October 2nd, 2007
Tuesday morning in Bozeman was crisp: 39 degrees and mostly cloudy. There was snow on the Bridgers from yesterday’s rain. By noon, we were at fifty+ degrees and 20 mph winds. I waded downstream on about 2.5 miles of the E. Gallatin on the MZ Ranch.

The river fished pretty steady until the wind made casting a real chore. Found a steady mix of browns, bows and cut-bows in the 14”-16” range with a few a bit larger.


On Monday, I was using my 5wgt with a sink-tip, #6 olive woolly bugger with a pheasant tail soft hackle #16 dropper. Today I went with the 7wgt and 225 grain full sink line and same fly set up. It was a good choice as more fish came out the deep holes and casting in the wind was easier. Very few fish were holding or rising in the shallower sections of the river due to the temps and wind. It was about 50/50 on hookups on the Woolly bugger/Soft hackle. Shouldn’t really brag about “The One That Got Away”, but it did get away—a very large brown was hooked and played for at least a minute before straightening the #16 soft hackle. There are some humungous browns in this sleepy stream.
For Moose Dog: Here’s a pic of the Thompson behind the barn. Caught three 12 inchers in this spot on Monday afternoon.

There’s really more to itinerancy than fishing and eating is it. Had the pleasure tonight to eat in Manhattan, where a Prime Rib will cost you somewhere around $50. That’s New York City Manhattan. In Manhattan, Montana, at Sir Scott’s Oasis, your 16oz Prime Rib is just $20. Nothing fancy about Sir Scott’s, just good meat. Don’t plan on just dropping in, reservations are a must, even for locals. This place is never empty!



Off to Twin Bridges tomorrow.