High, Dry and Hurried TR

[ScottP]

Needed a break from all the smoke in the Flathead so checked the prevailing winds, loaded up the trailer and headed toward (somewhat) clearer skies. A flock of freezer eagles bid me farewell




Not quite a tank of gas to reach blue skies. Heading in, a few puffy clouds; should throw a little shade on the creek




A little closer in and they blossom. By the time I get on the water the first rumblings of thunder; 20 minutes holding 9' of highly conductive material in my hand while standing knee deep in another highly conductive material and I'm out of there, whether the cutts are biting or not (they were not)




Storm chased me all the way back to camp; made for some nice hues




On the road next morning to chase some sippers; reports are that crowds are not too bad but I always worry about scoring a decent campsite. Timing is everything; the campground was full by evening (although the water itself was wide open, except up in the Bathtub which I avoided)




Unhooked and grabbing all the photons I can get




Wish I could have met Rupe




A little too late for the trikes but hopper/dropper scored a pair here




Watched the transformation while suiting up the next morning

[ScottP]

On the water the dance starts




The sippers are up; I do as good a job timing the rise with a camera as I do a fly




But the blind squirrel stumbles across an acorn every once in a while; those 20k flows in late May have kept the weeds very manageable and even with 6x there's not nearly as much salad around as I've seen in the past and I get a few to the net




5 of these guys come roaring over the dam; no time to get to the 12x Canon, the phone has to suffice



Pelicans imitating the Herky Birds





Top water action shuts down around 12:30 and I'm not here to nymph. Hoping for some caddis action in the evening; pretty scenery but no bugs and no heads up




As much fun as the trikes are it's time to hit the road and head for greener pastures, literally




Somewhat more intimate surroundings

[ScottP]

Gosling Muddler scores first






A few more down here but it's touching 95 and things taper off; time to head for a little shade







Would have liked to fish while these guys were out and about but I missed that chance




Place is lousy with spruce moths



So Splitsville it is (a dun here, but they prove not to be too picky)






First one of these; I've caught cutt-bows in the willow bottoms but this looks more bow-ish

[ScottP]

Next morning I try a different section of the willows and score on a pink thing







First of the cutt-bows




Flat water stretch




Again, spruce moths everywhere and the fish (all browns up here) are on them but the Splitsville gets nothing but refusals so I look for something closer to the truth; Weilenmann, you magnificent bastard, I read your book




Back in the faster water I find a real active feeder at the base of the big rock. 5 casts and 3 refusals, even though it's sucking every other moth that drifts it's way so I wait 10 minutes, drop down to a #12 and try again; worth the wait





Driving back to camp that evening I see 2 guys fishing, the only other people on the water in the 4 days I was there


Had a few hours to kill before heading to Three Forks to visit some friends so I headed for another little blue line

[ScottP]

Manning their posts








Nice





Hooked a pig where the bank slumps down to the water but he wrapped me up and popped off; had to settle for younger kin





Didn't need anything but hoppers here

[ScottP]

Pretty




I guess he got into a different line of work in his later years




Time to break it down and head on out. Smoke's getting thicker



I have friends waiting for me




And he doesn't like to be kept waiting




Regards,
Scott

[herefishy]

Thanks for the great tr.