Baker?s Dozen TR

Articles Trip Reports & Travel
1

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

2

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

3

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

4

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

5

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

6

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

7

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?

8

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

9

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)

10

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

11

She takes a boat ride with friends

And I take a hike

Wildflowers are winding down

But the hucks are tasty

And I?ve got nothing to grouse about

Regards,
Scott

12

I love to see these adventures!! Very nicely done. I’m a little envious. No, quite envious. Thanks!

13

Scott,
Thanks for posting this trip report. Wish I could have been there! Beautiful country and beautiful fish.
Thanks,
Ted

14

Great trip report Scott Thanks

15

Thanx for the trip !!!

16

Wow! Loved it; thank you for sharing.

17

Good fun going along with you via your photos…

Appreciate it very much.

Take care !

18

Thanks for sharing your trip, Scott. enjoyed it very much. Envious!

19

ASTOUNDING Scott!!!
Greatly appreciated, for sure. Superbly done.
…lee s.