[VFB] Trip report

[Mike Bliss]

Ahhhhhh!   After many months doing without here in Hawaii, I finally managed to get a chance to flyfish on a beautiful river - several actually.  I had a meeting in Rexburg, Idaho.  It did not take much to get me to slide up to Yellowstone and try the Firehole, over to the Madison and then the Beaverhead.  Most of the rivers were blown out but under the dams some of them were fishing well.  I had a wonderful time.   On the Madison, I had one of those incredible moments.   There was a guide that was on the other side of the river.  I turned my back to him and made a cast back towards the bank.  A big fat rainbow bent the rod.  After a few tail walks, I released him.  As I did I spooked another beautiful fish.  So I turned and faced the guide who was looking at me.  I made a cast into the middle of the river and a big brown took the fly.  After releasing him, I noticed both the guide and his guidee were looking.  I turned back to the bank and made a cast nothing, but the second cast another big brown.  Four casts and three big fish.  Stuff dreams are made of.  The guide took his customer downriver.   The other interesting thing is that I had not been doing too well.  I was fishing flies that the local shops turned me on to.  I switched after looking at rocks from the streambed to a couple of flies that I have confidence in.   I then began to consistently catch fish.   The Beaverhead was not quite as giving but I did do well.  And I fell in love with it.   Only thing that would have made it better would have been if I had found time to contact the list and shared it with some of you.   Mike