Gone Fishing-Montana-Day Eleven
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October 9th, 2007
Woke this morning to 30 degrees and fog in West. By 10AM, it was 40 degrees and clear at Madison Junction. By late afternoon, temps had reached the low 60s and the skies remained cloudless. Fishing started slow until I dropped the tippets to 5X. Even when the park isn’t really crowded, Buffalos and people just seemed to get in the way today.
After being run out of the lower Fountain Flats by Buffalo, I moved to Muleshoe bend. A good caddis hatch was on and I began picking up good size browns throughout the bend. I had about 40 yards of the final and best stretch of the bend to go when a couple (30s) (Utah plates) all decked out in the latest fly gear trodden down the gravel bank and slid into the river about 15 feet downstream from my position and took up casting positions. Not only were they in my way, they also jumped right in amongst the rising browns in the deepest and best part of the run. The usual question followed: Having any luck? I kept my cool and explained that their behavior had just ruined my Luck. They seemed unfazed as I walked out the river and moved 50 yards downstream. They were still standing in the same spot 30 minutes later when I returned to the car overlooking the bend. I should have tossed them some rocks.
After a bit of lunch, we moved up to Biscuit Basin figuring fewer encounters with people, buffalo and the river would be in the shady forest. My shuttle driver dropped me off at the head of the meadows and would pick me up 3 hours later about midway to the fountain flats road. The shade from the trees and the afternoon shadows proved to be a good choice.
Rainbows and browns were abundant and cooperative, although 12” was probably the largest. Once out of the meadows, the Firehole here is a narrow, tree lined run with lots of timber in the water and a hard, rocky bottom. Fish hold in the seams and behind every deadfall. For the most part, this is waist deep wading, right down the middle of the river with short casts to the banks and deadfalls.
Nothing fancy about dinner tonight—Canyon Street Grill and their Chili Burger with Onion Rings.
If you need any fly gear in West Yellowstone, you have a dilemma. Although my count may be wrong, there are at least six fly shops within a three block area of town. Of late, Arricks has been my favorite, but Bud Lillys Trout Shop saw a lot of my business in the 1970s. I don’t think there are this many fly shops in the whole state of Alabama.
Tomorrow we’re off again to Twin Bridges to hunt some bigger browns and bows on the Jefferson and Big Hole.
This trip is really something.
I am not sure how much more of it I can take.
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