A Day On The Root With Jed

 The last two days were spent fishing with Jed Fitzpatrick, Outfitter of Sula Mountain Fly Fishing, on the upper and middle Bitterroot River. Jed is one of the best anglers you could ever hope to share a boat with. I was stoked when he replied to my lets go fishing text with a, "4 sure." It was finally time to dig out the boats after a long winter.

 

We wanted to scout out some early season upper river fishing for up coming guide trips. We did an afternoon float the first day, on some water that can really fish well this time of year. The day started sunny and almost warm turning into cold and windy by the takeout. We decided to cover as much water as we could throwing streamers to get a tell on how active the fish were. Fish were caught and beer was drank, it was a fine afternoon indeed.   

 

 

a nice brown to start the day

 

This cutty had big plans



 



After a beer and quick bite to eat over at Bitter Root Brewing, we kicked off day two and decided to head a little further down river. We wanted to see if we couldn't find a big brown or rainbow that was willing to eat a big streamer. We turned plenty of fish throughout the day, with one big one that came un-buttoned shortly after hooking up. As usual it was another great day spent with a good friend doing what we love.

Another beauty of a day on the root





Let it Snow: Western MT snowpack.

Water, water, water . . . . . It is the reason for the season.

Snowpack conditions looking solid for Summer 2014. The Clark Fork will be brimming, the Blackfoot be singing, mega-hatches for everybody!

Seriously though:

http://www.wrds.uwyo.edu/wrds/nrcs/updatesur/update-mt.html

While it's still cold out there let the white stuff keep coming. Stoke the fire and tie flies for summer, couldn't ask for anything better.

Twelve Months of Mighty Missouri

The Missouri River. One of the greatest places in the world if you are a fisherman of any kind, but it is an especially hallowed ground if you are of the flyfishing persuasion. Pods of fish slurping everywhere, nymphing riffles everywhere, big fish chasing streamers with abandon. Everywhere. Needless to say we make the trek over Rogers Pass as many times a year as humanly possible, scoffing at sleep, garden maintenance, and music festivals, for just one more chance at landing a hog Missouri fish. 

                 
                                                      

                                     

Blue Steel

                                   

                                   

             

                                   

                                   
                                                         

 

                                   
                                      

Montana River Bass

There is something about being in the grips of a winter storm that makes memories of the summer more fond. One of my favorite days of fishing from the past season was a day spent with Alex and Outfitter Jed Fitzpatrick chasing bass and pike.

 Fly fishing in Montana is without question centered around trout, so for the three of us it was a nice change of pace in the middle of the guide season. These two had never fished for bass in Montana and especially never with fly rods. We chose a stretch of river that I have spent plenty of time on in years past. It is the kind of place where on any cast you could catch a smallmouth or largemouth bass, pike, or a rainbow trout that can stretch as long as your arm.

 On this day we caught or hooked all of the above, although the pike were few and far between. Words cannot begin to describe how excited I am to get back out chasing bass and pike with these guys. Only a few short months and a lot of snow to get through before we will be back.

 

 

 

A nice Montana bull moose

 

A-Train with the Smallmouth of the day.

 

Jed hooked up with a large trout.