fish lethargic and stacked up in deep slow pockets. The only effective way of fishing this time of year is nymphing (the least exciting way of fly fishing if you ask me) It may not be as exciting as having a big trout smack a streamer or the visual aspect of a trout coming up to take a fly off the surface but it works. The past week I only got on the water twice but with thanksgiving break 2 days away I see a lot of fishing in the near future and possibly a trip to do some Steelhead fishing. Livin' the good life!

 Rock Creek

Election Day Adventures

Yesterday Alec and I headed to a spot on the Blackfoot where we have had success in the fall before but quickly realized it wasn't worth it fishing at that spot all day. We headed back to the car and drove to a spot where I caught a handful of browns a couple weeks earlier. I ended up catching 2 browns and a nice bull trout. Alec had some action however didn't get a fish to hand but we all have those days. Regardless it was a great day fishing with Alec and showing him some new water.

 Alec working through "brown town"

Photo by Alec

Beautiful Bully

Its supposed to get real cold this weekend... Down in the 20s..brrrrrr

If I was a fair weather fishermen I would be posted up on the couch with a beer watching football all weekend. But we do have the day off monday opening up a nice 3 day weekend and I am not a fair weather fishermen so I will be hitting the river no matter what the temperature!  

Rainbows in dense fog and grey skys

Last night we got some snow here in Missoula, nothing crazy just a couple of inches that didn't even stick through the day. The forecast for today was calling for a chance of rain/snow and cloudy skys. Without thinking twice I grabbed my streamer rod and hit the river. Today the big rainbows were hungry, three different large rainbows smashed my streamer with only bad intentions. The fishing is off the hook right now and everyones got the pictures to prove it.

One brown of the day

 Got kype?

ohhh yaaa

A Sunday to Remember

Last night I did some serious recon work to find a section of water I thought held a good amount of LARGE brown trout. I was on google maps while flipping through river maps for at least 2 hours until I finally found THE spot. Call me crazy but sleeping last night was tough just knowing what I could be getting into today. All the pieces of the puzzle fell together for me, it was a beautiful day, I caught plenty of fish and topped it all off by out smarting Larry Lunker and landing the biggest brown trout of my life. 

 Be Bear Aware

 Shoulders for days

Larry Lunker...

FALL IS MY FAVORITE TIME OF YEAR!