Sign of the Times

A few days ago, our own Chef Adam snapped this shot at the intersection of the North Frontage Road and Rock Creek Cattle Drive. Note the abundance of SUNSHINE and lack of SNOW.

I took this photo this morning with my phone. 

By the way, the design, creation, construction and installation of the sign above was a collaborative effort between our own Maintenance Engineer, Scott Morley, one our our outside services guys, Patrick Loritz, and our own version of Highlander, Tim Heisdorf that helps run the turf grass department.  Nice sign guys.

I'm guessing we have 3 or 4 inches now and it is still snowing this afternoon.  Great news for the rivers and pasture lands.  

It's a sign of the times. Springtime that is, in Montana. 

It is going to be a great season.

Sharp Hooks and Tight Lines,

Ron

I was an April Fool ...

...to believe that spring had sprung. 

 (click image to enlarge)

We've had some days touching 50, and most of the snow has melted off of the front lawn, however we are getting another dose of white and cool this weekend.  Here is the Link to the Rock  Creek Forecast  in case you want to save it.

We have had a warming trend in the lower elevations of the benches and valleys which has sent a lot of water down the region's rivers.  Some are high and muddy,  but some are fishable. A drive over to the Missouri River could pay off in nymph or streamer action.  

I talked to a friend on the Bitterroot yesterday that said water was rising and visibility was diminishing.

Our stretch of the Clark Fork will change daily from murky to clear, depending on temperatures.  Our Rock Creek isn't open to fishing until May 21 this year, by state law. Protecting the spawning fish you know.

It's that river condition roller coaster time of year. Could be perfect today and not so much tomorrow.

I'll be checking our trophy ponds every couple of days to check on the melting of the ice. Hoping to wet a line in them soon.
 
Another reminder that last year's Montana Fishing License is now expired. Take it out and go to the Montana Fishing Licenses Online for a quick and easy way to renew.  They accept Visa and Mastercard.

Please pray for a gentle, gradual, warming trend.  A nice slow thaw would be perfect for fish and fishing.

Sharp  Hooks and Tight Lines,

Ron

Zac's Magic Stick...

I'm a fan of Sweetgrass rods. We became Sweetgrass dealers last season. Normally, there is about a one year wait to get one of their rods, but I have two in the fly shop if you ever want to check them out.

Our own Zac is also fan, and what I'd call an intern of theirs too. Kinda sorta.   He is learning the craft of fine bamboo rod building from the Boo Boys whenever he has time to spend at their shop in Twin Bridges. Sweetgrass is also a sponsor of Zac's hopefully hit TV show about fly fishing for native species. He also produces a web log on their website. From time to time, I'll include some of Zac's blog postings here. 

Here is a picture teaser, which Zac drew himself, about a trip with his Magic Stick.... 

And the first paragraph... 


"Glenn finally let me have the walking stick/bamboo fly rod combo he has been showing around the country. He imagined the idea, after thinking about how I often fish remote streams and lakes, which I must hike many wilderness miles to reach. It occurred to him that I could use a good walking stick. In that stick, he figured a bamboo fly rod might as well be present, so I could fish easily once reaching my destination. He did some mental creative design -- likely after a few beers, and pulled some bamboo sticks that were to become what I have named my "Magic Stick." "

Here is the link to THE FULL POST.


Sharp Hooks and Tight Lines,

Ron

Trout CPR

Joel assigned me the task of designing the new Rock Creek Fly Shop T-Shirt this winter.

I'd had this concept in my head for a while so I scratched out some stick fish on white paper with the end of a bullet and then I took my idea of recycling trout to local artist Mabelle Thompson and asked her to flesh it out and she did a great job.  

The fish in the illustration represent a German Brown, Rainbow and Cutthroat trout with the idea of promoting catch and release fly fishing.  I have been working with the T-shirt vendor and they should be here by mid April.

Sharp Hooks and Tight Lines,

Ron 

Season Warming Up

Here comes spring. It's been a long winter, with snow pack in the Upper Clark Fork drainage standing at about 115% which is great news.




If you look at that forecast, you can see that winter has, by no means, given up, but we are consistently getting warmer days.

Tony called the other day and we are trying to get our schedules in sync so we can float the Upper Clark Fork in search of early season trout.

I'm hoping we can get out before the 15th of this month. Joel, Tony and I fished it last March and though we all caught a fish or two, it was not stellar. It was however, way better than office work.



Here's a reminder-It is time to renew your Montana Fishing License. You can do that online here: Montana Online Fishing License Renewal

Next week, I'm going to try to make my way into the Sporting Clays Range and break a few clays. Depends on how the snow is drifted and whether or not things are still frozen. I'll let you know.


OK, get your license renewed, and start thinking warmer days.

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