Big Sky - Part 1

The first week of October I was able to tick off a Bucket List item - fishing out West. Spent a phenomenal week with the Stonefly Inn & Outfitters crew. The trip was put together by Mike Schultz of Schultz Outfitters and included many SO regulars.

We landed in Bozeman late morning and Dan "Rooster" Leavens, head honcho (really -- it says it on his business card) and another guide picked us up for the drive to Twin Bridges. The scenery was truly stunning; a valley in the midst of the Beaverhead and Tobacco Root mountains made for some amazing vistas.

The Stonefly's configuration is just about ideal - a half-dozen two-person cabins surround "The Roost". The Roost is the central gathering point with a huge screened porch, and a cozy kitchen/gathering room. Everyone eats together at a big table - a very cool opportunity to get to know your companions, swap fishing lies, and enjoy the excellent food that the Stonefly serves up.

That afternoon Mike and I enjoyed an unseasonably warm half-day float on the nearby Jefferson river with Rooster. With sunny skies and few clouds, the fishing was tough. But the scenery, the company, and a few locally brewed IPA's made it a fantastic experience. Fishing Montana in October in flip-flops doesn't suck one bit, either!

That evening found our crew of a dozen all gathered for another excellent meal, followed by some time around the campfire. Not bad for a travel day!

Monday, we set out for the Beaverhead River. Most guidebooks list the Beaverhead as one of the most fish-rich rivers in the region. Another bright sunny day kept the fishing tough, but we did turn a few on streamers. I was thankful for the instruction this year from guide and friend Jon Ray - my streamer game was solid after his coaching. Slow fishing caused us to jump over to the Big Hole river where fishing was a bit better and the scenery up in the Ruby mountains was even more breathtaking.

Unfortunately a little in-boat swordfight resulted in a casualty - the tip of my Scott A2 6-weight. Time for my first test of the much-lauded Scott warranty. On the upside, I got the chance to fish the new Scott A4 6-weight. The difference from my A2 was truly astounding. That extra stiffness really helped me with throwing larger dry flies. One of these sticks is certainly in my future.

More to follow...

-Sean-