Birthday Magic

I'd like to post the last one before I leave for Montana this weekend and before my birth month ends. Two years in a row, I had experienced the greatest fishing days on my birthday (August 6th). One can say to me "you were just lucky" or "you were too emotional". I might have been so, but not just those personal feelings, based on my experience and what others say. I'd say what happened to me on those two of my past birthdays was something very special and even "divine" and "sureal". I really thought about Fishing God (now I might be personal.....!)

Last year, I made a trip to West Yellowstone just around my birthday. On 5th, I floated Madison with a guide from Blue Ribbon Flies. I had a great day with him and he really worm me out. Then in the morning of 6th, I pulled at Pine Butte section. There were already tremendous hatchs of mayflies and caddis. Spruce moths were coming off too later on. Craig Mathews, who runs Blue Ribbon Flies, wrote about this day in his 2008 review also. He wrote "the best morning fishing ever!", etc, etc only for this day.

The first rise and first landed browny on my birthday with a tiny Sparkle Dun. After this, I hooked and landed over a dozen till noon. All in 15-inch or bigger.

A very late Salmonfly saluted me too!!

To end the day, I went to $3 Bridge to fish for evening caddis and spinner falls. I had one nice hump-back brown on caddis emerger on swing. As getting really dark, I walked back to my truck. But somehow I made some more swings just below the parking lot of $3 Bridge. This 18-inch rainbow was on Flymph that I used as a drowned spinner. He looked surprised and so was I......

This year (only 3 weeks ago), I didn't plan a big trip but I had to go fishing. I chose a little mountain stream in my area. I have some my own secret holes, so I just mention Naches area!

Since I have been fishing this little stream a lot, not a special getaway. Also last year's run-off seemed to bury my favorite holes and wash away some large Westslope Cutt (up to 15-inch). So I didn't expect much about fishing. I wanted to enjoy mountain breeze, wet-wading with a light gear, and outdoor sandwiches......

But it turned out to be the best fishing day ever in this little stream. Again I have to emphasize that it happened on my birthday!!

As I walked up stream, I saw lots bees swirming just above the waters, which I have never seen before at here. Then I "felt" some buzz and lousiness on my favorite holes. I really felt and interpreted that trout wanted to bite on bees but they couldn't fly. Well, how about my foam bee?

In my experince here, typically I catch lots little ones and then an occasional 12-incher is the bonus. But as those pics above, I caught two 13-inchers and one 15-incher. Not just catching them, but I was so glad these large Westslope Cutt were back and surviving.

I will definitely do a day-hike or two to a few of little and overlooked waters in Yellowstone Park. I don't expect to catch 20-inchers but some 12-inchers (or bigger I hope), solitude, wildlife, backcountry, and satisfaction when I accomplish the hike are true fun that mother-nature can offer us. Anyway, I want get out of this late summer heat here in eastern WA!!

Getting ready.......

My next trip to Yellowstone is coming in less than a week.

Of course I wanted to get there middle of summer to get away from heat here in eastern WA, as I did last year in early August (just around my birthday). I experienced tremedous hatches of caddis, mayflies, and spruce moths. Now as summer is ending, so are those hatches. But I am sure this upcoming trip will offer me another great experience in Yellowstone country. It sounds like SW Montana is having a cool summer, which they might call "normal" in a decade. I would try Firehole and Madison in the Park. Also, as long as I don't have snow/rain/thunder storms, I am planning a day-pack to outlooked little streames with wet-wading. Then it also can be typical "dog-days" of late summer with no hatches. I'd like to see what I can do myself with terrestrials, attractors, and some nymphs that I tied myself.

Here are some flies that I'd like to tie on.

A flying foam ant tied with tiger strip for an enhanced visiblity.

And the foam bee that I copied from Blue Ribbon Flies.

These got approvals from Westslope Cutts in my area this summer. 15-incher from a little mountain stream.

I have been making several trips already so I don't worry about packing my bags and truck. I have gotten used to it. All I have to do is to secure fresh ham, lettuce, and tomatoes for my sandwiches!

How do you do?

Hello everyone,

I've been thinking about creating a blog then brag about my obcession.... no, hobby: fly-fishing. This way, it will reduce significant amount of time to email to each friend of mine with all kinds of stories and pictures. Now it finally seems to be an appropriate time for me to get started. I have learned and tied lots of flies and they have been catching lots of fish for me. I have made several trips to Montana eagerly (more to come!) and each trip has had meanings and objectives and ended with great success and satisfaction. And then these days I seem to get off from my tying bench because now I know which flies I need to tie rather than tying randomly and also because I don't snag or tangle much!!

Here it goes about me.

Favorite river: Madison River
Favorite flies: if I have to pick one group of patterns, soft-hackle and wet flies.
Favorite foods: Cioppino and Sushi that DO NOT contain my trout......

I also like Yellowstone National Park waters, Livingston, MT area, and several places here in eastern WA (not Yakima River though).

My posts will mainly be about my fishing journey with lots pictures. Also I will probably add some scenes from my tying bench. Then I may add some scenes from my real job, breeding cows.

I hope some of you find this interesting to keep me going. I will greatly appreciate if some of you can give me friendly advice to improve my photography and fly-tying, also.
Have a nice "fishy" day!!