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