I know that I’m incredibly fortunate and blessed to be able to take weeks each summer to fish in Montana. I do not take it all for granted. It is hard to describe the experience out here, when days blend together, the fishing is tough sometimes, but the trout are eager most of the time.
I’ve become friends with some locals, and they’ve kindly showed me spots and patterns that work for them. We also have a lot of laughs together!
In the middle of the midday lull, when trout seem to nap at any river at which I am fishing, it is fun to visit the local fly shops. I’ve met a lot of fishy people working these spots, but some of the fishiest people I’ve ever met are at Montana shops. Many fly shops these days make a lot of their money on wardrobe, but places like the Slide Inn and Beartooth Fly Fishing still have ridiculous amounts of fly tying materials. And, I’m happy just perusing stuff and thinking about what flies I can make.
The Madison is quite dynamic in that the bug rotations change often. But the past few days, I think I stumbled on some patterns that have worked: a tan size 14 Lance Egan Cornfed Caddis with a Galloup Downed Caddis dropper with some Caddis Green Ice Dub for an egg sac. The fish have been keyed in on color: they don’t take any dark Caddis that crushed it two summers ago. The eats on the dropper have been vicious, and I’ve had to move to 4x just to keep the fly on.
Good times!
Today I head off to the airport to pick up one of my children, and I’m excited to guide her for a few days out here and show her around. In the meantime, below are some Instagram posts. The dry-fly action is at its peak right now.
Happy Fourth of July, everyone. God bless America!
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Well done and happy 4th!
So Jealous. Will have to try and find a time to meet in Montana in the future.