31 August 2009 - Monday
Headed over for breakfast early and to make a telephone call with some folks in a class I am attending. On the porch of the Big Hole Restaurant this morning is a Long Haul Trucker Surley bicycle – a popular steel framed durable touring bike. I met the cyclist over breakfast – his name was Mike. He is riding the bicycling route across America west to east although it is pretty late to be heading into the Rockies and the eastern states. He has already traveled about 1300 miles over the last month to get to Wisdom including a long hard climb up and over Chief Joseph pass. He stayed last night (big rainstorm and lightning remember!) in the town park which has a covered area. Today he is heading for Dillon (about 65 miles) where he has warm clothing waiting for him for the next legs of the trip. He is recovering from becoming sick on this trip so my impression is that he is more enduring than enjoying the trip at this time. He would like to do more touring – maybe around the world? – this journey is a kind of tune-up and also something he has wanted to do. He is doing the trip solo and unsupported; a huge mental challenge given the distances he has to go! His travel blog is on angryspidermonkey.com – I forgot to ask him why he chose that name but there is likely a story there! (Mike completed his trip by dipping the wheel of his bicycle in the Atlantic Ocean October 26. His last blog entry was October 28th where he is contemplating the next big ride perhaps to Central and South America.)
All the YG team has arrived for breakfast by 0845. We chatted with 3 US Forest Service folks who were watching (and occasionally fighting) the Lily Lake fire. The plan was to let the fire burn itself out as it didn’t seem to be threatening to take off- the heavy rains the night before were also helping slow it down. We talked a little about the pine bark beetle infestation which is killing a lot of trees in Montana and the Upper Big Hole River basin in particular. They were saying the beetles were natives and infestations traditionally come and go but the weakened state of some stands of trees might be making them more susceptible than usual. Not much you can do about them in any event!
Off to the Cemetery Hole!!
We head in and start catching fish right away on dry flies!
AB’s intent is to catch a Brook Trout that qualifies for the IGFA Montana State Record. AB’s using his 9’-5wt.-4 pc. Winston rod with an Orvis large arbor reel & IGFA rated 4lb. tippet today. He catches a nice fish and JR comes to assist with weighing, measuring and pictures. While weighing the fish in the net, the fish jumps out of the net and swims away! Not deterred from his goal, AB says, "I’ll just have to catch another one." An hour later, AB hooks into another large brook trout and with help from JR lands and documents a new IGFA state record!! Way to go Andy!!
All fish caught today were on dry flies. In the morning, it was purple haze adams; in the afternoon, it was Stimulators with legs. Lots and lots of action. GK had the seriously hot rod this day however as they put themselves on his line at about the same rate as the mosquitoes had attacked my bare legs on the Ruby River! The water was very wadeable and easy to access both banks for the better casting approaches. JR hooked into some very nice fish, AB kept catching and throwing fish back which were under a new record size, and AM just had one of those effortless days of catching fish – it worked this day for all us!! You gotta love it when that happens!
We pulled up and had lunch about 4:15 by the cemetery itself.
We then headed out to Big Lake Creek which Guy and Joanie had mentioned – pretty stream but poor fishing conditions – everyone was pretty tired when we pulled up and headed back into town for dinner at Fetty’s- good solid fare in large proportions. Ended up in the bar watching some mindless show on TV, having a few drinks with friends….a great way to end to end the day
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