Finding the Trout: Beginner Lesson

                 River conditions here in Montana are always changing. During the spring, our high mountain streams transport the snow melt into the larger rivers. This causes a "blow out" period that can last a month or more, making fishing dangerous and sometimes impossible. The period after the spring run-off can be excellent angling however. The trout are hungry after hunkering down while the rivers raged. Summer brings low water, as much of it is used for irrigating crops and the snow-pack running thin. In the winter, water levels continue to drop, making for concentrated pockets of fish. Knowing where the fish are during these periods is critical. During the heavy flows, fish get pushed to the edges of rivers where the current is less resistant. In winter, the low, clear water forces fish into deep calm pools where they can escape from the raptors above. Its a never ending game of change and pursuit, here's my two cents on finding trout year round.

          They say the ideal current speed is around three miles per hour. Foam bubbles are a key identifier of current speed. You'll notice faster water and slower water just don't carry bubbles on the surface. On the outside of a feeding lane the water is rushing fast, but inches next to it, where current meets slower water, bubbles form. The fish love this speed. It gives them enough time to identify and eat insects as they drift down stream plus they can efficiently hold themselves without using too much energy. Remember to always look for the right current speed, this is where the majority of trout lay. We have endless miles of rivers in Montana, so it can be intimidating trying to find where the trout are. I often walk a quarter mile or more between good trout lies. Not all water holds active fish. Get it in your head to remember what the current speed was after each fish is caught and it wont be long before you can easily identify good trout water. I'm not saying that fish aren't in fast riffles because they are, particularly rainbows. You just have to get out there and experiment with what works. I've seen people fishing holes that have nothing in common with trout water. Its too shallow, muddy bottom, not significant enough, or just the wrong time of the year. Don't be that guy wasting your time on water that holds zero fish.

            Just because the rivers are blown out doesn't mean you cant fish. Yes, some rivers get very dangerous but others, for example Hyalite Creek, is still great even when its raging. Finding fish in these waters can be much easier than say, during the middle of summer. During summer the whole river looks decent and fish are so spread out. When rivers are near maximum capacity, still within the banks, fish are concentrated in the slowest moving water. Hyalite Creek  is a steep mountain stream with class IV rapids at places. The other day I drove many miles looking for anything other than whitewater. When I found a bend where the river flattened out and slowed down, I also found a ton of trout. One particular stretch I walked had nothing but whitewater, but near the bank there was a small pocket of calmer water. I fished this until I caught three brookies. How easy was it for me to find these fish? Very easy! Making my way downstream I found a gorgeous body of water familiar to every fly fisherman. I could have easily fished this hole for three hours without leaving, and I did. Its so simple, like I said before, the fish are now concentrated in these slow moving stretches.

        I would like to talk about water clarity for a moment, it has a lot to do with where the trout will be feeding. Most people pack up and go home if the river is muddy and visibility is low. They believe the trout wont see their flies and they'll have to put it on the tips of their noses. Well this just isn't true. Obviously if conditions are chocolate milk, and you cant see your hand an inch below the surface, yes its time to probably go home. Around here though, many rivers never turn to chocolate milk. I personally love fishing when the river is slightly high and cloudy, maybe a bit green. It makes the fish feel protected from raptors and other predators. A typical cycle in the summer tends to be on bright cloudless days the big trout hold deep, away from the sunlight. At twilight they feel comfortable to come out and feed. This is the same during cloudy conditions. The trout feel comfortable spending the entire day, even if its bright and sunny, feeding. Also, as fan of the art of high-sticking, I can get much closer without being seen.

           With that being said, I'm going to move into finding the trout during the summer months. It can get blazing hot outside. Just as you wouldn't want to fish below thirty degrees (the fish slow down), It's not the best time to fish when its one hundred degrees. The fish get lethargic as the water temp rises, making them more active at night and twilight. Shallow water is a no-go during the dog days of summer. The fish are deep, often avoiding the warm rays of sunlight. Its a good idea to try the riffles this time of year, many rainbows will be found there. Deep and slow runs, fished with just about any fly works great. Hot days usually means low water, so fish are concentrated within the confines of the river channel. When its hot and there's no cloud cover above, try to focus on the deep holes within the river system. There are often long stretches of shallow, clear water that hold no fish. Its easy to recognize these spots, walk a little further upriver, and you'll eventually come upon a deep hole. Its here that the smart trout will spend their days, hunkered down deep, chasing down nymphs and sculpins that enter their feeding zones. It can often be difficult to reach these fish with the traditional nymph set-up. Use a longer leader, 12 to 15 feet, tapered to 5x tippet, and weighted flies. If you're flies arent heavy enough, simply put on a split-shot or two. Remember, you want to be on the bottom. If you're not detecting the bottom then you need to change your approach so that you are down where the fish are. If fishing during peak daytime hours this should have you covered. Its during low light that your technique should change from the above mentioned during summer months. In low light times, its the lunker brown trout and pig rainbows that move out of the cover of deep water and into ambush mode in the shallows. Its no surprise that big trout are naturally nocturnal. Pack a headlamp and begin your outing an hour before dark. Use large flies like black sculpzillas, mice patterns, crankbaits, etc. Night fishing can be a challenge within itself but is often one of the best times to be on the river. Theres nothing like casting dries to rising fish during a full moon either!

              Fall is one of the best times to fish, if not THE best season. The brown trout have spawning on their minds, along with all fish trying to stock up for the coming winter. Water levels remain low and its still easy to find the fish if you know how to read the water. During the fall you can fish in pretty shallow waters, all day. The photo period is shortening and trout are taking advantage of the cool temps and low light. Large browns will ambush small fish all day long and the usual riffles and holes will produce hungry fish eager to eat your flies. Its during fall that you can throw larger than usual streamers, larger than real life insect patterns, and that crazy Bozangles Betty that you tied a couple of years ago. The feed is on and trout tend to get out of their comfort zones in order to secure a high calorie meal, take advantage of this. Trout will be found in any and all stretches of rivers and lakes during the fall, so find some fishy structure, tie on the right flies or lure and enjoy the action. Keep in mind that egg patterns go hand in hand with early spring and fall. Brown and rainbow trout cant resist the high calorie morsel and will cross water to reach them.
         
            Where are the trout during the coldest months of winter? You may be the type that puts down the fishing gear when winter arrives and dust off the ski equipment. But, there are still excellent opportunities to fish year round in Montana. Winter can be one of the most beautiful, solitary, and calming time of the year to fish. There's just nothing quiet like fly fishing in the middle of winter on a beautiful sunny day. The fishing can be pretty phenomenal if you have some insight and a little bit of luck. Fish get pretty lethargic during the cold temps of winter. They are less eager to viciously track down a streamer over larger distances and typically stay in a narrow feeding lane, letting the food float to them. Its easy enough to find fish during the winter. During real cold, sunny days, the trout will stack up in the big pools, similar to summer holding patterns. Its during the warmer, overcast days that you can find fish moving out of those holes and into shallow riffles and runs. Small nymphs like #18 pheasant tails, #16-18 lightning bugs, similar sizes disco midges, zebra midges, WD-40s, etc should be fished on light tackle. I use 5x in the winter because visibility tends to be crystal clear, along with lethargic energy levels from trout, thicker tipper is not necessary unless throwing streamer patterns. The winter time can host some pretty spectacular dry fly hatches. Its a midge game so having on hand some small Griffiths Gnats or #18-22 Parachute Adams is ideal. Keep your setup light and simple during the winter, find those winter holding areas and you'll be skipping a ski day at Bridger to head out to your favorite honey hole, and the best part is you will likely have the river to yourself.

           As mentioned above, spring can bring a halt to the fishing in all but a few places in SW Montana. This period is known as the blow out and happens every year, some better than others. This causes the rivers to swell to dangerous proportions, creating low visibility and unfishable currents. After the blowout subsides however, and the fishing picks up pretty good. After a long winter of low angling pressure, than a month or so of zero angling pressure, post blow out means the fish are feeding heavily for the first time since last fall. The rainbows are beginning to think about the spawn and all fish are putting on the calories that were lost while holding over during the winter. As soon as the rivers clear and lake levels settle, one needs to hit the water. Trout will be in all stretches of the rivers now and finding them is relatively easy. Just fish those pools, runs, and riffles with the usual flies it wont be long before you're netting fish. Fly choice is more important during the spring than where you fish. San Juan Worms and spring run-off go hand in hand. Fish are more aggressive during this time of year, a lot like the fall, and will go out of their way to eat your fly. Dry fly fishing can be spotty, as this time of year is known for the higher than usual flows and stained water, which doesn't really have fish looking up. High calorie items just as eggs, worms, leeches, bait fish, salmonfly nymphs, etc will work best. Don't be afraid to use some extra weight to get those flies down deep, and be sure to bring plenty of extras to compensate for more debris floating downstream.

Carpin' the Big Sky

         

Carping is a rewarding experience

         One day in the middle of summer, 2015, I sat in my home watching Youtube videos of giant brown trout in New Zealand. The conditions at the time left me without many options for good trout fishing and I was getting my kicks through the lens of some lucky guy thousands of miles from me. From bull trout to bonefish, I found myself being sucked into the dark corners of the internet video world; my rear end settling lower and lower into the couch. Inside my body, the energy was high. My mind was seeing things that would make any fisherman overjoyed. I soon felt the urge to head out and find my own world class angling experience, without topping off the gas tank. Then, somewhere along the way in my mindless video surfing, I stumbled upon a video of a man fly fishing for carp. Now I've had my fair share of experience with carp, but mostly by snagging them with a spinning set-up or randomly hooking one in the lip on a jig. Cursing at them for breaking my line, yet secretly wishing I could have another go. However, since moving to Big Sky country, carp have been the furthest thing from my mind. I did a little research on the subject. With a little luck, a full weekend, and a relentless urge to land one of these beasts on a fly rod, I scored big time.

              Carp have often been ignored by sportsman in the United States as they are considered by most a trash fish, for reasons that remain fair enough. It's not uncommon to see them tossed on the bank or hit over the head and left to die. Most of the time this causes more unwanted waste than it saves but gives a feeling of satisfaction to most that do it. Respect for them is growing ever so slightly in the sates. In the Western states, where trout and carp live together, many guiding companies now offer carp trips. The Missouri River is known for its plentiful carp numbers, and word is spreading about how enjoyable it is. In Europe, carping is one of the, if not the most, popular fish to pursue. There's some good reason to that too. It's the same reason I used to wish for one to gulp down my Mr. Twister back in Iowa, they are the Mac Trucks of freshwater fish! These golden beasts often grow well over thirty inches or more and can reach upwards of 40 lbs. Not only are they incredibly fun to catch, they are also surprisingly difficult. One has to fully commit, completely understand the fundamentals, expect failure, and be able to land a fly in a tea-cup at thirty feet, before anticipating a successful attempt. If you ever thought trout were finicky and are ready for the next challenge, carp are for you.

Prehistoric looking

            It's well known that carp generally live about everywhere. It's not hard to find them during the summer if you take the time. Look for large splashes and movement around the shallow western side of the lake, the hotter outside the better. The carp will be in the shallows feeding and sunbathing.  It's important to know whether or not the carp you are looking at are feeding. Feeding or "tailing" carp are very similar to bonefish. Both carp and bonefish feed by shuffling around in the mud with the snouts down and tail up. Its not uncommon to see half a carp sticking out of the water as they root around for anything organic. As omnivores, fly selection is pretty easy. Anything that feels like a crunchy, squishy bug will be held in the mouth long enough to make a hook set. I've noticed that carp will suck in a mouthful of mud or sand, and then blow out, holding on to whatever food it finds. Forget streamers or anything big, colorful, or fast moving. One of the more difficult aspects of carping is how easy they spook. After spending some time with these amazing fish you can see how evolution has taken trout and carp down two completely different paths. Carp have been around for millions and millions of years, they have changed little and still retain many primitive traits. All of these traits in turn allowed the carp to grow to such sizes. Trout may be much newer and more advance by design but the tortoise is winning the race at this point. The large scales on carp protect them from predators whereas trout have very small, delicate scales, we all know how fragile trout can be. Eyesight; we all know trout have excellent vision, including great night-vision. They can see a fly the size of a pinhead flying to them at speeds of fifteen mph or more. Carp also have excellent vision, and its one of the frustrating things you will realize while trying to stalk them. Unless they've got their head in the mud like you would a breakfast burrito , move still, very still. The other couple of extraordinary senses are hearing and sense of smell. It is IMPOSSIBLE to fish for carp in a noisy boat. One bump with an oar and every carp in the area will make a mad dash, sending off a domino effect of chaos throughout the area. This will require another length of time before the next attempt is made. Forget the sunscreen, don't leak oil, and you better wash your hands off after smoking that cigarette. Carp have exceptional sense of smell and can often tell them you're there long before your line is rigged up.

             A good rod and reel set-up is not necessary but will help. I recommend a sturdy 5/6 weight up to an 8 weight, with floating line and a 9 foot leader of 3 or 4x tippet. A good fly pattern to try is Joe Montana's Hybrid Carp Fly. This pattern can be changed up a little to suite your needs, but keep in mind black is always a good color. Avoid bright colors which may scare them off. Foam beetles, drowned hoppers, hare ears, etc all work very well. Weight IS important and highly depends on the conditions at the time. Have on hand non-weight, slightly weighted, and something heavier but not so heavy it causes a big splash. Weight comes down to the depth you're fishing, and how fast you want your fly to land on the bottom. The key is to land your fly right where the carp is headed. Forget blind casting, this is a head-hunting game. If you spot carp actively feeding in the mud, try and land your fly where you think the carp will be in a few seconds. If the monster fish is swimming but not feeding, try a slightly weighted or non-weighted fly and let it gently float at the fish's sight level. A turn of the head in your fly's direction will indicate a take, lift that rod tip up, set the hook and let the ride begin. Carp have soft lips, hook sets are easy even with smaller hooks. Just hope your rod has enough backbone to turn the fish away from cover and obstacles. It's quite a challenge even after you've landed several fish. In my book the common carp has become an icon of epic fishing. I wouldn't take any whiny kids along, forget bringing anyone without a considerable amount of patience, this is for the die-hard fly fishing enthusiast. Thanks for reading! Check below to read about my first day carping in Montana.



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         My first hook up with the poor man's Bonefish was a day I will never forget. It was the day I got my butt off the couch and did a little field research on the subject of carp. I didn't know anything besides the little bit of reading I had done earlier. I packed up the raft, two fly rods, a box of flies, and my wiener dog. I knew right where I was going had carp. It was about noon, sunny and eighty-five degrees. I launched and set out across the lake. After paddling around for a little while without a clue what to do next I saw someone with a bow. She was in a bikini and had a cowboy hat on. I figured she wouldn't mind some dork in a boat with a dog coming up to her so I got out and went to ask a few questions. She said she was looking for the carp too but hadn't seen any, then pointed across to the other side of a different lake. "If I had a raft I would go over there" she said. Well, that's good enough for me. So I wished her luck and made my portage across the hundred yards of dry land.

        Soon after reaching the other side of the this lake, I paddled into a shallow cove. Immediately I noticed plumes of mud by the dozens coming up from under and around the raft. I knew exactly at that moment that I'd found them. They were darting outt left and right. I was utterly dumbfounded on what to do. It wasn't until an hour and half later that I realized casting a leech to them from the raft wasn't going to work. Frustrated and over-heated, I ditched the boat and slowly made my way to some splashing on a shallow shelf. Twenty minutes of stalking, there before me were two massive carp circling each other. One was almost black, the other smaller one was a shiny golden color. I watched and watched until I started letting the fly line fly. I hadn't learned that my little leech was too much to spook them off until they both let loose in a wild bid to escape my deadly flailing clump of black marabou. The whole situation was nothing more than muddy waves retreating across my shins and I headed back to rebuttal.

Carp flats, not always pretty

          I tied on a Blue Midge Spinner pattern I like to use for trout on the Gallatin River. It was small and would sink slowly. It was another hour that I noticed more activity near the shallow shelf. I took my shoes off in order to make less disturbances. What felt like an eternity later, wading through stinky muck up to my knees, I had several large silhouettes cruising around twenty-five feet in front of me. The sun was starting to cut my glare making them more difficult to spot. I found the biggest one was the closest to me, and after watching its behavior I started letting line out. Cutting line through the air until I had enough, I made one last motion and set the fly in front of the feeding fish. One pass after the other, my offer was denied. Finally, the big fish managed its way into a little cul de sac of heavy vegetation. This fish was so big that the top third of it's body was just sitting there out of water. I made a few false casts and landed my midge right on top of its nose, between the wall of weeds and its vacuum mouth. I could tell the fish had found something, eagerly digging where my fly slowly fell. I took a shot and set the hook. All hell broke loose. The five inches of water soon became so displaced, I'll call this carp Moses. The powerful creature pushed with its tail so hard it was nearly walking on sand. My tension kept him charging and on and on he went. I saw my backing for the first time as the rocket powered fish sailed passed one hundred feet, halfway into the main lake. My drag screaming while he went airborne, pushing until exhaustion overcame his effort. Every other carp in the area was long gone and a few minutes later I manhandled the big guy into my arms. I walked all the way back to the raft to admire him some more and give a good revive. Still strong he swam away back to the hundreds of others out there.

         It wasn't only the victory I accomplished over landing the magnificent animal but the revelation I experienced while doing so. My thoughts and preconceptions I once had were now replaced with great respect for the golden bone. Since I have managed a few more on each trip. The sheer effort involved has left me contemplating recently and I know they become more aggressive towards small streamers come fall. I may have to make a trip back before the year is over. Tight lines!

Gardiner River, Yellowstone Park, MT

       

 Gardiner River, Yellowstone Park

September 21st, 2014

           I kicked the bug I had and recently went fishing on the Gardiner River. It was a great to put my boots on and anticipate that cool water around my legs. This time I was headed to a place I've never been before. These waters I've so badly wanted to fish for many years, the rivers and streams of Yellowstone Park. For some reason since moving to Montana, I haven't taken the short drive there to fish. I've been there a handful of times since residing in Bozeman, and once when I was younger. And have always had a strong desire to come back and try my luck. Well, since meeting a new friend that is as obsessed with fly fishing as I am, I've had the opportunity to learn some outstanding information about the angling. Almost as soon as I met Joe I was invited to come along and spend a day learning how to fish the Gardiner River. Joe has been fly fishing the area since the 1980's. His plethora of knowledge far exceeds mine. When he's not fishing the same rivers that I do, he spends his time chasing bonefish in Central America. Fly fishing and tying are just a few things hes good at, along with a few other hobbies we share. So far its been a great and pleasurable experience fishing with Joe.

Fall colors line the Gardner

           We left at about eight AM from Bozeman. It only took us an hour and and ten minutes to get to the cool little town of Gardner, Montana. Gardner is a gateway town to Yellowstone, so it is simply everything Yellowstone. Elk and mule deer graze on the lawns, and buffalo frequent the tarmac of the Gardiner airport. We stopped at Park's Fly Shop to purchase my three day park permit and a few leaders. Joe introduced me to Matt Minch, a fly tying enthusiast and long time guide of the Yellowstone River. Minch is a great fellow to know. His days of river wading may be over but he can sure tie a pretty fine fly. I would say nobody knows the area better than Matt and the guys at Park's. If you are new to the area and need to be informed or perhaps don't want to hire a guide, stop in and they'll be happy to share with you what they know. Golden stoneflies and the shop's "bead hair and copper" were recommended this time of year. Hoppers were something to keep an eye out for and who doesn't love fishing them? We hustled out the door and made one more detour for coffee. Through the gate, our first pull-off was only ten minutes down the road, near the cliffs where some mountain goats are often seen. The river here is high flowing white water gushing over plenty of flat water, or pocket water. I would say from bank to bank the river spans fifteen feet across at this section. As I got my gear on, Joe came over and gave me a couple of his hand tied golden stones and a few bead hair and coppers. I stowed them away as I had already tied on my trusty girdle bug and BM. I headed off the road down an embankment to a strip of river he advised me to hit first. By my second cast I had caught a hard fighting twelve inch rainbow. The Gardiner holds a variety of fish including rainbow, brown, brook, cutthroat, mountain whitefish, and possibly grayling. It's a fun factor when you dont know what you're going to catch next. I knew the day was going to be excellent.

Very colorful rainbow 

        The plan was for me to keep walking about three quarters of a mile upstream to a parking area where Joe would leave the truck. I would get there, get a bite to eat and then continue upstream to where he was going to be fishing. After walking upstream from my point of entry and around the first bend I netted another small rainbow. I couldn't help but pause after releasing the fish, and take everything in for a moment. "This place just keeps on amazing me", I thought. Another bend revealed a meadow setting, within it beautiful fall colors from bushes sheathing the bank, contrasting against the sky and river. To me this was heaven. I love sections of meandering streams. Lazy quiet and peaceful. Places like this are home to big brown trout. You can hear it in the quietness of the air. Deep, slow water chugging along through each bend riffle and run. The transition into fall sends the hogs ( 2-9 lbs) up from the Yellowstone in pursuit of the spawn. We were hoping the cold snaps this month had convinced some mature brown trout into thinking its time to move up. I slowly walked up on a nice run and took a few photos. I took a minute to read the river and listen for any movement in the water. I still had on a girdle bug and that size eighteen blue midge. I was employing a nine foot, 3x Rio leader with some 4x tippet tied from that, securing my split shot on the knot. I worked the run a few times and pulled from it a respectable sixteen inch rainbow. This fish had colors unlike I've personally seen on a trout before. A quick picture and he was abrupt to swim away, while I just wanted to thank him for his time. By now I was beginning to get a bit parched but unfortunately left my drink in the truck . Although I fished a few good spots on the way, I hustled past a lot of good looking water.

Gardner River brown trout, size ten girdle bug

       The day was turning into a hot one. The skies were clear and the sun was shining down on me. Despite the intense sunshine, the bite was a good one. I hadn't seen any other fishermen. I did however run into a part of the river with lots and lots of people.  Upstream from the truck there's an attraction that brings a lot of tourists to this part of the park. Here, thermal springs come up out of the ground and mix with the cool mountain water of the Gardiner. On cold days this is a lot of fun but even on hot days the water from the Gardner is so cold it can still feel pretty refreshing. It was a strange feeling fishing so close to people in their bathing suits. Did I say there were a lot of people? Every other back cast I had to check over my shoulder as not to snag grandmas one piece. I managed to meet up with Joe and we chatted. I decided to head way up past the hot pots and find some solitude again. Joe said good deep water was up there, and I was itching for a big runner (spawning brown). I walked and walked until I finally looked up and saw a site to be had. River like I've never seen before, unspoiled by anything made by man. The only path along the bank was used daily by a heard of resident elk. Just about every big mammal in the country was somewhere out there in front of me. I was alone and it was awesome. I kept pushing to get around the next bend, to see what was out there. I released a nice fish here and there. My last fish was a decent little brown trout, maybe fifteen inches. It certainly wasn't the runner I was looking for but nonetheless a nice fish.

One of four braids with meadows all around

        I agreed to meet Joe back at the truck around three and needed to get back. On the way I had some fun with a few fish on hoppers and found a few pieces of black obsidian glass. It was a great day. I was fairly exhausted on my return. The sun was harsh but I could have easily stayed for the rest of the day. I was hungry and thirsty and even a little bruised from a spill I had. Joe and I had a sandwich and swapped a few stories with another fly fishermen. We relaxed next to the river for bit and then packed up. I was one hundred percent satisfied with the day. It wasn't easy to leave, but not as hard if I had ended up skunked. I'm definitely going to have to make it back in a month or so for the fall brown run. I also wouldn't mind exploring further in the park. This trip, the fish were holding in pocket water and near the tails of deeper runs. There was a little bit of algae on the rocks, returning a few fowled hooks every now and then. I could imagine an egg pattern would be devastating during any spawn. With the remoteness and lack of other fishermen, at least to me, is something to be cherished. Not knowing when the last time someone fished a particular stretch of river rivals the waters people fish everyday. Untouched and unknown are two huge factors I have hard time finding, even in Montana. Yellowstone leaves all of that open for anyone to enjoy.





   *Top photo is about 1.5 miles upstream from the boiling river "hot pots".
                                                                                                           


   

Exceptional Spring Creek Fishing

               Exceptional fishing at spring creeks doesn't always happen. For many, spring creeks are often perceived as challenging. The water is crystal clear and in many areas no deeper than ten inches. Trout see you coming from a mile away and are very skiddish. A fly line carelessly flopped across the surface will cast a shadow that could spook the lunker you're casting to. Hatches become particularly specific many times of the year and the trout are selective during feeding. Its important to understand the fundamentals of entomology before stepping into these demanding waters. There are however some factors that make spring creeks the most desirable of all the fisheries. The predictable flows and temperatures make conditions nearly ideal no matter what the weather is doing. The water is always around forty-five degrees. Life long fish that never leave the creeks grow to huge lengths. Fish migrate to these creeks for ideal spawning conditions and substantial food. Insects thrive in these year-round warm ecosystems as well. Also one of my favorite things about many spring creeks is that they only have a maximum number of rods per day. With the decreased pressure and size of some spring creeks, finding solitude and quality fishing is easy.

                Like mentioned above, some anglers feel a sense of challenge towards spring creeks. I feel the same way. While heading out for my recent trip, and even the night before, I felt extreme anxiety. I felt the pressure to fulfill my moneys worth and anticipated the amount of effort and skill I would have to put forth. I knew that prior trips left me exhausted, some with good results and others with very little success. This time around, however, I knew it would be good, maybe easy. The spring rainbow spawn is underway and for a fact the fish are stacking up at Depuys. The previous night I tied plenty of Blue Midges and WD-40's, both sizes 18-20 along with plenty of orange Eggys, which I had hoped would be all I needed. It was a beautiful drive from Bozeman to Paradise Valley, as it always is. Its a trip I will always remember as Ive made it many times before in the early hours of the day. Giant mountains loom in all directions and wildlife is all but hidden. Every turn and bend in the river is as picturesque as a Montana post card.

Marks first cast fish- gota love those!

               We pulled into Eva's hut which is the warming hut at the bottom section of the property after we paid and said hello to Betty, the property hostess. We met up with a few friends, so there were five of us all together. Someone started up the wood stove as we talked and finished our coffees. Outside a few of us discussed what was good to tie on and rigged our lines with various double nymph setups. We agreed the Eggy was the ticket and that there were plenty of midges on the water. It was 8:15 am, the weather was nice, light fog at the time with a calmness in the air. The surrounding mountain-scape was hidden by low lying clouds, like smoke. It was ideal conditions to start a perfect day in a perfect place! Eva's hut is within a few steps to the river. One at a time as we finished getting ready we all walked to the water.

First cast of the day at Depuy Spring Creek

             Like many other outings to Depuys, the first twenty minutes are almost always guaranteed good fun. Collectively we had pulled in fifteen worthy trout and it had not even been fifteen minutes. Its quiet a sight actually, to see how the fish get spooked by the commotion of reeling in their buddies. Within an hour this whole stretch turned into a normal fishery again. I told Mason how this happens every time I'm here. How the fishing is incredible those first few casts then becomes a lock box allowing no room for error. Mentally I began preparing myself for the tasks ahead. After the slaying slowed down I sat my rod aside and went to see how everyone else was doing. I figured I had my fun and was in no hurry to get serious. Just while sitting on the bank watching everyone I could see trout everywhere. The football sized fish were dancing over their redds, spashing, coming nearly all the way out of the water as they rolled about spawning. The sizes of some of these fish made my heart beat faster. The sight of it all reminded me of salmon migrating upstream.

            After a few hours I was hoping I could find untouched water.  Mason and I decided to head all the way to the bottom of the spring creek, the area that is nearest to where the Yellowstone River comes in to feed it. We walked maybe ten minutes before stopping at the first hole. He went to a spot I had suggested and I went down twenty more yards to a nice spot. It was not a redd but a nice hole maybe four feet deep and ten feet long. I cast my line into the riffle up ahead and let my line drift slowly down. Sure enough, I hooked into a seventeen inch rainbow. Well this was good I thought. I was now catching fish when I knew it wouldn't be easy. I ended up catching three more hefty fish before I hooked something massive. I thought I was snagged until whatever it was sped upstream faster than I could sprint on land. My rod instantly went horizontal and before I could pull it up the fish had caught my drag so fast it broke me off. I knew that if I had kept this fish on the hook, there would be no way I could have landed it. I was using a four weight rod that day which is considered small for moderate sized fish. Each big fish I did catch became an extreme battle. Some fish were so big I could hardly "pull them" from their line in the current. It wasn't unusual to look at me that day with my rod nearly bent in half. That's part of the challenge I enjoy though, as spin fisherman have their ultralights, I had my four weight.

         Mason and I regrouped. He wanted to fish a hole so I kicked around in the water for a few. It wasnt long before I could hear splashing downstream. Closer inspection, ten to fifteen rainbows all having a good time near some redds. I walked even closer and began thinking of ways to approach in a stealthy manner. I ended up waiting for Mason so he could get in on the fun. Besides, this is the exact spot I wrote previously about having learned a life lesson in fly fishing, maybe this could teach him an invaluable lesson as well. I have a short pep talk and let him try first. My novice friend casts and casts again until his flies land above the fish. His casts are great and at first the flies land a little short, behind the rainbows. It wasnt long until his line was rolling right through the sweet spot. Sometimes the indicator goes under, Mason sets the hook. He's either hitting bottom causing the strike indicator to go down or the hook is coming out of the fishes mouth. I couldnt help but noticed the power he was putting into the hook set. Its easy to let adrenaline overcome the finesse needed. I even mentioned that he was going to rip the hook right out and I could tell he was getting impatient. Something wasnt right when he didnt hook up after plenty of perfect casts. The fish were still there clear as day, splashing about. Mason brought his line in to inspect his flies. The look on his face when he realized he was fishing with no hooks, only line, and that he had a fish on but set the hook so hard it broke his line, was priceless. Im sure that he learned something here, as I did last year, that will make him a better fisherman (see A Day at Depuys for my lesson learned). Its critical to "feel" on the hook set when fishing for trout. These were heavy trout and Mason was using 5 and 6X tippet which is only two to three pound test line.

         With so many fish under my belt already I headed back to Eva's hut for some lunch. I met Chris when he offered me a local IPA in a green can. By now everyone else was sitting around the table trading flies and cracking beer tops. We were all hooking into fish and it was only noon. I could see out the window all the trout that were moving back up. More and more were splashing around the creek now. It was nice to warm up next to the fire but I was itching for another tug of war with a beastly trout....to be continued!

Winter Bliss: A Perfect Day With Mykiss, Salmo Trutta and Williamsoni

         

       
             On a perfect spring, summer, or fall day, one would usually not hesitate to jump in the car and head towards crystal clear waters full of hungry fish. I cannot imagine sporting a t-shirt or light fleece and trudging through refreshingly cool water in the pursuit of my obsession. To sit down next to a near perfect fishing hole with the pleasant feeling of the sun hitting my back and neck sounded heavenly. It's the sinuous, warm breeze often providing a harmonious rhythm along side the undulating tone of water. The creatures that hide themselves while I make haste begin to reveal themselves as I sit motionless near the bank. Mule deer, whitetails, moose, and otters are a few critters that I share these waters with. Even birds and waterfowl, as meager as they seem, will cause me to stop what I'm doing and stare with appreciation. It's days like these that "fishing" may not be why I am out here at all. I might as well leave the pole in the car, but catching a fish would be a nice bonus on such a perfect day.

         This winter feels especially cold, much colder than last year. Cabin fever has set in. I know that fishing follows the same aspects during the winter as my activity outdoors declines. The fish slow down and the fishing isn't worth writing home about if the temperature is below thirty-two degrees. At the first glimpse of a thirty-eight to forty degree day, you can bet that I will be heading towards my escape.

          This particular mid-winter outing was a blessing for not only my sanity but for my overall quality of life. To some, fishing is as I explained previously, a good reason to enjoy the outdoors. But for others, fishing satisfies the soul. Setting out to accomplish the task of reeling in a beautiful specimen from a beautiful, untainted body of water is something we've tried to express in articles for decades. No longer are we fishing for the survival of our families but for sport. A half day jaunt into their world only to succeed in what we set out to do is a very good feeling. Walking in and out of mother nature's world only to catch, photograph, and release trout; leaving no sign or trace except for the digital files I take is a win in my book. On this mild day in January, I found all of this remains true to me and a very blissful experience followed.

         The middle of winter submitted to a wonderful fifty degree day. I was lucky enough to be off of work on this day and I knew just what I was going to do. I arrived at the river around noon. It was nice to leave the jeep without gloves, a mask, or a hat. I didnt care how the fishing was, the day was too perfect to be indoors. I remember having the feeling that I was the only person fishing or perhaps the first person to fish this river since fall of last year. The woods and stream had a remarkable vibe that day. The instant that I stepped into this world something engulfed me, I started to get that feeling deep inside. This wasn't the picture perfect day like I had been dreaming about but it was its own unique blend of pristine serenity and beauty. I had miles of shimmering river that was mine to fish alone, which I generally enjoy. Not to say I dont enjoy fishing with friends, but fishing alone is what I enjoy most. While I made my way to my honey hole, which is about a mile walk around tight bends and through several crossings, I had spooked several mule deer which in return spooked me. Eagles gazed down at me as I passed under their perches. I thought I could toss them a trout and make some friends out here. On this day I was happy to be outside and with all I've seen I could have left happy. Then I started thinking about why I was here. I had the urge to catch fish.

       As simple as the phrase "catch fish" sounds, its really quiet deep. This was no task of simply putting on a lure and casting for fish. I was in predator mode, trout slayer mode. It was such a perfect day, however I had yet to please my urges. If I had brought a partner with me it would've been hard to hide my excitement. Like a bass angler sizing up his competition during a tournament, I too was sizing up my opponent; the river. Many say when it comes to trout fishing, that slower is better. Its taken me two years to focus on this idea. Fishing slow for trout can mean fifty different things. Today, me being slow means walking and moving slow while near water that holds fish. I also vowed to myself to fish each hole with more patience, allowing nearly four times the length of time I would usually fish one spot. My bad habits include making ten casts and moving on to the next hole or run. My theory today was conjured with the idea of catching the most fish possible (have to catch as many as I can). The ideology behind the fishing slow is good for a few reasons; mostly because the trout were still cold and a bit lethargic. Fishing slow gives the trout more time to see and consume my flies. It paid off very well.

          I fished my honey hole harder than I would have during warmer seasons. This spot was like a control in an experiment. If I couldn't take my time and catch fish here, I wasn't going to have much luck anywhere on this river. Normally I will fish with general flies that I know work; san juan worm, girdle bug, leech, eggy, blue midge etc. but this day I managed to retie a few times until I found something that worked. I managed to slow down, be patient, cast, cast, retie, cast, retie, repeat, repeat repeat and it paid off! I landed six trout once I  had figured out what they were eating. The fly of choice by hungry trout happened to be a number twenty-two olive midge nymph. They were going nuts for it! I finally dialed into exactly what they were feeding on.

        During my walk back to the jeep, a small riffle of water quietly flows into a 15x10x3ft pool and catches my eye. A stealthy approach gets me within viewing distance and I see nothing but cold dark water seemingly void of all life through my polarized glasses. Should I keep moving or gamble wasting time on such a small pool? Maybe they were holding tight against the sides. I plan my assault, observing everything about this deep little pocket of water such as how I imagine the bottom to be, possible depth, current, obstructions, fish flashes. First cast into what seemed like a hopeless, lifeless body of water and I get snagged. The snag suddenly turned into the shape of a golden silver torpedo as he started to fight, reflecting light off his sleek body. I was just stoked! I was amazed at how many trout and whitefish were in this small pool or water. Life was literally thriving everywhere. From there on, every hole I stopped at held many, many fish. They were stacked up in these holes which I had fished so hard on my way to the honey hole. The right fly was the game changer it seemed. I took my time and landed a dozen fish and hooked twice as many on my way back.

       While my trail merged with another, I spoke with a fly fisherman who was just getting back from fishing upstream. We exchanged info. In that I learned he hadn't had the great day that I did. The empty hole in my soul was now stuffed with satisfaction of a day well fished. We walked back to our cars together talking about what a great day we had. I showed him what I had used to catch my trout and he was happy to be informed. We had a lot in common I realized in just those few minutes we chatted. We were the few who yearn for such days, and the only ones taking advantage of this particular day. I knew that despite this older gentlemen being skunked, he had just as great of a day as I did. I took a moment to reflect these thoughts. More often than not we're out there alone. It's either a guide with a client or a couple when I see pairs. I love this place because of fly fishing, if not for fly fishing I wouldn't fully experience it. I feel fortunate to have discovered the world of fly fishing and trout in big sky country. Fly fishing has mended with my spirit just like the connection of a mighty trout through a fly rod.          Tight lines all!

     

Depuy Spring Creek 2013 VIDEO

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Line Setup Tips: How to Rig a Leader

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!