Mountains, Rivers, & Trout

Tough & Barely but also Silver Lining........

2012-01-28T18:53:00.000-08:00

I've been super fortunate about weathers on my days-off to go fishing but today wasn't so pretty. It was typical Livingston Weather; sunny & dry with stiff winds from SW. Wind-chill made the day and fishing tough & short. This chart that I'm borrowing from somewhere online seems very accurate. What I experienced was about 35F & 45MPH. I could stand still and my fingers didn't get rotten off either.....

Apparently I visited DePuy's (www.depuyspringcreek.com). Over all, conclusion first, it's still in the middle of transition or crossover. Indicator fishing with egg and scud didn't bring me any bites. Also due to waves caused by high winds, I missed some currents and water reading and just spooked couple of huge trout by my wading. Hmmmmm.......I had to do & think something different. Might as well, how about a little streamer, just for another experiment, and who knows?

It was a slight color variation of Doug's Home Invader.

It wasn't a super huge rainbow but surely colored well & strong.

I moved around and caught a so-so brown at another favorite section and that was all for today at 4pm.

Lessons learned & Observation for today. I believe rainbow are getting aggressive, ready to spawn, and coming into DePuy from Yellowstone River. Two reasons: One; rainbows are taking spots where browns were 2 months ago. Two; last weeks one & only bite of massive rainbow and today's bite on H.I. tell me that they are there and getting aggressive gradually but numbers are still low.

I did observe and look for hatching midges and rising trout. But nothing was going on at most likely sections. I thought I would have to face "SKUNK" in a while but it could have been a part of observation then. Luckily I could enjoy a few trout under the circumstance.

I will keep track of all every week!! That's my mission for myself and for all of you readers till spring.

Yesterday & Today

2012-01-20T18:19:00.000-08:00

This week we finally had some snow accumulation here in Paradise Valley. Yesterday and today, I went out fishing during warm hours of the day but not much to report. Yesterday, I went to the same run as my last post but wind started to blow and it got cold. Apparently I didn't see any midge hatches and rising trout. I tried to salvage the day with nymphs, which I don't always want to do with my "dry-rig", and I hooked maybe a 16-inch Whitie or Bow but gone before netting.....

Today, weather was much better than yesterday. So with some hope and expectation, I head to DePuy. Well........I didn't see any "midging situation" again....... Creek seems to be now in "transition" for 2012, so to speak in my observation. Brown's spawning seems over (but we shouldn't step on where they were as their eggs are still there!!) and rainbow's spawning run hasn't started yet. Then midge hatch and trout rising activity seem to be affected by "funny weather patterns".
I wasn't disappointed or anything as I was at the creek for "Learning & Observation" for any situation. "If I don't see anything on the surface, I go deep." Then "how & where & what?"

One of the heftiest Rainbow ever!! It gave me a typical "BIG 'BOW" fight!!; bite solid, go slow for some seconds as if they are barely 14-incher, then run super hard!! And that was the only one bite. This should tell you what I mean by "transition", I hope..........

At that moment it was cold with a little snow flakes and chilling winds. But anyway at the end of the day, yesterday and today, it reached over 40s from single digits before noon........... That's what I mean by "funny weather patterns".
On this nice fishing day, at least for me, I didn't see anybody. It was slow for sure but winter fishing is still a great fun!!

First 'Stone 2012

2012-01-13T19:06:00.000-08:00

Today, off from work & another nice day, I did my other job = fishing. Going out fishing in this time of the year is really a job. One has to push oneself somewhat hard, at least wind wasn't blowing. I somehow really wanted to fish Yellowstone River for the first time this year. This does not mean that I get bored of or become know-know of DePuy. Creek is in a sort of transition, so to speak, in my view and I thought "better give 'em some break from my flies!!" I went one of nearby sections from my house. You know where this is and it still shows my love & interests of Creek.....

I fished with somewhat mixed up streamer x nymph tactics. My first fish from 'Stone this year was a nice little rainbow, beached on ice.......

OH BOY, I missed you, WHITIE!! How have you been? I caught 3 of them today. This one was the largest........Somewhat content to see they are alive?? maybe......

Then I have to report this and you'd better check out if you want to do some dry-fly fishing soon!!

I started to see a few rises here and there. Eventually more than some and constant risers were all over!! It was a midge hatch!! It was very amazing to see in the middle of winter.

But also it was so embarrassing that I was with my 6wt rod and FULL-SINK line.......And my MIDGE BOXES were left in my house. I could have gone back to my truck to get my 5wt and floating line and fished with a small attractor dry-flies but I figured it would be gone by the time I came back...... At least I was right for that. Hatch & rise started around 1pm and went strong 30-minute then slowed down. I still saw some risers and midges hanging around ice till I quit at 3:30pm.

This is why I love 'Stone super much!! Let me quote here. My guiding mentor's (Montana's Master Angler Tom Travis) mentor (Don Williams) said "If you can learn to read the waters of Yellowstone River and consistently take trout, you can travel the world and consistently a successful fly angler". (Go to www.flyanglersonline.com, click ARTICLES on the left, click EYE OF THE GUIDE, then click Nov 6 by Tom Travis).
Either as a guide or a fisherman, I want to get close to the quote......

I will be on the water again next week. Both DePuy & 'Stone. I wish I could go fishing every day but also it's just a great time to be slow and observant. Learning and Observation will never end. BUT I just don't want to learn to fall in the river in winter and how I feel......I think I already know that!!

Just Quickly....

2012-01-10T18:42:00.000-08:00

Today made the second day outing this year. Nothing really new or spectacular to report other than it was cold and now I'm running my wood stove as Montana winter is supposed to require.

But I'd like to share this picture quickly. It was just a 14-incher. But well-colored and "humped" like some sort of salmon...... Feisty or Weird?

At the end, I caught a nice brown and that was all.........

Browns, either who have gone through spawning or those who have not this time, seem to be in great shape and put lots of fight on my rod. Then rainbows are now coloring well and getting ready for their spawning season. I just need some size!! But.....I do promise that I will NEVER step into redds or try to snag ones in actually mating groups......

PT MF Cripple Online

2012-01-09T15:07:00.000-08:00

Howdy folks. My original fly is again featured at Fly Anglers Online (www.flyanglersonline.com). Scroll down little a bit and you'll see "Pheasant Tail Mayfly Cripple" and click!! Or click FOTW (Fly of the Week) on the left. PT MF Cripple is featured as of Jan 2, 2012. WOW what a good start for the brandnew year!! Background stories, how-to-fish, materials, tying steps are there. So I don't repeat here all over. It does catch fish!! Just one story that I omitted was: reason/situation I came up with this fly was that too many pheasant tails are left at my bench as I tie too many COYOTEs so I "had to" do something with them & reduce them.......It turned out to be not just an inventory reduction but a very effective fly!!

This is baetis with white wing.

This is PMD with black wing. Some people claim black wings are easy to see on overcast day. I think this is really a personal choise/matter. I, for one, prefer white wing under any condition.

Go catch fish! I still remember this catch at DePuy. One of nicest rainbow caught on dry-fly and so far the best of PT MF Cripple!! And the fact my idea was approved at DePuy means my fly & I passed the exam assigned by River God & trout.

I'll create a PAGE on the top right for this fly and mores to come soon!!

Match The ........?

2012-01-06T18:32:00.000-08:00

Recently I've been asked what kind of egg fly I'm using for the constant catch of those biggies at DePuy (or anywhere). Pattern and materials are nothing new (see my fly sales catalogue). But I think I can say that it's more like how much you know about "WHEN" & "WHICH COLOR" to use. So here you are.

(cited from American Angler magazine November/December 2008 issue)
Truth is I just wanted to do a test-run on my brandnew computer to see how it scans and if I can handle it. It works fairy well, huh? And I just recalled this chart. The chart has been in my memory but every time when I needed it, I had to flip over piles of old magazines.....so once for all, I scanned the chart and decided to keep in my computer!
I hope some of you out there find this useful for your fishing and tying. Even "steelheaders" might find it useful if he/she doesn't mind "not swinging"!?
Well, now rainbows are ready to spawn soon, actually just started......so what I need is.......

Happy New Year 2012!!

2012-01-02T18:28:00.000-08:00

I don't mind repeating this phrase "what a gorgeous day here in Paradise Valley!!". My first fishing day for 2012 was blessed with nice winter weather. Sunny, over 40s, & NO wind!! One could take a nap outside. I wanted to see how my "fishing fortune" would be for the brandnew year!! Instead of "crystal ball", I utilized "crystal clear" water of spring creek.

Very strong & beautiful rainbow!!

I hope 2012 will be "COLORFUL" & "BIG" for me!!

For every size,

and for every creature,

I wish 2012 will be a great one!!

Last Day, Last Fish, & Last Light of 2011

2011-12-31T18:39:00.000-08:00

The last day of 2011 turned out to be another nice winter day here in Paradise Valley. I couldn't help visiting DePuy Spring Creek. So I was at a right spot on a nice day to end the year.

I ate eggs for breakfast too.......

I lost a couple of really nice ones!! I kept fishing till the Sun was almost behind the western ridges. I caught a nice rainbow under the fading light. 4:23PM exact.

That's all for 2011. It's been a great fishing year. Let's wish another FISHY year for 2012!!

Fish of 2011

2011-12-28T18:51:00.000-08:00

I guess it's about time to reminisce and look back the year and to decide the "Fish of the Year". Well, I've been working (fishing, I mean) very hard over two month and I am planning to visit DePuy's one or two more days this month before 2011 ends, but I will settle on this one from October 16th.

It's guessed most likely a spawner running up from the Yellowstone. We all know the fact but when it really happened to me, it was more than surprise.

With my 5wt rod and 3X tippet, I followed him, almost falling in the riffle, and I could barely net him in.

Biggest Trout I ever caught in Montana.

24-inch & full 6-pounder.

One of my always "new year resolutions" is to break the record of the last year. It will be quite a challenge and I really have to work on it!!

101 & MERRY X'MAS

2011-12-24T19:10:00.000-08:00

Yesterday made the 100th DAY fishing of this year. That counts guide trips, on my own, with friends. Well, I know busy guides/outfitters guide (= fish & work) 100 days give or take during summer months. That must be lots of work & income. Surely I want to get there in near future. This is my first year guiding so there were more learning phases than actual jobs.
It's interesting to break down where I fished those 100 days. I fished three of Livingston creeks for about 30 days. Majority of the rest is divided into Yellowstone River and Yellowstone Park waters. Then I fished nearby waters once to a few times. That's exactly how I want to guide 100 days!! This will be my new year resolution, then!!

Anyway, here's the best catch from yesterday.

I didn't post last night as I went fishing again today! = 101st day!!
The day started with very good actions, including this nice rainbow!!

Then I hit a JACKPOT!! Or I could say "Fishing Santa" gave me the best present!!
At one certain spot, started with this football-shape 16-incher, I caught several trout with only several casts!! Believe me!!

This was good enough so I was going to make this into a greeting...........

There was one more bonus left!! Merry X'mas to a nice colorful browny!!

At last minutes, I ended up catching a nice rainbow as well......now I can't choose which....so used both!!

Merry X'mas to everyone. Wish you great weekend, feast, and fly-fishing!!

Winter-Fishing Has Just Begun......

2011-12-21T18:28:00.000-08:00

Today, here in Paradise Valley, we finally had snow that accumulate like snow. At least for next couple of days or till winds blow away tomorrow, I guess. Wind was like a breeze (yet from north). I felt icicles building up on my mane as snow melt on my waterproof hat and drip onto my hair.....
Anyway, I had another great (if not sadistic) day at DePuy's.
This rainbow leaped 3 or 4 times and was the only rainbow for today.

Average brown........

And today's best experience was this sight-nymphing brown!! I saw a couple of fish moving and acting funny in the shallow by the bank. Just one "shotgun" & BINGO!!

I caught 10 or a dozen within 4-hour, give or take, and kept me really busy.
I don't say "trout made the day warmer" like that. It's not really cold as long as one can get out of the door, at least in Montana standard, I think......maybe?
Also, I'm getting to like the section of DePuy that most of people avoid and degrade (I used to be the one). I have developed another fishing/guiding option. Where is it? HINT: US HWY 89 in the back.

COYOTE Online

2011-12-20T17:32:00.000-08:00

Howdy Folks, my COYOTE made it to an online source this time.
Go to Fly Anglers OnLine (http://www.flyanglersonline.com/) and click FOTW (standing for Fly Of The Week) on the left. COYOTE & my name are featured as of December 19th!!
This is the very original writing of mine and has been waiting for the full exposure. It includes background story for development, how-to-fish, tying material list, and tying steps. Now I can't sell my tying instruction then!?
I have submitted a few more flies for consideration at FAOL and now am designing several more new patterns. I keep posting here as I hear in the future.

I'll update the permanent "PAGE" on the right top right after this.

Cattlemen's Convetion & Trade Show

2011-12-17T11:59:00.000-08:00

Last night, I visited Montana Stockgrowers Association Annual Convention & Trade Show in Billings, MT. I was "kinda" one of Exhibitors at a booth. It can be somewhat political (yet humorous......!!).

This freebie stuff totally knocked everyone out with love and laugh!! Very practical too!!

It is very important for me to attend this meeting. Getting a breeding job for next year is one. Then great recollections with my old friends and ranchers that I know of. But also it really makes me feel that I live in & belong to Montana. I feel just the same when I'm fishing great waters anywhere in Montana. Ranching & beef production are legacy & heritage of Montana and I'm really happy that I'm involved in though it may be only a tiny part of it.
Of course fly-fishing is one of Montana traditions too!! So last night the convention strongly made me re-realize where I belong and what I love = Montana.
I'll just do my best effort to hang in there.

20!!

2011-12-10T18:29:00.000-08:00

What a wonderful day!! Unbelievably warm & sunny day for this time of year furthermore NO WIND at all in Paradise Valley. It was my day-off from work. What a lucky angler I am!!
On the day-off, I was doing my other job called fly-fishing. I head to DePuy's and today made the 20th Visit with the Winter Pass!! I'm sure I would probably be the one who's utilizing this pass most efficiently. It's all about experiment & observation & learning. When I keep these words in my mind, trout come to my hand.

Again, I can't what a beautiful winter day it was today. Then trout biting my flies made the day even more beautiful. Nice browny for the opener!! He had lots of scars all over his body........

Rainbow in fall color is beautiful too. Somehow her mouth was very soft for its size.

Well, I guess I like a big one after all!!

I actually hooked & lost a few more like this......Happy anyway!!

Call for the day Rainbow. He was in a really beautiful coloration around belly, gills, and head over all. But he slipped away during the photo session after this........I got him in and nobody got hurt!!

With this warm winter (so far in Montana standard) there will be more winter fishing to be done. Nothing wrong with that. But I kinda worry snow accumulation = next year's flow. Nobody wants huge amount of snow like last year = big water of this year, but we don't want a drought year either!! Well, January and February, even March, can bring huge snow storm any time so I'd better enjoy while I can!!

Same Ol' Same Ol'

2011-12-02T18:35:00.000-08:00

It's just another day so I don't repeat where & how I fished and what flies I used. But today's trout deserve to be posted.

Just an average brown, but I noticed a little marking on its mouth. Cute, I thought. If I ever catch him again, I hope I can identify him and he grows large!!

And this was one of the most memorable catching experience in my life!!
This huge brown leaped more than several times, pretty much doing what's called tail-walk, and the swam toward me as if trying to go through between my legs!!

One of the best of the year for sure!!

This one was one-size smaller than above, but instead he had a super vivid golden body!!

Here are two closer shots but it seems my body was casting shadow.........

Well, it seems I have to slow down from now on. Someone joked "do the job during winter that actually pays the bill".............. Winter around here can be tough & rough in many ways. Probably all of us would wish if we could hibernate like bears.....

Every Month of the Year

2011-12-01T20:42:00.000-08:00

Mission accomplished. For the first time in my life, I fished every month of the year. I strongly owe this to the proximity of DePuy and its Winter Pass. Plus this coming winter is warm & dry (in Montana standards \(* *)/!!) so far. Winter fishing (let's define from December to February) may not be attractive for most of folks, including former myself. Well, now fishing is my serious job and here in Livingston, it never stops!!
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I still see some baetis hatch and rising trout in the afternoon. But other than that, streamer bites are getting low and low in my notes. So the consistent tactics is nymphing, period. And I can't emphasize that there are too many trout in the creek right now. They love to bite on eggs and scuds. This is one of nicest and biggest trout in my books. It was very hard to get him in. Besides his size, see how he was hooked. Nobody got hurt, just my camera lens got a splash and that's all!!

Another example.......but this was easy.

Now this was the legal catch!!

This one actually looked more like "spring-color" for my eyes. Then I still see trout are leaping to get through the fall. Really amazing scenes.

Here's my recent favorite gear and it has become my essentials from now on when nymphing. This 4-different size dispenser from Montana Fly Company should be kept in your vests or pockets. This product is lead-free. And I can testify that it's very easy to attach to and remove from the tippet materials without making any damages. With this four different sizes, one can combine desired weights for any waters, any depth, any flies & tactics utilised, any sizes of tippets, and other miscellaneous fishing situations/conditions.
You can buy/order this great product from fly-shops who deal with MFC.

So, again, I encourage more people to try nymphing at spring creeks. It's the most consistent tactics to catch trout for sure. Especially with Shotgunning, that will change your perspective for nymphing at spring creeks. Shotgunning will keep you moving and never bore you down (just watching a bobber??). Also it will open up your fishing spots, sections, and seasons.
Anyway, I hope I will get out more this winter!!

Bright Friday

2011-11-25T19:22:00.000-08:00

Everyone was supposed to go shopping so I wanted to go fishing. With some "turkey-ish" feeling in my gut, I somehow woke up early and didn't hear winds gusting. It wasn't at the hazardous level still dangerous enough to go outside. But "if you don't like Montana weather, wait 5 minutes". So I waited. Snow shower picked up and winds kept on. I waited just about one hour and suddenly everything calmed down.........Creek Time!!

It turned out so quiet that I though I can expect some dry-fly actions. There were still baetis hatch on right days, though not as strong as a month before and I saw only one pod of rising trout. Just one little one is enough for me.

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Hatch ended about 2:30pm (at least it got quite slow down). Till darkness, more exploration and experimentation need be done!! I went through a certain section without any actions. In that case, that would be what I would learn and find today then. I really didn't care if I catch trout or not. But I marked another juicy spot on my map!! You don't believe this until you experience this situation. Again 3 in a row at one spot!! Started with a nice rainbow (they are getting well-colored too!!),

then a nice brown, which made me feel "I'm full for today".

But trout didn't let me go!! Another one in a few casts!! Scar on his mouth was not from my fly by the way.

What a nice day it was!! All trout fought very hard as if they were totally ambushed by me (which I did by Shotgunning).
Happy Thanksgiving!!

More Shotgun Blasted

2011-11-19T19:31:00.000-08:00

I woke up and started to regret & wonder why I had to go fishing on this kind of day........Well at least there was no hazardous wind all day......... Yet it was like this at 9am.

I also found another reason why. I must be infected....... (One can see this in Angler's Hut = Middle Hut at DePuy).

Jokes aside, I fished very hard. Now fishing is my serious job as I want to be the top guide soon, but this was beyond training or practice but a freezing torture to myself. Furthermore, I selected a less popular and hard-to-fish section though I was the only one customer. What was I thinking? I wanted to perfect what I learned & found yesterday. And I think I did.
With the "Shotgunning", my own Royal Ray Charles received more than one approvals from DePuy's trout!!!

In the middle of upper jaw!!

I was not the only one brave heart. Look at this little fella in the middle of freezing 'Stone. I hope she decides to come back to the bank.

Lunch & thawing time!!

I kept trying Shotgunning. I hooked then netted or lost lots of them. I caught a feisty rainbow on the egg!!

Right after that within a few minutes, like yesterday afternoon, pretty much the same spot, I hooked a nice & handsome brown!!

From yesterdays experience, "grip-&-grin" is actually better to keep my sleeves dry rather than trying to lay them still for entire body pictures. So I just braved my hands and I thought this would be it for today.

Wrong!! At a totally overlooked spot, I hooked the best one for the day. It was also totally impossible to get to him without Shotgunning, really!!

This happened right in front of the hut, so I rushed in and warmed up one more time for the last chance. As the Sun setting west, sort of steam was coming up from the creek!!

I could pretty much cover the section and intention that I planned for today. This was the last catch!!

I'd say today was one of the BEST fishing days. It's so satisfying. I pushed myself into the wilderness and survived without falling in, that's one. Then I decoded the myth and rumor of the section I fished. I ended up catching lots of fish and mastering & perfecting new techniques and theories. I figured out why Shotgunning is so deadly. "Because" will make me write three more posts so I can't but you can figure out by watching YouTube clip on my last post!!

Wind is going to blow for next several days. I don't know when I can go back to the creek!!

Shotgunning @ DePuy

2011-11-18T19:02:00.000-08:00

No sir, no mam, I didn't do any duck or muskrat killings at the creek.
I head to DePuy's this afternoon as I booked for tomorrow. Reason? Because it was not windy!! And it's supposed to be be not windy again tomorrow. Either way it's getting colder every day.
My agenda for today and tomorrow is "Shotgunning". Here's the video featuring Gary Borger (from yonder years). Watch around 3:00 minutes in. If you want to go through all 6 of clips, you may suspect, like I do, part of it would definitely be filmed in Armstrong's.

Also for readers, click this article by Jason Borger.

I trailed "egg" and Sparkle Scud.

As I was getting into the position, I started casting. I'd say I wasn't quite ready for the action. WHAM!! Something huge started to run and leap!! Massive rainbow!!

On Sparkle Scud!!

Looks like I got some water splash or moist on the lens but it's OK as other picture shows my nose was dripping!!

I felt enough already. Now I wanted to get to the position and started casting on the way. Within a few minutes, just about the same spot, I felt another huge bite!! This time on egg!!

My hands, sleeves, and handkerchief were not dried yet!!

Catching-wise, I was ready to go home but I hadn't even tested that stretch and my tactics yet. Now I wanted to get in position. Started casting........within a few minutes, I felt much bigger bite!!

20-incher, give or take, 3 in a row!!!! I thought this 3rd one might get close to my record but was ONLY 21-inch......

I had two 18-inch browns also and hooked/lost a few more so-so ones. I could go through that stretch just before my fingers frozen off and made another notes. Quite a surprise for a quick afternoon outing. Then I proved Shotgunning is deadly at riffles of spring creeks. It's an aggressive nymphing, not just watching bobber and cursing at whitefish!!

Tomorrow's gonna be colder.........Do I need to dip my sleeves again!?

How Many Eggs Cracked?

2011-11-13T18:47:00.000-08:00

3 Medium ones in the morning,

Then 3 EXTRA EXTRA LARGE ONES in the afternoon!!

We didn't mess with redds and all trout were released without any damage.

More at DePuy's

2011-11-12T19:19:00.000-08:00

Past two days were hazardously windy. So was this early morning and that made it hard for me to get out the bed. But by the time I leave my house, winds died down and it was lightly snowing.......!! Baetis, midges, and streamers weather!! We head to DePuy.
Breakfast was egg, not sardines. I pulled out a nice 19-incher that didn't react to streamers with my egg!!

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After warmed up in the hut, I started to see some rise rings and baetis were on!! Oh boy, I have to share here that this "CDC DUN" that I tied last night was an absolute KILLER!!

Something was sipping just under the water film. It looked super technical to cast and set the hook but I did it with the very first cast!!...............17-inch whitefish on size 22 CDC Dun tied on 6X tippet.......Can you believe it? Should I be happy?

I consoled myself with a nice Yellowstone Cutty. I had one more giant whitie and many more rises/bites that I lost. Wonderful baetis time!!

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Koichi and I fished with an angler from Japan who didn't mind throwing ~~junks~~ streamers and eggs. Look at the bend of his rod!!

He was rewarded with two nice browns (this is the smaller one...why didn't I take a pic of big one?)

Good looking anyway.

Tomorrow seems to be calling a similar weather. I'll do my best to break my record. I mean with brown trout, not whitefish please!!

Spring Creeks with Japan's Master Angler

2011-11-11T10:50:00.000-08:00

Koichi Kawai (http://kwaters.blog92.fc2.com/), who's been the original Japanese guide in Livingston and working for Dean, is visiting town now. We've been fishing spring creeks (a day off today). Click on his blog for more pictures in great quality (I'm featured too!). This post is about our visit to Nelson's with pictures from my camera........

First thing in the morning, trout were so aggressive!! We did "sight-streamer" in gin-clear spring water! Here Koichi is working on a nice cutbow!

I got a lucky one too!

All the fish were this much aggressive!!??

We encountered sporadic baetis hatch and rising trout. With continuous wind from south, casting and presentation were tricky and fish were rising in a tight spot. But Koichi managed all and hooked a rise that he singled out (though it was whitefish......). He caught some more while I hooked and lost two.

Toward end of the day, streamer time again. Trout were aggressive again. I broke my record at Nelson's!!

(Thank you Koichi-san for taking great pictures!)

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Back in DePuy yesterday, it was a tough day with stiff winds. We didn't see much insect hatches and rising trout........ We noticed some brown trout were making redds at certain sections of the creek. We left them alone. But there were some shadows following behind those redds area. I couldn't resist especially day was slow. I did the new & advanced technique "sight-egg" and caught a nice rainbow with a single bow-&-arrow cast.......... I caught a rainbow sucking brown's eggs, not browns actually spawning, so I think it's legal & ethical enough and don't blame me!!

Here in Livingston, wind is not cooperating this month. Hopefully we can get out again this weekend.

Winter Fly Shop is Back

2011-11-09T21:19:00.000-08:00

My winter fly-shop is back for the season.
FISHY & CATCHY FLIES @ http://leftytyer.blogspot.com

This time, I can show all of you my flies with much bigger confident than when I started last winter. I caught lots of fish with my flies when I was guiding or fishing myself. And now I have "title" as a fly-designer for Montana Fly Company. Then again my COYOTE made to the magazine!! I stand behind every fly I tie.

My Regal Vise is ready to work hard for you!!

Spring Creek is Never Ending!!

2011-11-07T21:51:00.000-08:00

The end of Yellowstone Park fishing season is sentimental every year. I had my own fun on the second last day so I call it "I enjoyed the Park waters again this year". But fortunately or unfortunately, fishing in SW Montana goes on all year. I bet people from West Yellowstone, Ennis, Bozeman, and anyone in between try to sneak around Madison any time, and here in Livingston, we are still looking for a right day to float the mighty Yellowstone, hoping to catch the biggest trout of the year. And then, spring creek fishing never ends.
Today, I went fishing to DePuy again. Believe or not, NO WINDS at all in Paradise Valley!! That's good enough to be outdoors. The hazy Sun was warm enough all day though temperature was just around 30s. Then fishing was good enough too!! We saw very good baetis hatch and rising trout after lunch. I hooked and lost some trout with my own Pheasant Tail Mayfly Cripple,

With some more effort, I hooked something solidly. It leaped and I noticed it was a nice size rainbow (not whitefish!!). After more than several tug-of-wars, I could finally net it......

It was a fine & wide rainbow!! This is one of my best rainbows ever caught in three Paradise Valley Spring Creeks. With the fact that it was caught on a tiny dry-fly with 5X tippet, my PT MF Cripple can prove its point (my intention) of the design. So happy!!

By the way, these girls are much harder to stalk around than trout.........anyway they are cute!!

Brown trout are still coming up to DePuy and look hungry!! And baetis hatch seems to continue for a few more weeks. Then we can expect to fish with midges later....... I wish I had time to read books and tie flies in my house in front of wood-stove with hot coffee. Livingston's winter is rough but I still have to get out!!

Park Season Ending

2011-11-05T22:25:00.000-07:00

As of typing now, Yellowstone Park fishing is open till tomorrow Sunday 6th. Go take a chance, folks, if you can beat the snowy driving and cold air like I barely did.

I left my house in Livingston at 6am. The moment I got out of my house, it started snow. It wasn't bad at all till in the middle of Bozeman. From there to Belgrade, south to Big Sky, I started to regret......I should have stayed inside, sat in front of wood stove, and drunk coffee.........Well, no way to go back.

I really didn't plan strictly as for sections, tactics, etc. OPEN, so to speak. As I was driving south to the town of West Yellowstone, I saw a few cars at Baker's Hole CG and another at Cardiac Hill......So I u-turned to 191 Bridge where I didn't see any cars. I knew I would eventually go into the Park so I planned to fish a few hours with streamers. Maybe 45 minutes since I parked, dressed-up, and walked in, with the third rotation of the fly, tan/original Sculpzilla,

I felt WHAM!! It went deep!! Heavy!! I knew it would be larger than average!! I bet it was HER. See her belly. Filled with eggs??

I recall I was thinking "hey no more skunk for today and it's big enough, let's get the hell out of this weather and go home!!"

After this, I walked down to one more promising spot but I just spooked two fish along the way.

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Now I penetrated into the Park section. As having lunch at Seven-Mile Bridge, I saw a few rising trout. This is the typical indication that small trout rise before larger ones at the beginning of the hatch. What hatch? Of course baetis. I moved to Upper Haynes and held the spot. Exactly 1pm, baetis hatch started!! My choice was this Pheasant Tail Mayfly Cripple as I do at DePuy's.

Rainbow liked it,

and brown too!! Now I got approval from Madison trout!!

Nothing huge (I got line-broke by a huge tag though) but I had fun and even overcame past failures thanks to recent experience at DePuy. Next time, I want to raise a run-up trout on size 22 with 6X!!

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Hatch ended 3pm. I concerned my driving on the way back so I decided to quit early. I head to Barn's Hole #1 around 4pm, hoping other people couldn't take the weather any more. Wrong.......

Today's joke: Barn's Hole = Visitors Hall. Really. This is "way less attended than normal".

I really didn't care. I knew they would not catch fish (no technical comments or criticism here) and I just wanted to swing large soft-hackles above and below the pool (pic above was taken from below the pool). I walked up-stream to Cable Car Run and swung one of my most favorite pattern, Jack Gartside Soft Hackle Streamer in black.

I love the moment that trout hooks itself on this fly then starts leaping!!!!

Not the biggest of the river or the year, but it was a fine 17-inch fall-colored brown!! Then again on swinging large soft-hackles!! Happy!!

I did try my COYOTE with my best. But it seems trout must have read the magazine and been very careful not to get close to it!! Jokes and excuses aside, I really concerned driving back to Livingston. I wanted to cover even a few miles while still light..... Wish I was a visitor who's staying in a motel in West Yellowstone. Well, I made home and am typing this with my wood-stove on fire!! I love that too.

Fall fishing at Madison in the Park can be hard to predict or define but I call today as good day!! As I enjoyed all streamers, baetis hatch, and swinging large soft-hackle!! And caught nice fish!!

Again, I wish I was a visitor from other state who stays over a week, like I used to be. But thanks to the accumulated experience, I can do fairly well by just visiting one day!!

See you all, trout & wildlife in the Park, next year!!

COYOTE in Magazine

2011-11-02T19:34:00.000-07:00

Here's a little article but a big achievement for me. My COYOTE made it in a magazine!!
Go to magazine corners and pick up NORTHWEST Fly Fishing November/December 2011 or you can go online (www.matchthehatch.com). I also made a permanent PAGE on the right hand side of this blog and posted scanned pictures. Anyway, the fly is MY OWN TIE that I sent in!!

NWFF is region specific so I enjoy it more than other magazines. I hope lots of shops will order many many COYOTEs from Montana Fly Company next year. So readers out there, when you happen to see COYOTE at your near-by flyshop, please try one!! Or have them order if they don't have!!

And you can always buy directly from me (sales page)!!

Big Fish Blues

2011-10-31T19:47:00.000-07:00

Long story short, I didn't have a good day yesterday at DePuy. It was always fun to be there and made lots of personal notes. But I hooked a huge brown for the first 10th cast in the morning and lost him in 30 seconds.......

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Today I went back to the same spot. Not revenge or anything, it's just a good place to get started. BOOM!! Got him (back??)!!

I don't have to explain the fly again, do I?

Happy & Big & Good looking (me or trout?) but.........

It measured ONLY 21-inch.........from now on when I can break my record or even get close??

RPM = Rise Per Minute

2011-10-29T18:57:00.000-07:00

It was like an impulse, nothing different from "I wanna eat Mac!! ", I wanted to go to DePuy's in the afternoon. When I got there at 1:30pm, trout were rising & rising. They were feeding on Baetis. Then the new fly-fishing jargon (today's title) was born in my head. I'd say it was 15 to 20RPM at my spot.
Did I catch every single rise? Duh~~~~~~~??
Well, at least I made one achievement. The pattern I've been working on since this spring has been proving itself and now approved even by these selective trout at DePuy's recently. Let me proudly introduce you "Pheasant Tail Mayfly Cripple" in baetis color (I have a PMD version too).

It will be on my sales catalogue soon this winter and I will explain more but one background story to be mentioned is that I have too many pheasant tails left, as I tie too many COYOTE myself, I had to do something with them. I came up with this fly and fortunately it turned right!!

____________________________________________________________________
Hatch ended exactly at 3pm. Some people went home and others were still stripping streamers for their "fish of the year". Has anybody caught up with mine??
My objective of Winter Pass is again "learning & observation". And with my recent catch, I don't have to chase huge trout badly. So I did some experiment with nymphs at less popular sections. Sparkle Scud is one of the best underwater pattern at spring creeks.

Folks, I hooked two in a row!! One should try more methods and spots!! They were average sizes.

But I somehow focused on its adipose fin!!! Super cool to me.

Other fins got some makeup too.

I have booked next two days also. Maybe see you there!!

At Armstrong's

2011-10-23T19:42:00.000-07:00

I forgot to cereblate the last post as the 250th post and also with next post, my Japanese Edition will make the 100th!!

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I was glad that my guests decided to try Armstrong's for the first time. I wanted them to see the spring where DePuy's starts and somewhat different character from DePuy's. I personally believe brown trout in Armstrong's have more vivid red spots compared to those in DePuy's and Nelson's. Then again, I always enjoy to visit the real working ranch in Montana, filled with cows and horses.

Armstrong's is the insect factory as well. We saw huge October Caddis flying in the air.

Then midges. They were mating on my fly!!!!

As we expected, we did see baetis, tons of them.

What a surprise!! We encountered hatch of Western Drakes and trout were feeding on them!!

Gents really didn't need my help as they solved the situation with PMD patterns and kept catching trout!!

Hatch wasn't the strongest but I was glad that my guests enjoyed Armstrong's. Other than catching trout, I want everyone to see and enjoy cows, horses, and any other wildlife along the creek!!

Yellowstone with Japanese Anglers

2011-10-22T21:53:00.000-07:00

I understand that Japanese anglers would like to visit Montana for its wilderness and some elbow-room along with fine dry-fly fishing with match-the-hatch. These two VIPs are no exceptions. But I also wanted to introduce them the diversity of Montana fly-fishing. The biggest example is our Mighty Yellowstone. So I took them out with my boat. At this time of the year, we look for huge BROWN in fall color. They say Sculpzilla is not in Japan!!??

Wind was a bit too strong on that day. I planned to float from Carbella to 26 and I knew I could handle my boat with safe operations. But gents looked somewhat uncomfortable so I re-arranged the shuttle with my cell-phone and we took out at Point of Rocks. I said to them "just bear with me maybe an hour and we will get out the river". Then right after I said that, PRESIDENT hooked something huge........

"President" gave a try though he was not used to heavy rigs but, well, it can happen like that at 'Stone. It was a fine buck brown, 21-inch long, in fall color!!!! I explained them that even local anglers/guides don't see this size of fish so often!!!!!

I wish we could have floated longer. And I wanted them to see pods of risers for baetis and midges as we see at spring creeks.
Yes, sir & mam, Yellowstone River shows us every challenge and aspect of fly-fishing!!

DePuy's 1, 2, & 3

2011-10-22T20:04:00.000-07:00

What a great week it was!! Fall gently settles in and may be leaving soon with mixed weather. I was fortunate to fish with two elder angles from Japan. I came to meet them through my outfitter Dean. Right after their arrival, we head to DePuy's for three days and those days turned out to be the first, second, and third day with my winter pass (hence the title). These gents do know how to fish spring creeks. We caught lots of nice trout but that embarrassed other anglers and forced them to leave in the middle of hatch.......

For the first time, I was asked not to post their names or pictures as they are involved in Japanese fly-fishing industry and they were here for vacation. But I still have to do a fishing report. Well, Mr. T was catching fish like a "Fishing General".

Mr. X is indeed a "President" of fishing product company!!

We saw baetis spinner in the morning,

and duns in the afternoon as we expected.

Here's the stomach sample!! Look at all of these duns, cripples, emergers, and nymphs!!

We also saw some Tricos in the air. It was like baetis but looked more armored.

I caught Yellowstone Cutty for the first time at spring creeks. Actually this was not really a catch. While I was wading, this trout was hanging around my legs and sucking on debris caused by my steps and never got away like a pet. So I scooped with my net!! Really!!

Then typical brown,

and rainbow.

This is the smallest at the creek I've ever seen!!

Then I never let you forget my catch of the year!! (a different angle and pose!!)

Is This THE "FISH of the Year"?

2011-10-16T20:04:00.000-07:00

I was going to post how my first 3 days outing to DePuy's with the winter pass after tomorrow but something happened today. So I'll post quick about only today and go to bed for tomorrow.

It was a rainy and cold day here in Livingston. We didn't see any rising trout or midges and baetis spinners on surface either. This is the typical situation I walk and look around the creek. I just can't sit still waiting for rises in this cold weather. I found a couple of deep runs. Just to kill my time, I pitched my always favorite go-to fly, Doug's Home Invader in spring creek sculpin color.

I cut my 5X tippet down to 3X and tied it on. I thought I snagged the bottom. Well, it was a trout and I noticed it would at least be 20-inch!! It didn't come to my net and I couldn't beach him either. It ran down the riffle and I followed it almost falling into the creek. Then I finally netted him!!

It was MY RECORD of Montana Trout EVER!!

It did measure 24-INCH and estimated FULL 6-lb (or more I felt)

I wasn't sure if he came up from the River to spawn or just hanging around there. I was out my breath for next several minutes and I didn't care my wet sleeves (till it got really cold at the end of the day).
Is this the "FISH of the YEAR?"
No objection but we can still get out another month and this was only 2nd day out to DePuy's of 6-month pass!!

Winter Pass

2011-10-14T19:28:00.000-07:00

Winter Pass for what? Skiing? Ski-lift? Or hot-spring? No sir, no mam, It's a fishing pass!!

I bought one to fish for world famous DePuy's Spring Creek right here in Livingston. It's less than 10-minute driving from my house!! I can visit there during the winter rate = from tomorrow to April 14th = as much as I want!!

Have I become insane to fish in the middle of Montana winter? Folks, Paradise Valley spring creeks never get frozen and they are still fun during the winter months. Yet am I a fishing-junk who needs to catch trout every day of his life? No.........Remember what Master Angler told me? "Learning & Observation". Catching fish is important but that's not all the reason that I decided to get the pass. I want to learn and observe every inch of the creek and winter phase of the creek. Except for a few brave hearts in the area, the creek will be wide-&-open.

If I catch trout, I will examine stomach samples. And I have just created an original seine to collect any floating insects or something under-water (hopefully not!!) All I needed was: a screen from a 10-lb potato bag, wire coated with plastic, and duct-tape!!

I wish I could just sleep in, read good books, tie flies, and stay warm in my house during winter. But I want to be the expert guide for spring creeks. This is the investment. You might wonder there are also Armstrong's and Nelson's. I love to fish them too but DePuy's is the longest among three with many different faces and structures so spending at DePuy's will be a great exercise to fish any spring creeks in the world!!

Find and join me if you are eager to beat Montana winter!!
Only if you don't mind your rods, lines, and even our noses will be covered by icicles!!

Downtown Surprise

2011-10-11T20:26:00.000-07:00

Today was really a mixed bag of weather. It was cold and windy in the morning, winds died down as storm came in, and when I got ready to go fishing, it was sunny!! I wanted it to be cloudy, shower, and not windy. I got out anyway. The other side from Mayors Landing is my favorite spot for both streamers and dry-fly fishing. Streamer got NO actions at all under the bright condition or there wouldn't be any trout. As I was about to give up, it started to rain and blow some winds. And I started to see some rising trout. They must have been on Baetis, but I still saw Epeorus.

I went back to my truck and rigged up a 5-wt with Baetis Sparkle Dun.

I played with some little ones with "set-to-the-rise" technique. But this time I was more like "set-to-the feel"!! I had actually missed one big tug before this so this time I set the hook tight as I felt the tug. I noticed it would be bigger than I expected. All I wanted was 10 to 12-incher for stomach samples. It was a nice 17-inch rainbow!!

I guess I played a bit too hard........

This is why we Livingston guides and anglers love 'Stone. Nothing going on with streamers but small dry-flies bring large trout on surface and sometimes vise versa; no actions at all but one "CHUCK" of streamers brings trout of the year!! We hope we have one more month before frozen!!

Slough Creek HAIKU

2011-10-07T20:57:00.000-07:00

No Trout
No Bugs or Any Pics
So No Post
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That said all for today at Slough.
I woke up early and hit the road with mixed thoughts in my head. I had Creek all by myself, shivering and being patient. I didn't see any insect hatches or any fish rises. I hooked a few small ones but I couldn't get them in for stomach-pump either.
Maybe too cold for Baetis hatch? Read here. Air temp. was over 40F all day and water temp. shouldn't have been freezing point. Where are bugs and trout? Don't know when I want to visit Slough again.

One more haiku.

At Slough
Wait For Bugs
Butt Got Cold

Slough Pronaunced (slou) = SLOW

2011-10-06T20:27:00.000-07:00

Today turned out to be my favorite weather for fishing, not for bike-ride, of course. It was cloudy, mostly with shower but no winds. Perfect day for baetis hatch!! Drakes should be there too!!
I head to Slough Creek with some expectation and lots of excitement. How was the fishing? It stayed 40s all day. It was somewhat cold too. I got there much earlier than I planned. Drake patterns brought lots of trout to the surface for the last two month regardless of amount of hatch. But it was simply quiet. Green Drake may be thinning out, I thought. I didn't see any baetis in the air or on the water so I trailed this little soft-hackle.

WHAM on a short swing. A typical cut-bow from that hole. I always enjoy little flies get some attention from trout and land them right.

After this one, it was totally dead. I was patient and hoping for hatches. 1pm? 2pm? NOTHING!! Baetis never hatched under this "supposed" perfect weather. I saw a few green drakes but trout didn't pay any attention either.

============================================================

By 3pm, 3 other anglers nearby decided to leave. I should have. Lamar might offer better hatch and catching trout. But I wasn't interested in catching trout. I stubbornly decided to stay to make some more learning and observation for Slough. Hatch would be later!!.......maybe. I worked some more. I tied on a Baetis Foam Nymph. It was impossible to track this tiny fly on the surface with 40-ft cast but I executed my special technique "SET TO THE RISE" (I'll describe this later). I hooked a potential nice one in front of one of leaving anglers. But gone.......

I kept working on all by myself. I did another "set-to-the-rise" and this time trout acted like either Brown or whitefish, both of which don't exist in Slough. It went deep and held. I know how to fight with big trout but this one was very heavy. I was afraid of foul-hooked somewhere on its body but it did seem to be on its mouth. I was with 5X tippet, totaling 16 or 17 feet leader. Very hard to net it in. I even tried to beach it gently, which I'm good at, but it never gave up. My rod-hand felt sored for the first time since when. Fight lasted probably for 2 or 3 minutes. As I was afraid to lose it, I lost it...........Gone. Not line broke or gap opened, fly just popped out. It was guessed almost 20-inch, not larger than that, but must have been quite heavy. It could have been a fish of the year........

I fished some more till dark but that was all. I'm not so disappointed or even desperate about losing two nice trout but I am disappointed with the hatch........ What was wrong with the creek or the bugs? And why am I keep enjoying this sadistic treatment from Slough??

Only Bugs.......

2011-10-05T18:24:00.000-07:00

I was lazy for the last couple of days, even this morning. I got awaken by a call from my guide friend. "Meet me at 89 Bridge in 45 minutes!!" "10-4........"
Day seemed to be a perfect streamer day; mix of cloudy & shower with some sunny minutes. I wish fishing was easy....... For some reasons my head was not really in the game.......

While we were shuttling ourselves, I saw this bug in my car. I think this is Drake Spinner. It was totally rusty with 3 distinct tail. Cool!!
We also came across a pod of rising fish on baetis. Apparently I didn't bring any dry-flies or even float line....... Graham caught some including a large whitefish. I should have taken a picture of his whitefish so he can get the title of WHITEFISH KING........My mind was somewhere.

At least I found that streamer-bite is slow for now. Tomorrow I will be really ON.

DePuy's with Master Angler

2011-10-01T21:48:00.000-07:00

Today, I was super fortunate to go fishing with Montana's Master Angler himself Tom Travis. He's been guiding the area before I was born!! We went to DePuy's. DePuy's can be one of the toughest and the most diverse spring creeks in the area. Tom gave me some fine tune-ups for the creek along with some other guiding skills.
As for catching, we saw sparse yet good hatches and rises but I screwed up hook-sets!!

Learning & Observation, Tom emphasized those two words. I think I'm in a right direction. Though I'm a rookie guide, I'm surrounded by good waters and great people here in Livingston. If I forget these two words, that would be when I quit guiding or even fly-fishing and fly-tying as well.

Someday soon, I hope I will be good enough to call each duck and trout with their first names!!

Little Mountain Stream & Big Surprise!!

2011-09-30T19:03:00.000-07:00

Today, it reached upper 80s in the afternoon. I went out again to do what I couldn't do this summer and today would be the last wet-wading day of the year. I wanted to see one of local mountain creeks around Livingston. You already know I'm always open for spots, flies, tactics, and not to mention names of waters but today somehow I want to keep all myself. I'm not being protective as it's well-known and public, no secret at all. So if I receive emails or calls, I answer how to get there but still I don't exactly inform you what to do because I want you to challenge in this stream!!
I was again soothed by cool and crisp forest air. Water was cold but still on the comfortable side. A stereotypical pocket water run!!
Section I fished was lined by trees = no sunshine. Bugs were in the air (seen as you go down) but no apparent risers. I had to figure out what might work or not. Hopper still worked and I was amazed by the thickness of this little rainbow.

Just listening to the fall running was nice enough but I had to see what would be in this deep pool.

Suddenly I felt a big tug and it ran hard!! I was standing just below the fall. So as it ran down-stream, I had to follow it by climbing up and down rocks. For technical reason, I was with a super long leader. I should have brought my net!! I was afraid to lose it. It was very hard to get it in. Quite a surprise!! It was again a fat rainbow but this time up to 15-inch!!

I lost my breath!!

Right after this, I got hooked into another submarine!! It was longer than above, 16-inch, but wasn't as thick so it came out easily but lost him while getting my camera ready........

This is the bug I was seeing. Must be a knocked down October Caddis.

Fluttering adult.

Now it must really be October and fall then.

This small mountain stream is technical than it looks. Who wants to nymph-fish in this size of creek and who actually can? I was quite content with the very last outing for summer filled with surprising trout!!

Healing Water

2011-09-28T20:06:00.000-07:00

I was kinda gloomy or even depressed for the last couple of days. I know why. Weather and season have been somewhere in the middle. With just my selfish wish, it should be cold because my firewood are ready and the fall started officially in the calendar!! I'd rather complain cold weather than this yo-yo-yo weather. Although it's none of my business, with this fine weather, I can easily day-dream a dozen car are parked and 20 angler are making a row to fish Barns' Pool #1 and #2 respectively!! I also want to see tremendous hatch of fall baetis and drakes so I can compete with naturals, rather than just expecting hatches and casting the supposed-to-work flies. Then as the guide season is ending and fly tying order is slow, I felt low. But last night I realized "fishing and fly-tying are my jobs!! I have to get out!!" I tried to be positive and thought about where I should go. I tried to take this warm weather as friendly and decided to do what I couldn't do in the middle of summer before snow falls. This summer, I didn't have any time to fish small mountain streams with my light 4wt rod along with some hiking. I decided to visit West Boulder River. The unpaved road from Livingston was very uncomfortable to drive. Middle and lower sections of West Boulder are surrounded by "SIGNS". I finally made to the trail head at the beginning of Forest Service Boundary.

I didn't have time to hike into the meadow. But this first section was really pretty enough for me.

I knew attractor dry-flies would do the job in this kind of mountain streams. I just went small with Micro Wulff Cripple.

My first catch was this nice little brown!! Well-colored and spotted. My depression had gone away!!

Right after this, I hooked into an estimated 12-incher!! I was like "OHH?AWWE!!" It really ran and pulled my line out. I was with 5X tippet. I've been landing lots of up to 18-inch trout at Slough and Lamar with 5X and 5wt rod but with the lighter gear today, I felt it like a 20-incher on 6wt rod!!

With some sweat and wet-wading in cool stream, I really felt better. My next choice of fly was my recent favorite Purple Haze.

I was casting upstream at a small eddy next to the heavy run. I lost my sight in a moment but I suddenly felt a big tug!! Snagged underwater? NO!! Nice fish!! I got back the lost 12-incher!!

Just about 1/4 mile up, it became difficult to walk along cliffs and boulders so I head back. It was still a decent run and I had another objective. As I fished down, I caught another 12-incher and this time it was a fine Cutbow!!

I wanted to see Main Boulder as well before I lose lights. Same scenario for the Main. Lower and middle sections are within private lands (mostly hay farms and ranches) with a few public accesses. Everyone has been asking me "have you seen Natural Bridge and Falls?".
I brought my rod as well but it wasn't necessary. Without fishing I was amazed by this natural beauty and wilderness. I crossed the bridge and took a trail down to the water.

Now the river is running UNDERNEATH me!!

I took the next very steep trail to see below. River came out like this through the tunnel. I was on the top of cliff for two pictures above.

I took a picture of WHY & HOW as well so I don't have to explain!! Sounds like we can see a big fall during run-offs. I may swing by next year on my way back from breeding cows in eastern MT, WYO, and SD.

I really felt better today. I can't remember whether it's minus ion or oxygen or whatever. Anyway cool waters and forest air really soothed my gloominess. I don't have to be patient but just simply relaxed till the fall settles in. Meanwhile I try to fill up my own fly-boxes and order materials for the winter fly sales project. Then I fish very hard under nasty weathers.

Firewood 2011

2011-09-24T19:16:00.000-07:00

Today I did a real job. Now is the best time to work on firewood.
1. Firewood price will go up later on.
2. From last year's experience, I don't want to work once snow is on the ground.
3. The most importantly, fishing (guiding & tying also) is slow now.
4. Further more importantly, now I can really focus on FALL FISHING!!

It's very hard to find firewood in reasonable price with trustable quality. I had to make several calls. I think I did well on that. I needed a chord = 4' x 4' x 8'. Last October, right after moved in, I had to get firewood and still had to go fishing. I made a good deal as for money paid, but I had to haul all by myself with my truck bed. Very hard and time consuming. This time, the price included delivery and it was worth paying.

Why I bought blocks? Because a chord in blocks is cheaper than a chord in split. Besides, my landlord owns a wood-splitter. Have you ever seen these? It's not that much a difference in price for wealthy people but I'm cheap. Besides, I can split for the size I want. One doesn't want all to be too small. I actually split them relatively large so I can get away with a few piece a night. Again, this is from last winter's experience!! - how to start a fire, maintain the fire and room temperature, and last all night long - YES, mastering firewood and wood-stove is sort of ART!!

As I push the lever the BLACK BOARD will go forward and push the wood into the "V".
Day didn't start smoothly. I first went to buy fuel (regular gas). Then I had mechanical problems to get it run. I could finally get it running and splitting after 11am. When I was done, it was 3pm!! During that time I only sipped a cup of coffee. I kept working with great concentration under Indian Summer sky. After one hour meal break, I stacked into piles, picked up "chips" for fire-starters, and brought the machine to my landlord's house.

I made TWO PILES like this. I got everything done by 6:40pm!!
CHEERS!! PBR tasted as well as after good fishing day!!

Life in Montana, especially in winter, can be tough. I don't mind some work but this may not really be a work compared to what 19-th century mountain men had to do.
Anyway I feel a great accomplishment. It was a warm day at least so I might have been tempted to go fishing. But from the practical point of view and for my near-future plan, I resisted the urge. Maybe I should get out and eliminate some more whitefish from my system but probably I did enough for past two days as I'm the WHITEFISH KING!! Now I'm really getting ready for the fall fishing next month and winter life.

CHEERS, again!!

Whitefish Champion

2011-09-23T20:32:00.000-07:00

Today, Graham and I hit the 'Stone again. We floated Hwy89 Bridge to Springdale = almost 14 river miles. Wind pushed us down but not scary level. It was just breeze compared to real winds in Livingston. But it was sunny and up to 80s!!??
Although Graham had some actions on hopper, I tried nymphs with a bobber again. I caught one whitefish but after that it was boring and even hard to nymph in this stretch because structures (depth, current, etc) change so often. I switched into hoppers too. It was a decent Cutbow. It was as round as spring-creek trout.

After this, hopper fishing seemed totally dead....... Indeed nothing seemed working. We were losing our confidence but my streamers didn't. I bet on that streamers can wake up lazy trout. That would be the only way to get through. I worked with great concentration and something hit it!! HUGE!! I was positive it would be 18-inch, give or take. Indeed it was........another 18-INCH WHITEFISH 2 DAYS IN A ROW!! See how proud I look like!!

Graham caught a nice brown on a streamer too. It leaped several times till I net it. Actually I haven't seen this kind brown over a month

It was just a tough day but my mission was accomplished. I try to catch as many whitefish as I can for now so I don't have to deal with them later. Then I defended my title as WHITEFISH KING. It was squeaking when I was trying to get my streamer back. "Que~~Que~~" I don't think I can sleep tonight with that creepy sounds..........

Whitefish Hunter

2011-09-22T20:16:00.000-07:00

Today, during my lazy time in the morning, I got a call from my guide friend Graham to see if we can go fishing. I said "I'll go!!" before I wash my face. We floated from Carter Bridge to 9th St Bridge, just a short one around town of Livingston.
We saw a stonefly struggling for something. It seems it did come out of its nymphal shuck but wings looked immature to fly. Very cute. Is this what we call "Midnight Stone"?

Not only because I had to get ready in an hour or so, but also due to slow experience in last two floats with my outfitter and his friend, all I could think of is "NYMPHING" for my heart content!!!, period!!!! It's in the middle of transition of the season. Summer dry-fly actions were officially over but also it's too early, at least for me, to fish with only streamers. I simply wanted to see fish on the boat. I really didn't care if it would be trout or whitefish. If it happened to be a whitefish, I expect it would be over 20-inch!!
Today's hit fly was this Beadhead Crystal Serendipity. This used to be a "Brown Trout ONLY" but.........

I nailed lots of whitefish!!! See how strong I gripped it with my pride!!

NOTE: I'm not a "whitefish-hater" who performs "bank-release".

I felt enough so I changed my game plan a bit. Now I wanted bigger individuals or perhaps some trout. So I took out a huge BOBBER from my camera strip,

and tied on a larger Rubber Leg in black/coffee.

Withing a few casts after we resumed floating, the huge bobber sank, and I set the hook!! HUGE!!, I could tell. and it was an 18-inch WHITEFISH KING!!!! I'm holding it as if I'm working on cows' cervix when I breed cows but fish was safely released in the river.

My mission was accomplished. I'm happy!!

But also we were amazed by the Mother Nature of the LONGEST FREE FLOWING river. Section we floated used to be the main channel. But with the historical runoff of this year, now it became a side channel or should we say "old main channel".

Including that, I love 'Stone for sure!! Let's see what happens tomorrow.

NE Corner - Ultimate Match-The-Hatch Again

2011-09-20T21:32:00.000-07:00

This morning as I went outside to throw away ground coffee beans from my coffee pot, it was cold. I saw frost on my boat since......last time when it was cold!! Today I went fishing to Yellowstone Park with my outfitter's good friend again. It was his last day of vacation.

Like last Friday, we got to Lower Slough around noon. But today it was sunny day. Temperature was 40s to 60s but sunshine was still stunning in the car. But we could still expect some hatches. At least we hoped trout would look up. My first choice was this Green Drake Foam Nymph. Yes, it was ragged, chewed, and ripped.......I should have taken a picture last night!!

My day opener took it confidently.

A nice healthy hard-fighting cutbow!!

We noticed Green Drakes were in the air sporadically. My next choice was Green Drake Sparkle Dun size 12.

WHAM!! This is one of the best Yellowstone Cutty!! Hard-fighter too!!

Cloyd stayed in the same spot and he kept catching with Green Drake patterns. Meanwhile, I looked around another up-stream. Trout were feeding there too. I didn't see many or any large Drakes on the water but I thought it would be the same scenario. Trout came up to my Sparkle Dun and refused it for several times. One particular trout at a certain spot kept doing it. Something must be funny. I looked around water surface and I saw this struggling mayfly. Size 14 and somewhat gray..........

I didn't have exactly the same or close imitation but I figured down-sizing might do the trick. Fortunately I had the same Sparkle Dun above tied in 14 for Western Drake. BINGO!! That picky trout took in confidently with the first drift!!...........then gone by breaking the line..... I had one more and it got another attention in a few casts!!

Cloyd kept working on the same spot and he was telling me that he was fishing with Sparkle Dun I gave him. Meanwhile, I said "SET!!" Trout was bending his bamboo rod!!!!

It didn't come easy for net and camera as it was a fine 18-inch Cutbow!!!!

Nice work, Cloyd (& my fly)!!

As we head back to the car, we cast some at a pool. Apparently Drake hatches were ending and as we were expecting baetis hatched in Lamar, I tied on baetis patterns. After a few close calls, I got the biggest one on size 20 ICU Baetis (sorry, forgot to add a picture but you can click the link). I caught up with Cloyd!! It was another 18-inch Cutbow!!

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In Lamar, we held another nice piece of water all by ourselves. But it was funny again!! Large Drakes size 10 or 12 (not as large as Drakes in Slough = size 8 to 10) were blown in the wind along with tremendous amount of midges!! From their rise forms and sounds, I bet they were after blown Drakes. So the same Sparkle Dun worked!! Always happy to see native Yellowstone Cutty!!

Drakes were over and we found baetis in the air (somehow trout didn't seem interested in midges) and I took another fine Cutty on ICU Baetis. But also we found another species of mayfly. It was about size 14. Heptagenia? If anyone has any idea and suggestion, kindly let me know.

At 6:30PM, Sun went down behind the mountain and everything shut down and we started to feel chilly.

It was another great experience at both Slough and Lamar. When hatches are on, trout here get very selective, as selective as those in any other spring creeks. Particularly in Lower Slough, it's both exciting and frustrating that trout come up to our flies, chase several feet, and inspect several seconds........they may bite and may not...........This ultimate match the hatch will last 47 more days!!

Lower & Slower

2011-09-19T19:56:00.001-07:00

Today we hit Yellowstone again. We floated from "Otter" in Big Timber to "Pelican" in Greycliff. Hmmm.......both critters are known to suck fish........Are there lots of fish left in this stretch?
Fish count may have been the average day but they were all small. This was the largest.

It just seemed we were in the middle of transition. Not really hopper-fishing any more but we haven't seen strong fall insect hatches either. Anyway, here's today's hit fly, Purple Haze (my tie). It is indeed sparkly tied with Super Floss. But I believe it would represent any kind of mayflies on the surface from trout's views. This has become one of my favorite attractors recently.

Wind pushed us down and we came back earlier than we thought. Over all floating was fun. I'm developing more boat skills as well. Sounds like we hit the Park again tomorrow.......

Hatch x 2 = How Many Trout?

2011-09-16T21:12:00.000-07:00

Today I got out fishing to Slough Creek again in Yellowstone Park with my outfitter's friend (Dean was tired & sored.....). From our experience from the day before yesterday and weather forecast, we left Livingston 10am. Weather was the most exciting for the fall season!! Cloudy, rainy, but no wind!! Perfect weather for both baetis and Green Drake hatches (supposed to be......). By the time we dressed up and got our gears ready, we actually didn't see rises or hatches......slightly disappointed. I tied on Green Drake patterns anyway and fished one spot. I caught one and rose a few more. As an angler who was fishing where I wanted to left, I stepped in and that was when it happened!! Just about 2pm, giant Green Drakes were on the water and trout were munching on them!!

My first catch in that pool was this solid rainbow!! Look at its wide tail and other fins!!

Really wide along shoulder as well!!

The Classic Sparkle Dun was all they wanted. I had another solid hook-up and tug-of-war.

Nice rainbow again!!

It was raining all through during Drake hatch but bearable. I caught a few more, didn't get into good hooking, and foul-hooked one, which got away two of my Sparkle Duns (YES, trailing two same flies!!).

Drake hatch lasted till 5pm and apparently slowed down. We took a quick break to warm up a bit. We expected baetis (blue wing olive) hatches now as we had at Lamar. Yes they were on the water!! They were not quite in olive-dun color and large, size 18-20, for now. Not as many as Drakes either so rises seemed less.

One of my go-to patterns was Improved Sparkle Dun.

Rises were less to none but I knew trout were looking up!! This must be a Cut-bow. I was afraid it would open the gap of hook and got away. It fought that hard.

A cute little one was the call for the day.
How could I set hooks with tiny flies in the dark? I can write a thesis about how-to by the end of the season.

This is another best hatch I ever experienced. The other is Flying Ant Swarm, which I also experienced at Lower Slough!! Lower Slough is the best & toughest spring creek in the area. As you already see lots of times, all trout are truly wild and resemble healthy condition of those in Livingston's spring creeks.

To add more expectation, fall has just begun!! We have one and a half month left.

Upper 'Stone

2011-09-15T20:38:00.000-07:00

Today we floated from McConnell to Joe Brown. Day turned out to be nice. Who said yesterday was the last day of summer? We didn't have any winds or even breeze either. As a result, we caught too many fish (trout & whitefish) on dry-flies but nothing super huge for pictures. Actually there were some huge shadows coming up but their hook-sets.......well, I respect elder people and anyone in my boat is the best client!! In this short streatch of the upper 'Stone, there were lots of guides' boats too. Quite surprising in this less popular section on a weekday.
What a gorgeous day to float the river!! with The "Devil's Slide" is in the background. My friend calls it "Bacon Strip Slide"!! Make sence!!
La Duke hot spring comes in. It maybe too hot for fish to hang around during summer but maybe good during winter. At least I know lots of wildlife hang around here along the road.

No huge trout but we were lucky to see a bald eagle by the bank. While at the oars, I quickly made the best shot I can and I have just edited and cropped. This is the best up-close-&-personal shot.

We had fun on such a gorgeous day. I went through rapids after rapids of this stretch without any fear (with some training from my outfitter).

Tomorrow is supposed to be a nasty weather so we hit the Park again!!

More NE Corner

2011-09-14T20:13:00.000-07:00

I joined my outfitter's recollection with his royal client. Livingston and surrounding area experienced the first sign of the fall today. It was cool, cloudy, and not windy. We were very excited by thinking of strong hatches of baetis and drakes. Once we got to Slough Creek, it became slightly sunny and even somewhat hot. I really think now is the transition of seasons. We still fish with terrestrials. What is this miniature armor tank!!?? It's the Mormon Cricket!!

We started fishing 11:30 or so. Old gents started fishing but I walked around this upper section of Lower Meadow as hatch wouldn't start till afternoon with this sunny weather. While we were biting on our lunch, we finally saw constant risers. We spotted one giant Green Drake on the surface, as it washed away, a huge submarine rose and sipped it!! WOW!! But, as any other pools of this Lower Meadow, that pool is tough......... We cast Green Drake, baetis, and epeorus but not much success. I moved down-stream and fished a deep riffle. I saw a huge head came out and set the hook!! I knew it was big!! In a moment I was in a "HANDLE-WITH-CARE mode"to handle it. It really bent my rod and didn't come out so easy. Glad I brought my net!! It came on Green Drake Sparkle Dun.

A perfect cutbank was there for self-timered "grip-&-grin"!! I will never get bored of this Lower Meadow. These big trout keep me on my toes!!

Indeed we all caught nice trout.

We moved to Lamar. It was still bright. We knew baetis were in the air but didn't really see constant feeding. There were some rises but I put small terrestrials meanwhile. I got another "Beetle Mania"!!

After 5pm, we saw more baetis in the air and more trout came up to our flies and eventually they started feeding. I set the hook perfectly on a delicate rise on my fly to end the day......

It was on ICU Baetis. White post version worked well as it was a bright day.

Trout in Northeast Corner of the Park make huge rises on fall Drakes as they do on summer hoppers. But when I saw delicate & classic rises on baetis this evening, I really felt the fall is coming in. What a short summer..... But I welcome the fall with great pleasure!!

Patience + Observation = Discovery + Problems Solved + NEW HOMEWORK

2011-09-10T21:41:00.000-07:00

Today I went back to Slough Creek's Lower Meadow. Air was cool but the Sun was already up and sky was clear. It maybe the last summer day in my area. Traffic wasn't bad. I wasn't in a mood of "killing the creek!!" kinda. First of all my soul was taken by the ant incident so I was very fragile for the last couple days. Then I rather felt what might be the improvement, any more to learn about this creek, trout, and insects. Of course I had to catch some to regain my self-esteem as an angler and dignity as a human being!!

As I was walking, I felt something in my back and it this little Antelope buck who was staring at me. I bet he was protecting his girlfriends so I don't breed them!!
With the sunny weather and low water (lower than three days ago!), my prediction was slow. And I was right. Usually I walk around try various flies and rigs but today I followed what the creek would tell me as it held my soul. I sat down and waited for hatches and rising trout. yet sadistically to myself, I put myself at very tough spots. Some trout were rising but couldn't tell what insects on the surface. One can make a call "tiny midges!!", maybe it was...... Around noon, I started to see this cream mayfly and trout were feeding on them. Doesn't look like baetis, does it? And there's an expectation of Green Drake hatch......confusing. I think this is sulphur mayfly.

I gave up mirror-like flat waters and moved to riffles in early afternoon. That didn't mean riffles guarantee me catching trout. I tried several patterns back and force and the hit fly was Green Drake Sparkle Dun (though virtually no big Greens at that time). Anyway, the first trout on my brandnew ECHO EDGE was a nice one........I thought it was a Cutty with orange slashes but now looking back, it looks like a Rainbow? Cutbow? it didn't fight like Rainbow or Cutbow, just like tired Cutty.........

Nice fish anyway!

After this was totally a dog-day of summer. I walked down-stream and observed what trout were doing from high cutbanks. No rising but just cruising in various depth. I was tempted to do some sight-nymphing but it wasn't effective as I couldn't hide my silhouette and tossing my shadow to gin-clear water, nor practical because how I could land/net from high cutbanks?? I wasn't sure how to wrap up the day...........

Just around 5pm, I started to see some rises. I bet some Green Drakes were in the air very sporadically. I caught a little feisty rainbow. Is this all I get for today?

Then miracle happened!! What a lucky dude I was!! "Fishing God" rewarded my patience with another Flying Ant Mating Swarm at 6pm!!!! Now is the time to test my brandnew ant pattern that I completed last night!!!! I was standing on the high cutbank and could observe what trout were doing. One nice looking trout was darting, circling, and gulping every "meat" available. It was a typical sight-fishing situation. I cast my brandnew ant on its course and BANG-BANG-MAXWELL'S-Silver-Hammer!! I screamed "GOTCHA"!!!! Trout took it confidently.

Please be cooperate for a clear proof picture for my fly promotion!!!!

Fine fat Rainbow (with orange slashes??)......

Just one? I quit fishing though I still observed along the way back to my truck. I felt better as I found why I didn't do well on 7th and made a discovery to understand Slough and its trout better. Lower Meadow's holding pools have virtually no current (of course there is but you can't see until you cast) so trout can cruise around anywhere they want and feed in each direction = NO PARTICULAR FEEDING LANE, compared to typical freestone rivers. Same goes for flows of insects on the water surface. Insects don't concentrate in Lower Meadow as they do at seams, pockets, foam lines, etc of typical rivers. So casting to rings of rises doesn't work as trout are cruising around!! I bet this was what I got on 7th. One has to sight-fish here and cast just ahead of its course. If one can do this, fly patterns may not really matter.........

Sounds like a solution? Not really.......

Reason I came up to this discovery was because I was standing on the high cutbanks. It's not practical to fish from cutbank because one can't hide silhouette completely and how one can land after hooking? I was at the spot where I could get down quickly due to the erosion but other cutbanks are straight 6-8 feet high. Then again, it's just tough to observe what trout are doing from lower side of the creek.

How about my new flies then? That will be another post. No pictures taken yet either. I first work on tying instructions so I can sell them any time!!

Anyway, I got my soul back!! My skills and flies were not problems. It's just the special character of Slough and "Fishing God" let me understand in both kind and hard ways. I'm getting to know more about Lower Meadow and then just given a new homework........

I can't wait till fall mayflies are in full swing. In terms of fly-casting and mind & attitude adjustment, Lower Slough is the most technical!!!!

Ant Thought

2011-09-09T01:20:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's experience at Lower Slough is still bugging me. In the middle of flying-ants swarm, I couldn't do anything. Today I edited the pictures of insect for better looks.

First, queens looked like this. They were still alive and fluttering when I picked them up from the surface.
Male was this small........Size 20, 22, and 24.

These unbalanced couples were mating.

Anyone has any suggestions and patterns for these flying ants swarm??

I'm working on it now. I'd go back to Slough in a day or two in order to experiment my flies, i.e., my understanding & knowledge.

Then all of your favorite patters and suggestions will be welcome!!

Yell Cutty, Hopper, Beetle, Baetis, Bear, &.............

2011-09-07T21:29:00.000-07:00

Between tying flies for the shop, I had to go fishing today. I wanted to check Lamar River to further upstream. Traffic was busier than my expectation and assumption. It was a cool morning but I didn't really need a pair of wader. Water is getting low as the fall comes in and afternoon can be still hot (unless storms coming). Today's expectation was hatches of Gray & Green Drakes, potentially baetis, and not to mention terrestrials. I pretty much walked quickly and cast a few times to each spot. I just wanted to cover and observe spots and currents as I thought morning action would be slow. But there was one too good to pass even that early in the morning. I carefully worked with hopper + ant. When a huge head slowly rose and whacked on my hopper, I went "AWOEW!!??" I knew it wouldn't be over 20-inch but still very heavy!! I was with my 6wt (as 5wt has been sold) and 3X tippet on hopper so I could work on it with confidence and strength. A nice fat healthy 17-incher came out!!
She must have been biting on hopper all summer!! Really solid cutty ever!!

Then I walked probably over a mile and saw a sign. I was originally high-bunk of other side but this unfamiliar scene warned me a bit so I crossed the river. Well, not a happy sign. It's not worth to be "one of records" of this year (not a funny joke).

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Slightly disappointed but instead I decided to visit other rivers so I head back and I did fish on the way back. I didn't want to eat my sandwiches in my truck either!! I worked carefully at another good looking spot. It was after 11am so Drakes could be on if they were there. But didn't look so. I was still casting hopper toward grassy cutbanks. This time, trailed with a beetle. It was a long cast with a long leader (Damn, 15-feet leader works perfect!!). I set the hook just fine!! It was another gem. Beautiful buck Cutty!!

Totally inhaled!! Are you a Beetle Mania?

Well done!! Now I can feed lunch myself!!

While I was munching on my sandwiches, I started to see rises!!?? I thought "let me eat!!" but I kept my eyes on. It was a flat & slow & gin-clear spot that I thought interesting if hatches going on. I think it was midges again like last time I fished Lamar. Tiny ones like Size 30, give or take. Hatch and rises were sporadic so I didn't rig-up and fish. I tried to observe what may be in the water then I found this beetle!! It was funny as it looked exactly the same as my fly above!!

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I went to Lower Meadow of Slough Creek. I saw several cars along parking areas but didn't see anyone at one of my favorite runs. While nothing happened with terrestrials, I started to see some rises. I closely watched water surface and in the air. Fall baetis (Blue Wing Olive) were there.......= fall is officially coming then................My first choice was Improved Sparkle dun.

I set the hook just right without breaking a tippet or opening the hook gap.

Initially when I saw the golden belly, I thought "is brown here?" I knew brown is not in Slough but it was so vivid golden in the water.........

ICU baetis was the visibility saver. It even stands out in the cloudy weather and among foams.

I landed another beautiful Cutty for the day!!

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As the Sun came back and baetis hatch was over. I hope it will be stronger as the fall goes by. I just wanted to look around other spots so I walked downstream. I again saw risers!!?? Still baetis? Drakes hatch in the afternoon? Suddenly many more trout were rising with gulping sounds all over only in one pool!! And something huge were buzzing in the air!! What's going on? I picked up something from the surface. Then realized it was a Flying Ants Mating Swarm!!!!! That was why trout were gulping while it lasted. Queens were this big!!

While males were this small....................

For this sudden event, I had to admit I wasn't well-prepared. I have read and heard about "Swarm" but never experienced before. As you can see, queens were size 10 and males were size 22 or 24. All the ant patterns I had in my boxes were somewhere in between. Besides, there was NO WAY to compete with this amount of naturals on the surface. I kept casting and changing flies.........total ignorance and nothingness. Gulping rises became disturbing and frustrating from exciting............. Swarm and rises lasted maybe 45 minutes to 1 hour.

As winds blew, rise ended and my self-esteem and memory of beautiful Cutty were blown away........ I'd rather end the day SO-SO. Well, lessons learned. I spoke with a kind gent at the parking and that was a bit of consolation. He said he had experienced the same one last year so he had tied ant patterns for this year. But even he failed in spite of his preparation...... He also told me somehow Drake patterns attracted trout among "swarm". Probably the theory of "Unmatch the Hatch". I actually thought later that I should have cast small midges to imitate male ants. They were that small and thin.

I'd take it as a good experience but I guess I will have a sleepless night with gulping sounds in my head and dreams for the next couple of night.............

Then the technicality of Lower Slough will make me back before the season ends!!

"COYOTE" is Officially for Sale!!

2011-09-02T21:56:00.000-07:00

"COYOTE" (Coyoted Pheasant Soft-Hackle) has been approved by Montana Fly Company. Check out their website (www.montanafly.com), click "New Flies 2012" at "FLIES" on the left-hand side of your screen, then scroll down a bit, and click on "Soft Hackle". You can see my own design as "Yamamoto's Coyoted Pheasant Soft Hackle". I really love MFC's mass-reproduction of my Coyote. It's just lovely!!

You can wait and buy my COYOTE from any fly-shops with MFC flies next year. But meanwhile, you can buy it directly from me through my sales blog (http://leftytyer.blogspot.com) or Hatch Finders Fly Shop (www.hatchfinders.com) in Livingston. Dean is my outfitter. I convinced him that my Coyote does catch fish!! Dean and his daughter Dandy tie all the flies for the shop (no factory tied flies) so it's quite an honor that my ties fill their bins. I tied for them 5 dozens of size 8 and another 5 dozens of size 10. I consumed two spools of Pearsall's Gossamer silk = 90 meter!!!! And I picked up all the ramp feathers and aftershaft plumes from 5 pheasant skins!!!!

You can call or email at Hatch Finders to purchase my own fresh ties of COYOTE. If you ever visit, bins are filled like this..........

If you ever plan to visit Montana in the fall, I suggest you to have one or more COYOTE in your box. I primarily designed it to swing and strip for fall-run trout from Hebgen Lake to Madison River in Yellowstone Park. But COYOTE has no limit. It can be fished as a drowned/emerging stoneflies, October Caddis, and baby trout/minnow.

Now I've got to tie more flies for the fall and submit more original patterns to MFC!!!!

How Many More Hopper Days Left?

2011-08-31T20:11:00.000-07:00

Today, I floated mighty Yellowstone with my guide friend Graham again. We went down low, way below town of Big Timber. It's a big, wild, and diverse section. It was mostly cloudy in the morning and only two boats ahead of us. We both started with streamers targeting only BIG browns. Graham had some tugs and a few bites but I had none. Wind was manageable but the Sun/cloud were taking turns every 15 minutes. It just didn't seem a typical streamer day at 'Stone. Just before lunch break, I was fishing with my hopper rig. It looked like a light "sip" but once I set the hook, it leaped so high for 5 or 6 times!!!! It was a handsome rainbow in almost like a fall coloring. Very beautiful and healthy. I was screaming "Hopper Boy!! Hopper Boy!!"

I caught some more little ones and saw a couple of large fish came up to my hopper. Graham experienced pretty much the same. He caught a couple of 12 to 13-inch that fought more than their sizes. Then we witnessed a funny moment. There was a rise toward Graham's hopper but the fish missed it. So he recast barely a foot apart quickly. Another rise and this time it was on. Nice hard-fighting rainbow!! There was a possibility that some of those we missed could have been brown trout but all we landed are, from little ones to the picture ones, rainbow trout.

Weather forecast in our area calls for apparent temperature drop from September. This summer feels like really short for everybody in Montana. Especially for fishing and guide business, area river started to fish only since middle of July. Yellowstone became "fishable" and "floatable" only a month ago and dry-fly actions started only half a month ago!!

September is the month of transition from summer to fall. I hope we can fish with hoppers and terrestrials as long as we can but also I have already had enough fun with hoppers. So I want to review my best hopper for the season. This is "Carnage Hopper" from Montana Fly Company.

If you click above, you can see a high-speed tying instruction!! This hopper is simply realistic and indestructible. One fly lasted through all the assaults from too many cutthroat until one got away in its mouth.

Do I tie these myself? No way. These kind of flies are worth buying rather than trying to tie.

I hope we have some more fun with hoppers and other terrestrials. Then when the fall is knocking on the door, that will be fine with me too!!

Guide x 2 = Hopper + Streamer

2011-08-29T19:09:00.000-07:00

Today I went out fishing with my guide friend in Livingston, Graham, to Yellowstone River. We went to the section down from town. 'Stone below town is wild & untamed. We saw only a handful of boats besides us. I was fishing first. I thought "everyone is casting hoppers so I go with streamers!". I just snagged bottoms and gave Graham extra works to recover my flies. Graham's turn and he fished very well with hoppers!! We were quite surprised and amazed that there are healthy population of Yellowstone Cutty in this lower river.

Next turn of my fishing, I saw two big fish came to my hopper. From this month experience with Cutthroat and Cutbows, I did hold my breath and hook-set a moment but I couldn't really get into hook-ups at all.

Graham did great again while I was at oars. He hooked and lost nice browns for a few times. Toward the end, I fished again. First with streamer again, and I got snagged again. So I fished with hopper for a moment. Then Mother Nature gave me a new opportunity. As seen in the picture above, it was a nice bright sunny afternoon. But just like the other day, suddenly winds picked up and dark clouds covered the sky. Thunder started to roll somewhere and rain would drop any moment. We stopped maybe 5 minutes or so till winds calmed down. I felt the urge that I had to try streamers again. With this cloudy condition, I figured trout might not look up for hoppers any more instead would be less shy for streamers. Furthermore, I chose lighter colors. I tied on Sex Dungeon in olive,

trailed with Woolly Sculpin in a mixed color.

"I told you so!!" A bit skinny but a nice rainbow smacked on my streamer!! I fixed my own skunk!!

It literally inhaled the Woolly!!

Just before take out, I thought I snagged the bottom again but it was a huge brown trout!! But it wasn't hooked quite well and gone...... We did see its silhouette. It could have been another monster for me. Would have been nice if landed.......but I smile and let it go because all I have to do is simply get back and fish again!!

Unnamed & Untamed

2011-08-27T20:50:00.000-07:00

Today my friend Link and I were originally planning to fish Lamar but with Link's Superintendent (in terms of job and fishing!) Dale joining, we hit a trail. I was allowed to join with one condition "I can NEVER mention the river and the section. If I do, I will be executed". They actually blindfolded me while driving so I really can't tell you!!
Fact is one should not get here unless you are an experienced 19th century mountain man, equipped with a couple of bear-sprays, bug-dopes, bushwhacking hatchets, etc. I took a couple of great pictures of the scene but I just keep them in my mind and just get to fishing.

Oh...........lovely cutthroat all over.............. Chubby Chernobyl Ant wasn't mouthful enough?

Nice & healthy ones..............

Chubby again...............

Link kept catching too. Indeed we all did. Besides those landed, we had three times more risers/lost ones.

I noticed one character of these cutties here. There fins seems slightly colored in orange/pink.

All of their fins were wide, healthy, strong, and beautiful, period.

This place was somewhere else. We fished all day till we noticed it was getting dark. Yet we didn't feel that we fished enough because time had passed so quick!!

I will keep my mouth shut so please don't try to bribe me with Canadian whiskey, fried chicken, or buffalo steak.......

Thanks Link and Dale for the great day!!

Cutthroat Paradise

2011-08-25T21:04:00.000-07:00

Between fishing Yellowstone River and tying flies for the shop, I had to go fishing the Park again today. I only focused on Lamar today. It might have been a bit too cold for wet-wading but Montana guides/anglers have to wet-wade while we can, otherwise snow might fall in a couple of weeks. As I observed a run along grassy cutbank, I saw rises. It maybe too early for mayfly hatches? With this cool weather, fall baetis may be coming off now? I tied most of mayfly patterns but had no luck. Fish were rising just along the bank. With breeze from downstream, it was hard to make dead-drifts. As I got slightly frustrated, I noticed I was getting closer and closer to the target and getting butt deep. It was cold for the first thing in the morning. I decided to walk around downstream to see what was on the water. It seemed like a couple of different types of midges were on the surface at the same time..............

Meanwhile, a huge buff bull was bathing 50 yard upstream from me...........

I went through most of midge patterns but didn't have any actions. I ended up staying almost an hour at the same spot without catching any fish. I finally started to shiver with the fear of hypothermia........ I gave up and went to the top of the bank, knowing I would spook risers and I did. A couple of Cutthroat got away. Amazing how they can be so selective at times......
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Indeed, it seemed entire population of buffs in the Park would be along Lamar today. I was way below "high-water mark" but this beast didn't move. I was almost "breeding distance"!!

As a professional cattle breeder, I can tell you the difference between domestic cattle and wild buffs and give you the following advise.

Yelling, whistling, throwing rocks won't do nothing to buffs.

Bear spray should work as I once tried to a Jersey bull but you don't want to waste your bullets in a real bear country.

Anyway, I couldn't help doing but I made a stunt. This buff was about 15 feet behind me!!

A couple of anglers were bragging at me "PMD this" and "PMD that". I actually saw huge Gray Drakes in the air as at Slough. Then I picked up an impaired PMD dun with its nymphal shuck still attached. A very rare photo for me.

So my fly selection was this slightly irregular Sparkle Dun.

A nice Yellowstone Cutty came and grabbed it!!

Winds picked up and all the calm water were waving. I was even afraid of a thunder storm might hit the river. Luckily weather turned out nice again and afternoon was a terrestrial time!! Hopper!! x Hopper!!

Here I confess how I landed it...............

I also saw a huge beetle too.

So a beetle pattern worked as well (no bait-fishing by using the one above!!)

All cutthroat came up to my flies were 14 to 16-inch class. I personally get most excited with their rise motion from the water to the surface. It maybe a second or even less, depending on spots, but the duration and movement are so beautiful and I tend to set the hook a bit too fast but I'm still satisfied with what I see, period.
There are some guides/anglers who say "cutthroat are stupid and easy to catch". They'd better be re-born with different brains, I guess.

Quick Update

2011-08-23T21:24:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's angler on my boat, Joe, emailed me the crazy weather we encountered. It's actually cool when we look back but it was scary that time. One beauty we saw was this "Double Rainbow"!!

I have never seen that before. All the peaks along Paradise Valley looked beautiful too at the sunset. Then again, I will never forget the scene that the gusts knocked over trees into the river....... Welcome to the 'Stone!!

If You Don't Like Montana Weather........

2011-08-22T23:07:00.000-07:00

Today I got a call from my guide friend Gram to see if I can offer a ride for his father and two other friends. We floated from Grey Owl to Mallards Rest. It was peaceful afternoon with nice breeze........Here's Joe caught a nice cutthroat on a dry-fly.

Again, it was really peaceful then suddenly storm hit us!! 30 to 40MPH from the upstream that pushed us too quick. Then we got another gusts from downstream with 70MPH (gustimated?). I thought my boat might get flipped over but fortunately storm left as alone.

So lessons learned. "If you don't like Montana weather, wait 5 minutes". Now it's opposite " if you like Montana weather,watch out in 5 minutes!!"

New Rod Review & Greeting

2011-08-21T22:12:00.000-07:00

GREETING!! : Tomorrow August 22nd is the second birthday for my blog. It's been lots of stories and pictures from every fly-fishing experience from my journal and fly-tying scene at my tying bench. Thank you very much for dropping by. I have been able to keep myself going SOLELY THANKS to your reviews, comments, and friendship.
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OK, here's the review for my brandnew rod. What I got is ECHO EDGE. This is the amazing rod in a very affordable price. ECHO rods are Made in China but who cares? and which trout notice it? I swear my words that each ECHO rod cast much better than cheaper sides of American made rods, period. Major models are in 4-piece and with rod tubes,

and protected with cloth-pockets.

It's really a beautiful finish. I personally like the assembly dots for quick rigging this 4 piece rod.

I also prefer EDGE's reel seat to its upper cousin ECHO 3 so over all I like its finish. I did test casting both but I am positive EDGE casts just fine and great in any fishing situation.

Then again, my first catch on this brandnew rod was a Yellowstone Giant......Coincidentally or not, I was just getting comfortable and confident to cast streamers, then WHAM!!

I even tested CARBON rod and that's also a great rod for more than money can buy.

If you can afford hundreds of $$ to one rod, that's fine and if you own lots of them, congratulation you are a rich man/woman. But I can tell you that expensive rods never promise you to cast further or to catch bigger fish, period.

Nowadays, I'd rather spend for my safety and comfort while fishing; such as wader, wading boots, comfortable clothing, and miscellaneous accessories.
In other words, I suggest people to get out fishing and to practice more casting rather than owning one $$$ rod and going fishing several times a year.

19 Miles to Go

2011-08-20T21:36:00.001-07:00

On a nice sunny day with only light breeze here in Paradise Valley, floating Yellowstone is the best summer activity. Fishing with a good friend made the day much more fun!! Link hopped on my boat and we floated from Carbella to Gray Owl = about 19 river miles!! Link kept catching lots of trout on his special dry-fly!!

Look at this!! Nice buck Yellowstone Cutty!! I was honored to net this beauty.

We landed a couple of good rainbows too.

There were two tricky currents/braids to maneuver but not bad at all. In the afternoon, we faced winds from downstream that slowed us down some. Link says he moved some large trout below Emigrant, where I caught the giant the other day, but we didn't get into hooking. We missed browns......(not whitefish = 0 of them!!). We pulled in at Gray Owl at 7:30pm, taking longer than I thought. This float is essentially two long sections = guides do either one of two for a day trip = but I condensed two runs in one day. Sored but doable and lots of fun!!

NE Corner Addiction

2011-08-18T20:11:00.000-07:00

Lovely Yellowstone Cutthroat and pretty rivers in northeast side of Yellowstone Park became my new addiction. Particularly complicacy and technicality at Slough Creek drew me back again since my birthday. This time NO QUICK-SAND!! It is not always my style to sit still until hatch(es) occurs as I typically fish with nymphs and streamers. But today, I just wanted to see Gray Drake hatch again and if I could do better. I first noticed water was almost foot lower than two weeks ago. I was able to hold the best spot. Number of insects on the water and trout rises were somewhat less than two weeks ago. I started with Gray Drake Sparkle Dun. I also heard a new tip to fish here. I used a 12-14 feet leader/tippet to conquer drags caused by complicated currents. I am just telling you that, whether you hire me as a guide or not, because not everyone wants to handle that long leader and cast over 50 feet for drag-free presentation.

It was a fighty Yellowstone cutty.

After this, I caught a cutbow just about the same size. And it turned out to be slow and tough. I was trailing another fly behind but fish were still rising (and I kept missing) on Gray Drake Sparkle Dun. So trout must have been looking up Gray Drakes and Drakes must have been there. I changed the second fly into Hi-Vis Spent Sparkle Drake.

This fly suggests dun, emerger, and even spinner. I just needed something to attract trout's attention.

Then it happened within a few casts. I have never seen that kind of rise and take!! I'd say it was lighter and quieter than rise for midges. It was just a tiny bump on the surface and two flies of mine gently sank.......Set!!?? It was on!! and I felt it would be a large one!! I should have brought my net...... I gently dragged him to the shallow.
This huge male rainbow indeed took the Spent Sparkle Drake. AGH!!! I screwed up the close-up shot by my shadow!!

How about this? It was a feisty 17-inch male rainbow. It actually didn't fight as much as the previous little ones. It didn't look sick either as his teeth punched holes on my finger!!

Wind blew hard and hatch ended. Now it was a terrestrial time. I moved on. At another great deep run, trout came up to my hopper gently.......I made sure my hopper was in its mouth and set the hook!! Another feisty Cutbow!!

It really chewed and swallowed my hopper!! Playing with these NE trout, I learned that I hold a breath a bit longer before I set the hook. They just come up slowly and deliberately and then munch on it. We don't want to take our flies away fro their mouth because of our excitement.

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I moved to Lamar River. All through the Valley was covered by buffs beyond my comfort zone. I did explore some but not as much as I wanted to as these beast can be very unpredictable.

Invasive species?? No....this must be sculpin, isn't it? I just found something dead in the water column.

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I will never get bored at Slough Creek even I have to visit every day!! It may not be for everyone. In that case, there are various kinds of waters for your taste. I will report you more next week. Fishing life goes on!!

More Float the Stone

2011-08-16T19:48:00.000-07:00

Today was another military training, NO!!, guide coaching with Dean. We floated a very productive section of Yellowstone. What a beautiful day to be in the river!! Unlike yesterday, we had no gusts or rain. While I was at oars, Dean caught some nice trout on his famous Pink Pookie.

According to him, it's "not LUCK but SKILL!!". I think it might be true because he caught a couple of Whitefish on my award winning COYOTE!! I can't catch whitefish with my Coyote as it was designed for fall-run trout in Madison!!!! Wonder how he did it and who wants to catch Whitefish anyway....... Then again, in a way, he proved the versatility of my Coyote!!

Just another day at 'Stone with a veteran guide.....Thank you, Dean.

How to Catch a Tiny Brookie on Hopper.....

2011-08-15T21:39:00.000-07:00

This afternoon, I felt a quick surge to go fishing so I went to Gardner with my Park Pass. Several fishermen were already stepping in that short section and I was afraid of thunder-storm. But I was basically fishing for my own observation and experiments and the evening turned out good so I enjoyed the quick get-out.

As I set the hook for my dry-flies (hopper + attractor), it was a tiny brookie foul-hooked on its back...... Just lovely enough for me.....

Later on I caught a rainbow on its mouth but I actually didn't see the sight of it.............

Gardner is such a fun river for all you expect. Either catching lots of trout on dry-flies (regardless of the size), some pocket water nymphing, or even streamer fishing in the fall, Gardner is there for us.

Another Day with Cutty - NE Corner of YNP

2011-08-13T19:59:00.000-07:00

Visiting Northeast corner of Yellowstone Park is becoming my treat. Today, my intention was to fish Soda Butte Creek and Lamar River. As I was driving, I saw each parking lots of Lamar was occupied and anglers were every 100 yard (that maybe too much....). I chose a good looking section at Soda Butte first. It's so obvious with nice runs and structures at right down from the parking lot but somehow nobody fishes!! Enough depth, mix of slow & fast, and along grassy cutbanks. To me, it's gotta be a "hoppertunity" from the first thing in the morning!! Indeed it was. When I saw a big shadow coming up slowly, I went "WOUW!!??" Nice fine Yellowstone Cutty.

Hopper + orange slashes = beautiful........

As I was releasing it, I noticed a fly was attached on its left gill. I first thought it would be my second dry-fly but it was an old Renegade with a piece of tippet!! Somebody lost this fine trout before!! Quite funny!!

I landed another nice one on hopper. Then I raised 3 more but couldn't get into hooking. All nice fine Cutties. One got away by opening a gap of my ant, trailed behind the hopper.

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Though I wasn't really in a mood to go to Lamar due to too many people, I had to go because this was part of scouting and learning for my future guiding. I parked along the road from which the river can be reached by almost a mile away walk, hoping nobody would make this far. No sirs, no mams, two already there and another two later on. But I experienced one of the best match-the-hatch fishing ever!!!! Among braids, I thought I found a good looking run. I casted hopper/attractor again. Then I suddenly started to see risers and sippers!! Suddenly it became a spring-creek-get-down-to-your-knees situation!! This must be PMD!! (in case, I'm wrong and it may be heptagenia or Epeorus, let me know).

I tied on all the good patterns from my Mayfly Box of the day. Nothing actually worked. Then I finally tried my own original pattern that I'm working on. Trout came to only on this fly, period!! Any catch? First one I hooked into was really huge, no bragging but may have been a 20-incher, and it snapped off in two seconds. Second hit was almost close to my hand but spat the fly. Some more rises but it was over. Whole situation lasted over one hour. It was terrific with or without trout pictures. Then I gained huge confidence on my invention. Wish I had a proof picture or two........

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Today's companion was like him. Not as scary as Mountain Lion that I saw along Rock Creek.

I went to the Canyon section, again avoiding people. Canyon section looks all good but it may be more suitable for nymphs and streamers to get into fish quickly. At a certain run, terrestrials raised some trout, and this one preferred a flying-ant to hopper!!

Herds of buffaloes stayed out of the road but in the range so driving was very smooth today. There are much more to explore in this side of YNP before summer ends!! I'll be back!!

'Stone Monster

2011-08-10T19:37:00.000-07:00

I was going to post about my new 6wt rod. I just went fishing with it today but following things happened so more technical comments on my new rod will be in near future. Just a quick word, "great rod!!"

Today I went fishing with Livingston's long-time outfitter, Dean. I'm learning lots of things from veteran guides in the area. Today was one of those days. As Dean started to row my boat, I personally wanted to see how my new 6wt rod cast streamers with Kelly Galloup's system. My first choice was Sex Dungeon in black.

That was good enough but I also trailed this Smoke Wagon behind it.

As I was doing jerk-strip retrieve, I felt huge WHAM!! I noticed it was large. Battle was not as dramatic as you would imagine. It lasted barely a minute due to my rig and the collaboration between guides!! Anyway, it was another record for myself and for my boat.

It was a bit shy of 24-inch = 2-footer but estimated 5 to 6-pound class!!

Look at his jaw and pectorals.......

With Dean's military command, I had to kiss "HIM".........

We took turns of fishing and rowing and that was all I caught while Dean caught lots of little ones on his dry-flies. We could have found those little ones in the stomach of the brown I landed, I joked!!

Yellowstone is really a diverse fishery. It offers us every opportunity and tactics. I just got one lucky monster with streamers. Then again guides like my outfitters (and me) know what to do!!

Slough Creek on My Birthday

2011-08-06T20:58:00.000-07:00

Today August 6th is my birthday. I've been having awesome fishing on my birthday for the last couple of years (except for 2010 that I got stuck with cows) that I called "Birthday Magic". My birthday in 2008 was simply very good and one in 2009 was more like "surreal" that made me thought of "Fishing God". What could I expect today? I decided to visit Slough Creek in Yellowstone Park. To summarize the day shortly, fishing was average. I don't think I lost the magic touch of birthday, especially not because I'm getting old!!, but it just seems fishing is my job now. Even on this personal fishing for fun, I had to see and do things as if I was guiding. Over all I did enjoy the day. Let me look back.

I got there and started fishing earlier than I thought. I went to Lower Meadow of Slough, not the upper 1st, 2nd, or 3rd (that's another guide story that I tell you some time later).

Attractor dry flies seemed the way to go but I soon switched into swinging soft-hackles for pre-hatch situation. Then this Mr. Nick's Caddis Soft-Hackle started the day. This is truly a versatile fly that can be fished on the surface as a dry and by swinging after dead-drift.

I heard a large gulp!! I felt it was large and it fought very hard!! It was a fine cutbow. It rose like cutthroat and fought & jumped like rainbow!!

Good looking but no orange slashes. Must be a cutbow.

======================================================

Then accident did happen on my birthday!!

I waded and fished down-stream from there. I was in the middle of the creek and noticed the spot seemed just unproductive. I started to walk toward shallow parts and I stepped on the sandy area. First step sucked my legs to middle of my shins. I kept on then with the next step, my entire right leg was swallowed up to my crotch!! It was a deceiving quick sand!! At least I could free my left leg but my right leg was totally held in the sand, then again in the middle of creek!! Totally unmovable!! "Is this a bad joke?" I thought. I quickly recalled all the survival stories in TV programs. I would eventually be bitten by mosquitoes and be eaten by bears. I tried to scoop sand around my right leg but the wading boot was totally stuck so I had to go deep, which seemed endless. Then I saw a group of two people watching me from the hill!! "Fishing God" gave me just an average day but did send me help!! They were father and son. Father said "need help?" I says "please help me!!" Father got close to me but I warned him he could get stuck too. He really shouldn't have got closer for his own sake. But I needed help. At least I tossed him my rod. Now my left hand was free so I could work on scooping around my right leg better and finally I could pull myself out!! Still sloppy footsteps but father grabbed my hand and helped my steps when I was out of breath.................
I said to him "help came faster than bears, thank you very much!!".
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I got my breath back. Further down-stream, I finally started to see rises and hear gulping sounds. I thought hatch must be going on. I rigged up Sparkle Dun for Gray Drake.

This section of Slough has lots of complicated characters in currents that make dead-drift tricky. Furthermore, I was casting over 50 feet that made the hook-set difficult too. After several challenges, I got hooked into another fighter!!!! It did take the Gray Drake!!

Great looking another cutbow!! I bet they must have "hybrid vigor"!! These two are among some of the best fighters I ever felt on my rod regardless of their sizes!!

I walked all the way down till the gorge (3rd pic from the top) that eventually joins Lamar River. Insect hatches seemed tapered off or pretty much over. I switched into a hopper/dropper rig. I started to see some trout came to look at my hopper, some even ate it, then got hooked on a dropper nymph.

I gained confidence that trout were looking up on terrestrials. I moved more trout along the way up and finally saw a native Yellowstone Cutty!! (same scenario, came to hopper but foul-hooked on a trailer dry-fly. Guess what that is?)

I did get hooked into a large one on the hopper!! It fought hard again and went deep. Lost him..... That turned out to be the last trout I saw today.

Over all I had great fun. I walked and fished all day long. Of course I can say that because I managed to get out the quick sand. I even smelled some very bad odor that might have belonged to bears (it was after the quick sand incident!!) So fishing was average and may not have been as magical as before but hey, now I'm fishing full-time!! See what I get next year!!

Gardner & Park Pass

2011-08-04T20:55:00.000-07:00

Gardner River in Yellowstone Park has been on my list but due to my love affair with Madison and Firehole, I have passed a few times so far. Now I live in Livingston, it's an easy drive to Park's North Entrance. Then as a fly-fishing guide, Gardner is one of the "MUST" to know.
I had a slow day today so I decided to visit Park for the afternoon. With a help from my friend Link who works and lives in Gardiner (spellings of town and river are slightly different and they are not related at all), I got a hang of the river only in one day. I don't call it easy but it's just my kind of place!!

There are lots of eager trout rising on attractor dry-flies. I caught only a few little ones but I spent such a great afternoon. Then I did see a couple of large shadows along my flies too!!

Another objective to visit the Park today was to buy an annual pass. I've been spending $25 a week for a long time. Now I can go in & out for a year with only $50!! For Park waters mania like me, whether living in Montana or other states, this will save your budget and make your visiting plans much easier!!

Next week, I will explore more in the Northeast corner.

It's Official!! 'Stone is ON!!

2011-07-31T19:16:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,
I seem to be the first guide (maybe one of a few) in the area who is reporting dry-fly actions along Yellowstone River. Yes, it's on!! Yellowstone Cutties are eager to come on surface!! Glad to see that they have survived the high water and stayed in great shape, and probably been waiting for our flies!! Cliche is only if you know the spot.........(Hire me!!)

"Was that just one lucky dog? How many did you catch?" you would ask. Well, my fresh Royal Wulff Cripple that I tied last night was chewed off.

I again dropped by "26". This is really a good place to measure (or guesstimate) the water level with our eyes. It did significantly drop,

compared to this picture taken on June 29th.

I'll go and row soon!! See you along the river!!

Georgetown Lake - Hidden Gulpers!!

2011-07-30T21:22:00.001-07:00

From the cabin by Rock Creek, we went to Georgetown Lake. It turned out to be the great fishery. Little did I know this hidden gem though it's no secret at all. I used to have a prejudice about lake fishing such as stripping leeches and buggers blindly and may catch fish. And it comes back to my mind every now and then but this experience blew the idea away. First of all there are lots of trout in this lake that never bore us. Then lots of over 20-inch rainbows and 5-pound brookies are reported oftentimes (we didn't get close to them....).

Mike got started the day with an olive Woolly Bugger (damsel nymph and leech).
Toward noon, we started to see lots of trout rising and jumping all over the lake. Also we started to see lots of damsel adults in the air!!!! Trout were biting on them!!!

Mike was bending his rod again.

Dave caught some nice ones too.

Trout loved the damsel dry pattern!!!!

I was pretty much at the oars but I borrowed Mike's rig and caught a good one too!!

I haven't done "Gulper Fishing" at Hebgen Lake but I bet what Georgetown Lake offers must also be "Gulper" as well. As at Rock Creek, we didn't encounter too many people. Especially with the boat, we had our own spots after spots without batting anyone.

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This is pretty much all about Missoula Trip. Food poisoning seems to be gone and I am finding a good deal for spare 6wt rod while my original one is being repaired. I rushed a bit for these two posts as I will be busy fishing again from tomorrow!!

Rock Creek

2011-07-30T20:46:00.000-07:00

After I left John and his friends and family, I headed to Rock Creek to meet another group of friends. Mike and Dave have been making their annual trips to Montana to escape heat in Florida. They let me stay at their cabin.

Rock Creek was no exception of high-water treatment. At that point, it was more like "river" rather than "creek". It was a bit too cool for wet-wading and I needed my wader to fish the best out of it eventually.

Dry-fly actions are what everyone looks for at Rock!!

We were bothered by bunch of House Flies. So I might as well have tied on the pattern I had tied this spring.

It did work! !

A herd of Mountain Goat was hanging around the road every morning. They were much better road companions than buffaloes in Yellowstone Park!!

I still pursued bull trout by accident (??). This day, I wore my wader to fish hard into deeper runs and pools. I did my best to sink my streamers without my 6wt rod and full-sink line. I felt a big tug, with a natural Home Invader, that was felt like 18-inch or larger.

It was a fine fat rainbow,

just about 15-inch but ran and fought really hard. Over all trout here fight and run harder than trout with the same size in other rivers.

Then another wildlife encounter. I haven't heard from my hunting friends about ID but I bet this is Mountain Lion (cougar or bobcat). I spotted a pair of these maybe 150-yard downstream. I was eye-to-eye through the distance with the larger one that I thought a mother. I was without a bear spray or a big bowie knife. Florida guys didn't have guns either. When I made a move to grab a stick just in case, they ran away. But I felt a bit creepy to fish along so I was pretty much done that morning.

I'd been hearing and reading about Rock Creek but had never made it. So I was very happy to fish there with great fishing friends. I'm sure Rock is one of the most popular rivers in Montana but I didn't see crowds of people. And I heard that fishing goes all well till the end with dry-flies. It's in my favorite list now!!

Bitterroot River

2011-07-29T19:32:00.000-07:00

I came home from the Missoula Trip with a broken 6wt rod and a light case of food poisoning. Well, the broken rod was sent to Sage and it will be replaced. But it will take 6 weeks minimum, which means no heavy nymph rigs and streamer fishing during the period. Then I seem to feel better from the food poisoning thanks to the pills that a Floridan physician/angler gave to me (another story).
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I visited my fishing friend John at his uncle and aunt's place in Stevensville, south from Missoula. It's been a year since I last fished with John as in my post from last year. Time seems to have passed so quick since I crashed his boat to all the rocks in Madison a year ago (and I had such a long hair!!). Now I own my own boat and we floated with it. We floated Bitterroot. Bitterroot and other rivers in the region are also experiencing historical high-waters as in Madison and Yellowstone. My first impression for Bitterroot is that it looks like a bit smaller case of Yellowstone. Lots of braids and log-jams and then mix of deep pools, cutbanks, eddies, and foam pods that suit for either dry-flies, nymphs, and streamers. Then all through, it's one of the most scenic rivers in Montana.
I fished one of those braids and I caught a nice brown for the size of braid with a black Home Invader.
John's nephew caught a nice rainbow on dry too!!

We also floated the upper section. John said the section was really high for he recalled (flow was 1500 cfs or so? at least less than 2000, I recall) and a couple of boaters and shops warned us that two boats had gotten crashed/flipped over so far this year. Really?? Upper section has numerous boulders. But main concerns are choice of braids and log-jams. River seemed to offer any kind of flies and tactics of one's choice. I stuck with streamers in the morning with no luck then I switched into dry-flies. With this high-water and my observation (trout and insect hatches seemed more active in the afternoon), my best choice was this Royal Wulff Cripple.

It was truly a team work. First of all we forgot the landing net. John got me to the right spot and I made a perfect Reach Cast behind the huge boulder, a deep slick. Then this huge Westslope Cutty came up to snatch my Royal Wulff Cripple. I asked John to pull over the boat so I could bring the fish to the shallow. Then we made a perfect grip-&-grin pic!!

We took turns of rowing and we caught lots of brown, rainbow, and cutty on dry-flies. Though they were all small, it was a fun 16-mile float.

Some of deep pools and pockets of Bitterroot really seem to hold elusive Bull Trout. Since my 6wt got broken I couldn't even challenge (later on at Rock Creek either). But fishing with a good friend and those eager trout that came up to dry-flies made the days really memorable and enjoyable.

Rowing wise, Bitterroot is far easier than Madison or Yellowstone. I used only a quarter of my strength??

Missoula Trip

2011-07-26T13:35:00.000-07:00

Missoula trip started with a nice Westslope Cutty!!

And the broken 6wt rod of mine.............

More to go! and more details later!

Leaving........

2011-07-21T21:21:00.000-07:00

I'm leaving for Missoula some time tomorrow morning. Two groups of fishing friends of mine are inviting me to their lodgings. Instead, I offer my boat. Sounds like Western Montana rivers are in good shape too. I expect lots of dry-fly actions but also I bring this...... You know what I'm after?? Coincidentally this fly is named "Barely Legal" (more about this fly later on).

I'm gonna play scenes of "A River Runs Through It"!! Shadow Casting?
No........crash my boat to rocks if not challenge the fall as in the movie!!!!!

I hope I can post some from the road.

Season of Bugs

2011-07-20T00:03:00.000-07:00

It's been slow and then busy. Some fishing and then not. It's been summer but now it's transiting into middle of summer as rivers in our area are finally getting down (need some more time for Yellowstone and Gallatin, I guess). Madison is particularly in great shape!! Nice clear water and full of bugs!!

How about fishing? More pictures should follow later on.
Come and see these amazing hatches trout actions yourself. Then we all hope it goes the same in Yellowstone!!

New Camera & Floating Strap (idea.....)

2011-07-13T20:37:00.001-07:00

The day after I lost my camera (a week ago from now), I ordered a new camera. I just received it today. It's been surprising how fast the progress of modern technology is. I'm just a casual photographer but I know how fast new models have been developed in the same price (lower in a way compared to older models). For example, when I bought my last one (water & shock-proof with 8MP) in 2008 with $300, Olympus produced the same model in 10MP. Then mine had been reduced to $200 and eventually out of production. So I checked Olympus website first, before any retail stores, and I found this 14MP camera with water & shock proof. A week ago, it was $30 discount if I order directly from Olympus. I proceeded with my sleepy eyes... So I ordered in my lucky color, ORANGE.

Surprisingly I got a phone call from Olympus to make sure the order. I spoke with a nice person and explained to him that I had liked my last one and how I had lost it. He says "maybe someday someone can fish it for you, get it back to you, and still works!!" and "we also have floating straps if you are interested".

Floating straps or device......is there anything I could think of?
I recalled huge bobbers that were handed during Simms Guide Event in April as for tests and promotions. I thought they might work when used at once. At least light and indestructible. So I made a ring with 30-lb mono with a blood knot, attached it to the camera, and then attached bobbers. Here's a shot taken on a mirror.

It might be heavier and bulkier than regular straps.......

I tested the whole set-up in salad bowl filled with water in my kitchen. It seems 4 bobbers can give some floating to the camera, better than nothing or better than my last experience. I will test at rivers next.

You may laugh at me or question me when this bobber strap is hanging out of my pockets. But I don't care!! You will understand when your favorite attachments are washed away in the river.

Anyway, I hope much more trout will be captured with this camera from now on!!