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Fishing Munchies: Top 10 Treats For a Day On The Water

Fishing Munchies: Top 10 Treats For a Day On The Water

Let’s Not Take This Too Seriously, But Really…

1.       Sunflower Seeds: What a great oral fixation…and you forgo cancer. 

2.       Dip: Not edible, but so much for sunflower seeds.  Who doesn’t like a chawski on the water...oh you don’t?  Yea whatever, Streisand. 

3.       Beef Jerky: Doesn’t go bad, still good after a day in the bottom of my waders.

4.       PBR: Need I say more?

5.       Fish: Refer to #4. 

6.       Granola Bars: They’re light, good for you, and pack plenty of carbs.  Oh, and super heady…nice. 

7.       An Apple: Infinitely refreshing, travel easy; and you know, an apple a day…

8.       Candy Bar: Scrumptious sugar rush, and great for the diabetics. 

9.       Thanksgiving Dinner: All put in a blender, and funneled into a camelback.  Can anyone say satisfied? I can.

10.   Smushed Day Old Sandwich: Nothing more familiar, nor anything more ecstatically found.

Gallatin River Fishing Report

Today the Gallatin has dropped to 4,740 CFS, and has not yet come close to reaching the low point of it's daily trough.  I fished last night for about an hour, and for the first time in almost a week fishing had turned back on; nothing crazy, but at least there were signs of fish actively feeding off the bottom.  With a size 8 brown Girdlebug above, and testing a variety of nymphs below (Copper John, Lightning Bug, Quasimodo Pheasant Tail, Prince Nymph) I was able to bring four fish to hand in a relatively short period of time.  While on the river, the years first signs of good bug activity began to appear.  I spotted decent numbers of Yellow Sallies, which serve as a precursor to the Golden Stone hatches in the area.  The river will continue to drop and improve in water clarity exponentially over the next week.  With the late season, and much needed cleansing of the river bottom by heavy run-off, rivers in the area, especially the Gallatin, should really explode by late this week.

Montana Trophy Trout Fishing: The Lakes of South-Western Montana

When fishing the many blue-ribbon trout rivers of Montana just is not an option, all one must do is look to the lakes.  Many of Montana’s most epic toads have been pulled from the dredges of these still-water havens.  Henry’s (Idaho), Hebgen, Quake, Cliff, and Wade lakes are renowned for holding these massive gulpers.  To this day, the 29 pound Brown trout caught by E.H. Bacon in 1966 on Wade Lake still stands as the Montana state record; and due to the immense pressure put on many of the area’s rivers, these lakes most likely hold your best opportunity for the record books.  Ultimately, it is unknown the size and quantity of trophy trout in any of these lakes.  With constant year round food sources at their disposal, the big boys high up on the food chain stay deep, shielded from the reach of an angler’s line; only straying to the shallows at night to feed, and receding to the depths by daybreak. 

Though I have posted a blog on Hebgen itself, here is a refresher for both Hebgen and Quake.  Summertime Midge and Callibaetis hatches are accompanied by shoreline Flying Ant hatches; which because of their high acidity factor, are theorized to be targeted as especially delicious trout delicacies.  Respectively, The Gulper Special, a local Midge pattern, various Midge Larvae patterns, size 14 Blue Dun or Para Wolf Adams disguised as Callibaetis, and size 12-16 Flying Ant patterns are all extremely effective.  In addition, consistent evening Caddis hatches during the heat of the summer will bring fish to rise in large number. 

Very close to Three Dollar Bridge on the Upper Madison, the adjacent lakes of Cliff and Wade are a sight to see.  White sand bottoms give the appearance of a Caribbean seascape.  As I alluded, these two lakes have long since been a big fish haven destination.  Added to a regular trout diet, a healthy and plentiful freshwater crawfish population supplements an already healthy growing environment.  Yesterday, I fished Wade Lake, walking the shorelines and casting to pods of cruising bruisers.  Brown, black and olive Woolybuggers were my flies of choice, and with the proper presentation it at times seemed irresistible.  I utilized varying retrieves, however, the hand over hand roll retrieve, which yields a more streamlined, continuous presentation duped the most fish. 

Not solely specific to these larger lakes, fabled by records and broken lines, but Montana also possesses an incalculable number of backcountry alpine lakes.  From Golden Trout to Brookies, and orange crested Cutties, many of these alpine lakes hold fish in great number; and in some cases, of great size.  In addition, lakes such as these provide some of the most breathtaking landscapes you will find in the area; ones of utter sublimity, transcending the boundaries between man and nature.  Over this past week I hiked to Lava Lake, which is nestled high up in the Gallatin Mountain Range.  A short drive from Big Sky, it is an excellent day hike, providing a rewarding experience and the opportunity for a great day of fishing.  I tied on a size 16 Griffith’s Gnat, and within an hour and a half was able to bring six fish to hand between 12 and 16 inches.  Some of the first dry-fly fishing of the season, it was worth its weight in gold. Normally, general attractor patterns sizes 12-18 are a good bet for dries, while Buggers and Leeches will serve you best beneath. 

Three Dollar Bridge: Fishing The Upper Madison River

Yesterday I fished the Upper Madison; the water was high and clarity was mediocre, having a hue of misty tea green.  Sounds great for streamer fishing the banks to me; however, when every hole you explore has been slapped and pounded by a handful of other anglers that day, life is not easy on the weary fisherman.  My cohorts and I started out on the far side of Three Dollar Bridge, working out way up to Reynolds.  For starters, the parking lot, on an early season Tuesday when conditions were questionable, was packed out.  Where normally you could walk a half mile up river and begin to see open water, or at least a bend to yourself, this, rather, was combat fishing; the banks were riddled, from guides to husbands and wives.  Reynolds wasn’t much better; right now there are just not that many places to fish with current run-off conditions.  And unfortunately, Hebgen is high, too high, and over the next week the powers that be will attempt to remedy the situation with high release.  Bummer…anyways, we fished what we could for two hours scouring the banks and nothing, not even a look.  By that time, after chucking the gauntlet of streamer patterns, we decided to ditch the crowds, and instead drove to the National Park portion of Duck Creek and walked way back.  Our hopes of Hebgen spawners hanging around with the late season were quickly shattered.  We spooked three fish and saw no others.  Rough day, but getting time on the water; I gotta think the Fishing Gods are looking down with mercy.    -Kevney 

Simple lessons: Fishing the Madison River

Yesterday, I fished the Upper Madison, above Galloup’s Slide Inn; humbled by day’s end, and being served a healthy dose of angling perspective.  Nothing better to learn from than the river itself; with pride spoiled and confidence lost, I’m still trying to take it all in. The fish in that stretch are spry and strong; too smart for their own (my own) good.  Instinctually endowed, they are inborn with the prenatal knowledge of escape and evade…dive to the dredges and fight to the current. Most of the time, it’s all you can do to make the awkward dash down river after them, high-stepping boulders and probably eating it a few times along the way. Enough excuses, I just flat out didn’t fish well; there ya have it. However, Bob Merriman, good friend and local guide of 23 years, was vocally “in the 30’s”. And as much as I refused to believe it, I knew quite certainly it was fact and not fiction. The water today was high and fast, very technical, yet fishable, if you could figure out what to look for (or have someone tell you). I started out with a size 8 Girtlebug 18 inches above, and in tandem with, a size 16 Red Midge nymph. Finally after an hour and a half of fishing, I had managed to land three fish, nothing greater than 15”. Frustrated and feeling slapped around, I walked up river to find Bob, who as I approached was in the process of landing a solid 19” broad shouldered German Brown. What did he have on? Three AB split shot, a big nasty Woolybugger, with a Zonker strip down the back, and a size 12 Quasimodo Pheasant Tail dropped fifteen inches below. I sat and watched, as Bob brought fish after fish from the tightest of pockets and skinniest of seams; fish barreling from the depths gulping, turning broadside and heading back for deep water. Using what, for lack of better terminology, I call the roll technique. Slapping and slinging the rig into bank-side seams casting a short 5 foot leader and using the last 6 inches of fly line as his indicator, while keeping a tight line Bob rolled the Bugger through the current 6 to 12 inches below the surface of the water. However, because of the nature of the strike, indication is very difficult; the fish are somehow ferociously gentle in taking the fly. After seeing Bob fish, I soon found out a few inadequacies in my technique; one, my bugs were not getting down deep enough and two, my indicator was too far up on my leader to easily detect indication. Two seemingly simple and obvious solutions, it made all the difference in the world.   

Salmon Fly Hatch 2008 Update: The Firehole and Madison Rivers

Currently the Salmon Fly are still appearing in large number in the Firehole Canyon of the park. Yesterday I fished the Firehole near Fountain Flats.  Heavy afternoon Caddis hatches brought many fish to rise.  Tan Sparkle Caddis Pupae dragged behind a Hare's Ear Trude brought many fish to hand.  A few village idiots took the Trude, however, the majority of the fish were bested by the Pupae.  Trout in the Canyon are still taking Salmon Flies, but at least yesterday, Caddis was the local delicacy.  When fishing the Lower Madison three days ago, a handful of Salmon Fly adults were kind enough to dive-bomb into my face; however, they have not yet come close to appearing in full force.  We chucked Black and Brown Girtlebugs most of the day and did fairly well; no Lower Maddy hogs, but plenty of nice smaller fish.  The Gallatin is still cookoo for coco puffs; maintaining it's Yoohoo-like appearance, and as of today gushing and rushing it's way down river topping out at 6,400CFS this morning. We in Big Sky are hoping, and praying, that this is the Gallatin's final blow out, peaking out today, and beginning it's journey back to fishable water over the next seven to ten days.  -Kevney 

Fly Tie of The Week: The Girtlebug...The Early Season Montana Special.

Well boys and girls, here is a new addition to TheFin...a weekly fly tying tutorial.  Each week will showcase a different bug that is currently hot on the Gallatin, and or the Madison.  This week's fly is the Girtlebug, an early season Montana classic, and it is about as basic as it gets in fly tying. I myself, am a pure novice at best; watching me try to tie a Para Wolf would be like watching wheelchair hurdles. But hopefully the content, diction, and difficulty of ties will improve as the weeks go on.

Step 1: Start by placing a size 8 Dai Riki #700 4x Long Streamer hook in your vise.

Step 2: Start thread just behind the eye of the hook and wrap thread loosely to bend of hook. (Below)

Step 3: Beginning at bend where thread ends, wrap lead wire forward approximately 14 turns leaving room to tie in a tail and to finish the head.

Step 4: Cross hatch thread forward to head, and back to bend of hook. Cover lead with head cement and leave thread at bend of hook where lead wire ends. (Below)

Step 5: Tie in a tail behind lead wire using two pieces of equal length white rubber leg, which are preferably still stuck together. And again, leave thread at bend of hook.  Pull on rubber legs and let go, they should separate. (Below)

Step 6: Tie in chenille above rubber legs, just behind lead wire and advance thread to lower middle of hook shank. (Below)

Step 7: Tie in single rubber leg at lower middle of hook shank using a figure 8 to secure rubber leg to body; legs should appear perpendicular to body. (Below)

 

Step 8: Move up approximately an eighth of an inch and repeat previous step.

Step 9: Move up approximately an eighth of an inch and repeat previous step. Leave thread at head just after end of lead wire. (Below)

Step 10: Wrap chenille forward covering lead wire to create a contiguous evenly shaped full body.

Step 11: Tie off chenille at head just above where lead wire ends. (Below)

Step 12: Form small head with thread just above end of chenille, and tie off with a whip finish. (Below)

 

Step 13: Add head cement to head.

Step 14: Take a razor blade to it and start over again. Like any tie, it takes a few to really get it right.

 

MUST SEE!: Tying Without Boundaries…Innovation, Creativity, and Realism: The Flies of Mike Williams

Mike Williams, an ever-amiable, salt of the earth angler and master fly-tier of the utmost humility, is new to the fly tying industry; but in no way is that a reflection of his true talent, and passion for tying and the sport itself. A Pennsylvania native, Mike caught his first trout on the fly at age 20, and hasn’t put a rod or a vice down since. Mike is a streamer fisherman through and through; and this, the foci of his passion (and borderline obsession) forms the bedrock for most of his fly tying endeavors. 12 of Mike’s patterns have been put into production by Rainey’s flies. And there is no doubt in my mind that there will be more to come. The realism, and true form of expression, which Mike has thoughtfully created in his flies is groundbreaking for the industry, having few tiers his equal. For him, it is not just tying to catch fish (well, maybe catching big fish), but rather, it is about the design; it is an art, it is a passion, and a dream. Mike ties flies for the big guys, the toads, and the pigs; all monsters lurking the unknown dredges and depths. His flies, or as he says, his dogs, hunt…they flat out hunt. The most progressive aspect of Mike’s flies and thought process is the fact that all boundaries are blurred. By this, I mean that for Mike, the border between spin fishing and fly fishing is thrown to the wind; the auspices of fly tying tradition, and its smothering blanket hindering ingenuity and progression are meaningless. Enough talk; these flies speak for themselves, so here they are. Enjoy.          -Kevney   

Wounded Minnow:   In larger sizes, this is another great striper fly; and in smaller, an exceptionally enticing pattern for mature trout. This fly swims on its side with a marabou blood patch to simulate a wounded or dying minnow. What fish doesn’t like a free lunch?

Mr. Sweaters: What a name…this thing should be on the freaking Muppets.   An awesome craw pattern, this fly has a spoon style body made of epoxy coated Zonker tubing with a bunny strip down the back forming a pseudo wing case. Bunny strip claws and orange tipped rubber legs give the fly flash and charisma, while its highly irregular and erratic swimming action is simply mouthwatering to river dwellers.

Bait: The name says it all…if you see it in the water you might mistake it for the real thing.  A flat-wing style tie, with a mallard flank head gives it a real bait fish look. It also has a built in foam popper head lending it an erratic swimming action when stripped; talk about a nasty striper fly. 

Real craw: Aside from the aesthetically pleasing artistic design, this is an incredibly realistic impression; making it irresistible to both bass and trout alike.

Profiler: This is a sculpin pattern on a jig hook. And the name says it all; this tie is a perfect sculpin profile, both lifelike and convincing. With plenty of action and a heavy head, this thing scours the river bottom inciting violent strikes.

Organ Donor: This tie is another fantastic sculpin profile, and very versatile in its application. From trout to smallmouth, this fly fishes great; and with a wool body and head, as well as lead eyes, it gets down fast.

(All photography by Kevney Moses)

Fishing News: Montana Spruce Moth Hatch

After three consecutive years of heavy Spruce Moth hatches in the greater Montana region, this year is expected to be an off year for the hatch.  The Spruce Moth, alike to some other hatches, is on a normative growth cycle.  With it's cycle being a heavy hatch every third year, contrastingly, mother nature  graciously bestowed the angling community with three years running of productive and significant Spruce Moth birth.  And in combination with the high run-off and cooler water temperatures of the year, the hatch will most likely stagnate this season.  Albeit that the hatch is entirely unpredictable, don't keep your hopes up for this dry-fly fishing extravaganza; if anything it will be sporadic at best.

Montana Fishing Report: The Firehole River

The Firehole is fishing quite well.  Water levels are currently hovering around 650 CFS and clarity is relatively high.  Daily PMD and Baetis hatches have given way to daily PMD and heavy afternoon Caddis.  In addition to Caddis, the recent warm weather has sparked the appearance of Salmon Flies in the canyon area, both nymph and airborne.  Fishing should at the least stay constant, but most likely, it will improve every day.  With probably a week of run-off left, flows will fluctuate, but not enough to stunt or affect the fishing.  Depending on the hatch, X2 Caddis, Caddis Puppa, Stonefly Nymphs, PMD Emergers, Soft Hackles, Cripples, and Sparkle Duns have all been successful over the past few days.  Check in with Blue Ribbon Flies in West Yellowstone before you head to the river; they will point you in the right direction.

-Kevney