The Fall Deepens

When was the last time that I didn't update a new post over a week?, No, over 10 days!? There's always something to say or talk about and I can usually figure out time for updating and editing. Was I super busy then? Probably so......... I was on the water most of days anyway. Let's look back.

Fall seems officially settled. When it's windy, it's windy like this day.

When it's not windy, it can be overcast plus/minus shower just like this day. This is the typical fall in my opinion. Floating rivers can be GREAT but one has to commit to the weather of the day......

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Yellowstone Park waters are fishing well. Some may be done for the season, others are reviving for the fall!! Here's Pronghorn Antelope swimming in Lamar River.

Green Drake patterns can still entertain some Cutty! This is my brandnew pattern!!

Fall Blue Winged Olive (baetis) is becoming trout main dish!!

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Then I went back guiding to DePuy Spring Creek (www.depuyspringcreek.com). I assisted my guide-mentor Montana's Master Angler - Tom Travis to guide a group of 4 anglers.
This time I observed this "Mystery Baetis"...........that's all I can tell you..........

Two anglers and I experienced mid-day Midge & Fall BWO hatches!!

They both bent their rods with my match-the-hatch fly selection!!

But also nymph rig is very productive. One of my anglers caught this fat strong 'Bow.

And the fly on its mouth is my own L.L. Beads!!

I'm still guiding and will start to fish more for the fall. I'm also getting things together for winter fly-tying projects. Maybe I'm busy then.........

Mystery Spinners & Fall Premonition - At DePuy's

September 16th, I guided couple clients from Wisconsin at my favorite stream DePuy's Spring Creek (www.depuyspringcreek.com). Season is changing so is fishing condition. Hence tactics and fly selections need adjusted accordingly. I could manage time to visit the creek forehand for scouting and gathering information on last weekend. I visited with my mentor Montana's Master Angler: Tom Travis and Buzz at Spring Creek Specialists. Just like every guide trip at any other waters, I needed a brief and basic agenda to follow or to build up ideas upon. This extra driving and time always pay dividends on guided trips!! Especially at Livingston's spring creeks!!

What's been going on in the morning at DePuy's is: what we, spring creek enthusiasts, call "Mystery Spinner Fall". Those are sizes 20-22 rusty spinners. One may call baetis and some sort and that wouldn't be totally wrong. Yet it's indeed mystery because nobody really knows when they are hatching as duns. Then they fall on the creek in quite a number, which causes great rising actions among trout!! It's quite a scene indeed, reminding me of PMD time of a few months ago. Based on my observation and information gathered, I had tied several different patterns for this special condition (sorry no pictures for now). I rigged up their rods. My clients were the first timers for DePuy's but husband Gary hooked his first trout with his very first cast!!! Has anybody done this? My first visit at DePuy's was...........I don't want to recall........ Anyway the first trout broke off Gary's fly so I attached another one. Just a few minutes later, he did bring it in confidently!! And this was the first trout for me to net with my brandnew Measure Net!! Just a typical DePuy's rainbow!!

Spinner action was surprisingly great!! Here's Gary holding a very solid Cutty!!

Diane also fished very hard during spinner time. She did hook a couple of nice ones but unfortunately those big ones broke off her tippets. Just as spinner action was ending, typical southwest winds started. We fished very hard and patiently in the afternoon. We did some spring creek style nymphing and chased sporadic evening midge hatches. I did everything I could think of to make up "gone fish" of morning for this lady angler. Our effort and perseverance paid off!!

And another one!!

As seen, these brown trout have just developing fall colors and some weights. To be honest, a bit earlier than I thought but I guess we deserve some lucky as we worked very hard and late!!

Another great day at DePuy's Spring Creek was over. I hope my clients had good time and enjoyed the creek and trout there.
Better plan a visit and book your rod!! As the fall matures, fishing will be changing into another phase!! Readers of this blog know what I'm talking about....... See you along the creek!!

Hmmmm???? Fishing Day, Wildlife, & One More New Gear

No charade or prologue needed for yesterday's outing. Not that I made the day slow but I picked up a slow unlucky day, really.  Because of my guiding schedule and my "Fisherman's Almanac", I hit Lower Meadow of Slough Creek expecting Flying ant mating swarm. Conclusion: I didn't see any though I spent till 6:00pm........ My famous S.C.ANT remained in my box........

Check my past posts for how much I was longing for this special occasion!!, if not SADISTIC PUNISHMENT by Lower Slough Trout!!
http://leftyangler.blogspot.com/2011/09/yell-cutty-hopper-beetle-baetis-bear.html
http://leftyangler.blogspot.com/2011/09/patience-observation-discovery-problems.html
http://leftyangler.blogspot.com/2012/09/september-7th-part-2-flying-ant-mating.html
I will reconsider misc matters and may try again soon!!

Also, as I drove into Yellowstone Park, I dropped by Parks' Fly Shop (www.parksflyshop.com). They  informed me Soda Butte Creek had another late season "spike" couple of days ago and became muddy, consequently Lamar River would be also questionable for great fishing........ I was expecting to fish for Green Drake hatch during day-time!! My expectation turned out to be just a day-dream of yonder years and days......

I managed to catch one decent Cutty on my own brandnew Green Drake dry-fly, though!! This new pattern will be announced in a near future with pictures and a tying video.

See how big it was!!?? And the water condition in the back.......

Rest of pictures are just another day spent in Yellowstone Park.......
This is the first time to see badger gets out of its den and what? hunting trout??

It's really odd this year. We didn't see many hoppers last hoppers then suddenly here they are!!

Hope these pictures will stimulate your tying enthusiasm, like I'm already thinking of something.....

Dragonfly resting on my Fishpond Guide Lumbar.

Although our guide season is winding down for the season (not fishing!! just to let you know), I decided to get another guide-gear.
One of the most important jobs of the guide = netting clients' catch of the day!! This is a true collaboration between guides and clients. There are clients who are used to and who can handle most sizes of fish. Then there are some big ones that even those experienced anglers have some hard time to bring them in!! Also there are clients who don't get used to our wild trout. I can't help them to reel in as reeling & fighting fish is clients' work (as well as enjoyment & excitement, of course). The best help I can offer is net them, when they get the closest to me.....But "closest" really varies..... Although I coach and direct my anglers for out best results, there has been "the very last second escape". Then once netting completed, another question I'm asked is "how big?". Yes, size is important but, for me, over all process is more important. Yet as a professional with trained eyes, I'd better be able to answer.  I was reviewing a while and finally found the tool to answer all of these. I just purchased Large size Measure Net (http://www.themeasurenet.com/).
Now, "I have two guns. One for each of ya." (Doc Holliday in Tombstone).

It's feather-light on my hand!! Then already longer than my regular net.

 And it extends for further reach!!

Accompanied is Net holder from Dr. Slick.  This is another super "slick" gear!!

I haven't wet this new net yet. Hopefully netting some giants at Lower Slough for my clients!!

Touch of The Fall............

September: We definitely have turned the another corner of season. Day-in & -out temperatures are getting cooler. Numbers of tourists and party-floaters are winding down. As a guide, I have more trips to run and expect more numbers of serious anglers would visit in the fall. As an angler, fall is the best & glorious end of the season!!, if I have to pick one season anyway, so I will sneak out more in between guiding and once the guide sequence is over!!

In our Great Yellowstone Country, Brookies would probably be the first species showing fall = spawning colors!!

Good looking buck!!

Dedication of the job!! Sun-up somewhere in Yellowstone National Park. Air temp was just above 30F...........

Yellowstone River had been hanging in there...... Fishing and river condition will be improved as it cools down. Once on hopper, always on hopper!!...........our happy wish..........

And it's time of the year again!! My Annual Whitefish-of-the-Year Championship has officially begun as of this month!! Here's my own entry. Yesterday, I had this sensation in a while!! I hooked something BIIIIIIG!!, felt like 20+ inches trout!!,............ then it was this belly-snagged 17-inch Whitie!! (see the red-dot) Still skinny but look at his (her?) lips!!

Competition runs till end of this year. Email me your BEST and I will post on this blog of mine. If I receive many pictures, I consider to create a new page. Winner will be awarded with a dozen of my custom flies!! - seriously!!

Summer is ending but hopefully you will have good fall-fishing. You will find me fishing for Green Drake and Fall Baetis (BWO) and hauling in huge fall-runners!!