Floating high and dirty water..

Saturday I set out to float a stretch of the Clark Fork. We had got a little rain the night before and the clouds looked like they were sticking around for the day (great conditions for the streamer bite) I arrived where I was going to put in and the river was high and cloudy like we had just got a storm, despite the water I set off down river. I ended up catching a couple fish and missing a few more. It was a pretty relaxing day on the water floating by myself.

Fall is here..

Lacking Leader

Yesterday afternoon I hit the Clark Fork for a few hours. When I arrived at the access and started setting up my rods, I realized that I didn't have a leader.. I could already see bugs flying around and it was only gonna get better. Without thinking twice I grabbed my 0x tippet made a perfection loop at the end and connected it to my fly line. Off of the 0x I connected some 4x/5x and I was ready to go. (take note that this set up doesn't cast great by any means). Since my casting was limited I worked on my down stream drifts and was able to stick one little rainbow.

At one point I was fishing off a rock about 5 feet above the water and my fly box went for a plunge into the river. The only "dry" dry fly i had was a size 12 Adams. It caught me my only fish of the day so I guess it worked out!

 Drying off in the sun

Rain!!! It finally came!!

Last night for the first time in 40 days Missoula saw precipitation! We got a little mix between rain and snow, The drought is over! It was overcast and in the 50s all morning while I was in class, so when I got out I was quick to hit the river with my streamer rod in hand. The fishing wasn't as good as I anticipated with all the rain we got but I was able to stick one real nice brown. Sometimes one fish is all you need to make a day trip worth while.

In the next few weeks I look forward to streamer fishing picking up and with the income from my new job I might be able to spoil myself with a fall fishing trip of some sorts...The possibilities are endless.. Give me a shout if you have any good ideas for fall fishing trips. 

Check me out on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/VermontTroutBum?ref=hl 

The Blackfoot

Tuesday being my day off I took advantage and headed to the Blackfoot river to do some streamer fishing. The Blackfoot is always beautiful around this time of year with all the tamarack trees changing colors and yes the fishing is good too.

 Some Fall colors

 Blackfoot Rainbow

Shoulders

Smoke on the water... Fire in the sky

Wildfires are no joke! I woke up this morning to a smoke covered valley yet again. We haven't had a clear day here in missoula since the wildfires in Hamilton started. Today seemed to be worse than the past few, visibility was under 2 miles and everywhere you go it smells like a campfire. Today I set out to the Bitterroot for some exploring and streamer fishing. It was a good day, I was able to land a few nice fish and explore some new water.

 Red eyed brown

 His good side

Bitterroot Brown

Still waiting on that rain to come....

Sunday FUNday

Yesterday Alec and I headed down the Bitterroots to meet up with our friend Bob. I was eager to fish with Bob, pick his brain and be able to fish out of a boat(For only my second time).We got on the river around 8 and didn't take out until around 730. With close to twelve hours on the water one would think we landed piles of fish right?... Not the case on this trip, It was my first real experience technical dry fly fishing and it was a hell of a time. We set up on and casted at multiple large rising fish in different stretches of the river but weren't able to get them to the boat. It took me a while to get down the long reach casts that we were making but once I was able to get a good cast with a good drag free drift I was rewarded by a big eat and an acrobatic fish jumping nearly 3ft out of the water. Even though the fish spit the hook it was a good feeling knowing I got the big fish to eat. Between the big eats, missed hook sets, break offs, and acrobatic fish I had one of the most relaxing/fun days of fishing in a long time. To be able to drift down the river effortlessly in a raft or boat while fishing with two good friends is so relaxing and a great way to spend a sunday if you ask me! We didn't get completely skunked though, each of us were able to land at least one fish.

"The Grey Whale"

 Streamer eating brownie

Beauty Bow

Big thanks to Bob and Alec for a great day on the water and some great fly fishing experiences. See you for fall streamer season Bob!

Saturday Streamer Success

This morning I woke up bright and early and headed to the Clark fork for some streamer fishing. The day started off slow and then I walked up river to some water I had never fished before. Did I say water? Sorry I ment Gorgeous, Untouched Water that I had never fished. Not only was the water gorgeous but the fish that were in it.... I will let the pictures do the talking.

 ...

Fish of the year? 

It was a great day of fishing, all fish, all sizes where smacking my streamer. Including this monster of a brown, this fish was the first trout with a kype jaw that I have ever caught. It was one of the greatest experiences of my life and one hell of a fight.

Early tomorrow morning Alec, Bob and I are floating the Bitterroot to hopefully catch some dry fly and Pike action. 

CHEERS!!