Armstrong's Spring Creek - August 22, 2009

Armstrong's Spring Creek, Livingston, MT

The Chief could not believe that he could have had better fishing than he had in the Lamar Valley. But he did. Floating the Yellowstone River with friend Matthew Long of Long Outfitting, the Chief caught more trout than he deserved. He caught trout throughout the float using only two flies, a Club Sandwich and a Hi-Vis Brown Ant. But the best fishing came on the Chief’s last day. He decided to fish Armstrong’s Spring Creek on the O’Hair Ranch south of Livingston, MT in the beautiful Paradise Valley. He had never fished this section of the famous spring creek. He had fished the DePuy stretch several times with the Fair Maiden.

Matthew said that the spring creek bookings have decreased substantially this season due to the closing of one booking agency and the thirty percent decline in local fly shop sales and guide services this year. Matthew has not experienced this decline and is busy as ever. You would know why if you have ever fished with him.

Matthew and his father Bill prepared the Chief well for the day’s fishing. Bill provided his #22 Biot Sulphur Sparkle Dun, bits of tactical advice and suggested areas to fish. Matthew suggested the no nonsense tactic of throwing hoppers and ants.

O'Hair Ranch Horses

The Chief forgot his well stocked beer cooler back at the B&B and had to go back. He didn’t begin fishing until 10:30 AM. A very large cuttbow took the #22 Biot Sulphur Sparkle Dun on his very first cast. But he snapped it off on the hook set as he was not accustomed to using fine tippet after throwing those huge foam bugs on 4X in the Yellowstone River.

Spring Feeding Armstrong's Spring Creek

The PMD’s and the Paradise Valley Sulphurs, actually a baetis, began to hatch and the dumb trout began to show themselves. The Chief dropped a tiny RBF Pheasant Tail off of a RBF PMD Sparkle Dun and hooked numerous average sized browns and an occasional rainbow. The emergence waned and he moved up upstream to the area below the corrals. The Chief's heart started to pound when he spotted several large rainbows and hybrids cruising eating ants and hoppers.

He tied on a Hi-Vis Brown Ant and quickly hooked a very large hybrid. The dumb trout performed a tricky maneuver in the weed beds and broke off the Hi-Vis Brown Ant. The Chief continued to fish the Ant switching occasionally to a Chaos Hopper. All in all, Chief caught twelve beautiful trout before lunch on those contraptions.


Kate Long provided a delightful shore lunch including elk burgers. The Chief grilled the burgers and just sat and took in the scenery while drinking numerous fine Montana Ales.

Before the Storm

After the late lunch, the Chief continued to catch fish until a mighty storm blew across the valley. He donned his L. L. Bean rain gear and Sunday Afternoons Cloudburst hat, sat and watched the storm. After the heavy rain and hail, he caught fifteen more rainbows and hybrids mostly with the Hi-Vis Brown Ant. He was getting tired after eight long days of fishing and was ready to quit when a swirling wake appeared twenty feet out. The Chief quickly cast out the Hi-Vis Brown Ant.

He hit it and the fight was on. The Chief skillfully turned on his camera and securely placed it in his wading jacket pocket. He netted the beast, estimated at just under 24 inches, after an epic battle. The beast had two Hi-Vis Brown Ants in his mouth! That’s when the Chief noticed that his camera was in the water! He skillfully retrieved the camera and released the magnificent fish but not before snatching the lost Hi-Vis Brown Ant!

It was a bitter sweet walk back to the Surburban. After thinking about that magnificent trout, the Chief set the Surburban's heater on 90 degrees and placed his camera on the defroster vent. The camera was fully operational the next evening!

It was a very good day on this very beautiful spring creek. It is not often when one can fish over trout averaging 14" with plenty of willing trout 16" - 24".

A 14 oz. Montana Rib Eye at the Stockman in Livingston and Kate's Caramel Brownies back at the B&B completed another wonderful day in Paradise Valley.

SIDE NOTES – Armstrong’s Spring Creek has larger fish than DePuy. There may be more trout in DePuy, though. The water types are more diverse on DePuy. The upkeep on DePuy is much better. Daryl mows the paths and there are plenty of benches to rest.

Sunset in the Paradise Valley, MT

Miners Saloon & Casino, Cooke City, MT

After on long day on the Lamar River, Miners Saloon & Casino was the place to be. A band from Missoula was playing Hank Williams, Jr. tunes and the Chief was devouring a 20" pizza and downing numerous fine Montana brews. The bartender was so impressed the Chief didn't need a "box" for his pizza that he honored the RBF Pro Staff on the famous beer cooler in this famous saloon.

Yellowstone National Park - August 14-19, 2009

Soda Butte Creek Cutthroat - Round Prairie

The fishing was absolutely fabulous! Snow in Cooke City, MT on August 16. It never got out of the 40's for the first few days. The gray drakes, flavs, and olives provided incredible action often for more than two hours! When the fish were not rising, a Chaos Hopper, Hi-Vis Brown Ant or X Caddis would catch more than you could imagine.

Two grizzly bears were seen; one on the Soda Butte Creek and one along the Lamar River. Trout Lake lived up to its name. All of the fly shops were reporting disturbing crowds in the Lamar Valley. It was found not to be true. Later in the week, I learned that there were four members of the Lloyd Wilson Chapter of TU fishing the Soda Butte Creek in the Round Prairie on August 19. We never crossed paths! I believe I did see Skip from a distance, though.

Down with old....

Well it’s been a busy summer at the Rossiter lodge. We are still managing to land a few trout in the outhouse beat. Although high water has limited my fishing I still manage to at least wet a streamer.

This past weekend consisted of removing the old chimney ( snake central ) and installing a new chimney.

Down with the old…

Somehow I always end up doing all the roof work.

Here’s a nice shot of the new window I installed 2 weeks ago.

With all the high water this summer I haven’t been making it to my favorite brookie streams, but hear is a shot from late June



P.S.

I’m hoping for a nice fly tying weekend at the Rossiter Lodge in November. I’ll keep everyone updated.

Hunting Trip

I wanted to throw up a quick photo of my latest conquest. We went to this remote island, where the quarry were these genetically engineered squirrels. Big bastards too. Here we are posing with our trophy. I'm the one on the right.... Pretty exciting stuff....Enjoy!

Spanish Nymphing

The Spanish Youth Fly Fishing Team introduced me to Spanish Nymphing. I introduced them to the chicas. The team taught me how to long line nymph. They laughed when they told me that the Frenchies claim that they developed this method of nymphing. Actually, it was developed by the Catalans for fishing the beautiful, crystal clear mountain streams of Catalunya.

The first chica that the Chief introduced to the boys was this tanned, long legged babe.

Notice Wade's mentor in the background

She was quite noticeable at the awards ceremony. Even the Chief took notice. “Eduard, introduce that chica to us’” pleaded Jonathan. I did. She enjoyed the Spaniards’ attention.

Jonathan, Chica and Sergi

The Frenchies, the Portuguese and couple of Americans also got into the act

Later that evening, I introduced the English and the American chica to the boys

The Maine Event

Howahyah? Wouldja ceah for lobstah or chowda? The better half, our fly-fishing beagle, and I just returned from several days in Maine. We enjoyed both the lobster and the chowder along with a few light houses, beaches, and a lovely state park and brookie stream in western Maine.

We spent a few days in Portland (a business meeting, which included a tour of a local boutique vodka distillery: www.coldrivervodka.com) then zipped up Highway 1 to Freeport where yours truly picked up new waders at L.L. Bean (not the fancy Helix waders, something more affordable). After sight-seeing on the coast for a day we headed west to Rangeley State Park and some fantastic scenery and weather.



My original plan was to explore and fish the big waters: the Androscoggin River, Upper and Middle Dam, Rapid River, and the Kennebago River. However, after prowling around the area for half a day and learning about private paper company lands, locked gates, and other obstacles, I ended up fishing an absolutely breath taking no-name brookie stream for most of my stay.

The local fly shop in Rangeley gave me the tip about the brookie stream (after I bought a lifetime supply of Hornbergs, Kennebago Wulfs, and Kennebago muddlers) and the inside scoop about a few other less well known areas. During my first evening on the no-name stream I met a husband and wife from Wellsboro, PA who had fished the big waters I mentioned above and advised me to stick with the brookie stream. I took their advice and thoroughly enjoyed the next two days.

Water levels were great on the stream because a gentle 12-hour rain the previous Friday night and Saturday morning (it was a long night in the tent, good thing we rigged an extra tarp to shed the rain.). On Sunday I fished upstream for most of the day and scrambled over Smart-car sized boulders. On Monday, I headed downstream and found pool after pool of amber-colored water (think Black Moshannon stout from Otto’s Pub in State College) and eager brookies.

There were plenty of moose tracks (real moose tracks, not the ice cream) and other moose sign along the stream. At one point something large crashed through the woods along the stream while I was fishing. It could have been the elusive white moose that was the subject of many posts on a now defunct flyfishing discussion board (I think Wade had a photo of the albino moose a few years back).
Alas, it was just a regular old moose and not the fancy albino kind. Actually, this was a moose we sighted on Highway 16 south of Errol, New Hampshire.

Other sights: Pemaquid Light south of Rockland, Maine


Scarsborough Beach south of Portland

It was a good break from the rat race despite the ravenous mosquitos and other bugs.

Chief and Midger

Midger and Chief - 5th Annual Big Woods Summit

Hell, one didn’t even know about Jim Croce. Flatlander Flies, single ply toilet paper in the shitter, a water drinkin Pro Staffer and a host of other abnormalities nearly sent the Chief packin from the 5th Annual Big Woods Summit by midday Friday. Everything around him seemed headed straight to hell in a hand basket. Hell the whole lot couldn’t even catch a dumb trout if it was placed in a wash tub! Well at least no one was dancin around like a Kansas City faggot. That was a good thing. The only good thing. Well, that 6 pound buffalo meatloaf was a good thing come to think of it. Come to think of it another good thing was the official RBF Hot Shower Stall. But other than that, things were quite dismal.

Moderation taken to the extreme.

The Chief was indeed distracted and headin for despair. He had just finished off a case of Straub Special Dark when Midger arrived. Midger’s arrival brought the Chief’s blood pressure back down to where head stopped poundin. After the customary greetins, the Chief had a sidebar with Midger, Second in Charge of the RBF Pro Staff. Chief described the earlier distressing affairs and requested that they fish the First Fork together. “Amend it, thus provided we don’t fish with bait”, responded the strappin young lad as he cracked open a can of beer. Midger was reassuring. “Don’t worry Chief, everything will be alright,” he calmly said as he handed the Chief a bag of fresh, aromatic herbs grown by his lovely wife.

The Rossiter Lodge Beat waters were up and slightly discolored after the night's rain, perfect for these talented anglers often described by others as ospreys. They observed the waters and it was decided that since the Chief was highly skilled in dry fly fishin, the Chief would have the responsibility of bringin those bastards up to a dry fly while Midger could more skillfully cover the middle with a brace of deadly wets. The Chief tied on one of his famous RBF Half’n Half’s in the ETS version. After the blasted thing hit the water, Midger asked, “What are you fishin with Chief…a gum wrapper?” Just then that “gum wrapper” disappeared into the gullet of a stocked brown trout. Chief promptly renamed his famous fly the RBF Gum Wrapper.

“Nice Chief!” exclaimed Midger as he netted the Chief’s catch. It was good to be brothers of the angle, they thought. Together they skillfully fished, catchin both stocked and wild fish, laughin and sharin turkey huntin and tomato growin stories and whatever crossed their minds. It was almost like they were on the Golden Beat.

Almost the Golden Beat

Then Chief asked if they had to abide by those delayed harvest rules. “No Chief, we can keep’m,” responded the VP of Catch and Release. They had somewhat of a conundrum on their hands. “Look,” pronounced the Chief, “you brought those bastards into the world, you can take them out of it!” "And I'm with you!" The Chief made a formal appointment amendment declaration then instructed Midger to gather a forked stick and they would commence to harvest enough stocked trout for an appetizer for the Chief’s Paella later that evening. The limit would be placed at six.

Life is Good!

They worked as a team, fishin the fertile waters of the First Fork. They focused on catchin that Orange Trout the Chief spotted the evening before. Chief spotted that bastard again when he flashed at his famous RBF Gum Wrapper. It didn’t take them too long before Midger hooked, netted then rapped the Orange beast with the back of a Gerber knife blade finally shovin him down the forked stick. It was time for a beer. They celebrated. The boys packed beer, not bottled water.

“Chief you lay this Orange Trout on top of your Paella tonight and it will be good!” instructed Midger. The boys continued to catch fish, releasin all the wild trout and others not worthy of the paella pan. There were a few hearty laughs when Midger’s elderberry forked stick broke on the way back to the Rossiter Lodge and his catch fell into the muddy waters of the First Fork. Ospreys as they are, it didn’t take long before they were back on a stick.

Orange Trout Poachin away in Chief's Paella

And to think they wondered if the Chief could make yet another tasty paella!

A morning fishin with the Chief, a belly full of Paella, Yucca and the Chief’s Hard Cider and Winter Pear Wine were a bit too much for the Youngin as he slept soundly while the others swapped fish stories and other lies.

He's dreamin of Orange Trout

The Chief’s day was good, the Paella was tasty and the Big Woods Summit was salvaged…thanks to Midger.

"Soc un gran pescador!"

We were somewhere around Orviston when the Yucca began to take hold...

Except instead of seeing dive bombing bats I was hallucinating about carnivorous Green Drakes devouring the stockies in First Fork. And that was after only one glass of Yucca.

Truth be told, we were a well behaved bunch this year, which drove the Chief to distraction. We either need new blood or we need the irregulars to return along with the bacchanalia.

Glen gave you the fishing report, which was the same story for all of us. Here Glen explains to Bunyan the difference between a Green Drake spinner and a midge spinner.

Which Bunyan quickly noted and cranked out a couple dozen on the vise back at camp.

After all the fishin, food, and other assorted activities it was time to shoot the breeze around the ol camp fire.
A pet peeve: At least twice during the BWS a younger prostaffer needed education about common American cultural icons. For example, the Chief regaled us about his encounter with Greg Allman and the aforesaid prostaffer asked "who is Greg Allman?" And, the same prostaffer had never heard of, or read, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (not to mention having no knowledge of the gonzo journalist himself). I tell you, the world is going to hell in a handbasket.

BWS - 2009

Well, since nobody else is doing it, I guess I'll step in and recount the angling events that took place....

My journey started off, with the intent to fish a small freestoner on the way there, where ever "there" is. I'm not at liberty to disclose the location, though you can see it on Google maps if need be. Do you know you get a check mailed to you everytime you write "Google" in a blog? Opps, there it was again....Yep, saw it on a chain e-mail, so you know its true! Anywho, there I go again gettin off track...Focus....focus...OK, I'm better now...

I hadn't fished this freestoner in quite some time, so anticipation ran high. Long story short, the weather was dark and dim, with sprinkles and drizzle here and there. The weather so far this season, despite some warm dry weather, has mostly been cool and damp. Today was no exception. When I arrived, the water level looked about normal, and as it always is, the water was gin clear. No fish were feeding. A few small stones were buzzing around, but no mayflies.

After hiking downstream a good ways, I stopped and studied. About that time, I started to notice some sulphers emerge, then followed by a flurry of green drakes. Yessir, this was going to be a field day...NOT. All day long I saw squadrons of sulphers, dozens/hundreds - lots for a freestoner, and saw 2 fish rise, which I rose and missed both. Missed a couple of others too, both of which caught me by surprise when they rose. A slow, tough catchin day for sure...But the place is still pretty sweet!

When I arrived at the Rossiter, eating and drinking began in earnest for the weekend - Thank God, I was thirsty! Kudos and thanks to Mike for his hospitality!

The next day, which always follows the previous day for some odd reason.....Anyway, this day dawned, and had the promise of clearing skies, and also more angling anticipation. We were going to visit a stream I never fished before. I can't wait for Alzheimer's to kick in - then they will all be new again to me! This stream was at least at one time, Class A water. The stream looked amazing - clear, fast, and in spots, deep. I caught one lonely fish, and I believe that was our average for each of us, and all we had to show for a entire morning of angling.

Then Andy struck paydirt....Truth is, he ran ahead of me all morning, and when I caught up with him, he kicked me shins, then jumped right in this awesome pool and promptly caught this fish. Good thing I have a short memory, or I wouldn't have taken his picture! A nice, above average wild Brookie.

Matt plies the waters...

I would have taken a pic of the Chief, but he resorted to using the stealth spray, and I couldn't find the bastard. He didn't sneak up on any either, so the spray's effectiveness has come into question. A full review from the staff is pending.....

This stream's bottom land was very unusual for a stream in this area. In the sense that it had mostly sycamores growing in the riparian zone. Most streams have hemlocks, pines, maples, willows, or some other tree, but not usually sycamores. Probably a result of the intense timber activity that took place about 125 years ago.

Larger streams also will have an abundance of sycamores, but its rare to find one this size with trees like this.

The evening on the larger stream, produced some good risers and an incredible variety and quantity of insects. Very impressive!

The next morning was almost magical too.....

But nymph fishing yielded nada.....

So upstream to a trib we went......

Mike and I beat this water to a froth, and not a fish came to hand. Very interesting water though. Deep, fast, and some nice/nasty undercut banks. Prime habitat for browns, one would think. In fact, hell, it looks like New Zealand, South island....

The rest of the day gave way to drinking and eating, as the fishing was proving to be too tough and unproductive. Truth be told, my own feeling is that the drought that we have been mired in for the last three years, may have taken its toll on the resident fish population. There are just not the amount of fish as we have seen in the past. The streams in the north central part of the state appear to have taken the brunt on the damage caused by the drought. I even got a letter from AL Gore saying that this is a direct result of global warming. Good thing he invented the Internet too, or I wouldn't be here doing this right now. Not to fear, this is not the first bad drought, nor will it be the last. The streams will bounce back. If there's one thing that can be said about wild trout - they're tough and are survivors!

Did I mention the yucca flowed, and the beer was cold?



Kickin Back..

Just another lousy weekend in paradise.....Thank you sir, may I have another!