Montana Ruined Fishing for Me Forever

This year's 14 day excursion, with my fishing buddy (see previous post), into Montana fishing paradise was actually too good.  During the trip I caught the 20 best trout of my life, maybe more.

Thanks to Adam for making this trip so amazing.  Local advice and knowledge made this the fishing trip of my life so far.

The trip included my first 20 inch trout.  It also included my 3rd 20 inch trout in one day.  And more than a dozen 18 inch fat rainbows, cutthroats, and browns.

We fished using Ennis and Missoula, MT as our home base.

It is a place that has more fish, bigger fish, and the most beautiful place to catch them.  I can't wait to get back, and catch those monsters that I couldn't land this summer.

Here is a photo essay of how it went this year.

All the Best Things Come From Chico, CA

Chico is the home to Chico State University and Bidwell Park, one of the most beautiful city parks in the world.

Upper Bidwell Park
Photo: Wikipedia

The city is also home to Sierra Nevada Brewery.  One of my favorite breweries, and by far the best tap room that I have ever been to.

Cans, so you can take them with you fishing!

It is also the home of Aaron Rodgers.

The Man!

Not to mention Chico (or right outside) produces Lundberg Chips and Santa Cruz Organic Juice.

But the newest and best product that I have found recently to come from Chico are Hogan Brown's nymph patterns.  

I was a conventional fisherman all through college.  Totally intimidated by fly fishing which I knew nothing of.  I still don't really know that much.  But my fishing buddy who did occasionally fly fish and I would frequent the fly shops in Chico, because they were nice and would point us in the right direction to try and catch the areas trout, salmon, steelhead, largemouth and smallmouth bass, shad, and striped bass.  On those trips I remember meeting a super nice kid about my age behind the fly shop counter who was stoked on fly fishing and always helpful.  His name was Hogan Brown.

Fast forward 10 years.  Now I have a minor obsession with catching fish on flies that I tie myself.  My fishing buddy, yes the same one, told me about some patterns he had been tying that I just had to tie.  The flies were Hogan Brown patterns called the Golden Child nymph, Red Headed Step Child, Military Mayfly, and the S&M nymph.  I was really stoked to learn how successful Hogan had become in the fly fishing/tying game.

Hogan Brown's S&M nymph
Photo: Idylwilde

Check out Hogan's Blog. He has descriptions and a short story for all of his flies. 

I have been tying a version of his S&M nymph with a flash back instead of a goose/turkey biot back.  The fly has been deadly.  I have had success with this flashy mayfly with all of the low clear water fishing that I have been doing over the lat couple of weeks.  

This sucker fish wanted to sniff the nymph.

This is my S&M with a flashback or Military Mayfly with a copper bead.

Thank you Hogan and thank you Chico.  

Bad Axe - Big Streamer Paradise

Of all the streams/creeks/rivers/coulees I have fished in the Driftless, the Bad Axe River stands alone as the best large trout factory.

Best Driftless Brown

My most recent trip a was able to hook up with a fish on my first cast, throw some hefty streamers, and catch large brown trout on a 6" articulated streamer.

Off to a good start

the articulated leech

Mmmm, peanut butter bacon sandwich

But, why the heck would a 14 inch brown trout attack or try to eat a streamer almost half its size.  The answer came while I was fishing a small leech, after the articulated leech that I was throwing broke into 2 pieces.  I caught a creek chub.  It ate my leech and I pulled in a 6" chub.  After letting the little guy go, and after I had caught a good number of fish already, I decided to throw on the largest streamers in my box.  They happen to be a Mike's Meal Ticket that I tied myself on size 2 hooks. The first cast with that huge streamer the river exploded as a large brown trout smacked the fish imitation and missed.  After I caught my breath I preceded to catch the 2 largest trout of the day and miss one more in the last 10 minutes of the fishing trip.

So that's why the trout eat my giant streamer!

victim of Mike's Meal Ticket

Swam away a wiser fish

Why didn't I have on that beastly Mike's Meal Ticket in the first place?  I will from now on.

Brown Trout Eating Meat

Yesterday was the first day of spring.

Snow is retreating from the more and more constant presence of the invincible Sun.

With the melting snow comes high and off colored water. 

This time of year is good for streamer fanatics for two reasons:

One. It makes it easier to sneak up on trout as they cannot see you due to he off colored water.

Two. Fish are ambushing larger prey that is washing in and drifting in the streams. 

If you have ever felt like throwing articulated streamers at streams you can jump over, this this is your time. This is my time. This is our time!

Tie on those over sized leeches, buggers, articulated fur and feathers and let's ride. 

Here are some patterns that have been working for me this season in the Driftless:

"Milwaukee Leech" - I tied some giant sz 2 and 4 and the fish like them. 

"Boogie Man" - a Kelly Galloup pattern that I shrunk down to size. Sz 6. 

"Blood Leech"- AZ semi seal is magic. I really like the red black color. Sz 8-12. 

Tight lines.