Winter Fall?

Subzero temperatures and record snowfalls have hammered southwest Montana over the past few days. We have picked up near 6 inches of snow again in Gardiner since early this morning. Over the past 4 days we have accumulated near 20 inches of snow. Anyone want to go fishing?

Here are some pictures from work. Stay warm where you wander.

The One that Got Away

MEMORY STAIN

I saw it! I saw it!

the mythical beast of lore!

it rose with power and glory

little mine eyes knowing of the seconds to fall before me

water exploded

current changed course

the beast charged our #4 with one thought only

it came up from the dark and leapt forth

exposing our virgin eyes and burning into our memories

his rod set, line going tight

and just for a vapor victory was known,

but NO!

our #4 did not find it’s mark

and as quick as it came

the beast was gone

ripples all that remain

the current returned to where it once left

shock from the sight began to marinate

and Dan and I managed to speak only in tongues

maybe cavemen could have understood our following 20 minute conversation

but truth be known that all fisherman know to what we were conversing

I saw it! I saw it! the mythical beast of lore!

It is here and alive!

More!

Critters are coming out of the woodwork! Here's a photo of the black bear that came up on me near the Chicory access the other night. It was a good encounter and got my blood pumping!

I got to see my 1st Badger at work on Wednesday. It was great. Right outside the office. It was neat to see him move or I should say waddle low to the ground. They are bigger than I thought they'd be. He ran off toward the hills once he started getting too much attention.

And last but not least this beautiful creature I saw on the Yellowstone not to far from Dome Mountain Ranch. Nice catch!

Then came the animals 7 by 7

It's been the warmest fall I can remember here in southwest Montana and the critters have been on the move. I've seen more animals in the past 3 weeks than I can count. I've had some first, second, and even 3rd encounters. This morning on the way to work I ran into my second live Montana skunk near Chico. Luckly I was in the car and it was not.

About two weeks ago I saw a large grizzly just outside of Gardiner and then about 4 miles south of Emigrant I ran into a cow Moose!

While fishing Siri and I discovered a rattler den. The den is close to the bridge on 89 near dome mountain and point of rocks. Be careful on warm afternoons because they like to sunbathe. They are right at the donated fishing access where the rock formation comes down to the river. We found about 7 adults out and about right at dusk two Saturdays ago. The following Saturday another adult was there as well and rattling!

Last weekend while fishing at dusk near the Chicory access I had a large black bear come up behind me. I was catching whitefish and wasn't paying much attention when I caught him out of the corner of my eye. He didn't pay any attention to me however. I got back to the truck and watched him for about 15 minutes while he perused through the willows munching on something. Glad it wasn't me!

The highlight of critters was a Mountain Lion I saw just south of the Emigrant turn off on east river road. It ran right out in front of the car! What an experience! Wish you could have heard the phone messages I left just after it happened. Well, keep

your eyes peeled, especially if you go below the green boxes. There's been a big griz down there as well. Until then.

(the map is approximately where the lion was at)

Newest Part of the Junk Art Family

Here's my latest junk art project. Enjoy.

Fall Back

I was able to make it out yesterday afternoon for about an hour on one of my favorite places on the Yellowstone, near Joe Brown. I went right after work and started out with a small caddis. Got into a fish right away and missed several others. A gentlemen was on the river across from me with his well behaved black lab. I think I watched him catch 7 fish or so. He had it figured out. It was good to get out again. Hoping to get out several times over the next month and find some tight lines. See you below the green boxes.

Trout Bum

Still around

have been a bum

not much trout trouting

goings is on

someday soon

a yellow river of gin

will be wet enough

for dries again

Feel

Fat flakes fall and bitter winds beat against my window pane as the stockpile of spring runoff reaches it's potential. Clothed in white once more to turn green and then gray the river smiles and is thankful for the bounty it is to receive. Sometimes it's too much and others not enough, but always just right when the sunset comes early and it's time to head home.

Mother is on Her Way

The colder overnight temps and cloud cover this past week has got the river looking good. With Mother's Day only a week away it's just about time for the hatch of hatches. I heard rumors this weekend while in Bozo that caddis had been spotted near Livingston. So on my way back home this afternoon, I stopped at mallard's rest to gaze upon the river and devour my mushroom and swiss angus burger and enjoy the sights. I was able to get about two bites out of my burger before I noticed that the water was alive! Fish rising everywhere! I hurried and got my gear on and for the next 40 minutes or so was catching fish after fish. One rainbow went close to 16 inches. It was fun to say the least. The next week calls for more of the same, so I'm hoping to stretch my string and land some grins. Hope to see you below the green boxes.

Mother's Day

Even if it's a little early

Happy Mother's Day!

It will be here before we know it. Get ready!

Starting to Spring

Spring has finally hit southwest Montana in the last few days and daytime temps have reached into the lower 70's. I can't tell you how incredibly great it feels to go outside without a coat, hat, sweatshirt, long underwear, mittens, and scarf. I was able to venture out on the Yellowstone twice this weekend and even though I didn't catch many fish it was sure good to bake in the warm sun. I caught a cut and a small brown on Saturday on dries! I was amazed however on Sunday how fast the water transformed from a jade green to a tea brown. The Gardner River was adding a flavor of it's own to the Yellowstone and today visibility was down to about 12 inches. I imagine with the current weather forecast and warm temps it will start to look more like latte' than tea over the next few days. The fabled mother's day hatch is only a few weeks away and not many caddis yet in sight it will be exciting to see what transpires. Surely it will be here before we know it and my arm will once again be sore. Oh dang!

Live at the Shop

Some stuff from awhile ago...

A Friend of Mine

Sorted stacks of rocks and boulders

Bars and beaches migrating in season

Jasper water pulls and pushes

Capped with white and riffles

Stillness, too

Dark and silent

Smooth as glass narrowing then wider

Bowing and bending, powerful, strong

Terrible

Peaceful

Wonderfully longing to go home

Smell the air

Breathe you in

Then let go

So long

Old friend

Same Thing Different

It wasn’t long and I sat down on a big rock and let the sun warm my face. I couldn’t recall the last time I was out so I closed my eyes and washed myself in it all and just let the rush of the river be the only sound. It felt good to be there. Like I had been missing something and then found it again. I didn’t have any place to be or any task demanding my attention. Today it didn’t even matter to me if I caught a fish or not. There was such a congregation of midges floating in the breeze that if I opened my eyes just enough I’d of thought it was snowing. It’s hard to describe moments such as these, other than to say, it was more than enough for me. There in the white noise and the warmth of the sun I sat and was glad to have found once again, what I didn’t know I was looking for.

Lunch Time

It's raining today. I know for most people this doesn't seem that exciting but when you live in the arid region of southwest Montana rain is a special treat. I honestly don't remember the last time it rained. As I make my way down to the river for some lunch time fishing I close my eyes and breathe in the cool moist air. A hint of sweet cottonwood hangs in the breeze. The gravel crunches beneath my feet and the rushing of the rivers grows louder as the confluence rises to my horizon. A few birds in the big juniper are talking about the weather or perhaps the latest small town news. I can't help but know this is where I recharge, this is where I'm alive. It doesn't matter so much if I even catch a fish today, being here is the reason I've come. So I'm grateful to be here on my lunch break casting a fly to some rising trout on this 3rd day of March. As the rain turns into more of a sprinkle the blue wing olives start to thicken and I can't help but smile.