Montana: Update

So, where to start.

I fish six to 12 hours a day, less when I have work obligations. The days blur together now as I throw dries, have lunch at the river, and try to get dialed in.

The dry-fly fishing has gone from lights out to challenging. The fish used to key in on size 16 dries and now prefer size 20. The bugs are getting smaller as each day goes by.

There are many anglers. My strategy often is to fish mid-day when most anglers try to beat the heat elsewhere. I’ve found that when no one is around, the occasional fish is near the bank, quietly sipping. There are quite a few 19” fish, and I hope to break the 20” mark like last year.

A great place for a break is Galloup’s Slide Inn, which has a ton of fly-tying materials and experts named Jake and Will. They’re great guys, and it is fun to talk fishing.

A few patterns have done well: Cripples, Emergers, and Hackle Stackers. All lie low in the water. The water is clear, and it is fun to see fish react.

I am at the mid-point of my trip and feel incredibly blessed to be out here. Even when fishing is slow, the cool water and beautiful scenery cannot be outdone.

Tight lines.

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