Scott,
It was a ton of fun fishing with those guys, and nice to see the smiles with each fish. Can’t wait to do it again when the big “W” dies down a bit, lol.
TT.
Had a blast last night teaching the community ed fly casting class. I had 4 studens, all of whom picked up the basics rediculously quickly. When I got done I asked them what they thought of the first class (next one is on the 12th). They all enjoyed it and were very pleased with their results. I told them all to do some lawn casting to work on what they’d learned. One of the women said, “Soooo, what are we doing next week? First Lake?”
She wanted to fish! lol. And she wasn’t alone! Everyone else chimed in saying that if the weather is good enough that they’d love to go up to the first lake and try out what they’d learned on the water. “Why not? I agreed.”
I can’t wait for next week to take them to the lake and try and get them on some fish…should be fun. And I’ll have some pictures too! Oh, holy cow, it’s Friday…I’ll have some pictures from this weekends endeavors as well. Might have to stop in to a local fly shop and see if anyone’s been out after pike yet. It seems like the water should be just about perfect for them in the bays.
Have a great weekend everyone, and tight lines,
TT.
I went out yesterday (Saturday) after a full day of chores. Instead of heading into the mountains, I decided to try my hand at pike fishing in the shallow bays of Fresno Reservoir near Havre. It wasn’t until I started unpacking my gear that I realized I’d forgotten the fly box with my pike flies in it, so I tied on a clouser I’d tied up for trout. My friend, Tim called when I was on my way out there and said he’d join me. I had my pontoon all ready to go, and both rods strung up by the time he got there. Tim strapped on his stripping basket, and I floated out into the bay, excited to see what would transpire.
After an hour or so, Tim whooped as his rod bent under the strain of a whopping 14 inch pike. His first on the fly. I must admit that I was a bit jealous. If any of you have talked to me about pike, then you know I’m not shy about telling you how long it took me to finally get one, something like 23 or 24 years of fly fishing to catch a 10 incher! Tim did in 3 weeks after his first trout on a fly.
I switched flies to my crystal muddler…just to see. A few casts later I was doing some whooping of my own when I felt my own small pike tugging on my line. I was ECSTATIC! Tim rushed over to snap a picture for me, and didn’t make it very far down the bank before I had a walleye half way back to the shore.
We didn’t catch any more fish, but the fact that we each caught a pike has me anxious to get back with the proper flies, lol.
King’s Bay.
Tim’s Pike.
My pike.
My walleye.
A rainbow that came out after a light rain.
Happy Mothers Day Mom’s!
Well done on the pike. I just got my first one on a fly about three weeks ago. Maybe slightly bigger than yours out of a little creek.
Nice, Poke 'Em! Tim got another one yesterday that I’ll post a picture of when I remember to bring my camera in. It probably doubled his first pike, lol. I was using a huge popper to see if I could bring anything up to the surface, no luck though.
TT.
Now that I look at it some more, are you sure that’s a pike? I don’t think a northern pike would have the vertical stripes like those have. I’m thinking perhaps those are tiger muskies.
You might be right. I honestly have never seen a tiger muskie, but it would be nice to add another species to my list. I’ll have to check it out. My bad if it is a tiger muskie and not a pike.
Thanks for the heads up!
TT.
Well, according to some of the statements I found, juvenile pike have vertical markings until they reach adulthood. That’s when they change. Some of the pictures I looked at I wasn’t able to tell the difference between the two juvenile fish.
TT.
yeah, I think you’re right. FWP doesn’t show Fresno as having Tiger Muskies either.
I didn’t even think to look there, might have been even easier than all the searches I did, lol.
TT
Young Pike will have the stripes like that…
I’m glad you guys are chiming in. More knowledge is a good thing, lol. I can’t wait to add some tiger muskies to my list of species caught. There’s a lake in the mountains that is stocked with them, and I fully intend on giving them a good go.
TT.
I took my fly casting class out to fish yesterday…in the wind! It was a perfect day to show them the value of a good roll cast though, so please don’g take that as a complaint.
We started out with a few knots, and then I gave them each a crystal muddler, and sent them off to give it the 'ol college try. The water was pretty murkey from all the runoff (the creek is really high and unfishable at present), so I knew it wasn’t going to be easy fishing. Everyone had to work for their fish, but everyone did land at least one!
What a blast to see them all putting what they learned to good use.
Here are a few pictures of brand new fly fishers!
Kaitlyn’s first fish.
Andy’s first fish.
Ashley’s first fish.
Jimmi Lynn’s first fish
Congrats on the pike AND the walleye…and introducing some new folks to fly-fishing and CATCHING. Thats very awesome of you!
Hugo,
Congrats on getting your students into some fish in less than favorable conditions. Well done, Mate.
REE
Dave, Ron,
Thanks for the kind words. The way I see it; it’s the only way I can ever repay everyone who has helped me become the fly fisherman I am today. I have really enjoyed giving these classes, can’t wait for the next one.
TT.
Mike, thanks a bunch for the intro to flyfishing. I am sure the four in your last class learned alot and enjoyed themselves.
Tim
I didn’t get ANY fishing in this weekend. Sunday was the only day I would have been able to fish, but the wind was a good sustained 40mph. I know, I know; a real fly fisherman would have found a way, lol.
I thought about it, but then decided I’d take the time to spend with my wife since I am going to be at the Central Washington Fish-In this weekend. I have my care packed already, but I don’t leave until Thursday morning. Which, but the way, is a nice treat because I didn’t think I’d be leaving until Thursday afternoon.
I’m bringing a friend from Havre too…and his Birthday is on Saturday, double bonus!
Here are some pictures from other fishing trips…enjoy!
TT.
Pretty little brown trout.
A mackerel from my first saltwater fly
fishing trip to Cabo.
A birthday fish from Taneycomo.
my wife with a nice smallie.
I hope I haven’t postes any of these on this thread before, but if I have, oh well, lol.
Tight lines everyone!
Good luck in Washington! Wow, you really “get around”! 
Lol, Dave, I’ll take that as a compliment.
I’m so stinking excited I can hardly stand it. It’ll be my first little vacation in over 2 years. You could always join us in Montana in July. There are a few folks from Missouri coming…imagine the convoy you could have, CB’s, crazy fishing handles, it’d be awesome! lol.
TT.