Afternoon at Armstrong's

NEWS: Some of you readers might have wondered why I suddenly attached Regal Vise banner. People who know me through Facebook (or in person) have already heard last night. I have just been inducted as a Pro Staff with Regal Vise!!! Go to their website (or just click the banner) and click "Pro Staff". I'm there along with other big-name tyers!! I really feel responsible for the title and position as a Pro Staff. I will keep producing innovative patterns and catch more trout!! Then, just as I write under the banner, "I go to the grave" with my beloved Regal Vise. It's that tough. Indeed it's been my life-long friend at my tying bench since the day I acquired.
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It turned out to be a very nice winter day. It wasn't too dry or too warm. It was sunny but air temp was chilly. Then NO WIND!! In the afternoon, I visited Armstrong Spring Creek in O'Hair Ranch (www.armstrongspringcreek.com). Basically it's up-stream of DePuy's (www.depuyspringcreek.com). I started from the border = lower end of Armstrong's = upper end of DePuy's. I fished up-stream with Shotgun-Nymphing. This is what I call "Lower Riffle". See where I parked my truck.

Between Armstrong's and DePuy's, some are common and others aren't. Whole discussion will be several-thousands-words-long so it has to be on other occasion (we might chat if I guide you either one of creeks).

The first trout was a typical Armstrong's 'Bow!! What do I mean by "typical"? It's just so............it can be coloration, number of spots, the way it fights, shape, weight, etc........... You will understand if you fish enough and catch many trout at both Armstrong's and DePuy's.

I built a new kick-seine!! (I forgot to take pictures...). Today's special was Midge Larva, period!!

HOTTEST Fly of the day was my own L.L. Beads - size 20 or 22 RED.

Lost a couple of them...........

 Then I caught "typical" Armstrong's Brown!!

This was on SCEGG. Indeed flies and tactics I developed from my experience at DePuy's just work well at Armstrong's too!!

It was getting dark and I was about to reach a section where I wanted to end the day.Very last one was this beautiful and vivid Cut-Bow on L.L. size 20!!

It just combined the best colors of 'Bow and Cutty, don't you think!!??

Sun was setting down in the west. Another Montana winter day was ending........

I just picked a day, which turned out to be wonderful. I can't emphasize how lucky I was. Also I experienced another great fishing at Armstrong's. As a guide in Paradise Valley, I'm often asked "Which should I choose, Armstrong's or DePuy's?". My answer is "FISH BOTH!!"

TIED!!! How Many Days Will It Be This Year?

NOTE: I keep working on updating "Trout Food Sources" page above. This is really fun!! But also I do believe some of you out there "spring creek enthusiasts" will find this page interesting and useful. Here are samples of my recent collection. I have designed many fly patterns based on these. Then I have tested and caught trout. You can find my patterns in my sales site (http://leftytyer.blogspot.com) or watch my YouTube videos!!

Spring BWO nymph

Sculpin!!

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SO!! As title says, I have made 50th & 51st visits to DePuy Spring Creek (www.depuyspringcreek.com) yesterday and today, respectively, which means I have caught up with last year's days with Winter Pass!!
Here's analysis. As of today (Feb 15), I visited 51 days out of 124 days (since Oct 15, 2012) = I visited every 2.4 days. And 58 days left till April 14th, 2013. Let's see how many more days I will make at DePuy's. But also I have to visit Armstrong's (www.armstrongspringcreek.com) and float & fish Yellowstone River once it warms up!!

Yesterday I was the only one at creek. I found unidentified & mysterious foot-prints along banks!!?? Is this Japanese Kappa??

 Fishing was average. I had fun anyway on this snow yet calm day. One little brown had a particular mark/stain/tattoo.........

Browns are gaining back their weight and aggression!!

 Lucky catch at the end!

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Today, this is what I did for the first couple of hours. Again, check "Trout Food Sources" page above to see my effort!!

Then, I can't emphasize how delighted I was with this catch!!
From "SUCKER" experience of the other day, I've been designing Sucker Minnow (baby sucker) imitations. In my opinion and observation, now is not a quite appropriate time to test streamers (as trout are not really eager to move). But at least I could test how it would be cast, sink, and swim. I was fishing very slow and deep. This little one took it so aggressively!! I guess I'm in a right track!! I will keep testing (and catching!!). Then I will show you recipes (yes, I have a few versions for trails)!!

At the very end of the day, I thought my little BWO nymph snagged on the bottom or rocks. But I didn't recall snagging structures there. I tried to unhook my fly, only then I realized it was MOVING!!!! Apparently my little nymph was snapped off........ No way to guess its size. Just heavy!! Some of you observant readers know what this mean and what's going on the creek......

This year, I don't really set "how-many-days" line. I just fish!! See you along the creek!!

Fly News & Another...........What Now?

FLY NEWS!!: I did custom tying of two original patterns (out of many more others), that I have developed especially for Livingston's spring creeks, for Buzz at Spring Creek Specialists Fly Shop (www.springcreekspecialists.com) within DePuy's property (www.depuyspringcreek.com). It's a nice little shop, totally dedicated for spring creek flies (and supplies such as leaders etc). Most of all anglers who have fished creeks would have said hi to Buzz. For those anglers who plan to fish creeks in near future, I'm sure you will do the same!
Sparkle Crane Larva - tan. This has been already posted on my sales site (here). Also I have posted a tying video on my YouTube channel. Look for from side bar or click a link written in "Tying Video" page above.

That's bunch of........creatures.........

Spring Creek Stone Nymph. I haven't posted this on my sales site nor have shot a tying video yet. This is, well, very unique and innovative in terms of tying and imitation itself!

 First of all, let me tell you, stonefly nymphs DO exist in spring creeks!!

I could go on.......but I may make another post for this subject later on.
It's only two patterns but I'm very glad that my original designs are "inducted" in the "spring-creek-dedicated shop". My flies are in bins among other great flies!! Some of them are tied or designed by other great spring creek specialists and enthusiasts!!! Come and check out!!
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Yesterday, after I delivered flies to Buzz, I fished some. OK to so-so fishing which ended with nice 'Bow!! This was caught on Stone Nymph above!!

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Today, it was another wind-less day here in Paradise Valley, though it was a bit colder.

 I saw Spring BWO (baetis), folks!! No rising trout yet, but right now small BWO-imitation nymphs work well!!

 Rainbows are getting ready for spawning, I guess. This size puts lots of fights on me!!

Then.....................I'm not going to use "SURPRISE" for this post and probably not any more for this year................ HUGE Sucker in the last post was enough. I get used to big fish (don't punch me or don't cut holes on tires of my truck!!...........).
I proceeded to "A Spot" where I caught BROWN for 2013 on January 30th (no link here as it was only two post below). It's not a secret spot or anything. Just a spot, where most of anglers fish every now and then. However, I fish this spot a bit different from others with my special flies........
I got a BIG TUG again!! But my mind seems to have been shaped up for "ON" by those previous surprises in a row. I noticed it was BIG again BIG!!

I roared for Victory!! It was on my Spring Creek Stone Nymph that I brought to Buzz!!

 How big? Though I didn't actually tape it, longer than my right arm!!

 I don't think this was the same one that I caught on January 30th. Some "cosmetic" signs and over all shapes/appearances were different. Which means there are some good ones like this all the time in DePuy's!!

Another achievement for today was that I pumped stomach of whitefish for the first time!! (I bet nobody wants to see proof pics of me working on it!!) Great success!!

Toward end of the day, I caught a really nice & jumpy rainbow with small Bead, Hare, & Copper.

 And the last shot................Definitely a run-up buck rainbow!!!

 As I was releasing him, I thought this picture looks very artistic......

I will "stop worrying for continuously catching big fish this early in the year". I just keep fishing!

Surprise Again? Another Biggest for A Species....

What surprise now? Getting enough? I am too but please go through pics till bottom.....you will love today's surprise I experienced.......!!

Yesterday and today, I visited DePuy's Spring Creek (www.depuyspringcreek.com) on nice winter days. Actually too nice, which reminds me of last winter......., which makes us think about snow accumulation and how river-flows will be this coming season.........
Fishing was a bit slow. I was experimenting or confirming some of my own designs anyway..... Even this little was very picky about fly selection!

 Then, good bite & fight!!

Look!! Sparkle Crane Larva (promoted in my sales site) was chosen over egg!!

Checking what's been eaten.......

 Next, I caught a very colorful, a typical spring-creek colored, brown in nice size!!

 Got something on its cheek......

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Today, fishing condition was similar but I caught fish where I expected. Happy!!

 This rainbow was nothing big but very colorful!!

It fell on B.P.C. size 18!! (also check up in my sales site!!) Well, Spring BWO (baetis) is about to make some moves from now on........

This one seems "Cut-Bow". It had very faint orange slashes but black marking patterns was unique, didn't look like typical rainbow's (compare to one above).

 Then I moved to one of my favorite spot at House Pond for the final spot of the day. I was fishing deep......suddenly a large tug!!??? WHAT? What's this!?

You SUCKER!!!!!!

Or me sucker...........

 Anyway it was massive......

I remained the same spot. I actually observed a school of suckers. They must have bullied trout out!!
Just about the sunset, I had another big tug!! It was huge & heavy!! 20-inch trout to end the day!!!

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It was THE 5-POUND SUCKER!!!! (held by 140-lb sucker)

 I didn't really tape but for the reference, my palm is 3.5-inch to 4-inch.

All suckers were happily released back to the pond to produce future generations = soon-to-be trout food.....
Thank you for reading this far!! I say good-bye via my friend's mouth!!