Ditch Pickle Classic

IM ALIVE!! Ive been really busy working most of the summer and haven't had many fishing adventures. I have been doing more bass fishing than trout fishing lately but I head back to Montana August 12 and Ive heard nothing but good things about the trout fishing out there right now. Last weekend I was in a fly fishing catch and release tournament on Lake Champlain. It felt good to get out on the water for a full day of fishing. I fished with my buddy Chad on his flat bottom boat thats customized for fly fishing with 2 casting platforms. The biggest bass I caught was 15 inches but we caught a pile more under that size. Chad also had a 30+ inch pike snap at his popper 3 times but never hooked him. We didn't have enough points to place in 1st 2nd or 3rd but I had a great time and even walked away with a new buff! Hopefully I can get some more trout fishing in this summer before I head back out west. But until then here are a couple pictures from the tournament.

15 inch fattty 

 smallies on top of smallies

 Beautiful night

Chads grip and grin

Homeward Bound

I left Missoula at 7 this morning ready to get this travel day over with. I started with a hour flight to Seattle. I am currently waiting for 3 or 4 hours for my next flight from seattle to Newark, NJ, a solid 5 and a half hour flight! FUN STUFF. After that its just another hour or so flight to Burlington, Vermont and Im home! I wont be able to get any fishing in today but you can bet your ass Ill have a fly rod in my hand tomorrow for the majority of the day. Until then I will be adding some stuff to the blog with all this spare time I have waiting in airports. Less than 24 hours until throwing BIG flys for pike, Bass on poppers, brook trout in the backcountry and big browns are all options! Needless to say im going crazy sitting in the airport thinking about this. GET ME ON THE WATER!

Great Day!

I've been waiting for today since the end of last week. Why you ask? The answer is I had 2 finals back to back, Biology and Math. I started the day by doing average on my Biology exam and actually leaving myself an hour before my next exam. I went back to my dorm and looked in my mailbox..No it couldn't be..My HYDROS!! I broke my Orvis Hydros 5 wt the day before spring break and have been anxiously waiting for its return. I was running down the hallway yelling I was so excited. However I had to go take my Math exam before I could cast it. I took my Math test and to my knowledge I aced it! I pretty much sprinted back to my dorm to go get my rod to throw a few loops. It's a great feeling to have my baby (The hydros) back in action. Two more exams a 3 more days and Ill be on my way back to Vermont! See you on the water!

The Hydros

FINALS

Tomorrow is the last day of regular class, that means no more papers, no more books and no more teachers dirty looks! However I do have 4 final exams next week. Math, Biology, Anthropology and Organic Chemistry. Its a solid line up but I have a few days to prepare. Nine more days and I will be back east in Vermont with my feet back in the water and a fly rod in my hand. No more test and quizes. Until then I will be in the library filling my brain with knowledge and dreaming about fishing...

I am gonna miss this beautiful valley and everything that comes along with it but ill be back in a few months to do it all again.

Hiking, Fishing and good friends

Saturday afternoon my friends Katie and Cam joined me on a hike up an unnamed creek outside of missoula. It was a beautiful day for a hike and with the rivers around missoula being so high from run off it sounded like a good plan to me. It was a beautiful hike that followed the creek all the way up. The creek was mostly all white water from run off but I was able to find a couple little pools that offered up a couple little cutthroat.

 Cam and Katie

 Little Cuttie

 Enjoying the view

Grizzly Adams did have a beard!

Only 19 days until I head back east for the summer. Lots of work to do before that day comes. As much as I hate to say it Fishing may have to be put on hold until summer vacation.. Trust me.. I will make up for time lost on the river when I get back to Vermont.

EVERYONE VOTE!!!!

On the left side of my blog there is a poll that says Which one is your favorite? Everyone check out the 6 pictures bellow the poll and click the dot to vote for your favorite picture! Im entering a contest that I have to send a picture into and I wanted more than just my input on which is the best picture. So vote!..Please        
(For a larger view of the pictures click on them under this post)

22 Incher

The MO

Sunset Rainbow

Rock Creek

Rainbow Close up

Rainbow/Hydros

No money, MO problems

Haven't been fishing much since spring break due to lack of cash flow and school keeping me busy. School is winding down with only a month left summer vacation is on the horizon but I have a lot to get done before I can think about that. Unfortunately I will be leaving the great state of montana for the summer to head back east to Vermont. I have a job lined up and hopefully I can save up some money for an apartment next year and also some fishing adventures. It wont be all work this summer I plan on fishing every minute I have free.
Hopefully I can get out on the water this weekend but in the mean time here is a video from spring break.