Still...

Autumn has arrived. We welcome it. Although, the summer has not been oppressive. Nor hot.

Quite a few folks around for the latter part of August. When September arrives, so will the people, more that is.

Tom from Texas tellin'....

Tom, Dale, and Dale fished with Squeeky yesterday. They need a break today.

Dale said to me, “Boy, you sure do know a lot about this river, and…you sure talk a lot. I think you were probably quieter when you smoked a carton of Camels daily.”

The river is quiet, fishing wise. Not so hot. Good in the upper locales, a decent from there down. Guys are fishing everywhere, with varying results.

Better in September. We’ll see you then. Book now for lodging, and certainly for guide choice.

Trico's hatch on the Mo

Ephemeroptera Tricorythodes allectus 0r minutus | White winged black or commonly known as the Trico

Lots of these damn little bugs around the Missouri this month, and for that matter next month too. The fish really used to enjoy themselves indulging on this tasty morsel in the surface film, pods of them, the fish that is. But, alas, no more.

The last line makes me sound like a romance writer…Alas…cheesy shit for a Monday. Standard.

I used to tell clients when asked if they bite…

“Well yes, and don’t let them swarm about your head and face, my last client was inundated by them and we had to whisk her off to the hospital for a poison control,blood transfusions, and the like…”

I also used to attempt to put the fear of god in them by explaining it was either my first day guiding, or that I had a pretty good idea of where the put in was, but wasn’t really clear on how to find the take out. Can you imagine how long a new guide has to lie about his length of employment? It is truly terrifying those first few days on the water, with folks you do not know, who you a trying to do right by…scary shit. You may say, and why would that fishy lad tell a fib? Well, it’s pretty hard to instill confidence in your guests if you are heading into uncharted waters…literally.

A good scene at the Craig Bridge in August

Trico’s are an insect that do not appeal to all fishermen. It is so small, the fish are finicky whilst sipping them, and most of them will eat a caddis anyway. But for the Hatch Matchers, there is no finer quarry than the Trico fishing and all that it entails. As I mentioned above, and for those of you who were so very fortunate blessed mofo’s to enjoy the deceadent fishing of the 80’s, 90’s. and til 2001ish…then the fish boycotted pod feeding behaviors on the oil slicks of Trico spinners. You could set your watch by…

Trico’s are multibrooded meaning several generations will hatch during the year. They last about 2 months. The black male hatches at dusk and well into the darkness while the olive female comes off in the morning. They meet in mating swarms that appear to us the angler along the shorleline in columns reaching 50 feet in height. Big giant mating orgy. Then the females oviposite over the water and the both of them spin towards the water and the fish eat them. Or used to.

I’m not stating that our fish do not eat them anymore, because they do indeed eat Trico’s daily. Larval, pupal, emergent, dun, and finally the spinner. Then why are they so hard to catch when they are keying in on this impossible insect? Hell, I don’t know. I’ve never been able to communicate with those damn hard of hearing trout. Even shouted expletives do not seem to awaken them?

Bins of Trico flies at Headhunters

If you still wish to fish this hatch, as I do, as most of us…the hardheaded trout fisher dudes do…come out to the Missouri in the coming month. They will be here, in droves. The best day to catch these fellas when the fish become fond of the topwater bite…is…an overcast warm, calm, no pressure day. It is game on. Maybe this above average water will bring back the surface rise? Who knows, Mother Nature will certainly dictate the future. She nearly always does. If the last bigger water years are any sort of indication, and I think it may be, our fish will once again gorge themselves on this tiny tasty bug.I had a fellow once ask, “Why would such a large trout eat such a minute insect?”

I answered back, “How many sunflower seeds, M & M’s, pieces of popcorn… can you eat during a sitting? Countless…

Pelican Point Horse Play

Last week taken near Pelican Point. Liked this image lots.

Went south for a couple days with Ruppert for a great time on the Yellowstone and the Stillwater. Awesome. Recommend these freestone gems to anyone in the SW Montana Neighborhood. More on the short hiatus fishing trip tomorrow. Back to the Silly Sunday Scenery Shots…

Milling around near Craig on a lovely Montana evening...

The lesser of our two deer. Mule and Whitetail. Whitetails hang out in bottoms, and mule deer in the middle of the road near dusk.

Autrumn storms in late summer

Yummy...food

Friday at Headhunters Fly Shop…BBQ sausages, dogs, and whatever else tastes good burnt on our charcoal Weber. We think about 5 ish we will get the coals red and open a cold Budweiser to start the weekend off right. Montana loves this way of life.

Come spend the late afternoon into evening with your favorite friends on the Missouri. We will be tossing the football around, swinging the Wiffle ball bat, and maybe tossing a fly rod or two as well.

Stop in for a dog, a chat, or the entire evening after fishing Friday.

Headhunters…the apres fishing locale in downtown Craig Montana.

Sidney and a Bow with guide Peter Skidmore | photo Hunter Parks

Very nice Sidney! We love New Breed Chicks, they Rule! Sammie and Sidney Parks fishing with dad Hunter and guide Peter Skidmore. Families find fun on the Missouri. It is a river that rewards all comers.

Sammi with a nice rainbow | photo Capt. Carp

The future is here and now. Take a kid fishing. It is important. Good for both of your souls. Honest.

Do you know where this is?

I’m sure most of you have seen this batch of signs. If not, you have driven by it countless times.

Thursday on the Mo and all is well. Not as many fish up as I would like…but still do not have adequate amount of cabbage in my bank account either.

Neither issue has stopped me from fishing.

Enjoying the summer here in Trout Town USA. Stop in for a visit. We’d love to see ya.