Yellowstone Trip - Part 4

On Sep 3rd, my last day, I tried Pine Butte again and finally unleashed nymphs. I changed my strategy a bit and stepped into the river and fished anywhere fishy, which I noticed I haven't done with dry flies. I think when I use dry flies, I seem to focus or limit to obvious spots to make trout rise. But now with nymphs, I can go deep to the bottom. Considering what I got on that day as written below, this was the last lesson of this trip. Next time, I will cast dry flies anywhere fishy with my best observation and casting.

These two nymph patterns were all I needed. It is interesting when I tandem-rig these two and observe what trout is on which. At least on this day, rainbow trout took only brown thread $3 Serendipity.

Brown and Whitefish took only this bead-head Crystal Serendipity.

Here are good problems about these flies. These two hook way too many fish (whether I net or not) and trout really chew them. In spite of ribbing with wire, these flies become a "rag" after a few catch. But even when I don't notice that, most likely Whitefish would keep biting on it. And I knew I have to deal with Whitefish that I don't want to touch much. I de-barbed the hooks so my flies came out quickly without touching them!

Anyway, I caught a lot. First trout that looks like I fished the Madison was this 14-incher.

A bit later, I caught a 16-inch Cut-bow. I am not sure if there exists Cutthroat and Cut-bow hybrids in Madison but I think this one has orange slashes and its gills and belly were pink/orange. Pardon my self-timer pic. Trout was held under the water till count 3 and I took only twice. I believe trout was released safely and happily (I hope!).

I had two mysterious fish that pulled my line way out and got away. Also I had a really big and heavy bite and as I set the hook it snapped my bead-head Crystal Serendipity in a moment. Could be a huge brown?? Maybe. I didn't see even shadow of them. Just the actions and feelings that make me feel something big. These experience in Madison always make me want to come back.

All morning I didn't see anybody at Pine Butte except for the opposite bank. In the afternoon I went to Slide Inn for the first time. It is a pretty wild section. Yet 12-inch rainbow rose and bit on a hopper fly!

So why didn't I use nymphs from the beginning? Was this trip good?

My trip never ends bad. I always enjoy the process to make the trip, what I get during the trip, and what I will do for the next trip (= homework). During this trip my Pinocchio's nose and cocky attitude broke off and I really pushed myself hard to fish on purpose, especially with dry-flies and insect hatches. That does not mean I don't like using nymphs or streamers. As this day at Pine Butte, I used nymphs with observation and reading waters rahter than casting blindly.

And most of all, I saved my fishing luck for the fall. That's how I conclude!

I can't wait till I get back to West Yellowstone in late October. But then again, I will enjoy the process by then. I have some flies to tie and get ready for cold weather. I will have a perfect reason to eat some huge breakfast to get against the cold weather!