Baker?s Dozen TR

[ScottP]

Thirteen days out; did some fishing (besides the Mo, I saw one other person with a rod the whole trip), did some birding, met up with good friends.

Up and at ?em; not exactly first light but what?s the hurry?




Clear sailing




Jammer




Looks like a good place to bale out




Drop the anchor and start grabbing photons




Time to see if the cutts are out and about




A good place to start; one little guy but I miss connection on a nice one at the back end




Up a little farther



and we?re in business



Not too many hoppers around but they?re just stupid cutts anyway

[ScottP]

These work, too




A few more spots, a few more fish and the skunk is off






Nice way to end the day




Time to pull up stakes and see what else we can find




Drop off the rig and go get the feet wet

Intimate surroundings








Put it tight to the willows and the browns come out to play

[ScottP]

They?re not real particular




A few bugs around but I can?t find anything they?re really excited about






Had real good luck with spruce moths here last year







but only see a few this time (seems like everything?s running a bit late this year) and although I get a fish or two,



they?re looking for something else



The something else appears to be pink; hello Pookie

[ScottP]

Only cutt-bow of the trip




I can do it classy, too; Irish lough flies bring them up








Interesting country up higher






Evenings are nice here, too

[ScottP]

On a tip from a friend, I check out some water near by that he thought might be fun




The stuff with barbed wire and orange fence posts sure looks good; here?s where the public land starts





A little tight in those willows; I pop the safety off the bear spray and look for some open water




It looks like dapping is in order










Damned if it doesn?t work; hardest part was getting the hopper thru all the overhanging grass (conehead hoppers?)




I don?t think there was room for this one to turn sideways

[ScottP]

That was a great way to spend the morning; back to the wide open spaces






A few more fish






This time on Mr. Wilson’s hopper (R.I.P. Muz)




Last evening here




2 juvie bald eagles fighting over a fish carcass




Off to visit an old friend who has always been generous

[ScottP]

For not the first time, I miss connection with a nice one where the bank hangs over the creek



But manage a few elsewhere






Clouds start building up to the west and even though there?s no rain in the forecast, the weather does what it damn well pleases out here so I head back to camp, pull up stakes and head to the mean streets of Three Forks for a few days






It?s going to be close but I think I?ll dodge this one (I get nailed about an hour later when I hit the interstate)




Huh?

[ScottP]

Haven’t seen my little buddy since March; he doesn’t seem to have missed me




I was wrong




A couple days of good company and beagle love then it’s back on the road again. Need to gas up but it’s looking a bit threatening




It holds off a bit but by the time I make the turn north it hits; Hand of God and all that (luckily just wind and rain here; they had golf ball sized hail just to the south)




By the time I get to the campground it’s blown thru; pretty quiet in town




Head for the water to see if anything’s happening this evening. Not much; only a random caddis here and there and no fish up. I get 3 on but nothing comes to net.






A few tricos on the camper in the morning




But the spinner fall never really happens; I see a few fish fall to the fleet but I’m not here for bobber fishing. Time to head on


Playing the shell game

[ScottP]

Golden bones; this could be interesting




Try to get closer to see if I can find some decent footing in the muck in the event I hook one

Heading back to the truck to break out the 6 wt and this guy pops up



I spook another one 5 minutes later, just walking on the gravel road; scratch the carp idea, I?ll stick to birding for the rest of the day and have one more go with the westies in the morning


Pre General Lee




Pretty country






Prairie




Prairie falcon




First hole




First fish (on the Muz hopper)

[ScottP]

More waterA few more fishAnd I guess I’ve accomplished whatever it was I was trying to do; time to think on thatLots of people say I don’t know jack; I beg to differOff to the park to meet up with the wife