Yeah, still here, Kent. Oh well, we'll do some laundry and I'll get some work done and then maybe hit it again tomorrow.
Gary > From: Kent Lufkin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Date: Thu, 18 Apr 2002 10:34:45 -0700 > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: Re: Report from Montana > > Gary, > > The fact that you responded to my email so quickly sadly suggests > you're still sitting out the weather. > > I recently bought a copy of Behnke's 'Trout of Western North America' > in which he seems to confirm your suggestion. The only trout native > to that area was the West Slope cutthroat (aside from a few isolated > subspecies like the Yellowstone Fine Spotted CT), with subsequent > species introduced Even the Lahontan cutt was introduced from its > original range in the Lake Tahoe/Humboldt basin areas. > > Kent > >> Yeah, I've heard those Horizon commercials, Kent. They're pretty good. I've >> often wondered about how the fishing would have been in Montana 200 years >> ago. It might actually be better now in many respects as I believe many >> trout species (browns and rainbows) were not native to the state and >> introduced to the the area much later. >> >> Gary Meyers >> >>> From: Kent Lufkin <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>> Date: Thu, 18 Apr 2002 10:19:37 -0700 >>> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> >>> Subject: RE: Report from Montana >>> >>> Terrific report Gary. Wonder if the fishing was any better for >>> Lewis & Clark? >>> >>> (Judging from the Horizon Air radio commercials, they did enjoy hot >>> Starbuck's, a chardonnay that floated on 'fairy wings', and the Wall >>> Street Journal ;-) >>> >>> Kent Lufkin >>> >>>> Good luck Gary. Hope the weather turns for you. >>>> >>>> -Jim >>>> >>>> -----Original Message----- >>>> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Gary Meyers >>>> Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2002 10:03 AM >>>> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] >>>> Subject: Report from Montana >>>> >>>> >>>> This is being posted from a Helena motel room, where my 15-year-old son and >>>> I are hunkered down while a late winter Montana storm howls outside. >>>> >>>> We drove from Seattle to Missoula Sunday, boat in tow, hoping to hit the >>>> Skawala fishing on the Clark Fork or Bitterroot and then head to the >>>> Yellowstone near Livingston. >>>> >>>> However, it had been raining heavily over much of western Montana on >>>> Saturday and Sunday and the major rivers were high and out of shape. The >>>> Missouri was supposedly the only river that was fishable so we beat feet >>>> over to the Wolf Point/Craig area (between Helena and Great >>>> Falls) on Monday >>>> morning. >>>> >>>> We waded a bit on Monday afternoon and pretty much got humbled. This was my >>>> first crack at the 'Mo. It's a very large tailwater river with minimal >>>> structure and current (almost like a bloated spring creek) and from what >>>> I've heard and read has prolific hatches later in the season and fishes >>>> extremely well for large browns and bows. This time of year is a >>>> sub-surface proposition. >>>> >>>> On Tuesday we floated from Holter Dam to Craig. My son was fishing a double >>>> nymph dropper set-up with small pink scuds and brassies. He >>>> picked up a half >>>> dozen good sized "Montana Bones" while I stripped large streamers/buggers >>>> with one solitary fish, albeit a nice brown, to show for my efforts. Not >>>> much traffic on the river. Air and water temperature >>>> bone-chilling cold. Add >>>> a 15-MPH wind and you know you're in Montana in April. >>>> >>>> Wednesday, we floated a different section; we put in 20 miles or so >>>> downstream from Holter Dam, on the advice -- courtesy of $75 >> worth of tippet >>>> and flies ;-) -- from a local fly shop. The streamer fishing was >> good. With >>>> large, size #2 and #4, ugly streamers and buggers with sink tip line. I >>>> stung perhaps 8-10 large browns and fishing-wise was a happy camper. >>>> >>>> However, at about 2pm, it started to rain. It was the kind of rain that if >>>> the air temperature was three degrees colder, it would be snow. >>>> And the wind >>>> chimed in, blowing upstream of course. By about 3pm, we were numb and wet >>>> and couldn't take it any longer. We started rowing downriver against the >>>> wind; and let me suffice that it was a long cold pull. I cannot >>>> remember too >>>> many other times when I was as glad to see the takeout. >>>> >>>> Side note #1. One of the things I like best about fishing in Montana: You >>>> can be out in the the middle of nowhere, but your chances of finding a bar >>>> at the takeout are pretty good. Beers, burgers, and usually some local >>>> color. >>>> >>>> The rain finally turned to snow and we are taking refuge in >>>> Helena until the >>>> weather (hopefully) turns and we'll try to get another float in somewhere >>>> before heading back to Seattle and the ever-present, ever-looming, >>>> ever-constricting dual realities of work and school >>>> >>>> Side note #2: Being somewhat of a Lewis and Clark buff, it occurred to me >>>> that as we were floating down the Missouri in this April storm, almost 200 >>>> years ago the Lewis and Clark expedition was making its way along the same >>>> river in April (albeit further downriver). Whereas we were floating a scant >>>> 8 miles downstream in a lightweight rubber raft, bundled in wool and >>>> neoprene and Goretex and chemical foot warmers, with a big warm Suburban, >>>> and a bar, and a motel room waiting for us at the takeout, Lewis and Clark >>>> and some 30 men were moving UPRIVER (remember, this was before all the >>>> Missouri River dams so you can imagine the strength of the spring flows), >>>> poling and pulling heavy, hand-built pirogues laden with gear, often chest >>>> deep in the bone-frigid river dodging oncoming ice flows and frozen buffalo >>>> carcasses, wearing the same deerskin leggings every single day, making 30 >>>> miles a day on average (30 miles upstream!). Camping at night in grizzly >>>> country, having only a rough idea of where they were or how far away the >>>> Pacific was. On their own in the elements for 2 1/2 years. No gloves, no >>>> sunglasses, no dry clothes, no raingear, no bath, no shower, no mosquito >>>> repellent, no razor, no toothbrush, no flyrods(!). >>>> >>>> Tough stock. >>>> >>>> Sorry for the overly long post. I'm getting anxious to get back out. >>>> >>>> Gary Meyers >>>> Kirkland >>> >>> > >
