Tuesday Trout Bum

Tuesday Trout Bum

Local Shop Rat Peter again today with his latest post of what he finds to do when not fishing! It does not happen often as the shop staff is on the water any moment they are not chained to the store!

The day has come, Hell has frozen over, and you find yourself in Craig MT. And for whatever reason you don’t want to trout fish today?!? That being due to the wind is gusting to 30mph, or risk of lightning kissing your  graphite flyrod keeps you off the water. Maybe its due to your elitist DFO attitude , accompanied by a lack of hatching bugs. Or maybe, In the rare case, you have just caught too many 20 inch browns on dry fly’s and can’t bare to catch one more single fish. Well you don’t need to hit the bottle yet. Nope. Believe it or not, there are things to do in Craig MT other than trout fishing.

  1. You can tie flies. We both know you don’t have enough and are bordering on indentured servitude with the local fly shop. Patterns that should be coming off your vice for the impending hatches should include but not limited to, CDC PMD Spinner (or
    Rusty), Cornfed Caddis, or RS2.
  2. Hang out at the boat ramp on a busy Saturday. It can go toe to toe with a traveling circus, from people who can’t back up a boat to save their life to the master angler blowing up their raft in the middle of a 3 lane ramp. Sit back with a lawn chair and
    a case of Coors…it will get good.
  3. Drive the frontage road and take notes, who’s fishing where How close to the bank? Bobbers or Dries? Where’s the pressure focused, on the upper or lower river? While you’re at it you may as run some shuttles.
  4. Practice casting. Let’s be real…it may not be your fly they won’t eat. Missouri River fish are notoriously picky. Making your first shot count can be the key to a proper eat. Put a solo cup at 20 feet. Every time you sink it take a step back. A fly placed with grace, centimeters (not inches) from a weed mat will be rewarded by an eat.  I’d bet a fly on it.
  5. Go Carp fishing. Not for the novice fisherman. The carp of the Missouri river can give a flats junky his fix. Conditions range from flood tide reeds to sandy flats. You can almost convince yourself those cat tails are mangroves. It may not even be worth it on a Tuesday or Wednesday though. Those are my days off. They wont eat your flies on Tuesdays or Wednesdays…wink wink nod nod!

Overall there are things to do when one finds themselves committing the cardinal sin of leaving rising fish. While there is always birdwatching or a bar stool at Joe’s with your name on it, don’t leave those idle hands to the devil. Go out and try something new.

-Your local shop rat Peter

 

7 thoughts on “Tuesday Trout Bum”

  1. I am going with #2, I am a man of leisure and love to see people clog up the flow of the boat ramp and backing up and twisted metal always a good show. #1 and #4 too much for a man of leisure. I can’t do #3 after number 2 cuz I will be in the bag do the the firewater.
    But I am happy with number 2 that is my niche I think

  2. as we say it’s not the fly, you suck The best bumper sticker ever. MFGA ( make fishing great again). Work is overrated get out and fish the Dearborn before it drops .

  3. Great pic Pete ! You have found your niche for sure , this one better than the last! Love what you are saying and being a novice for sure, makes me want to go fishing. Best of all you are a Coors guy! Keep at it and I can I just say …. one more time….. I told you so!
    Keep at it!

  4. Or…..could it be…..cuz you’re still buzzed from the night before at Izaaks? Nah ….. not in Craig. Just might try it…

  5. Clearly the “Keep ‘em Wet” campaign is lost on the masses.
    Sad
    Another ‘look at me Ma’ photo
    Please….no more

  6. Obviously a very smart and talented man, totally under utilizing those talents and totally disappointing his parents. But very pleased to have him around the shop and on the river.

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