Spring Fishing Going Strong!

As the spring grows (deepen? or spring?), I'm fishing FULL-TIME and harder. Daily weather still varies a lot. Certainly daily fishing conditions can be affected but if one can figure out what works or not, one can have good fishing! I'd like to say I've been doing well. Then again, I've been fishing a lot = hence lots of pictures. This post is a semi-photo gallery with minimum writings....... Scroll through!

DePuy's Spring Creek is offering some of the best spring fishing = as always this time of year! 

Tuesday 3/29, it was some of the wildest stormy conditions I've been on the creek. But I braved. Midge hatch was very doable!

Just checking.......uh-oh..........

Nice brown!

My friend Jared and I did mix up some other enjoyments

Wednesday 3/30, I did so-so during the afternoon hatch.

Sipper!........

However evening hatch was one of a kind!! I nailed two nice browns!!

Thursday 3/31, it was another wild weather!! Luckily it lasted for only a few minutes.

A nice colored rainbow!

Hmmmmm......baetis inside!!

Then I kept working....... I got some nice actions, even a bit too much for my light 4-wt.......

Yay!! Perhaps the BIGGEST rainbow caught on my light 4wt rod with 6X tippet!!

Friday, 4/1, back to a nice sunny day...........are you confused with our weather yet?
Baetis hatch was OK

I just can't describe by words but it was a classic brown trout spot with a classic its action/take.

Another impressive trout for this spring!!

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This weekend turned out to be very nice. Renee and I fished along Yellowstone River.
She caught her first ever Yellowstone Cutthroat!!

Action continued........

We knew it was a nice one at the end of her line. After some nervous tug-of-war plus my worthless advises, we got it!!

No compliments, this is some of the largest Cutts I've ever seen in Montana section of Yellowstone River!! Congratulation, Renee!!

Furthermore, as an added bonus, it was tagged! We'll be sending in the information to MT FWP and would like to here this trout's history!

I catch once in a while.........

 She's getting the job done...........!!

 This was a nice one!

 Afternoon actions

I get back to another full-time week as of tomorrow!
Hope to report more in the next post!!
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This year, I can't attend the annual Yellowstone River Cleanup as I am going to attend East Idaho Fly Tying Expo on the same weekend (more details about Expo later). So we have picked up whatever we found over the weekend. Just a little contribution for our beloved River.........

Back to Home Waters

The Bighorn Trip was one of my biggest plans for this spring. Before & after, I also had been busy with small errands and jobs. Interestingly, all of those got done at about the same time! So I went back to my routines. As much as I enjoy other waters in Montana, I'm always glad and feel content when I fish Livingston area.

I got back to DePuy's Spring Creek and visited with other regular anglers to catch up with fishing while I was away. Midge & baetis hatches have been good!! This rainbow greeted me right at the first cast!

I can't remember the last time I caught such a telltale cutbow like this!

 During the baetis hatch!

A super technically surface feeding Whitie.........

 So cute!!

After the hatch, I did look for an opportunity for a Big One........

Then it's nice to launch my boat on Yellowstone River too!!
Everyone has gone through the first time on the oars........

Right now she's better at fishing! At one particular spot, we encountered a group of rises after rises!!

Congratulation for your first ever Whitefish in Montana - on a tiny midge dry-fly!!

This is my catch.......

I'm not sure if I can attend the annual Yellowstone River Cleanup this year (more details to follow). So in case I can't, I just did what I could contribute.

So the pre-runoff fishing in Paradise Valley (and surrounding area) has begun and been doing well!!

Bighorn Trip Day 2

On Sunday 20th, apparently morning was much easier and more comfortable. The day was expected to be much warmer too. We kicked off the day with hearty breakfast!

Then we checked out Cottonwood Campground, hoping to visit again, and headed to Afterbay Dam.  On this day, we decided to focus on upper 3 miles.

Strangely the morning midge hatch & rise were not as strong as the day before. Yet, once hopping back on my boat, nymphing is as productive as ever!

 Anticipating afternoon hatches, we cooked up another hearty hot lunch! That was the famous brats from Pioneer Meats and "extra beefy" chili!!

The flat..........

As in the morning, both midge and baetis hatches were not as strong as the day before. However, that can't be an excuse. There were plenty of rising trout and, again, they were some of most challenging ones I've encountered. When baetis were prevalent, I hooked two - though they didn't come to my net and camera.

Meanwhile, Renee got one!!

My boat was painted like this.............

Over all it was a great trip with lots of fun, learning, and observation.
Bighorn River is one unique and special river - location, water system, number of trout, fishing methods, and many other interesting factors.
Each angler has one's favorite method and spot or how to spend the day on the river. To me, the biggest attractions are tremendous insect hatches and when & how trout change their behavior accordingly. I'm not being technical or philosophical, nor the size or numbers of trout. It's simply the ultimate challenge for me.

Hope to get back soon - my own fishing and guided trips. If you haven't experienced Bighorn River, it's worth writing down on your bucket list..........