7 Sep 2008
Up early again with an overcast sky, 40F, and threatening to rain. We discuss
options for the day with Kris and John at the El Western office along with some
other guests. Inputs included fly-in fishing on the Selway River in Idaho (just
not today!), Madison River below Ennis Lake (still high water though), Indian
Creek, Sure Shot Lakes, Twin Lakes, the braids/channels of the Madison R near
town, and Axolotl Lake (home to prehistoric blonde salamanders). Such choices!!
Breakfast at “Yesterday’s” like yesterday but without the political hyperbole.
Off we head to Indian Creek. Rain dogged us all the way to the Indian Creek
turnoff. There were a fair number of trucks in the parking lot (and a few
bedraggled folks and dogs) who all pretty much appeared to be archery hunting
for Elk in the Wilderness Area for which Indian Creek trailhead was one of the
easier entry points. AB/AM gear up to hike into the stream to check it out.
We meet up with a solo archer going in to hunt elk for the next 3 days or so. Ben Guttormson works for Sportsman Warehouse in Bozeman (we had just been there earlier in this trip) – he has been with them for 9 years and just moved out a year ago to head the archery department for the Bozeman store. Ben has been bow hunting in the mid-West since he was 12 years old. Last year was his first Montana hunt and he did get an elk – hopes are high for this year!!
Ben hiked with us for a mile or so until we started fishing the high water stream. He continued on but said the stream opened up into a meadow in about 3 miles – that was farther than we wanted to go today but good info for a return trip. We were fishing in the canyon where the stream has a steep gradient and is essentially a series of closely space and rapidly dropping plunge pools with little “soft” water except directly behind rocks. Certainly a pocket water type of stream. The water levels were quite high for this time of year so if one returns in a future September, it might look quite different.
AM and AB split up to work different waters. AM works a dry
fly (you guessed it) and finally raises a small 9 incher. AB walks back
downstream looking for access. The banks are steep, brushy and slippery and
we’re only wearing hiking shoes and can’t get into the water for good access.
While looking at the stream, ears blocked by the sound of rushing water, AB
hears a slight sound. It’s amazing how your senses “come alive” in the
wilderness. Turning around he sees a large animal out of the corner of his
eye…coming right toward him, a horse, no two horses and a rider. I nearly jumped
out of my raincoat….this being big time bear country! The rider says, “howdy”
and rides on…meanwhile AB is checking his shorts!
AB finally finds a small access, but 4 anglers are fishing it. A father and three sons, who say they are just learning how to fly fish. AB watches for a while and chats with the Dad. After 15-minutes without any action, they decided to leave. AB asked if he could fish their hole, they said “go ahead, we’ll watch you.” AB catches two 12-inchers…they leave saying, “I guess we’ve got more to learn.”
Action is slow for AM so he heads back down stream a few
hundred yards to where AB is fishing. AB catches another 12 incher as AM
approached. AB was fishing in the fast water by use of a bead head nymph under a
bobber. AB was using his favorite little Orvis 2-weight rod and gave AM a
casting opportunity, saying, “I don’t think we’ve caught the “big” fish out of
this hole….give it a try.” After working out the current flows, AM finally got
what looked to be a drag free float and….BAM….a 16 inch trout climbs on the
nymph and hammers it! Racing downstream in the fast water he comes into shallow
shore water, rolls, and jumps and…..spits the hook! Wow! There might some good
fish in that fast water!
Now the stream rocks were slippery in hiking boots – the rocks weren’t very
stable and tended to roll on you as well. As AM was recovering from the above
fish and try to cast out again, he was able to locate a rock that was both
slippery and unstable and launched himself up in the air, landing horizontally
in the stream – although next to the bank. Fortunately he didn’t break the rod,
unfortunately he soaked his clothes all on one side. Since most of the clothes
were cotton, we elected to head back to the cars to change clothes and avoid any
potential hypothermia issues.
Back at the rigs, AM changed into dry clothes and we headed out. Although we
were heading for Twin Bridges, we made a stop in Sheridan, MT to fish the lower
Ruby at Silver Springs. Water was high, channel was deep, we did nada….we had a
couple of guys at El Western tell us they “did well” on the Ruby here – not sure
I believed them after seeing the spot and structure.
Moving on, we reach Jefferson River campground outside of Twin Bridges at 5:45
pm. The fellow at the Host trailer tells us we have the Pioneer Cabin (a
stand-alone log cabin) and the room next to the common meeting area in a low
built structure. Since GK/AM got the “better” cabin at the El Western, first
dibs go to JR/AB. AM and JR look at the facilities, and JR declares they will
take the Pioneer Cabin. Honey, wife of the Host fellow at the campground, comes
over to meet us with three barking, somewhat wet labs. Turns out her hubbie had
the data wrong and we have not only the Pioneer cabin but also the Ruby Cabin.
JR declares they will keep the wonderful Pioneer cabin. Both are nice places but
it turns out that the Ruby cabin is somewhat larger and has cable TV, the latter
not available in the more rustic Pioneer cabin. Both cabins have bedrooms with
lofts and with quite effective gas fireplaces. JR figures out the controls on
the gas fireplace in the Ruby cabin for us since I couldn’t get it to work! The
fireplace insert heats the cabin quite well!! Both cabins are nice places to
stay.
There was trailer parked in the campground with a large Trout Unlimited logo and
Tennessee license plates. We never did meet anyone from their camp although they
were obviously around the campsite at various times. We will need to do some
research and see what we can find out.
We headed into town for quick dinner at The Wagon Wheel which is next to Greg’s
4 Rivers Fishing shop. Good solid food! Back to the cabins for a nightcap!
