A Word About the Copper John

generic Copper John fly

           This article is going to be all about the Copper John wet nymph fly. The Copper John is one of the most common nymphs out there to date and for good reasons, it catches a ton of fish! The Copper John went through a period of changes during 1993 when it was first tied and the tier, John Barr, was happy with it by 1996. Most importantly, John found a good pattern of materials that worked exceptionally well any time of the year. This particular fly doesn't resemble any one insect, but instead acts as a number of them. I recently started tying the Copper John myself, as they aren't a beginner fly to start tying, and have had a lot of fun adding my own unique bits and pieces to them.

         The traditional "CJ" comes in one standard color design. Typically, a copper bead is in front of the thorax comprised of peacock hurl, feathers and thin skin. Behind the body of the fly are two biots that sit snugly underneath a layer of copper wire. This is the Copper John! It comes in all sizes from 12 all the way down to a #22 hook, and can be fished as a lead or dropper fly. Some folks incorporate thin lead to help build profile and bring the fly down to the bottom of the river faster. The fun part I must say about tying these, as you see in my photos, is that you can use about any color or type of materials you want to give your CJ a very unique look. I was fiddling around one day and tied a few that look similar but have their small differences. I enjoy using red copper wire along with red biots instead of the standard brown or black biots and copper wire.

       When I fish with these types of nymphs I usually decide between the Copper John, Lightning Bug, or Pheasant Tail. I prefer the Lightning Bug in silver over the other two but all of them are very good choices and catch fish year around. The CJ is best fished in my opinion as the dropper, depending on the size, and drug along with the current right on the bottom of the river or stream. Split shot is probably necessary to get the flies down to the bottom as soon as possible.

       If you are new to fly fishing you may not have purchased or tied a Copper John yet. I recommend every fly fisherman has several of each size in their box. The CJ is a good search pattern to find the fish and will work on the coldest days of winter into the hottest parts of summer. I hope you can learn from this short article and catch a few more trout with this specific fly. If they aren't hitting on the surface, maybe tie on a Copper John and you'll pick off a few trout! Tight lines all!

Depuy Spring Creek 2013 VIDEO

          PLEASE WATCH IN 1080HD OR 720 FOR BEST QUALITY

Depuy Spring Creek Trip Fall 2013

          Depuy Spring Creek is a special place that I previously blogged about before. It has made a deep impression on my soul that will last my entire life. When I tell people that I have fished or am on my way to fish the creek, their eyes light up with envy and excitement. Depuy's is known for its three mile stretch of gin clear spring water that flows right along side of the mighty Yellowstone river and holds some of the biggest fish in the area. A beautiful back drop of the Absaroka mountains poise just a few miles away. Mountain lions wolves and grizzly bears stroll the perimeter with golden and bald eagles overhead. Since this is private land, only sixteen rods per day are aloud on the property. When full, every fisherman can easily find his or her own hole or stretch to fish in solitude. A day at Depuys has this level of prestige over other bodies of water and every angler that fishes it has their game plan likely anticipated days before their visit.

        Being a spring creek, like I mentioned in my previous article, the fish are exceptionally more difficult to catch than the local rivers. The water is so clear that the wiser fish can see you coming from ten meters away and are very weary and decisive before they accept any given fly. My flies of choice for this trip were the very common egg pattern and blue midge nymph. The brown trouts spawn was finishing up, but most resident trout will likely take an egg pattern any time of the year. I fished the creek two consecutive
Saturdays as the first Saturday was so incredible, I had to go back for more! The weather the second day was much cooler but non the less it very beautiful. Within minutes of stepping into the creek one of my friends hooked into the biggest trout of his life; a brilliant and lavish twenty two inch mighty brown trout. This fish had a grand kype and notable colors of browns and orange hues. Its places and days like these that impact the soul so deeply to the passionate fly fisherman. This allure is what will keep us coming back to the rivers edge for as long as we can walk upright.
         
         The creek has warming huts throughout its property with wood burning stoves to take shelter from the elements. This second particular day was very windy. After Mason hooked into his trophy and a few more fish that we each landed, we retreated to the hut named "Evas" for lunch and discussion. Its important to take a break, whether its on the creek bank, in a car, or in a warming hut to reflect on the days efforts. Theres never a need to rush these waters but to instead let them remain quiet and flow with peace as one is slaying

Eva's Hut

the trout. The fish will remain hungry and need time to, in a sense, forget about the fisherman that are so hastily trying to hook them.

           The first Saturday this fall, and the day that I made the video from, was a phenomenal day. My friend and I caught over thirty fish ranging from fourteen to twenty inches. My hand was cramped and my arm was sore after hauling in fish after fish. The same goes for this second outing. The fish were slamming our flies, sometimes taking off with runs going twenty feet or more in just a few seconds against our drag. The quiet, almost lifeless looking water, would erupt into madness as eighteen inches of trout dances athwart the surface of the water with a life or death attitude. The excitement we had is enough to hoot and holler down to the next guy as he intends to land what could be a personal best. Often times we had two fish being fought
simultaneously and we needed to talk to each other so our trout wouldn't get muddled and twisted together.

          On the second trip the wind was pounding us towards the end of the day. I had caught enough fish, big ones, that I was overly satisfied. We made our way up to the top stretch of the creek near the fly shop. I enjoyed the company of fishing my last few casts with a group of swans. I also enjoyed watching my buddies land their last trout of the day. I'm not sure if we caught more on the second trip or not but it really doesnt matter. I was starting to get spoiled. A lot of hard work was involved so It felt well earned. Catching high numbers of quality fish only fortifies my beliefs that I am getting to be a better fisherman. Everyday we learn something new so when that problem occurs next time we know how to handle it thus landing one more trout.

PLEASE CHECK OUT THE VIDEO FROM THIS ARTICLE IN THE POST ABOVE THIS            -MontanaTroutFishing

Upper Madison River at Valley Garden Fishing Access, Ennis MT

      October 19th 2013 is a day I wont forget for a long time. My friends and I had sacrificed sleeping in to get up early and hit the water as soon as the sun came up. We werent even 5 minutes from leaving Bozeman when a one hundred and sixty pound white tail buck ran right in front of us. We hit him, and hit him hard, killing the massive buck instantly. My buddy (along with the rest of us) were so shook up that he wanted to get his truck looked at. This was the first time I've ever been in a car that hit a deer.

US 84 outside of Bozeman, Tobacco Root Mountains

      So now its seven in the morning and the other guy and myself still wanted to fish. The destination was Valley Garden fishing access near Ennis, Montana. It was about a forty-five minute drive from Bozeman and the sun was coming up fast. We drove forward hoping not to hit another deer. The drive on US 84 from Bozeman is gorgeous. Just after Four Corners you cross the Gallatin River. Climbing up a few gradual hills gives way to a spectacular view of the Madison and Tobacco Root mountains as you make your way to the Lower Madison River and Bear Trap Canyon, another great destination I previously blogged about. After meandering through tight corners in the canyon, in which you drive among, show off a stunning view of high mountain peaks to monotonous plains You then climb an imperceptibly steep pass that parallels the historical Bozeman Trail. Reaching the top of the pass gives one an incredible view of the Madison Valley. The amount of space viewable seems endless. Ennis lake lies in the distance to the east below the immense Madisons, and the Tobacco Roots smash right up to the foothills a mile away to the west. Passing the small town of Mcallister there is a short drive to the old town of Ennis. Ennis has a lot of character and some great stores, including a fly shop and Shedhorn Sports, for anyone visiting the town. I recommend stopping at the Ennis Cafe for a pre-fishing breakfast or post fishing lunch.

      After leaving Ennis, you drive towards West Yellowstone for about one mile, driving from the main street which is only a few blocks long . You will see a sign for Valley Garden fishing access and take a left hand turn there. The road follows massive benches and the scenery continues. The huge peaks of the Madisons hang over you to your right. You journey through the small one horse town of Jeffers and five more minutes you've reached Valley Garden fishing access site.

       There is sign with a board full of camping information and hunting restrictions. There is a small parking area there with a trail leading to that part of the river. You can instead keep going to what looks like campsites but there is a bigger parking lot and boat launch there. There is an outhouse at this location.

          I like to walk down river from here about a mile or so. I've seen people walk much further down than I have, possibly to get away from what some solitude hunters would call a crowd. I was surprised to see another person fishing between the islands, then on the way back we saw a few more, but nothing crazy. There was definitely plenty of water for everyone. I like to hike down and fish back up, taking my time fishing and walking to all the islands that are scattered throughout the river. The Upper Madison here seems like half a mile wide sometimes. Its huge!! Much of the water in the fall will be ankle to knee deep so finding the fish means finding the deeper holes, pools, and runs. This involves a lot of walking unless you know the good spots. Ill let you figure those out ;) The scenery in the river itself is absolutely outstanding. I havent fished a prettier place in Montana than at Valley Garden. The fishing the day I was there was spectacular. Easily a twenty fish day. My friend, who had hit the deer, had a fifty fish day the weekend before.

Here you can see several islands scattered through this section of the Upper Madison

           The islands attract a lot of the trout along with the side shoots between the islands and the bank. This particular day I was using a double eggy rig. Thats right, I had two of the same flies on my leader. The fall brown trout spawn was underway and the fish go crazy for eggys. Why not use two I figured? Well it paid off. I managed to hook into a very nice brown trout in a micro hole and he lept, and lept again. I kept looking at my buddy with such excitement every time this football sized trout jumped into the air. He ended up burying himself in some very thick moss. When I went to retrieve I made the mistake of grabbing the leader with my hand and he broke right off. I saw him and so did my friend so I felt a lot better about losing him. The amount of fish in this section is very high. Most are small trout ten to twelve inches, and a lot of them, but there surely are trophies to be caught here.


          I will return to Valley Garden, maybe in the spring next year. Its an easy drive and like I said the view alone is enough to leave the skunked angler very satisfied. The long distances between what seems like one shallow riffle requires a lot of leg work but when you do find deep water, the fish are stacked in there. I hope this has encouraged someone who is unfamiliar with the area to give it a try. There are so many great fishing areas in SW Montana that many unknown gems like this will never be fished by some. Happy fishing and tight lines to all!

Back from Elk Hunt

        I'd like to make this post short and sweet as this is a fishing blog. So I am back from spending my first days ever at a Montana elk camp. My dad did a wonderful job scouting and setting up a great place for us to retreat to after each full day of hard work looking for big game.

           I spent four days in the Patosi Canyon in the Tobacco Root Mountains. We worked very hard, some days walking more than ten miles in pursuit of the herd. On the last day I wanted to focus on getting a mule deer so I didn't come back to civilization empty handed. Long story short I shot my five point muley within the last hour of my visit at elk camp. The experience was incredible because not only was it the first deer I've ever taken, but also the amount of work I put into getting him.

           I did bring my four weight fly rod. Okuma 8'6 rod with an Okuma S/4 reel. I caught trout for dinner one night and we enjoyed them after very hard days in tough country. The fishing was wonderful for such a small creek. Patosi creek was the source, you can google it on google earth. I believe this creek is overlooked and under-fished. I was surprised of the size of the rainbows I was pulling out. The morning I went to catch dinner was very cold, probably 26-30 degrees. We were the only ones in the canyon at the time. Like I've mentioned so many times, the solitude of having a body of water to yourself is priceless, and I was catching trout! Big trout! These fish were surprisingly 13-14 inches long. They made for a wonderful, moral boosting, dinner that night!

            So all in all it was a great hunting trip. My friend shot a black bear and I got my mule deer. We were in the presence of several moose and many other types of wildlife. We saw no elk but elk arent easy to hunt!

             


 I am back to MontanaTroutFishing and will provide my service for all of those who wish to seek it. I am however still grouse hunting so If anybody has any questions or would like to share stories or see pictures please, email me at norbaracer13@hotmail.com

Elk Season, Will Return : ?

                      Hey viewers It's elk season here in Montana. The opening weekend is the 26th and 27th. I have been distracted from fishing and fly tying the last week because I have been TOTALLY STOKED about the hunting season making way. Prepping and being mentally distracted along with the hunt itself is going to put me off of this site for at least a week. I tend to pursue elk throughout the whole season so I apologize if I am not back on in a month.
                       
                     If you don't hunt but are still going to fish all winter long I will try to provide condition reports from local fly stores. If you're a beginner, I'd like to say keep at it! I hope my page has helped every novice that views my site. Good luck and may your fly line always have a tug!

Line Setup Tips: How to Rig a Leader

Fly Tying Tutorial: Girdle Bug (killer overlooked fly!!!)

Here you are fly fisherman and woman! The girdle bug and how its made! Check my previous article titled "A Quick Look, The Girdle Bug" to know more about this fly and how to fish it! Please, feel free to email me with questions or give me feedback! Thanks, I'll see you in the water!!

My First Fly Tying Tutorial!!!---The Wooly Bugger

 Hey guys and gals! I hope you enjoy my very first fly tying tutorial! Maybe you don't tie flies but are an avid trout fisherman? Watch this and I'll show you how easy it is to tie your own flies! Stay tuned and Ill be adding more videos of not only tutorials but also TROUT FISHING, the thing we ALL have in common here at MontanaTroutFishing!

I Started Tying My Own Flies

                        I started tying my own flies about one year after I learned to fly fish. The thought of catching a fish with a lure that I created was very appealing to me. It is a craft and a very special craft considered by most who tie. Some flies are very intricate and require many minutes of tediously squinting at the smallest hooks and bit of materials. Whether you fish ten days a year or are in the water every other day, tying flies is a fun opportunity to take fly fishing to the next level.

                      Many believe that by tying your own flies you will save money. This statement is untrue. Many flies are mass produced in countries far from the United States for dirt cheap. My original start up cost was around eighty dollars. Hooks are probably the most expensive aspect of the hobby and materials are relatively cheap. If you can buy your hooks in mass quantities, this will vastly keep costs lower than if you were to buy twenty to fifty hooks at a time. Some flies however such as the San Juan worm can be very cost effective. Besides the loss of time if takes to tie, I believe I come out even when tying San Juan worms. Most flies in the big retailers are around one dollar and flies at fly shops run from one fifty to two dollars a piece. Keep this in mind while tying and you may find ways to cut your own costs. One tip I'm happy to share with my readers; buy some materials from hobby stores instead of fly shops! Copper colored beads from a fishing retailer can cost five dollars for twenty five and at a hobby store you can purchase over one thousand for two dollars and fifty cents! Not to mention hobby stores sell beads in all colors and sizes and also sell many other materials for the half the cost. Money aside, the art of fly-tying is about creating an imitation of an insect that catches fish for you. The feeling of hauling in a hungry trout that fell for your very own hand-tied fly is a worthy experience. After dozens of happy trout and hundreds of flies, one may experience catching a trophy with their very own concoction of materials; this will catapult the tier into a new level!

                      I started out with a fifty dollar fly tying kit that included all the necessary tools to begin pumping out basic flies. I quickly purchased one hundred and fifty more hooks, plenty more material, and burned through all of it quickly. My fly box was filling overnight! Granted many of my first flies looked like frankenstein versions of how they were supposed to look but a month later I'm producing premium quality flies. Before I knew it I had several fly boxes full of my very own hand tied flies. Dozens of fish later I started to rely heavily on my flies and my flies only. As of now I only buy dry flies from the store and all other I make myself. I haven't yet mastered the skills of tying dries well, but also I have not focused on them entirely. Hackle, which is used for dries, can cost a bit more than most materials. Some full hackles can cost upwards of fifty dollars or more, YIKES!

                    Getting started: Like I mentioned before I used the fifty dollar kit I purchased to get me started. I highly recommend this route because it included all the tools one would need. The kits include a vice, bobbin, bobkin, scissors, hackle pliers, a hair stacker, along with the basic starter materials. These materials consist of black and white thread, peacock hurl, maribou, hackle, biots, bucktail, deer hair, assorted hooks,  assorted feathers, and chenille. The kit should also include a booklet for simple flies and a guide to different fly hooks. Start by tying some easy flies and learn to master the tie-in wrap and practice the "whip finish". Both of these techniques secure the thread at the start and end of the tying. The tie-in wrap tightly secures the thread for the initial first wraps and a whip finish gives a secured knot at the end without having to do over hand knots. Both of these techniques are required for any fly and its important to get the skills under your belt. When tying flies its important, in my opinion, to always tie from the eye of the hook back towards the bend of the hook. Depending on how much material you use, its ok to re-wrap over and back over and back again until you get the desired "profile" you're looking for. Some flies require just one layer of thread, while others require much more. Typically you'll want to whip finish near the eye of the hook but sometimes I find it necessary to finish near the back of my materials. Usually the case where this would be ok is if the eye of the hook is over-crowded with materials to whip finish at the eye.

                    Now that you have the basics to work with, its time to talk easy flies to tie. I personally started with some common pupae-stage flies such as the zebra midge or black midge. These flies only require a build up of thread, usually black, to make the body profile. The zebra midge has an added spiral of white thread over the body and its done. The black midge can have a copper bead behind the eye for flashy appearance. Not only are these two patterns difficult to tie poorly but they both incorporate the tie-in and whip finish methods. Not to mention these patterns are very popular for western trout and work year around. Once a dozen or so of these are tied, its easy to move onto the next stage of flies. Another popular fly that is easy to tie is the San Juan worm. The San Juan worms that I tie are with either a 16 or 18 hook, red chanille, and pink or red thread. Some people add a bead to give it some flash and make it easier for the fish to spot. Once you've mastered these flies, moving on to the easy to moderate flies are much easier. These flies include the brassie, copper john, wooly bugger, and the black leech.

                  Since I've become a fly tier, I'll be adding some easy tutorials for tying flies with step by step photos and tips for anyone interested. Like I mentioned before, this is not a way to save money but instead its a great way to spend time during the off months. Flies also make great gifts for your friends. I've bought several cheap fly boxes that I will fill and hand out to people interested in starting the sport. Since fly fishing is somewhat difficult to learn, I believe its important to keep those interested busy and on track. Maybe those who receive one of my boxes will be more willing and motivated to keep pursuing trout. Please stay tuned to my blog for more fly tying articles. Thanks for reading and may your lines always be tight!

Beginner Tip of the Day

            A quick tip I learned half way through my experiences was using knots to my advantage. I use to hate knots! One knot in your 6lb test line can weaken the strength by 50%. So, with that one little stinker of a knot, that you may or may not be aware of, your line is only capable of 3 lb strength. So when you do manage a hog of a trout and he gives a few good tugs, that line will snap in a second where the knot was hiding. While learning to fly fish, and to this day still, I often have a bad run in with a couple of knots. Some so bad you just completely cut the leader and restart everything! And only God knows, but there are probably twenty trout you're going to miss because its going to take forever to re-tie everything.

            Wind knots are just plains stupid knots. They occur while fishing into the wind., or against the wind, or any direction the wind is in. They can make the ever so smooth cast of a dry fly turn into what looks like a string of Christmas lights. Knot after knot after knot. Sometimes they sneak up on you all at once. You think your doing fine because the 5x or 6x tippet is so thin and hard to see. When you go to get junk off of your fly you realize youve been stricken with eight pesky knots!

            Other knots occur for beginners in general. Learning the ability to feel the weight and force of the rod, and how to make subtle changes that result in smooth knot-free casts is something that comes with 1,000 casts. Others may pick up sooner, but with a weighted Girdle Bug, bead head nymph, split shot, and an indicator all on a line together, it can take some getting use to. I've noticed through my adventure that I sure don't get as many knots as I use to. They do exist here and there, but are so sutble, it hardly bothers me anymore. When it does happen bad, which isnt all that often, I do get upset and look like a would be golf champion throwing his irons into the pond and kicking at his golf bag and cussing up a storm. But I do get settled down, look at what I've got around me, and patiently re-tie.

          Sometimes its too much weight. Sometimes its the way you bring your loaded line back but not letting it go back all the way thus causing your inter-passing lines to sometimes form a perfect knot. Its absolutely insane how it happens, but it does happen. So enough talking about why knots are bad, Id like to talk about why they are, oh so wonderful!

           I learned this trick from a fishing magazine. I'm sure every fly fisherman knows about the use of knots and how to harness their power for good. My friend and, long-time experienced, ex-guide, fly fisher admits he doesn't use the knots for good. To my surprise the benefits out weigh the hassles of tying an extra knot. They do require an extra tie but sometimes this comes natural when one builds a leader with tippet. If you're rebuilding a short leader and have 3 or 4 sections of knots, place them in positions in which they will benefit you.  Say near the end of your tippet, you may want to use a knot to secure your weight, wherever your prefer it.

         
          Using the knot from one tippet to the other can securely hold split shot. Don't you hate when your split shot slides down your line all the way to the fly? Constantly re-clamping and destroying the weight each time until its nothing but a crushed can that could fall off at any minute. Ive put many hours in the water without knots for my weights, and I have gone through two times as many split shot because they kept getting destroyed by me squeezing them tight. Once again the lead is soft and finds its way on top of your fly. Well with a weight secured against the bulge that is the knot on the line, all you have to do is never think about it sliding down again. In the picture to the right, shows where to tie your blood knot or whichever knot you use. Its pretty much the distance you want the split shot to be from your first fly. This can also be used if you like to put your split shot between your lead and dropper fly. Its the same idea, this time adding two tippets, creating a knot between the two flies.

        Knots are also great for holding indicators up if they are sliding down. If you have a thick leader and your indicator is up there, you may not have a problem. But the thinner your leader gets, it will start to move after every cast. Just like the split shot knot, the same will work for any indicator. There are a few more advanced ways to use knots but I will get back to you all with that later.


                                                                              Fish On!

The East Gallatin Proves Again! 6/12/13

       The East Gallatin has once again proven to me that it remains a top-notch fishery within the city limits of Bozeman. Having such a place so great, and under-fished, ten minutes away, I often forget its even there. With the big rivers also within a reasonable driving distance, many people don't pay much attention to the East. The day was June 12, 2013. Thunderstorms were threatening my day in the water and time was against me. The temp was seventy-five degrees and the barometric pressure was falling. Water level was a bit high but visibility remained well enough for an excellent day of fishing.
     
         I started off at the Cherry River fishing access right off of Frontage Road. I had rigged a nymph-style, red san juan with a pheasant tail flashback on the bottom. The first hole I fished was at the end of the meandering foot trail that branches off from the main walking path. There is a nice little informative display about the fish that are found in the East Gallatin. It often poses as a good place for visitors to watch a fisherman catch a trout. Today I was on display, performing a handful of catch and releases for an audience of three people. It was enjoyable for me and them alike and I eventually had to move on. Around the next bend there are a couple of good runs but nothing produced fish. I crossed the river which was knee high and reasonably easy to pass. I made hast to find another similar hole such as the previous before the weather turned.

         By now, Im fairly secluded from yards and trails. Way back deep in the oasis that is the East Gallatin, I was hearing trout left and right. Big fish slurring in the shallows under trees. Little trout were flinging themselves out of the water about every eight to ten seconds. I was getting a feeling that these fish haven't been disturbed since last fall. The incoming weather was also for my advantage. I managed a few more twelve inch rainbows and a few more snags, resulting in using up my leader. I figured since I had a short leader, why not tie on a streamer? I chose a fairly heavy, large black streamer. I'm pretty good at pitching them right into the strike-zone, sometimes its within the same area as a basketball hoop. The risk at hand is losing a good fly and the time lost re-tying. The rain had started lightly falling and the wind had picked up. I was inside of this miniature wilderness which was coming alive as the thunderous anvil remained ominously in the background. Deer were on the move, birds and waterfowl were flying with a mission it seemed. The trout were hitting bugs off the water left and right still, and I now had a streamer in hand.

          I was quickly targeting the banks of either side, where there was slower moving or still water. Often with a backdrop of rip rap or gnarled up driftwood, bushes, and sometimes a car, I cast within an inch of the bank. The sound of the heavy streamer hitting the water will turn the head of any predatory trout. Brown trout are the beast within these slow pools of water. I noticed a small piece of water that was much slower, the current blocked by underwater debris. I knew there should be a fish lying there. The first cast hit the water with a hefty splash and I could see a bronze flash, a turn of the head and my streamer inhaled. I set the hook hard knowing what I had. The water then exploded and the fight was on. I was using a four foot leader with some 3X tippet tied on. I wasn't all that concerned about the tippet breaking until he ran into some deep, fast flowing water. It took me about three minutes to get him in calmer water. He then got tangled up in some sticks and I had twenty feet between me and him. I ended up getting him freed and to the shore. I snapped a few pictures, revived, and released him. I didn't get a length, but to me that was not important. It was a heck of a fish for such a small river and a very beautiful one at that. I managed two more nice browns on my way back and missed another nice one, perhaps the biggest of the day.

            Overall, it was an absolutely epic day in my book. I'm still avidly learning this sport and its great when you can catch a lot of fish. This greatly speeds up the learning process when you have so many opportunities to hook a trout. Its better yet having wild trout at the end of a line. That adds another layer on the cake. I managed a dozen or so rainbows and small browns with my nymphing set-up and three very nice fish on the streamer. I enjoy fishing both styles, but the process and reward of effectively using a streamer is incredible. Sure the East G. is a smaller river and has plenty of small fish, but it holds some very big trout, perhaps more so than the Gallatin River. I will always appreciate the East Gallatin River, it proves to be a quality river with little pressure right at home. Maybe I will see you out there in the water!

The Madison River at Bear Trap Canyon

The Madison River at BTC and US 84 meet briefly

           The Madison River at Bear Trap Canyon has quickly become one of my favorite fishing destinations in Montana. The canyon is a quick retreat  to solitude only thirty-five minutes from Bozeman. It holds within its high canyon walls the lower Madison River, which begins its journey from Ennis lake at the Ennis powerhouse dam. The river then runs nine miles, rushing through steep, rocky terrain that produces class IV and V rapids, ending near highway 84 around Black's Ford. Winding its way out of the canyon, the boulders disappear and the river turns into a gently flowing riffle.  The water remains warmer than the freestone rivers, which are made up of cold mountain run-off and spring fed tributaries. The lower Madison, since it is the tail waters from the dam, produces generally warmer water. It draws from the top of  a large shallow lake, the water quickly warmed up by the sun. Fishing at Bear Trap year around is possible due to this reason alone. However, during the hot summer months, fish can easily be fought to death because it's simply not cold enough. Gentleman's hours and hoot-owl restrictions are common throughout summer. The numbers of trout is incredible. Fish counts per mile are around 2,500 which makes for excellent angling. Bear Trap Canyon is located within the northern and western most part of the Lee Metcalf Wilderness Area. A single trail takes fisherman and hikers all the way up to the dam through the very scenic and beautiful canyon. Its easy to get lost in the serenity of the wilderness out here. Bear Trap Canyon is grizzly and wolf territory which bestows an isolated feeling in the relatively small area of wilderness.

          Bear Trap Canyon was the first place I managed to wet a line here in Montana. I remember taking the easy drive west on US 84. Soon after we left the big town, I suddenly felt like I had entered a whole new region. The land turns into a high desert-like landscape with very few green trees. The country out here is vast with capacious spaces between high rolling hills and ragged canyon walls. The Madison River valley is absolutely massive. Red Mountain ominously gleams over the roadway only to be made miniature by the giant Tobacco Root Mountains that line the western horizon. Houses out here are few and far between. The river gleams with trout and the sun reflects off the water on a nice day, contrasting against the deep, dark shadows of the canyon. It really is a rather stunning river, and in the mid summer heat, looks very welcoming to floaters and fisherman alike. The entrance to Lee Metcalf Wilderness is down a dirt road not too far from the main highway. The further you drive in, the more spectacular this river gets. House sized rocks and tall spires stand over any vehicles that wind their way through. At the end of the road there is a small gravel parking lot and a nice outhouse. Its easy to judge how many people are on the trail by the number of cars at the trail head. For such a big space its common to be the only person around. The further back you go, more and more green trees appear. Three miles back you step into wilderness. This is the entrance to a one of a kind place and some days it will be all yours to enjoy in solitude.

An average sized Madison River rainbow trout

          What to bring to Bear Trap Canyon for a day of fishing? I personally began fishing the canyon with spinners, spoons, and crank baits. 1/8-1/4 ounce spinners and spoons, Rapala F-7 and F-11 crankbaits, all do very well here. The heavier the weight, the further you can lob it across the water to targeted pools and eddies. I had a lot of fun fishing with my ultra-light spinning gear set up with four to six lb test. I would catch some very hefty fish and could present my lure well. While using a heavier spinner or spoon, I cast straight out, or up to almost ninety degrees down river. This allows for the action of the lure to present itself in a proper manner. The blade on a spinner will spin against the resistance of the water and spoons will wobble, slowing either lure down enough for a trout to make a decision to eat it. If you cast upstream the lure will hit the bottom faster resulting in a snag. With crankbaits I use the same approach, this time allowing the force of the water to hit the lip of the bait to let it "hang" in the water column. A technique I love to use is sort of like trolling but not going anywhere and not in a boat. Find yourself a rock large enough to stand on with substantial current flowing around it. Simply make a cast, reel the line into a preferred distance so the bait is in the strike zone, hold the rod tip up or down to control the depth, and then just wait for a strike. The feeling of a powerful fish hitting hard out of nowhere  is enough to make you want to jump up and down. The further up the canyon you go the deeper and more turbulent the water flows. It's difficult to fish the heavily turbid waters with fly gear so I always head to the upper sections with my spinning gear.

Fall colors in BTC

            If you're a fly guy then you don't need to walk far from the car to hook up with trout and whitefish. I've had mixed results while fly fishing the canyon. I know the upper and lower Madison River have superior hatches, more so than many local rivers. The prime trout habitat that the lower Madison offers is everywhere. The majority of the water can be waded. Small boulders offer plenty of buckets and eddies. There is plenty of underwater vegetation for cover, along with sand, mud, and all sizes of gravel beds. The water is typically clear unless the lake has turned over or they are releasing more water than normal. Access along the bank is wonderful, and makes targeting just about anything possible. I've had success on the lower Madison river using #10 girdle bugs, #18-22 black pupae, eggys, san juan worms, and especially crayfish. Crayfish are a must for me when I fish in the canyon. Streamers are also a hot ticket and this river is a good one to reinforce ones confident in that type of fly. Typically for many fly fishers is learning the entomology, or the study of insects, and matching the hatch accordingly to what the trout are feeding on at the time. This is a subject that I will learn more on as it has a heavy relationship with successful trout fishing. Not only the type of insect but the stage at which they are in while the trout are targeting them. This will prove to be an endless amount of learning and research for me, enough to keep one busy for a lifetime.

          The Madison River at Bear Trap Canyon is right up there with Hyalite Canyon for me personally. Both provide remarkable fishing with peacefulness and solitude. A guaranteed unforgettable experience no matter how the day turns out. The beauty alone is enough to bring a fulfilling feeling of success and a trip well had. Whether you live close to or are from out of town, the canyon will make an impression on the soul. Its hard to explain the overall effect one might encounter while out here at a place like this. This is something I will never take for granted and will return to year after year, hoping to one day catch the big one.

Streamers 101

               I was going to call this section "newbie corner" or something like that, but I myself was just a newbie fly guy a couple of months ago. I learned every time I fished, much like everyone else out there who is not a master angler, I learned lessons, took note and got better. For a guy like me stepping into the fly fishing world, I come up with weekly awakenings or revelations where things come into sight all of the sudden. I will be fishing and then out of nowhere I will yell with excitement, "WOO HOO I got it!", after I've mastered or succeeded with something like mending line, or tying properly tapered leaders with tippet, etc. It happens every so often where Ill take a good firm step forward and can throw a little bit more confidence in my bag. This has recently happened to me with fishing streamers.

        This 101 Id like to go over my recent trout fishing revelation. I've had such a hard time with streamers that is was driving me nutty. I had a background in swim baits and have had much success with spinning swim baits but not fly fishing streamers. The first problem I faced was getting that nine foot leader and fly line down to where it needed to be. If you are a newbie you may slap the appropriate weight on and toss into a pretty turbid, good looking hole hoping for a fat trout if the newbie knows they're in there. Alright, so the newbie hopes he's not getting snagged because he's just letting that  streamer swirl around in the deep hole. He cant feel a strike because he has barely any sensitivity in his rod while the line is swirling around without tension. If he strips or has a taught line, he can feel the lure but knows that the streamer isn't getting down deep enough. This may discourage someone just starting out. He makes another cast, right next to the bank where a tout awaits in a nice slow eddie behind a pool. Right when his streamer hits the water, he watches as his fly line, caught by current drag, sucks the streamer quickly away from the fish. Lets try this again. Another cast, this time right into the deeper pocket pool itself. So while he believes since the streamer has made it down to the bottom he might get lucky and maybe the fish will take it. He's trying to mend the line here and there to keep that streamer right in the hot zone. He still doesn't know what the lure is doing down there and this can be discouraging. Meanwhile while two trout have already nibbled and spit out his streamer in 1/10th of a second because there was no connection/sensitivity, too much slack line. This could go on and on until eventually, a trout big enough eats the streamer and hooks itself. The smaller fish are harder to feel on the heavy fly line, and so blindly bouncing it off the bottom is difficult.

            That was me for many days. Always frustrated at why I was unproductive with streamers when I heard how great they are. I was under the impression that streamers were a lot like the rapalas and spinners, this is true because both represent fish prey, but they have to be fished completely different. I felt there was a barrier between the fish and I when I used streamers. I've learned a few things the last few days that can help one beyond the hurdle of figuring out the initial first steps to becoming very productive with streamers.

           First, good casting is needed to succeed with streamers. Think bass fishing. In most of the river around here there are sections of river with slow moving water around bends and under banks. The slowest water is along the outside of either bank on straight runs or on the inner side of a bend. Because the water force is less here, the trout stack up right along the banks, these are the fish we are after. The number one predator of streamers are brown trout. Big browns especially, sit under brush and low hanging foliage which provides a resting area and a safe place from predators. These resting areas will often be in tight pockets between trees, near the bank, between log jams, and on the edges of slow moving bends where there will often be a deep bank. These are the areas to focus on. There are just as many of these pockets as there are runs, pools, and riffles. I've spent a lot of time fishing runs and pools with streamers but its hard to manage the line and to guess where your bait is unless there is slack water you can access.

            Now, you really need to adjust your rig away from a typical nymphing rig and more of a bass rig. Choose whichever streamers you like. I prefer the ones with a bit of weight in them. I use a 5 weight rod, so I will usually use a small weighted streamer with an additional split shot three inches above. This helps with action and control, that's right, there's actually some control and sensitivity now. Experiment with weight. You don't want something too heavy but it also needs to be heavy enough to get down to the fish and act realistically. I find myself pitching into very tight places where a big brown could be waiting and I would need to put that streamer right on his nose. The weight its a contributor to casting. The leader is the next important subject. You can take a 9 foot 5x tippet and cut it in half or less depending on how much weight you're throwing. The shorter leader allows for much more control and sensitivity to strikes. The control factor of having a 4 foot leader makes all the difference. If you cut off too much or are getting to the thick part of your leader, It's ok to add some 1x or 2x tippet. A sturdier/heavier line will act better with something like a big streamer.

Streamers with weight provide better control in my opinion

          Ok, you've got a better setup for streamer fishing an now you need to know how to fish them. I find it most productive to target the areas I mentioned before such as slack water next to moving water, the slower water next to banks, and between jams and brush piles. Wade in to the water depending on how clear the water is. If its real muddy I get as close as I can to pitch a white streamer next to the bank. Often the water will explode as the trout that you knew was there pounded your streamer. This is probably the funnest part of this kind of fishing. Its amazing how many trout sit next to the bank. The secret is casting the streamer within inches of the bank, and give it all you can to let that thing sit there until it starts drifting on its on. If you haven't had a strike by then, just strip and twitch your rod until you're out of the strike zone. The strike zone is literally a foot or less sometimes and controlling the fly line is something to practice. The current will want to pull your streamer back into the middle and not allow the streamer to stay in that spot long enough. If you can get your bait to stay in that zone for, oh, three seconds or more, you'll be getting fish. Cast and move cast and move. The day can yield a high number of fish by doing this when the barometer is falling especially.

          Streamer fishing takes some getting used to. The least a beginner can do is set themselves up for success. It took me a little over a year to build up the confidence I have for them now. I cannot wait to get back out there and put on a streamer. Thanks for reading today and check back for updates or reports!

The East Gallatin River

               The East Gallatin starts off north of Bozeman as a small stream. As it makes its way west the river picks up a few spring creek tributaries and other run off creeks. By the time the East Gallatin meets up with its big sister, the West Gallatin, it's almost the same size. Most of the river meanders through private land so wading is needed to fish it well. The East Gallatin is considered navigable and the deeper, wider, western parts are float-able with tubes. This particular river is often overlooked by the majority of fly fisherman. Most are out enjoying the bigger well-known rivers that are nearby. The East Gallatin offers plenty of trout that, unlike the bigger rivers, are much more willing to take whatever is offered to them. The river is also very close to home. What a great place to go if you don't want to drive more than fifteen minutes to wet a line.

Upper section near Cherry River access

               With access right in Bozeman, the upper section is a quick escape to trout land. One could walk around a  few bends and suddenly be lost within thick deer and bird habitat. The sounds of the outside world are swallowed up by the rushing water and bird chatter. The rivers upper section is all around smaller, with rapids, runs, and pools. There are plenty of trout that live in this ten to fifteen  foot wide river section. I've had good luck here during fall, winter, and spring. I like to fish the upper section of the river when its windy or the weather is bad. The trees in this area of the East provide plenty of cover from the elements. With tight spaces, trees and thick brush, a smaller 7 foot rod would be practical.

Middle section

              Downriver from the Bozeman accesses (Cherry River off of Frontage Road and East Gallatin Recreation Area off of Griffith and Manley) there are a few other accesses. This is the middle of the East Gallatin and it spans from northwest of Bozeman to Belgrade. I use Google Earth to find all of the bridges and then see what kind of parking it provides. Bridges are legal access in all of Montana's navigable rivers. From then on you've got what seems like endless miles of trout water all to yourself. The trees that surrounded the East Gallatin a few miles upstream are now replaced by bits of trees here and there along with a few houses. Lots of rip rap used to secure the river from moving through peoples yards is scattered around bends. When flows are normal one could easily walk the banks without having to be in the water. 

Lower-mid section

              The further downriver you go, I believe the bigger the fish you will find. The river downstream from the middle section widens and deepens causing the flow to slow down. Big brown trout thrive in this kind of habitat where minnows, insects and other aquatic animals live. Streamer fishing targeted at the undercut banks will provide, from what I hear, some very nice brown trout. I tend to focus on this downstream section more this year. I believe it gets a lot less pressure and certainly a lot less live bait pressure. Waders are a must and a tube would be ideal for the western portion. The deep water and high banks make for constant wading. This section of the river is the most secluded section and offers one the ability to escape into Montana's great trout wilderness. Both sides of the bank from here on down are occupied by vast fields of wheat and grass. Its easy to get lost in such a slow moving, beautiful place. 

               The East Gallatin offers many opportunities to catch trout, hone in on skills, and enjoy the peace and quiet of the outdoors. The amount of nature one absorbs while standing in the East Gallatin, listening to the wind and the trees, the flowing water, birds, and among other things, catching trout, is what were really out here for. Too many people now a days are stuck in urban jungles or places without wildernesses and don't get out enough to really enjoy the outdoors. The East Gallatin provides this in an overlooked place right next to home. 

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Quick Tip: Trout Photography

        It was probably the second or third outing to Hyalite Creek that I realized how well the beautiful colors and markings of trout could be captured. It was a small brook trout I had taken a picture of with macro settings that inspired me from then on to photograph nearly every fish I've caught. All of my photos have been taken with an eight megapixel camera phone. Its quick and easy to take out, snap a photo, and continue with what I was doing.
     
        I was experimenting a little bit when I snapped my favorite picture yet. I was too far in the middle of a fairly quickly flowing river to get a good picture without the risk of losing my phone. I held the fish by the line so the water was gliding beneath it, sort of splashing and turning slightly back and forth. I took as many pictures as I could and quickly released the fish.

         An hour or so later, I looked at my photos and first noticed the nice colors on the fish, but there wasn't much I could do with a fish that looked so awkwardly hanging by a line. I turned the picture ninety degrees to the left and it looked just like the fish swimming through the water. A quick cropping to cut out the fly line, and a lomo filter was all that I used to bring out the real color of the scene. A swimming fish was created out of a somewhat dull photo.

          I've found many neat photos can come from photographing trout. People have been doing it forever because its not hard to take a bad picture of a trout. Trouts ever so changing beautiful colors, the suns vibrant light rays, crystal clear water, and bright green vegetation make for excellent captured moments. Macro settings are a must if taking a picture closer than ten inches. Next time your'e fishing, bring a decent camera, don't get it wet, and take some great pictures to share with your friends. They're some of the fish that YOU'VE caught and now you will never forget them.

Taking many pictures gives you more to work with in this case and increases the chances of capturing a good shot.

A Quick Look: the Girdle Bug

  Its almost May and the weather here in southwest Montana is going to improve. The ground has thawed and insects are beginning to move about. The trout are also becoming more active as the days get longer and longer. There's one go-to fly pattern I've quickly come to enjoy fishing with. The Girdle Bug. The GB doesn't represent any one terrestrial insect, but has a silhouette and rubber legs that look like a tasty wad of dead drifting, crunchy, bug. The Girdle Bug can trick a trout into thinking it's a salmonfly, grasshopper, minnow, or crayfish. Regardless what it looks like, this fly works!

       
          I find hook sizes six through ten work great. I'm usually using a six to produce impulse strikes and larger fish. The bait comes in many different colors and patterns. I stick with black and brown. The Girdle Bug can be effectively fished the majority of the warmer months. Around the time the early perennials have started to come up is when I believe the Girdle Bug can be used. Use the GB as a top fly with a small dropper underneath. When I was learning to cast I would use just the Girdle Bug and no dropper to avoid tangles and knots. An appropriate sized split-shot weight between the two or above the top fly works best. Many trout hang out on the outside of the far bank furthest from path that fisherman walk. So, cast upstream and as close to the bank as you can. Placing your indicator around 7-8 feet allows your bait to drift and bounce along the bottom realistically.
       
           The Girdle Bug is a great go-to fly to use in freestone streams and rivers. Its big enough to attract the large trout but can make the smaller guys strike on impulse. The rubber legs move while the rig is dead-drifting so it has action of its own. I've gotten strikes on the back swing while floating down river as well. It can be retrieved with action but dead drifting seems most effective. Whether you're new or know all about the sport, the Girdle Bug is a good fly to have in your fly box during the non-winter months.

River Fishing Trout: Winter Months

        River fishing trout in the winter months can be challenging and unpleasant. The weather can contribute to regular difficulties and make fishing much harder for a novice like myself. The wind is much colder on the exposed parts of the body such as face and hands. It's already hard enough fishing on a windy day for a beginner, let alone being warm while doing so. The water temperature of the streams are at an all time low. Putting ones hand in a cold river to release a fish can ruin the rest of the day if you cant get warm and dry. The lack of sun in the winter also factors into making it a harder time to fish. The fish are most active in the winter when the sun is at its highest. The longer the sun is shining on the river, the more the water heats up. During the winter solstice is probably one of the most difficult days of the year to fish. I'm not saying fishing is impossible on this day, its just that, with the lack of daylight, the water is going to stay very cold. Obviously, this very cold environment causes trouts metabolism to slow and they do not need to feed as often. With the bite being off during this time of year, many anglers don't want to fuss with the cold, and sometimes fierce winter weather. Remember, many trout anglers wade IN the water. A few hazards come into mind such as ice chunks and ice flows. If you lose your footing and fall below the surface, hypothermia can very quickly take your life.

       
          So the action is dull and the weather stinks, right? Well no. River fishing in the winter can be a rewarding experience. In Montana, like many other trout states, the mountainous terrain causes for unforeseen weather fronts and ever so changing weather reports. Most of us aren't going to run out to the river when there's forty mph winds or whiteout conditions, that would just be stupid; but for the love of trout, some will do it. You need to find yourself a day where temperatures are thirty degrees or more. I find that if the outside temp is below thirty degrees, trout fishing is very slow. There will be plenty of days where it is warmer than thirty degrees. So bundle up and bring what you need to stay warm. Later I will explain how to multiply your factors for success during this difficult time of year.

A warm winter day on the Gallatin River

         Lets say its late December and you've got the itch. Most public streams in Montana are closed this time of year and all that remain open are the big, vast rivers. Here in Southwest Montana, I have been fishing the lower Madison River and all stretches of the Gallatin River this last winter. I've had a lot of success! No matter where you go, as long as there are trout, you will hook up in the winter. If you have many options to choose from you should find which river would fish best in the winter. All rivers are different. Some have minerals which feed micro food which brings more trout food in the system. Some are tail waters or spring creeks which tend to be much warmer in the winter. These warmer bodies of water will have more active fish this time of year. The Madison River and all spring creeks will be significantly warmer. Regardless, wherever you find yourself putting on your waders, I'm willing to bet it is scenic and beautiful.

         I mentioned before that multiplying factors for success is important. Its simple. The more you do to make your presentation viable to winter trout, the more likely you will catch them. First we need to know that, since trouts metabolisms slow down in the winter, trout need to gain the energy they lose, plus some, while pursuing food items. Trout are constantly deciding whether or not insects or small fish are worth the energy to move and chase. It takes a small trout less energy to move further to eat than it takes a large trout, therefore the offering needs to benefit the fishes energy output. Small fish are less likely to chase a big minnow or sculpin and more likely to eat several small insects instead. Big trout, I've noticed, will go out of their way to eat a small trout. The energy output is high but they gain enough to satisfy their metabolism longer. Large trout will also be taken on the smallest flies this time of year but it needs to be presented close to the line the fish is concentrating on. Big baits, such as F-7 or F-11 Rapala, jigs, and large streamers will catch some big fish this time of year. The right small fly will also consistently catch trout.

Big trout/big crank bait

         Another thing you'll want to know is where the fish are this time of year. Out of all of the rivers I fish, this rule tends to stay the same. Trout are in deep holes, or deep slow moving runs. The brighter the sun is shining, the shallower the fish will move. Google Earth has been a big help for me this time of year during the hunt for deep holes along the Gallatin River. Every deep hole I've found has held many large trout. I found it was difficult to get my streamers and flies deep enough and resorted to crank baits and jigs. If you're fishing water where fly fishing is comfortable, the smaller the fly the better, and big streamers will produce.

Copper john #18

         The baits. You cant beat prince nymphs, zebra midge, or copper johns # 18-22. On sunny days I use dull colored flies and on overcast days I will throw shiny, flashy flies. I am still a very beginner dry fly fisherman so I cannot write about the subject in depth. There will most certainly be hatches on calmer days. If you notice many fish rising and you want to participate, try to match your pattern with what you see and go a size or two bigger. The fish tend to be less picky in the winter as food isn't as plentiful. So when a big brown trout in a deep hole under a bridge sees my big crank bait slowly chugging along near the bottom, it realizes that its a great opportunity and will quickly accept my offering. Earthly colored jigs such as grey, brown, dark purple, green, and black out fish bright colors. Personally, I didn't have much luck with spinners either this time of year. Black and brown wooly buggers, both dead drifting and with action, caught trout. Egg patterns work VERY well on top of a small dropper. Red San Juan worms continue to produce into winter as well.

            Winter fishing has its ups and downs. There are no birds chirping as the sun throws its rays over the cottonwoods down around your feet. The absence of leaves and green grass make the rivers look baron at times, as a howling cold wind pushes against the surface. If the fish aren't biting, there aren't many other reasons to be out there. Then again, there are days which are exceptional. Sometimes a calm forty degree day can yield thick, heavy snowflakes that fall silently amid the sound of the river. There are days that are unseasonably mild and you'd think that spring is only days away. Many people who spend time in the water during summer are out of town during the winter. The traffic is much lesser than that of early summer, where guides with groups of people from out of town are out and about. Fishing in solitude is one thing many fly fishers seek while catching trout, and during winter, one could certainly find that.

          There you have it. A small portion of the basics that I have learned with a lot of patience and frustration. Starting off with a spinning rod and transitioning to full time fly fishing during winter has taught me some good lessons. Trout aren't as easy as other fish. I expected to catch right on, and yes, with some luck I actually did pretty fair. I think that has to do with the sheer number of trout in the waters around here. Eventually a hungry trout is going to see your fly and give you a taste of the joy they provide. Its not so hard to fool a trout but it's a challenge to keep fooling them over and over again. I will hopefully spend a whole lifetime learning about these beautiful cold water fish.

                                                   I thank you for reading my blog.
                                                                  Stay tuned!