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