 | AM up at 8 for breakfast – not joined by everyone. |
| Later, CL talks to a local with a truck full of goats about local fishing
hot spots. |
| Met Darrell at 10 am to see his place and to catch the big ones (even if
they are essentially domesticated pets in a pool!) |
| Onto Darrell’s place first. Pretty impressive place in the wilds of
Montana. Big home with attached garage. Darrell built it himself. Has stream
running through property – it’s the source of water! Also home furnishings
and furniture were very nice. Must be a prototypical Montana bachelor pad with
all of the dead animal heads on the walls. There are a lot!!! Elk, goat,
sheep, deer, moose, grouse, mountain lion, etc. And not just one head per
animal type but several deer, elk, and moose. Also a huge bear skin rug.
Darrell shot the bear in his driveway after it threatened him a few times! He
told us that the animals were essentially all shot within 4 miles of his
place. We are in the wilds (and not just the WFL!). Darrell Twite West Fork
Road Darby, MT 59829. |
| Onto Darrell’s brother’s place which is actually a vacation cabin
alongside the West Fork. The pond was dug in the yard and I think it is less
than ¼ acre. Full of big fish 15-20 inches. They can be caught with worms and
spinners. I also show they can be caught with a chironomid pattern. Kind of
nice to know where the fish are and that they will bite. Relaxing and
confidence building. |
| Darrell wants to watch a car race on TV that afternoon so we wrap up and
head on down the road. Darrell keeps a fish – we do not. |
| Stopped by Conner Bridge over the W. Fork. Fished unsuccessfully just at the
bridge. This is the start of a 3 mile fishing hike down the river to the
Hannon Access. Good fishing we are told. Need to keep in the river since some
of the neighbors are cranky about trespassing. |
| Stopped in Hamilton to gas up and head over to Lolo Pass and Hot Springs.
Will fish the Lochsa River in Idaho. |
| Drove by another good access point to the Bitterroot at Blodgett Park just
north of Hamilton. |
| Stopped for lunch at Lolo Hot Springs – Busy little touristy place. Idaho. |
| Stopped at motel over the pass to pick up one day Idaho fishing licenses.
Couple of guys told us they had done well flyfishing by mile post 131. Store
recommended big stimulators and tarantulas patterns with rubber legs – we
didn’t have any so we had to buy them. Funny, they asked if we had any of
those patterns before saying that the fish were really keying in those rubber
legs. |
| Three guys drive up to the Gas Pump with fly rods secured to the hood with a
magnetic carrier. AB observers that all rods have large Madam X flies
attached. AB returns to the store and secures the last two in the box. Doesn’t
tell team of findings. |
| Drove by a lot of good looking fishy water on the Lochsa. Stopped by Colgate
Lick trailhead. Fishing good both ways from trailhead along the river.
Wondered if fishing here would reduce the number of cavities on might have? |
| Stopped by Wilderness Gateway campground. AB found a sweetspot in a current
seam where fish were holding.; 15 to 18" Cutts on nearly every cast.
(Using the secret Madam X) Three locals fishing below were observing the
action, but not catching. Everyone from our Team who fished the spot hauled
out fish! Locals not happy, but silently fish on. Pretty cool location.
Imagine if we hit that river and knew what we were doing! |
| Onto Lewiston – arrived about 11pm. Found rooms in Super 8 motel. Dinner
at Shari’s – the only place open in Lewiston after 11 PM? Pulp plant
opposite motel put a pervasive pungent odor in the air – like the
"aroma of Tacoma". |
