Joey and I returned from Montana late Saturday night after spending 9 nights camping at the Slide Inn. The water was still running a little high and off color but it was fishing well. We decided to take a trip to Wade and Cliff lakes for some pontoon fishing. It was windy but blowing towards the truck. We managed a few fish but the action was not hot. Joey hooked a few 16" bows towing a size 2 bunny leach, while I hooked a few 12" fish on the traditional #10 bugger. Those little fish sure took the air when hooked. We fished Cliff one more evening with similar results except the wind was blowing away from the truck. [img]
We were trying to give the Madison some time to settle down a bit by fishing the Cliff Lake and we also spent the day fishing between the lakes (Hebgen and Quake Lakes). We had a great day as far as catching numbers were concerned. Joey and I both had double digit numbers except they were all White fish. The water level was very wade friendly but we did not catch any trout. I did hook a nice Rainbow who spit the hook.
We decided it was time to fish the Madison below Quake Lake and with some nice back channels behind the Slide Inn.
I forgot to mention that when we arrived we had to wait for a storm to pass to set up camp. Well when we did get camp set up something got into our tent and had its way with Joey biting him on eye, hand, arm and back. He had a similar reaction as I did last year. We tried Benedryl for a day and half before heading to the Clinic in Ennis. They gave him a few shots and he was back to normal in a day or two. He never let his reaction get in the way of his fishing.
We decided to take a road trip to the Winston Rod Company in Twin Bridges and then fish the Ruby after the tour. The tour started at 11am and lasted about 45 mins. It was pretty interesting but no cameras were aloud. Much of the work is done by hand and they told me they produce around 40-60 rods a day. All blems are trashed so they say. The wrappers are not onsite but work from their homes and get paid per wrap. It was informative and not too boring. We casted the 9’ 5wt BIIx and I asked what the deposit would be to take one fishing and he said $645. One good thing about buying a rod in Montana is no sales tax. We did not purchase a rod.
We fished the Ruby below the dam from about 12:30 to 5:30 pm. Fishing was slow but Joey managed some dinks on dry flies and I could see some really big fish in the water looking at my nymphs but no takes. I did get a nice fish on a streamer.
Saw this cool house in Virginia Town so we stopped to get a picture on the way home.
Joey was hanging out at the fly shop when he was not fishing. He was aloud to tie some flies and shoot the breeze with Kelly and Guide John. The guys took a liking to Joey and decided to welcome into the fraternity of Streamer fishers. John hooked Joey up with a box (16-20 flies) of Kelly’s streamers and these are the $4-5/fly variety. Trey who is the Chef gave Joey a Kelly Galloup Streamer line. We had the guys over for a stuffed tri-tip dinner to thank them.
That night Joey caught a fish on his new line and flies. Many of Kelly’s flies have PG-13 names but this fish feel to a brown S. Dungeon.
We had herd reports that the Salmon flies were down river around McAtee Bridge so we decided to give them a try. The fish either had their fill or we not on the Salmon flies yet. Joey did manage to get one and I took pictures of bugs.
All in All we had a good trip but the fishing was much tougher than in the past. Was it the conditions or the fishing pressure I’m not sure but we had to work for the fish we caught.
Fantastic report…Joey is quite the fisherman. Did he outfish you? come on be honest :mrgreen:
Looking at the photo’s make me even more depressed than I already am. I’m having Montana withdrawals as several of my fishing buddies are out there this week. I love fishing that area especially the Madison.
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