Wednesday, August 4, 2010

MONTANA ROAD-TRIP

Brian wandered around Montana recently and besides finding excellent fishing he dropped in on the nice people at the Winston Rod Company. Holding the Catch Magazine banner is Leslie Clark (left) and Annette McLean. The in-house museum and a factory tour are very interesting. The fishing on the nearby Ruby River was fantastic, as was the Beaverhead.

The hoppers were just getting going, but the Yellow Sally's and PMD's were everywhere and the trout were on them. In the thick willows along the Beaverhead, some big streamers were the happening item, also. No trip to Montana would be complete without dropping in on our buddy Jay Burgin at 5 Rivers Lodge. The food was as good as the view. Of course a couple thunderstorms had to get in on the act and the rainbows were a nice touch after a good rain.


The water levels in Montana streams are ideal and should stay good all season. Hatches are strong and the hoppers should be awesome for the next two months. On lower elevation rivers in Idaho and Oregon the hoppers were so thick that as you walked along a grassy river bank, hundreds of grasshoppers would fly ahead and many would land in the river. Is this chumming??!!

Another fun thing about fishing in Montana and the trout rivers of Idaho, Wyoming and Oregon is bumping into old friends along the way. Catch Magazine contributor (Issue #11 cover) Bryan Huskey was fishing with and helping celebrate the 30th birthday of Troy Garcia (photo below), who works at Fly & Field Outfitters in Bend, Oregon. Then at 5 Rivers Lodge, Don and Joy Knickrehn of the Idaho Angler Fly Shop were hanging out. Good fun, good people, good fishing.

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