Stinson Sets Bar High For Big Fish of Creek

If you are going to catch the biggest fish of the season on Rock Creek this summer, you are way behind, thanks to Al Stinson. Check this one out.

Measured out at 14 7/8". Nice fish Al.

Al caught this fish on July 7th. In the evening. In the water. The remaining details are top secret.

I can tell you this--I took 8 year old Josh Hollingsworth out late yesterday afternoon, pictures to follow, and we found fish in every pool and run, right where they should be. We had several takes on dry flies. It was fun.

Think evenings right now. The good hatches are after 5PM for the most part. Think golden stone imitations, some mayflies in the softer water pools, little brown stones are here and there too. Think mosquito repellent too. I'm just sayin'.

Sharp Hooks and Tight Lines,

Ron

Creek Down, FISH UP!!

FYI--The creek level has come down and the fish are looking up.

Mornings are OK, but evenings are great. I spent an hour on the creek last night, from 5:30pm to 6:30pm. Caught 6 browns on dry flies. One tiny, the rest average.

Here is an above average fish, caught by Don DuBois.


Nice fish Don. Thanks for the picture.

So, the fish are looking up, come get you some!

Sharp Hooks and Tight Lines,

Ron

Top Performers: At Home On The Range

Fidelity National recently honored a group of Top Performers with a trip to Rock Creek Cattle Company. They had business meetings, fine dinners, award ceremonies and sampled most of the activities available here.

Zac wrote about some of the fishing they enjoyed in the previous post. This one is a quick photo blog about some that chose to check out the Sporting Clays course.

There were shooters of every level on the course that weekend and as you can see, lots of smiles with them all feeling right at home on the range.

Erika and Al

Top Performers walking to the first shooting station.

MJ, demonstrating proper double barreled shotgun carry technique.



And MJ breaking clays on the high incomer station, 3.

Rob is getting into the swing.

Chris, mastering the 12 gauge, Winchester, semi-automatic shotgun.

Ron helping Erika understand refined visual focus on the target.

(Note to self: Wear a hat. Glare from my ex-forehead, now a fivehead, is distracting shooters)

Al taking a fast, left to right, dropping-crosser while Ron looks on.

Special thanks to Erika for sending these photos. There were lots more taken by those participating and if you'll send them to me, I'll get them posted.

ONE MORE THING-Another reminder and please help spread the word to other members-The grand opening tournament of the Stinson-Hagerty Sporting Clays Range on Linehan Lane, has been moved from Memorial Day weekend to Sunday, July 18th. That is the same weekend as our "Wrangler", Member-Guest" golf event.

At home on the range,

Ron

The Magical Clark Fork

Thunderstorms have been threatening from over the Flint Creek mountains. But, upon reaching the Clark Fork valley, they seem to magically meander elsewhere, leaving anglers alone to enjoy Montana's feisty fish. With historic low water levels in most our rivers, we have been looking at new places and ways to find and catch fish. Fortunately for the Fidelity Financial top performers, recently visiting Rock Creek Cattle Company, we've been finding some action.

It started with Dan Williams, from Orange county, Calif. I fished with Dan last year, and introduced him to fly fishing on Rock Creek, fishing near the Cattlemen's Club. Though no fish came to hand, Dan did well, and missed a few sneaky Brown trout. This year, I was determined to get him on fish, and took him to my secret hole on the Clark Fork river.

It's a secret, because the day before, I fished it and had a monster trout break my rod near the grip...it was a small 1 weight rod, and maybe a little-over matched for the larger fish, but still IT BROKE MY ROD! I kept fishing the hole with what was left of the rod, and managed to land a couple nice trout and a few Whitefish, while missing several others. I knew I had found a magic spot.



Dan and I arrived to the unnamed hole, went over a few basics on how to fish this particular water, and got to work. Right away the fish were willing to play. But they stubbornly threw the hook while twisting circles in the river's currents. Dan adjusted his technique for landing fish - and got his first Montana trout, a beautifully wild Brown. The day continued with action. Lots of action. Hit after hit, fish after fish. He couldn't help it. At the end of one particular drift, he lifted the rod to cast upstream, but found it wouldn't move out of the water. He turned around to see what was going on, and found he ha hooked a trout. They just wouldn't stay away!



We figured he landed 15 fish, and he even let me catch another three, in a few hours' fishing. His biggest were two 18 1/2 inch Browns, one a little skinnier than the other.



Dan's trip set the tone for Rob Wineman, another Fidelity guest. Rob had never been fly-fishing, but had heard so much about it - mostly from Dan, that he just had to do a quick trip before leaving. We started with casting in the grass on the river, then right on in to fishing. After Warming up, and getting in the casting groove (which I think he likes better than fishing...) Rob landed his first fish on a fly. It was a beautiful 17 -inch Brown--another jewel from the depths of the Clark Fork.



Satisfied with the morning, and invigorated from the fishing, Rob and I headed back to the Ranch, so he could head back home-to work. Everyone who has returned from the wild waters of Montana heads back home with smiles on their faces. Until they get to their offices....

In Wild Waters,

Zac Sexton

Sporting Clays Grand Opening Date Change

Just a quick note-We had scheduled the Grand Opening of the Stinson-Hagerty Sporting Clays Range on Linehan Lane for Memorial Day weekend. That wasn't working well for several members so it has been re-scheduled for Sunday, July 18th. That is the same weekend of our Member/Guest Golf Tournament, The Wrangler.

This change should help many more be able to participate.

Mark your calendar and we'll post details to follow soon.

See you on the range,

Ron

The Other Rock Creek

I don't know if you caught this tidbit in the member update letter or some other post, but Joel's operations plan has been expanded to include additional rivers in the region. One of those is Rock Creek, over around Phillipsburg, MT. This is the world famous Rock Creek and is designated as a Blue Ribbon Stream.

Eddie Bases and Charlie Bingham on Rock Creek near Phillipsburg, MT

Joel and I had the opportunity to take member Eddie Bases and his guest Charlie Bingham over and fish it last weekend.

Eddie Bases and a beautiful Rock Creek resident. Wild place, wild trout.

It was Eddie's best day ever of fly fishing for trout and Charlie, though brand new to fly fishing, also had a good time.

Charlie Bingham scores too. Joel had him casting and catching in no time.

Beautiful scenery, beautiful river. Wildlife sightings included elk, deer, bighorn sheep, several hawks and a bald eagle flying overhead, circling over us just above the treetops. It was great. Oh, and lots of moose tracks and beaver activity though we didn't spot either in the flesh.

While the fishing was great on day one, it was a little tougher on day two. There was no hatch of any sort on day two with cold temps and no sunshine. That river should experience the famous Salmon Fly hatch in the next couple of weeks or so, depending on the weather. We hope to hit it when they turn on.

Sharp Hooks and Tight Lines,

Ron

Shotgun News-NSCA LEVEL I CERTIFICATION UPDATE

Student and first time Sporting Clays shooter Suzanne doing the shooting while newly graduated NSCA Level I Instructor and COO of Moonlight Basin, Russ McElyea, coaches over her shoulder. They are literally snatching victory from the air. That is a broken clay in the upper left of the photo. Notice the yellow, ejected shotgun shell hull, mid-air, in the right hand side just above and to the right of Russ's head? (click the pics to enlarge)

What do an engineer and Vice President of the Hi-Viz Shooting Systems Company, a Realtor with Scott Western Realty of Billings, MT, the Chief Operating Officer of Moonlight Basin - a 5,500 acre ski resort near Big Sky, Montana, the owner of a bird hunting hydration vest and dog training collar company in Billings, MT, a world famous outdoor photographer and writer based in Bozeman, MT, the principal of a land planning and design company from Billings, MT, the fish and wildlife manager / outfitter of an operation in Encampment, WY and the Director of Shooting Sports at Rock Creek Cattle Company of Deer Lodge, MT all have in common?

Instructor Candidates, students and NSCA Level III Instructor Rick Moore (far right) prepping for direction at the high incomer station of Blue Creek Sport Shooting Complex and Game Preserve, Billings, MT.

They are all members of the National Sporting Clays Association (NSCA) and they all met up at the Blue Creek Sport Shooting Complex and Game Preserve outside of Billings, MT recently to participate in the NSCA Level I Instructor Course. One, as the instructor of instructors to be, and the other seven as instructor candidates. It was a grand experience.

I want to start by saying that the Blue Creek facility is a great one in no small part due to the efforts of Range Master Mel Armstrong and his crew. They went completely out of their way to make sure our experience there was top notch. Thanks Mel.

I am going to take this opportunity to say that I thoroughly enjoyed the class. Rick Moore, NSCA Level III - Beginning to Master Wing and Clay Instructor did a terrific job of communicating to all of us the skills needed to become Certified, NSCA Level I, Shooting Instructors. It was an excellent class.

Rick stuck to the lesson plan and schedule while at the same time, giving us valuable side notes and tips along the way from his many years of experience. I believe all of us came away from the class not only better shooters, but well qualified Level I Instructors as well. Thank you, Rick and the NSCA for making this program available.

Before I post the photos and captions: I do want to mention to all of our members that our Grand Opening Event of the Stinson - Hagerty Sporting Clays Range on Linehan Lane happens this coming Memorial Day weekend. Please see the Members Only section of the Rock Creek Cattle Company website for details. Sign up now online through that web page or give us a call at (406) 846-3474 to register. We have some great prizes to be won along with fantastic food and fun to be had. If you have any problem logging into the Members Only page, please send an email to me at rsnow@rockcreekcattlecompany.com , or call the lodge for assistance.

In The Stand At Blue Creek--
Student and NSCA Level III Instructor - Beginning to Master - Wing & Clay Shotgun Shooting Instructor, Rick Moore. Rick was our instructor / coach for this class.
He is also the VP of Engineering and Manufacturing at
HI - VIZ SHOOTING SYSTEMS

NSCA Level I Instructor Butch Smart, Scott Western Realty, Billings, MT and student.

NSCA Level I Instructor and Principal of Foley Group Land Planning & Design, Jim Foley and student demonstrating incoming target breaking point.

NSCA Level I Instructor and owner of the Quilomene Company, Steve Owen and student discussing safe firearms handling at Blue Creek.

In the stand here is a student and NSCA Level I Instructor, Dave Sturm. Dave is the Fish and Wildlife Manager of Spur Outfitters, LLC, Encampment, WY.

Student and NSCA Instructor Level I, Russ McElyea. Russ is also the Chief Operating Officer of
Moonlight Basin, a 5,500 acre ski resort near Big Sky, MT.

NSCA Level I Instructor and professional outdoor photographer / writer, Dale Spartas and student reviewing sporting clays safety procedures prior to loading the shotgun and breaking clays. See Dale's work at his website, WWW.SPARTASPHOTO.COM

Last One - - A photo of my diploma. It was an intense course. I'm thankful that I got to attend. Our instructor, Rick Moore, did his best to condense and communicate his lifetime of experience into a long 3 days so that we might all help to introduce others into the shotgunning sports as well as helping them to become safe, competent shooters. Thanks, Rick.

If you are interested in learning more about Sporting Clays, please check out the National Sporting Clays Association website, and of course, you can always call me at the lodge if you have any questions.

One more thing. Thanks to all of my classmates for making this an exceptional experience. If you ever get over around Deer Lodge, MT, please be sure and look me up. We can spend a day on the river or range together. It was a true pleasure.

My old signature line was "Sharp Hooks and Tight Lines". I may have to add something about loving the smell of gun smoke in the morning.

See Ya on the Range,

Ron

Merchandise and Fish

WOW! We just got a bunch of new clothing and gear in from Simms and Patagonia that Joel ordered. I've been digging through the boxes like it is Christmas. Yer gonna like this year's offerings in the fly shop.

Some brand new stuff and some old favorites. Very cool. More on that after we get it all dug out and on display.

FISH:

Zac and a nice Blackfoot River Cut-Bow

Zac sent a couple of fish pictures. He didn't expound on the where and how part. I think he just wanted me to remember what a fish looks like.

Zac sent this photo of a West Slope Cutthroat he caught recently on the other Rock Creek

Nice ones, Zac.


Sharp Hooks and Tight Lines,

Ron

Cooking and Shooting and Shooting Shirts and Shotguns

I spent today, Sunday, at the lodge taking care of some odds and ends. I got home tonight and realized I needed to update the Current Events Blog. While I haven't been fishing in the last week or so, I have been busy, so here goes.

I don't know if you know this about me, but as well as having a passion for fly fishing, I am also an avid shooting sports enthusiast and I really enjoy cooking. I can't remember a time in my life that I haven't been fishing, shooting or cooking. Probably similar to our Professional Golf Association Professionals like Eugene, Fred and Aaron but instead of golf clubs, my experience has been with fishing rods, firearms, pots and pans. More on that later.

Since my last post, I've been busy cooking and getting ready for shooting season as well as coming up with a shooting sports themed logo for hats, shirts, jackets and other shooting accessories.

I do know that Zac and Andy have been fishing on a few of the rivers in the region for some early season scouting. I hope to have some information from them soon. I'll post it when they report in. Joel is off on an international fishing adventure.

I'm waiting to hear from him as to whether or not the fish are biting in New Zealand. Yeah, I said New Zealand. I'm glad for him, and I'm also very jealous. I hope to go there someday. Fly fishing in New Zealand is on my bucket list.

While I haven't been fishing lately I have spent some time, since my last post, playing the part of chef for a couple of members that have visited recently. I also did some chef work, along with a lot of help from Jackie, Misty, Joel, Aaron, Eugene and Carrie, for a Board of Directors meeting of Vann's, Inc. here at the lodge.

Vann's Inc. is a Montana based, electronics and appliance retailer. They have chosen to have several of their Board of Director meetings at the ranch in the last few years. The main man, George Manlove, as well as CEO Paul Nisbet, are both Rock Creek members. You can check out what Vann's has to offer by following this link. Vann's, Delighting Customers Since 1961

I think everyone has been pleased with the food so far. At least I haven't heard of anyone getting ill from my cooking. Keep your fingers crossed.

Another of my projects has been working with an artist to come up with a shooting sports themed logo for shirts, caps, jackets and so forth. The artist, Ed, is a friend of Joel's that helped him with the Rock Creek Fly Fishing logo. I need to do some fact checking first, but then I'll post a link and write up to Ed's business. Here are a couple of photos of the prototype shirt, as modeled by my grandson Hayden. What do you think?

Hayden's Rock Creek Home On The Range Long Sleeve T-Shirt Front

Hayden's Rock Creek Home On The Range Long Sleeve T-Shirt Back

Late last fall, I ordered a few shotguns for members to use. The order was delivered last November and I have kept them locked up until recently. The last couple of days, I've been spending some time cleaning and assembling them. You can expect a full report and review in the next couple of posts.

My order included some Browning Cynergy models and some Ruger Red Label models. 12 gauge, 20 gauge and .410 bore. We already had a couple of 12 gauge, Winchester SX3's which are really extraordinary shotguns, but we were often short on firearms and long on shooters. In the coming posts, I'll tell you why I bought what I did.

The short version is, we needed several different shotguns, in several different lengths of pull, different comb, rise and different cast on and cast off to be able to fit each shooter. Shotgun fit is one of the most important aspects of successful shooting.

Today, I spent quite a bit of time cleaning and assembling a new 12 gauge Browning Cynergy Sporting Clays Model, and a Browning Cynergy Feather .410 bore. These are both double barreled, over and under shotguns.

The Browning Cynergy Feather .410 bore is the perfect shotgun for smaller framed shooters. Young shooters, and anyone that leans toward the slight of stature will really appreciate this firearm. The recoil is very light, as is the actual weight of the firearm. It also has a built in recoil reduction system. That means less perceived "kick" to the shooter's shoulder. This shotgun will help many a new shooter become comfortable with the Sporting Clays course. I will spend some time shooting it next week.

Browning's Cynergy .410 Bore Feather Weight Over and Under Shotgun

The 12 gauge Browning Cynergy Sporting Clays Composite edition is one of my favorite shotguns. It is adjustable for comb, cast on and cast off as well as length of pull. All of these features will help a shooter break more targets on a consistent basis.

Browning's 12 Gauge Sporting Clays Comp Stock Model Over and Under Shotgun

Personally, I need to spend some time on the range next week and loosen up from winter's grip. I'll be attending a course developed and sanctioned by the National Sporting Clays Associaton, to become a certified level I sporting clays instructor. I'm really looking forward to this course.

While I've spent a large part of my life carrying and shooting shotguns for sport and pleasure with a great degree of success, I have not had enough experience as a teacher of same. This course I will be attending is designed to take a proficient marksman to the next level of a proficient shooting instructor.

Jaimee Bremner and shooting coach Ron Snow on the trap range last summer.
Jaimee is part of Rock Creek Member Dave Manougian's Comcast SportsNet team.

I guess that's about it for now. Hope to see you at the ranch, soon.

Sharp Hooks and Tight Lines,

Ron

Worth A Thousand Oar Strokes

We spent the day on the Clark Fork rowing and throwing everything at them but the kitchen sink.

I met our own Joel Thompson and fellow fly fishing guide Tony Marino on the river about 9:00 am. Joel you already know and some of you know and have had the opportunity to fish with Tony. He has been guiding a long time and has worked with us on several, multi-boat float trips. Great guy. Expert fisherman.

We shoved Tony's skiff into the river 5.3 road miles upstream from our takeout. I'm guessing the float was 6 river miles or so. Joel was the first to hook up with a large sucker. No photos of that one but it tried to devour his streamer like it hadn't eaten all winter. Nice fight and the skunk was off of the boat.

Not too much later, while I was taking a turn on the oars, Tony tied into this nice Cutthroat.



While Joel and Tony took turns catching fish, I caught nothing but some casting practice. I was too stubborn to switch flies. I kept hoping a hatch would turn on and while we did see a few dries, we never saw a fish rise to one.

After Tony and Joel each boated 3 or 4 fish, I couldn't stand it any longer. I re-rigged with streamers and finally got a chance to hook up. Pretty nice Brown.



Here is a photo of a stonefly nymph that Joel found. The bugs are healthy looking for sure.



The weather was great. Our low temperature this morning was 19F with a high of 58F and mostly clear skies. Water temperature at the launch was 40F and the barometer rose slowly today from a low of 30.32 to 30.47. Weather data from Circle H Growers in Deer Lodge.

Thanks to Tony for bringing the boat and thanks to Joel for taking the pictures today. Great day on the river.

Sharp Hooks and Tight Lines,

Ron

Catching Report

Rock Creek Cattle Company members Neil Johnson and Dan Hollingsworth spent the weekend at their respective cabins and booked a float trip with us. Since Joel had scouted the Bitterroot with great results a few days prior, they decided that would be the river to fish. It was a great decision. They not only landed good numbers of fish, there were some really nice sized trout caught as well. Here are the highlight pictures of their float with Joel.

Dan and Joel

Neil

Dan

Joel

While they floated, I ran the truck and trailer shuttle for them and then explored a section of the Bitterroot I had never fished before by wading a mile long section. I didn't catch the numbers those guys did but did manage five fish to hand. Here is the nicest of my day, a healthy Cutbow.

Remember, you can click on the images to see the larger versions.


Sharp Hooks and Tight Lines,

Ron

The TroutAholic Strikes Again

While I was on a recent road trip to Nashville and back, Joel spent a couple of days on the river. When I got back to Deer Lodge, I checked out Joel's Montana TroutAholics page on Facebook and found he had done not only some fishing, but some nice catching too. I stole the following from his post:


"There was a small window on the river today where fish were up on the surface eating Skwalas! Here is a picture of a cutthroat who was the first taker! If the weather stays like this it could be happy happy stuff this week!"

The cuttie above, as well as the Skwala hatch, came on his second day on the river. Below are the results of his first day out during the recent warm spell:

"The day was great the fishing was pretty good considering it is still February! Five fish to hand all on nymphs. a size 18 pheasant tail flashback with rubber legs was the hot bug catching all but one fish. The rainbows are beautiful right now as they have their spawning colors going on in a big way!"

Very nice Joel, thanks for the update. I can't wait to get out there this weekend and fling some dry flies.

That reminds me, it is time to get your new Montana Fishing License for the 2010 season. I got mine yesterday at the local Ace Hardware store in Deer Lodge. You can also get your license online at the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks website. I keep the link to their site in the left hand side of this blog in the Hooked Up Links section. It is at the bottom of that list.

In the state of Montana, all guides must work through an outfitter. In addition to providing documentation of their on the water experience and skills proficiency, fishing outfitters are required to demonstrate their knowledge of the state's fish and wildlife laws through an examination process. They must also file an outfitter's plan which includes waters they fish, guides they hire and lodges they work with in the course of their business. They are also required to keep records of each fishing trip they book and file those with the state's Board of Outfitters each year. Joel, through his Montana TroutAholic Outfitters company, is the outfitter of record for Rock Creek Cattle Company. Here is a link to Montana TroutAholic Outfitters.

Back to the bugs that have me anxious to get on the river. I captured the following image of a Skwala on my thumb last season, and yes, that is Skwala poop on my finger.

The Skwala is a type of stonefly and considered to be on the large side of the dry fly bugs. You can find all you want to learn about the Skwala at the WestFly website. The folks at WestFly have put together a very comprehensive site which I refer to often for great bug info.

That's about it for now. We are going to try to get on the water this weekend. If so, you'll see a report post next week. With any luck at all, it will be a catching report.

Sharp Hooks and Tight Lines,

Ron

My, What Big Teeth You Have

Valentine's Day, 2010, 8:30 AM, between Cell Phone Hill and Farabaugh Lane. It was cool. Here's how it went.

My wife and I were driving to the lodge so I could do some work. I had a few small chores to attend to that Sunday. I don't normally have duty at the lodge on Sundays this time of year but I had agreed to fill in for someone else and since it was Valentine's Day, my wife decided to ride along. We would continue our Valentine's Day date after work.

We had spotted some elk in Mullen Gulch and we spent a few minutes glassing them through the binoculars. Couldn't find the dropped antler bull in the herd that I talked about in the post Ice River, Wack Rack, Eagle Eyes and a RZR but there were a few young bulls in the herd. We counted 43 animals before we moved on.

Probably less than a mile from those elk, on our way up to the lodge, I spotted something out of the ordinary. Couldn't tell at first what it was, but I knew it wasn't part of that particular hill side. Stopped the car and put the binoculars on it. WOLF!

Big and gray and holding still trying it's best to be invisible. We were 300 yards away and it held still for a while but couldn't take the pressure. It made a run for the timber. We got to watch it for 15 seconds or so as it made it's way into the trees. It was pretty cool and the first wolf that Deb has ever seen in the wild. It was my second on Rock Creek property.

A story titled "Powell County wolf pack count now in" by Mark Eisenbeil in today's Silver State Post reminded me to post about our sighting. Here is a quote from Mark's story; "According to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Wolf Management Specialist Liz Bradley, there are an estimated minimum of six packs, representing 21-plus wolves. Bradley acknowledged that there are probably more wolves out there."

I didn't have enough camera with me to get a good photo of our sighted subject. You can barely make out a gray dot on a snow covered hill in my photo. You can however, find some good stuff on wolf identification at the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks page entitled Recognizing A Gray Wolf .

Sharp Hooks and Tight Lines,

Ron

Rack and RZR Follow Up plus Something's Bugging Me

Wack Rack Follow Up
Last week, I included a couple of photos of a young bull elk that had a dropped antler on his right side.

I called a few elk expert types from friends to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation to get some additional info on the possible causes of that bull's rack plight. Most common cause-Broke the antler while it was in the velvet growth stage and it then sort of calcified in that position. If that is the case, it will shed the antler like they do every year and when it grows the replacement next season, it should be normal, unless the pedestal is damaged. If the pedestal is damaged or scarred, it could cause the antler to grow down and out instead of up and back every year.

It could also be a genetic deformation, in which case it will continue to grow in a similar fashion for the remainder of the animal's life. We'll have to wait and see.

Used RZR For Sale
I also posted about Randy Rupert letting us all know of the customized Polaris RZR for sale. At that time I thought the asking price was 11,500. Randy got in touch with me to share some additional information.

It is a 2008 model, with the extra equipment package running about $4,800 and the rig only has about 72 hours of run time on it. New asking price is $9,900. Sweet deal. Same thing brand new will be over $15,000.

Here are some additional pictures.

If you are interested, shoot me an email or call me at the lodge and I'll give you Randy's contact information.

Something's Bugging Me...
And it's called a Swkalla
The month of February has many fly fishermen thinking about the upcoming fishing season, including me.

I saw one fly shop posting about their day dreams of the Skwala hatch that should hit some regional rivers in mid-March or so and could last through May. The Skwala is a type of stone fly and while not as large as a Salmon Fly, it is a big fly, and the fishing can be exciting. Cross your fingers.

Sharp Hooks and Tight Lines,

Ron