Big Sky Country 2.0 - The Fifth & Final Day on the Water

The weather for this year's Montana trip, while not optimal for streamer fishing for trout, sure was pretty damn nice. Bluebird skies and temps in the 70's made a float very pleasant. But that was about to change.

On Tuesday night a cold front rolled in. We went from 75 to about 40 for a high (and honestly, I doubt it ever made 40 on Wednesday). Tuesday night over dinner, we had a quick pow-wow with Rooster (owner of the Stonefly and our guide for Wednesday). With temps for much of the day in the 30's and winds over 30 mph in the forecast, we weren't optimistic. Plan A was some walk and wade fishing (no float - boo!), but we were also prepared for Plan B which involved a bar and a steak lunch.

Rooster, however, had held back on us and on Tuesday morning announced that he had some other ideas and hitched the boat to his truck. Now a few thoughts on Dan "Rooster" Leavens. After two visits to his place, I've grown to really appreciate this exceptional outfitter. His fun loving exterior belies one of the fishiest guides and hardest working river rats I've ever met. This guy knows the outdoors - whether chasing elk with his bow, steelhead with a spey rod, pheasants with a shotgun, or (naturally) trout with a fly rod. And, he's not afraid of ANYTHING that I've seen. He gets up earlier than the other guy and stays up later. Rooster knows that just because it's blowing like stink in Twin Bridges, doesn't mean it is up by Melrose.  And sure enough, he's right.

At the launch, it's clear Rooster is assessing the weather. He quickly announces that he'll be back in a minute as he needs to arrange for a car spot and that, in fact, we'll be floating! In the meantime, Reid and I take a little stroll and stick a few fish!

The plan is again to run bobbers chasing pre-spawn browns that abound on this stretch of the river. We'd done it very successfully with Garey Avis the prior day, so I was all about it. Funny thing about fish though. Sometimes they aren't very interested in YOUR plan.

After some slow fishing at some usually hot holes, we start chucking streamers on the float. What unfolds next is one of those days you grin about for a long time. Reid and I are almost literally hitting a fish per cast. Sure, many aren't huge, but some are nice solid fish and what the hell -- it's FUN! I don't care what others say, for this angler catching is more fun than not catching (why I consider myself a steelheader then makes little sense...). Between the two of us, we destroy two flies each that are just shredded due to the number of fish. Despite blowing snow and frosty temps, we're a jolly bunch firing off bad jokes and good casts.

At the takeout, we decide that we can't entirely pass on the bar portion of our program. A quick stop at the Melrose Bar yields us adult beverages to go. After a stunning drive over the mountains back to Twin, a fantastic trip begins to wrap up.

-Sean-