Wednesday, December 28, 2011

MORE TYING

I've been spending some more time tying but now I am moving onto trout bugs. I decided to start organizing a new scud and midge box and then got distracted by a box full of hooks with hot beads and my camera. I became a big fan of hot beads this season while guiding on the Missouri River near Craig MT. The trout there loved them along with Sasi Solutions and the good Ol' Ray Charles.



Monday, December 19, 2011

Sunday, December 18, 2011

BEEN BUSY TYING

I gotta say I'm fairly proud of myself with the amount of fly tying I've been getting done. I have a rough estimation of about 100 flies tied in the last week or so. I usually don't get this much done unless I have an order I'm tying or I'm in a frenzy to get stuff tied a week or so before the season begins. Here are some shot of what I've been tying, mostly Murdich Minnows, my simplified version of an Ehler's Crazy Craw, and toss in some worms and some other baitfish type streamers.








BTW Jeremy all those wire worms are for you.

Also been tying up some streamers to swing for some browns and steel in the tribs since conditions are still favorable.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

SWINGING FLIES YET AGAIN

Met up with an old acquaintance today on the river to do some swinging for browns and steel. John and I met a few years back through a common friend and haven't fished together since. The other day he got a hold of me asking for conditions and since he was planning on going out on a day I had off work I told him I'd meet him there. So this morning we met up on the Milwaukee and promptly went to different runs. After fishing for a bit I walked back upstream and took a seat on the bank just in time to see John hook up with this nice hen.


















































Later john and I were fishing a run, he was downstream from me and turn to yell something back to me and of course he hooked up again.































Then later on further down the run where I had seen a nice fish porpoise I was checking a text from my boss and next thing I know I have a tug and I'm hooked up with my phone in my hand.

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

THE DAY HAS COME!

THAT I FINALLY OWN A DRIFT BOAT!

I picked up my Boulder Boat today from my old boss Pat Ehlers.


Thursday, December 1, 2011

My setup

The thing I love about swinging flies is how simple you can make it. All I have is one spey rod at the moment, a 13 foot 7 weight Echo with a Rio Skagit Flight head, Rio running line. For the most part all I carry are some sinking tips, a box of flies and a little bit of tippet material. I throw a lot of black and carry a little baggy full of beads to trow in front of flies to make then egg suckers.



About time I got one on the two hander

I've had horrible luck with landing fish on my spey rod this year but the other day I finally got a steelhead to hand but he slipped away before a photo was snapped. This morning on the other hand The fish decided to hang around.





Ran into a friend Erik today as well.

Monday, November 28, 2011

WI Tribs

I love the fact that when I get back to Wisco the steelhead are coming into the tribs. I've been fishing some new color combos that I came up with for the Meal Ticket and they have been working pretty well. So far this year my landing success of steelhead has absolutely sucked, 0 landed so far on the swing but I did get a nice coho a week or so back and I also hooked a huge steelhead which got away from me. I'm headed back out tomorrow and hopefully I'll come home with some pictures.

The coho I got on the new meal ticket.

Friday, November 25, 2011

The road trip home.

One of my favorite memories from this year was the road trip home from out west. My lovely girlfriend finally came out west for the first time and then rode along with me all the way back to Wisco. She had never been to Montana before and was awestruck by the scenery. Our trip started off with me picking her up in Helena at the airport for which I was nearly late but luckily her flight had been delayed so I made it perfectly on time. We pretty much just relaxed and finished packing and I showed here around the area a bit and introduced her to the important people that were around still. On the 28th of Oct. the road trip officially began with us heading east and then south towards Yellowstone. I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.


















The view leaving from the east entrance.

Sorry ladies.....

but I haven't been available for the last 6 plus years but now I am really no longer available. During my road trip home with my lovely girlfriend I decided it was time to pop THE question. Along the shore of beautiful Yellowstone Lake in Yellowstone National Park I asked my girlfriend Autumn Moore to marry me and much to my surprise she said yes. To all my friends out there I am aware that there are probably no women reading this.


Thursday, November 24, 2011

Wow one year gone already.

I was just looking back and realized I started this one year ago yesterday. Thank you to all of you who keep tabs on me and my shenanigans.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

BLACKFOOT PHOTO SHOOT

One of the cooler and more fun things I did this season was a photo shoot with Jeremy , Justin, Jenn and a bunch of cool film guys. These guys did a video for the resort last year for the backcountry and it turned out really well so this year they were back and we all went fishing for a day. The weather was pretty foul but we all had a great time and they captured some fantastic footage. I can't wait to see the video they create. I have to give credit to all these photos to the photographers none are mine and I'm snagging all them off a flicker account.