I knew that it was going to be a hot day so I started out early. It was already humid and I knew there would be a race to see which got close to a 100 first. It was time to hit the pond early and have everything done before the heat hit hard.

We had an inch or rain yesterday and I had thought I might be able to drive into a pond, but he rain fried that idea. Hiking in I found three places where water was standing, with a few inches of very soft, slick mud under it. When I got to the pond I saw that the water was lower than I expected. When I looked at the drain pipe I found that it had collapsed. The water had cut down about a foot and a half below where the hole is and that means that means the water was lower. 

The following account took place at a public access on a popular river in Montana just a few days ago.

Leaning back I admired the finished pattern in the jaws of my vise and couldn't help but smile. It sat presiding over my bench in all its finished glory, yet in stark contrast to the previously tied patterns still sitting in the pockets of my pedestal base. There in the bronze pockets of the Regal sat patterns the likes of Theodore Gordon's Quill, The Wilson brothers Queen of the Waters, Mr. Halladay's Adams and Al Troths venerable Elk Hair Caddis

There are days when the Snook are hiding, the Tarpon are absent and the Redfish seem to be on vacation at Sea World but that does not mean that you will go fishless for there are many species that can tantalize the angler while other species will cause you to grab the Florida Fish Identification Guide to see just what the heck you have on the end of the line. Besides, on days like these I will often experiment with a variety of patterns.

The Bighorn River in Southeastern Montana is one of the world's premier trout fishing destinations. Originating in the Wind River Mountains in Wyoming, it flows northward into Montana where it joins the Yellowstone River At its point of origin in the Wind River range it is called the Wind River.

Over the last couple decades my nephew and I have made a couple trips each year to fish Montana's Bighorn River. Fishing the Bighorn involves a 4 hour drive from our home along the Yellowstone River in Livingston, Montana and we headquarter in Fort Smith at the Bighorn Trout Shop, which is owned and operated by our old friends Hale Harris and Steve Hilbers. We come in May for the spring Baetis hatch and in late August for black caddis and Tricos. For big trout rising to small flies the fishing on the Bighorn is hard to beat.

By corresponding with my mentor and completing a Green Highlander, I became comfortable with the subject. I knew there was much more to learn and improve yet I felt that I was finally able to step onto the level to claim "I'm interested in Atlantic Salmon Flies". This is not a simple and easy hobby that one can take casually.

By January 2014 I became very comfortable and willing to explore more patterns. Regardless of what I would end up with it was a great journey. Each pattern that I attempted had enough fascination and attraction for me to spend several hours at my tying bench.