He/She's got the Look!

New fashion statement?

What are your feelings on looks?  When I was growing up, I admired fly fishing enthusiasts.  Not only because it seemed like they had it all figured out, but because they looked the part.  They were the epitome of fishing to a non-enthusiast.  I thought that in order to be a fly fisherman, I had to look like a fly fisherman.  

This thought consumed me for some time.  I concerned myself with having the proper gear so at least I looked like I belonged, because I certainly didn't feel like I belonged early on.  This recently came to my mind when my buddy and I were standing near my truck after catching some spring carp.  We looked the part.  Waders, packs, nice gear, etc.  A car pulled up and asked if we were catching anything.  My friend and I, fully aware that they were not referring to carp, chuckled as we responded.  "A few," we said.  "Well, you sure look like professional fishermen," he replied as he put the vehicle into gear.  

Did that gentleman leave that day thinking we were professional fisherman?  Was he sold on our accomplishments and prowess as anglers simply because of how we were dressed?  While those questions might seem silly, consider it for a moment.  Who is going to be the most influential person in the meeting?  The one with the armani suit, or the person in business casual?  At first glance, are you going to ask for help on a construction project from an individual with a nice tool belt around their waist, or a guy/gal wearing an orange vest?  Perception is everything in this world.  People are prone to jumping to conclusions before all (or any) facts can be gathered.  

You can't argue with the results...

While this phenomenon may be good for business in the marketing world, it is NOT good for fly fishing.  I've stopped caring about my appearance long ago.  I don't care anymore if you think I look silly, because I'll be catching fish.  I might even be catching more fish than the person with all the new gear and fancy gadgets.  The fact of the matter is that I only need a fly rod and a box of flies to be successful on the water.  Everything else is a luxury or optional convenience.  Please, whether you are just getting into the sport, or a veteran of the game, DO NOT FALL INTO THE RHETORIC!  Trust your instincts and not what some poster boy for the sport tells you to use.  Dress comfortably (for your style and your wallet) without feeling the need to "fit in".  Like saying goes, "fish like nobody's watching".  You'll have more fun and you'll catch more fish.  Stay positive and don't worry about what others think of you.  They don't know jack!

Anyone looks good with a fish on!

Fishing with Bitterness

Burt with a hefty and battle tested Oahe Bow

My name is Buddy Seiner, and I'm an elitist.

The first step in the recovery process from being an elitist (AKA - Head up your ass syndrome) is by admitting there is a problem.  I found out today, that I have one.

It was 65 degrees in Pierre today.  After enjoying most of the day, and doing a few projects, I decided to head to the marina to chase rainbows (if the pike would let me).  Fellow fly enthusiast and Golden Bone pro staff member, Jason Burt, agreed to join.  While many trips were taken throughout the winter months, only northern and musky have come to hand for me in 2015.  We were optimistic that today would be a good day for rainbows.

The day was made when I stepped into the water.  Bald eagles were calling from their cottonwood perches, Canada geese flew in perfect fighter jet formations overhead, while fat black midges clumsily glided through my personal space over, and over again.  I could have very well stood in the water without a rod and still enjoyed that moment in time.  It was beautiful.  And it was about to get better...

"FISH ON!!"

Burt's first Bow in Oahe Marina

I heard Burt yell from across the marina.  My first thought, "Please don't be a northern, please don't be a northern".  *SPLASH* A green back erupted from the water, thrashing as a big rainbow does when hooked in the top lip.  I started into long, wader-laden strides, toward the fight.  This was a special moment for Burt...His first Oahe marina rainbow.  A few photos were followed by accolades and excitement.  Burt experienced all the symptoms that came along with my first, and most recent, marina rainbow.  Excessive excitement, shaking, huge, shit-eating grin, more shaking, and anticipation!  It was fun to be a part of it.  Not long after, Burt hooked into another football shaped fish, and we started the process all over again.  **FIST BUMP**

Now, it wasn't long after that second fish that my problem reared it's ugly head.  Somewhere in between fish 1 and fish 2 some anglers staked a claim on the opposite shore where the ice had cleared.  "That's a great spot," I told Burt.  I've fished alongside bait guys many times in that marina, and it usually ends in them asking me what I'm using to catch fish.  I know anglers experience great success when using live bait for these big rainbows.  We all know that Rainbow doesn't want to be fed, Rainbow wants to hunt.  Still, I had never personally witnessed live bait anglers land a toad rainbow (technical term) in the marina...  Until today.

After Burt released his second fish, I waddled over to my spot to proceed with what I call fly-casting. Soon, I noticed one of the guys hauling in a big, fat rainbow.  My heart sank.  "No!" I thought as they tossed it on the ice heave.  Then the other guy landed one.  Bitterness entered my heart.

How, on a day like today, could I be bitter about anything?  I commented to Burt, "For some reason, that really bums me out."

Burt reminded me that if it were a walleye or a catfish, we wouldn't give it a second thought.  He's right.  And I completely understood.  So why did it not remove the bitterness?  Why was I still upset that those anglers on the opposite shoreline had bucketed two beautiful rainbows?  Am I becoming an elitist of catch and release?  Was I becoming a, *GULP*, fly fishing SNOB??

Step two in the recovery process is proper reflection.  After having some time to reflect, I feel I've determined the root of my elitist evening mentality:

1 -  There are very few places in South Dakota where this experience can be had.  These big fish don't come along every day.  Yes, we are catching rainbows, a very prominent resource in our state, but they are catching fish that have already beat the odds.  These fish that have come from an unnatural hatchery setting, been thrown to the wolves of the wild, and survived.  And then they stumble across a hapless minnow twitching on the end of a crappie rig.  Well...  Rainbows are placed in the South Dakota great lakes because they would not be there otherwise.  They are placed here for the enjoyment of anglers (both in fight and table-fare).  Their size has nothing to do with the reason they are there.

2 -  It shouldn't be that easy.  For some reason, the idea of these guys tossing out some bait and hauling in what holds on made the work that I put in to catching fish seem less meaningful.  This is complete bull-shit as you can already tell, but I'll write more about why to make myself feel better.  I have caught more fish via fly than I could have imagined.  Essentially, I'm creating a very realistic food source imitation and presenting it in a very appetizing way.  Who is cheating here?  I was intrigued by fly-fishing because of the challenge it offers.  Yes, there are still challenges that exist, but I can more easily overcome them with the fly.  I almost always have the advantage.

3 -  This resource might not be around forever.  We need to preserve it so future residents (mainly myself in the future) can catch bigger fish.  This is so selfish!  Again, Jason was my voice of reason here.  This resource was put here for all anglers to enjoy.  If some want to enjoy it on the dinner table, why shouldn't they do that?  It's like my brain abandoned every bit of skilled dialog training and fishing zen I've received and was switched to negative scenario auto pilot.  What if they discontinue the stocking program and they completely wipe out the rainbow fishery?  What if they chop up that fish and leave it in the freezer for 3 years?  Bladdy, bladdy, blah.

January Marina Musky

4 -  I wasn't catching anything.  For the first time this year, I had zero takes.  Not even my good pals the northerns were showing my fly any love.  I am supposed to be out-fishing the bait anglers, right?  This is a competition, right?  This is proving my worth as an angler, right?  Wow...so wrong.  I've said many times that I could die any day completely content with the number of fish (and their size) that I've  caught over the years.  I should have been pumped, not only for Jason, but that two other anglers got a chance to experience the rush of a rainbow.  It's a great feeling.  

The last step in my recovery process is acceptance.  Yes, I had a weak moment.  It happens, and might happen again.  I know I'm not an elitist.  My progression as an angler is my own, and not that of any other.  I love fishing, and will always share a common bond with anglers of all specializations.  I'll be out on the water again tomorrow.  If live bait should win the day, maybe I'll wander over to their side of the marina...to ask them what they're using.  

Shivering Observations

I arrive to the spot where I've parked many times before.  The dock had been removed with the arrival of cold weather and rested on the deserted marina shoreline.  A dozen redhead ducks began to paddle away while honkers called out from the far shore.  Pheasants and squirrels searched through the grasses on the north side while bald eagles observed from the many tall cottonwoods that envelope the winter fishing hole.  This is the spot.

The 25 degree temps and northeast wind had deterred all but the bird watchers who occasionally cruised the area for a view of the winter eagles.  Lucy and I had the fishing to ourselves. The cold weather brings grumbles from those still in town.  "This is January weather," they say. "It's too cold to be fishing," they gripe.  Not everyone complains about the cold temps.  Ice fishers ready their augers and ice rods for an equal chance at putting some meaty fish in the freezer.  I welcome the cold temps with open arms because,  in Pierre, it means the beginning of winter fly fishing.

Rainbow trout are released in the marina each spring.  For a few weeks, hatchery trout are taken by fishing enthusiast, fish, bird and mink.  The few that survive their short time in Oahe marina join the Missouri River ecosystem, and begin to grow.  Each winter, they find their way back to the marina, and stay until temps increase again in the spring.  Ice will often prevent any fishing during the late winter months, so early on is my chance to get a shot at these rainbows who have gotten fat off of Missouri River smelt, shad, crayfish, and aquatic insects.  They are big!

Spring ice out is when most fly anglers will seek out these nomadic bows.  Catch rates will be higher, and temps more tolerable.  Winter is for the extreme.  For those who are content with the possibility of not catching a fish.  Or...for the dedicated anglers who are able to brave the conditions long enough to land a monster bow.  As I stood in the frigid water a bald eagle glided slowly overhead.  It's difficult to stay focused when so much is going on around you.  I lackadaisically presented my kreelex to the depths as a vehicle approached.  They parked on the opposite shoreline and began to ready their equipment... they were fly anglers.  They had a pop-up camper, so I assumed they were visitors who were obviously aware of the opportunity that existed here.  The two began to cast, large nymphs if I had to guess.  It wasn't long after they arrived that I hooked into a nice rainbow.  The fight was intense and powerful.  Her first run took every bit of stripped line before she crashed to the surface in an attempt to throw the embedded kreelex.  Shaped like an american football and all the colors of a wild rainbow.  The aggressive take, fight, and release all made managing the cold a treat.

Not long after the two visitors arrived (20 minutes or so) they decided to depart.  They had taken a break a bit before, so the cold was apparently taking its toll.  A bit later a pickup had arrived.  A man wandered down to waters edge with a spinning reel, made a half dozen casts or so, and called it a day.  I had been fishing for about 2 hours, landed one and lost two others (which sometimes happens).  This prompted me to consider the necessary adjustments for winter fishing in the marina.

Yes, proper gear is essential.  The most significant upgrade a winter fishing enthusiast can make, in my opinion, is to switch to a neoprene style glove.  My love for Glacier Gloves is no secret.  They make a difference for me and allow me to spend much more time on the water than I would be able to otherwise.   Outside of the other obvious essentials, the biggest need for winter fishing enthusiasts pursuing rainbows in the marina is to dedicate the time.  There have been days when I will catch a fish on the first cast.  There have also been days when I've spent an hour on the water before feeling the tug of a hungry rainbow.  Either way, I dedicate at least an hour each time I make the trip, and am prepared for the winter conditions that exist.  Do that, and you too may catch fish like this on you next outing.  They're in there!  

Tactics for fall carp

Fall Cyprinus Carpio

When fall rolls around, I've typically stored the carp flies for the year in preparation for big fall/spring rainbows, smallies, and cackling dakota roosters.  Fall weather can play some pretty cruel tricks on us at times, but it can also bode well for a carp fisherman hoping to get in a few finned fu-man-chus before winter rolls around.  This can also be a frustrating time for carp fishermen.  I recall a few specific occasions as a novice carp angler.

The beautiful fall weather had arrived, but "hot" days (upper 70's, low 80's) were still sporadically placed through late September.  I would stand slapping the water for hours while carp crashed the surface all around me.  The frustration streamed through my veins like whitewater, but I persisted.  Eventually, compatible flies and tactics would come together like a Chuck Woolery inspired game show.  What seems to always hold true, in my experience carp fishing, is that there are rarely "sure thing" tactics for South Dakota bones.  A fly that one fish eats may not work on the next dozen or so that it is presented to.  Of course, fishing conditions and presentation are also factors in this equation, but the dynamic exists and differs from any other fish in the water.  So when you can find a fly pattern, presentation tactic and fishing condition pattern that works more often than not for carp, you've gotta share it with the fishing world!

Carp fishing is usually done using weighted flies dragging them along the bottom.  A viable technique all throughout the year, until fall.  Use that strategy and you might have some difficult days on the water.  Fish are more aggressive this time of year, gorging themselves before the weather changes.  You'll see a number of jumping fish along with fish that join together like a big fishy raft.  Both the rafts and the jumping carp offer great conditions for a fisherman.  Here are two tactics to try on your next fall carp outing.

For Flotillas:  These schools of fish might as well have a cooler filled with carp brews while they lazily drift and dine.  These fish don't spook easily and devour anything that gets in their paths.  For this, a light-weight nymph like the Burt Special or Sparkle Squirrel nymph get's it done every time.  Cast a few feet ahead of the floating fish raft and wait for the line to go tight.  The take will feel more like a snag than a fish.  Give them a second to make sure they've really eaten it (and it's not just stuck on a dorsal/tail fin) before strip setting.   Hooking a fish usually means spooking the raft, but that's ok.  Onto the next flotilla.  This tactic also works very well for sipping fish, although you'll find them harder to present to.  Their movements are random and they spook fairly easily.  More stealth is required.  Just pretend you're a secret agent or something.


Crashing Carp:  I don't really understand anything about what these fish are doing this time of year.  Summer and Fall crashers,  are aggressive,  agitated, and ready to chase a fly.  When they really start crashing (especially on windy days) a short and quick, erratic retrieve has worked best for me.  The takes are fierce and sudden.  I like to use larger beadhead softhackles in black or orange.  The buggier, the better.

Don't put away your favorite carp rod too quickly in the fall.  The fish are still ready and willing if you are.    

Inaugural "Destination Visitation" Edition

The secret spot we so longingly refer to as "Lake X".  A gem to cross off my bucket list, and a new favorite spot.

How many people do you know with a bucket list?  How many of those folks have actually completed any of the items on that list?

It seems to me that bucket lists are for procrastinators.  I believe it is great to dream, and have aspirations for something bigger and better, but there is a point where you have to keep these dreams realistic and timely.  Bucket list items seem to frequently be activities or locations that will not even be considered until retirement.  If I'm going to have a goal to get to a place, I need to put a time frame on it or it'll never get done.  And if that doesn't get done, I'll likely sit around dreaming about the places I've always wanted to fish rather than being on the water.  

I've decided that 2014 and 2015 will act as a pilot run for this annual initiative.  I'll begin by selecting five locations that have epic possibilities for a particular species who have never seen one of my flies.  I'll keep it in South Dakota for this first year, then we'll consider branching out.  These five trips will be scheduled early and updated often.  By the end of the year, I'll have five new experiences in my hat and likely some great fishing stories to tell around the campfire.  If there is room for an additional destination or two, they'll get thrown into the mix as well.  As one item is completed, another will replace it.  While I'm fairly aware of great fishing opportunities around our state, by no means do I have an all inclusive list of possibilities.  Please comment if you have a fishing hole that just needs to be tried with the fly.  Here is my current list:

East River Trout - Gary Creek, Gary, SD:  Sept 27-28

Gary creek is home to the only naturally reproducing trout in eastern South Dakota.  While I've caught a number of fish in the newly revitalized Lake Elsie, these were stocker bows.  My goal will be to find the brown trout that call this creek home and bring one of these beauties to hand.

Fall Salmon Run - Whitlock Bay, Gettysburg, SD:  Oct. 10-11

Each fall, the Chinook salmon of Lake Oahe migrate to Whitlock bay to spawn.  This process brings thousands of salmon back to the bay allowing SDGFP to collect 250,000 - 1 Million eggs.  Anglers flock like hungry seagulls to cast for the hard-fighting giants.  I've never fished this with Glory-a, but will do so in 2014.  With salmon numbers suffering, my expectations are low.  Possibilities for an epic adventure, however, are certainly great.

Westbend Smallies - Westbend Recreation Area, Lake Sharp:  Oct. 18-20 or May 2015

I'm ashamed to admit that I've never taken the time to pursue smallmouth at westbend with my fly rod.  Not only are 18+ inch smallies a very good possibility, the sheer numbers of fish in this popular fishing hole make the most seasoned of veteran fisherman salivate.  Most go for walleyes, few chase the smallies.  I will join that elite group this fall or next spring.  Pheasant hunting may be part of the October adventure.

Oahe Northern Pike - Lake Oahe - 2015 Ice Out (April)

I've said it for two years in a row, "I'm fishing lake Oahe at ice out."  Each year has brought on a set of circumstances and eventual excuses as to why no attempts were made at 15 - 20 lb northerns.  The main reason was my pursuit of big rainbows just below Oahe.  It's time to break out of my comfort zone next spring and pursue the hungry monsters of the deep lake.   Now if I can only get my boat working properly...

20+ lb Common Carp - Lake Poinsett: June 2015

I've had an amazing time fishing for carp so far in 2014.  A friend shared a secret location with me, and I've found some new spots to add to the list.  Lake Poinsett is one of those NE SD lakes that holds mass quantities of big fish.  Northerns, smallies, white bass, walleyes, crappies and perch can all be found with relative ease.  There is one species, however, that grows big, and is rarely targeted...the common carp.  This will be a priority of mine in 2015 if not sooner.

This is my list.  As soon as I have the experience, and write about it, I will replace it with a new adventure.  Future adventures on the waiting list include:  Jim River cats, Rapid City racetrack pond carp, evening mousing on Rapid Creek, Smallies and Carp on the Cheyenne River below Angostura, Summertime cats on the Belle, Shadehill Reservoir northerns, Mobridge/Pollock Spring walleyes.  As you can see, I need some more options for epic adventures.  Let me know what fishing hole deserves to hold a spot as a "destination visitation" location.

Nothin to it but to DO IT!

Here mousey, mousey...

Mousing has been around for a while.  I equate it, in a way, to carp fishing.  A lot of people have been doing it for a long time, just not the people who write or make videos about their excursions.  I've wanted to tie on a mouse pattern for some time now.  Daydreaming of a big largemouth or rainbow crashing the surface for a swimming rodent makes me salivate.  At the tying vise, however, my hesitancy would kick in and I would opt for a pattern I'm more comfortable with.  I was fearful that I could not tie a mouse pattern.  Even with only myself at the table, I feared a blow to my ego and potentially to my tying.

And then I received something that turned everything around.  A gift from my uncle.   Flies he had found when cleaning out my grandfather's things after he had passed away.  There were two of them, large, gaudy, obnoxious.  Thick clumps of deer hair tied on with what looked to be butchers yarn.  Thick white yarn holding on one large, long clump of deer hair.  One of the things I am sure to tell kids who are just starting out with tying is, "there are two types of flies...flies that fish like, and flies that fisherman like".  That is something I had forgotten while tying lately.  Everything has been precise and aesthetically pleasing to me.   I began developing the mentality that beautiful flies will catch fish.

I'm fairly certain that my grandpa didn't tie, so those flies my uncle gave to me must have been tied by his brother, uncle Donny.  They weren't pretty or neat in any way.  But I'm confident they would catch a fish.  My confidence was riding high.  "I can tie a little old mouse pattern," I though.  Turns out, I could.  It was not only easy, it was ascetically pleasing and realistic.  I did work hard to make it that way, but if it hadn't turned out like that, I wouldn't have minded.  They will be tested this weekend in locations where hungry bass and trout call home.  Heck, maybe I'll even try out the flies that inspired my work.  My confidence is riding high.

If you have considered tying a patter that you think will kill it on your local water, but are hesitant to take the jump, I only say this.  You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.  If you never attempt to tie a patter, you never will.  Get busy tyin when you don't feel like tryin...

Why I chuck the Meaty Goodness

Rainbow with a vendetta

Imagine walking along a stretch of new water, enjoying the beauty of the area while searching for "fishy" holes, when you come across some faster riffle water cascading down into a bottleneck that then plunges into a deep hole.  If you are like me, you will stand drooling for about 10 min before you snap out of it and begin preparing for a presentation.  But how do you present to the fish holding therein?  Heavily weighted nymphs might do the trick, however, they are difficult to keep in the strike zone for an extended period of time, not to mention the difficulty had ensuring a proper/natural presentation.  Dries are always a possibility, but can easily get lost in the turbid water by fisherman and fish alike.  So what's a guy/gal to do?

There's only one solution...Give 'em the MEAT!

It's no secret...Trout are some of the most voracious, greedy carnivores in a river/stream/lake ecosystem.  They, especially the larger fish, will eat almost anything presenting itself as a potential meal. While trout will typically key in on specific food sources that will require the least amount of energy to obtain, they are always in search for those opportunities to obtain a high calorie morsel.  This is especially true in water systems holding a large number of said morsels.  Last weekend we found ourselves fishing around crayfish, large leopard frogs, and plenty of small baitfish.  It only made sense to show them something that could make their day and fill their stomach.

Not only are trout massive predators, but they are also territorial.  In a river system, the larger fish will hold in various locations, but can often be found in the front of the chow line.  My first presentation to the fish above was altered when my fly line found a rock in the riffle.  While quickly bringing in my articulated streamer to make another cast, this bad boy chased it all the way out of the hole before darting back in.  I quickly made another cast and found him hammering the streamer with anger and force.  He may have been that hungry, or he may have just been saying, "get out of my spot bro".  Either way, it worked like a charm.

The next time you find yourself drooling over a fishing hole, give em the meat first.  You'll be glad you did.  

Secret Spots

Common Carp from Carp Lake X1-27/b (shhh!  It's a secret...)

Think of that one spot.  You know the one.  The spot where you can go at anytime to fish without finding a soul.  A spot where the well balanced fisherman can seemingly walk across water on the backs of prevalent fish.  A spot where, "fish on!" is heard more often than the occasional expletive.  These spots are not plentiful, but they do exist.  When you find one, you can count your lucky stars, and then catch as many fish as you can.  Enjoy the moment, for you never know when the magic might end.  Some of my favorite spots have become ordinary because of human interaction, harsh weather, or mother nature playing a different card.  Enjoy these amazing opportunities to be closer with nature, over and over again.  You never know when "the spot" might just revert to being "a spot" again.

It's all about the fluorocarbon...

This whitey couldn't resist a perfect clouser presentation on fluorocarbon

Whether I'm fishing clousers in the spring to hungry white/smallmouth bass, chucking big gnarly jointed streamers at bows and browns, or delicately presenting a swimming nymph to a school of carp, my fly will be tied on to the end of a straight up piece of fluorocarbon.  Not only will casting and turning over these gaudy hunks of meat become much easier, You'll have more power and confidence to end the fight as soon as possible and get your fish back in the water to catch another day.

Many fly fishers only use the tapered leaders because that is what's sold in the stores.  I know I did when I first started out with a fly rod.  I thought,"oh, here's a leader they have conveniently labeled for me so I know what I can catch with it."  Blah!  I appreciate the fact that there are certain circumstances when a leader will make or break your day on the water.  To me, it only matters in nymphing and dry fly fishing...That's it!  I was oblivious to just how versatile the sport could be in the context of catching a wide range of fish species with very little learning curve.  With all the possibilities that exist, why would you decide to limit yourself to a leader specific to one species?

This time of year, I only carry fluorocarbon, tie on a 9' leader as needed, and go catch fish.  Here are the six (6) reasons why I use straight fluorocarbon leaders in almost all circumstances:

1.  No knots:  I hate it when things get caught up on the knots in my leader.  Whether it be line, slime or debris, they can be a hassle.  Not any longer!

2.  No tippet:  There is no more need to consistently add more tippet once you've cut it down.  Just put on a new leader after you wear it down a bit and you're good to go.

3.  Easier to cast:  It takes a bit getting used to, but it is much easier for me to cast than with a tapered leader.  I would even argue that my fly casting overall has improved since using it.  Casting a distance and turning over that fly, especially with big flies, is no longer an issue.  I would suggest everyone try it at least a few times to see if you like it.

4.  Stealthy:  It's been said that fluorocarbon line is less visible under water than its mono counterparts.  I'm not a fish, and I've not conducted any underwater visuals to test this hypothesis.  I take their word for it considering I catch a lot of fish.

5.  Fighting power!:  I prefer to fight fish as quickly as possible in order to lessen the stress put on their little fish bodies.  Fluorocarbon gives me the strength and confidence I need to make short work of my adversary and get them back in the water to freedom.

6.  Abrasion resistent:  I started using fluorocarbon leaders on all of my walleye rigs when an influx of hungry northern pike were making walleye fishing a bit of a chore.  You'd hook a northern, and after a few seconds, you'd be tying on a new hook.  Once I started tying my rigs with fluorocarbon, catch rates were up and lost fish went way down.  Then I started using it for big rainbows and northers on the fly, and the results spoke for themselves. Coincidence?  I think not!

Not a flashy tip by any means, but a good one if you want to improve as a fly fishing enthusiast.  Remember, it's ok to try new things, and it's ok to fail.  That's the only way we'll get better at our craft.

How can you HATE the Bighorn River?

I had an interesting conversation with a guide/fly snob prior to heading out west.

Me:  Yeah, we're haeding out to the Bighorn for a week.  Pretty excited about it.











Fishing Snob:  Hmm...I hate the Bighorn.  Too many people.  I'd much rather go someplace else.













Me:  Hmm...Good to know.  See you later.

How can you hate the Bighorn River?  I get that it's one of the most heavily fished streams in Montana. I get that fly snobs and enthusiasts will travel from all around for the chance to show their stuff, or get a heavy dose of humility.  But to say you HATE the bighorn river because of other fisherman is snobbery at its finest.

The Bighorn boasts 10,000 fish per mile.

 The best part of our three full days of fishing, I caught all of my fish in near solitude.  Whether because I was fishing while it was 15 degrees fahrenheit on day one,  fishing spots that had been passed up time and time again, or just finding the "fishy" spots, I was catching fish without competing with the masses.  At one point during day one, a great group of guys from Spokane approached me to see if they could fish the stretch of water around me.  I'm not sure if they had watched me catch a few fish, or if they were genuinely interested in this stretch of water.  I let them have it, chatted for a while and moved on to the next hole.  I'll camp out on a spot once I find some fish, but I'm not going to be opposed to moving on unless I know there is a beast in there I've yet to catch.  Even then, I'd still be willing to let a fellow fishing enthusiast have their shot.  As long as they aren't a snob.  Like I said, if I can't find a few fish out of 10,000 per mile, I might need to go back to the drawing board.

We had a great trip out west, and it's something I've come to look forward to throughout the year.  Not only because of the fishing, but the challenge presented (elements, bugs, changing conditions), camaraderie, and chance to see some magnificent fish up close and personal.  Don't turn into a fishing spot snob.  Let's find appreciation for the great resources around us and make the most of our time on the water with friends and family.  Life is too short to hate a fishing spot, or to not fish the Bighorn River. Here are some more snapshots of some beauties you won't find anywhere else:

So Pumped Right Now!

I don't really have anything to say at this point.  Still too pumped about today.  Persistence and positivity pay off I guess.  The photos will say it all.

1st of two hogs caught in Oahe Marina on Saturday

This is one of the many reasons why I fish.

I was so pumped!!