When the phone last evening and informed me that a day in the rain was not what these folks were looking for, I said okay, and took the day off. What do guides do when they get a day off? Well.........some get drunk and sleep in and yet others make a couple calls...
too much to do
Our season here on the Madison continues to roll on as the days pass by like they are on fast forward. I sometimes can't comprehend where the time goes. It seems like one minute it's June and I am on the Missouri guiding and drinking beer on Headhunter's porch and...
Patagonia’s SST Jacket….review
This past spring, the fine folks at Patagonia, sent out the new SST Jacket for me to test all season long. How kind of them, I thought to myself....I needed a new rain jacket and their gear tends to be as good as anyone elses.....even Simms. My buddy Drew, above,...
ahhhh….grasshopper
Our weather has warmed back up and so has the hopper bite. These little critters are clicking on most afternoons and trout are pouncing on them like it's their last big meal. Not as may refusals this afternoon, more of the smash and run or my favorite - the...
Get’em out there…..
.........and they will love you for it. The photo above arrived in the Inbox this morning from a great client in Texas. I too, am a product of a father who got their kids outside to experience Mother Nature. Watch out Tim, Grey might end up guiding fly...
Wade fishing
For those willing and able, wade fishing on the Madison is quite good right now. The Upper is hard to wade with it's fast water, slick rocks and uneven ground. If you really and truely want to become a better angler, then book a trip - all by yourself - and ask...
Email down….
.........but it was fixed today. For the past 5 days, BSA's email account was on the fritz. If you have sent any emails requesting information regarding fishng trips or anything else for that matter - please send again. I know I have talked to atleast one client...
Birds
I left the house at just after 5 am........run by Dan's place to get the dog food he left.....pick up Dad at 5:30.....meet Drew on the pass at 6......sunrise at 6:45........saw our first birds run across the dirt road at 7ish. Bird Hunting Season has arrived. Stella...
A day with the Folks
Yesterday, I finally had a chance to get my parents in the boat for a float down the Madison. My Mother actually rose quite a few fish throughout the day, but not as many as I would have liked to seen. We had a fantastic time. The Madison is a bit a tough right...
5 days, but who’s counting…..
5 days till we walk. It won't be a long one 'cause it's gonna be hot. Up at 4, drive over to Wherethehell Valley and hunt till 9ish....praying for clouds. This year, we won't be alone. Stella will be along for her first day afield. I may not carry a gun, just...
Bring your rain jacket….
Today was tough. There were some good fish eating, but not nearly enough. Ants, hoppers, wulff crips.....all worked. Little trout were around too, but not the numbers we are used to seeing. However, the day on a whole was pretty nice. Fantastic clients, not too...
Look Megan, Carmen likes it…
My buddy Neil sent me this photo of his cute little girl and her his badass Hatch reel and two hander. My guess is that Neil got this set up in the mail, walked into the Barns Pools on the Madison - with stroller and Carmen - just to show her how to cast a two...
Hoppers & Ants
Trout continue to look up for dry flies throughout the Madison Valley. Some days are better than others, but if you stick with it you will have success. The nymphing crowd is catching some nice ones as well on zonkers and beadheads. Getting an earlier start...
Madison River – 08/20/2011
Upstream, downstream, river left, river right. It really doesn't matter cause its all good. The Madison River has some of the best, if not the best access of all large freestone rivers in Montana. This is the spot where I learned to fish dry flies on large western...
Looking forward…..Fall is almost here.
Not sure where time has gone this summer, down the river I suppose. Seems like it should only be the first of July, but here we are sitting at the third week of August. Morning temps have been hovering around 35 degrees and a hint of Fall is in the air. Upland...
Madison River Fishing Report – 08/18/2011
We float guided the Madison today and honestly, ER and I had no idea of what to expect. We prepped Gordon, Philip and Herm for what could be a tough day on the Madison. The trout in the float stretch have been weary, picky, snotty, just plain assholes and then...
Yellowstone National Park – Fishing Report
Gordon, Phillip and I have fished together for the past 9 years. This season, they brought another family member along, Uncle Herm, to experience Yellowstone and Montana's fly fishing. Thus far, we have had a blast walking all over the NE Corner catching cutties on...
A day with Dad
Fishing with my Dad this afternoon started out a little slow, but we managed to find several nice trout looking up for ants, moths and hoppers. Lots of insects hatching today on the upper Madison from the Slide all the way past $3 Bridge. Not too many anglers...
Yellowstone National Park
The Italians (Enrico & Andrea) and I have been hiking around YNP for the past two days. We have spent our time in the NE Corner of Yellowstone and no, I won't say exactly where. It has taken me over 15 years to figure some of these spots out and flat out saying...