cutthroat

Wilderness Cutthroat – Video

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://vimeo.com/171623459″][vc_column_text]I’ve spent a little time walking around in the woods with Pat Clayton this spring and early summer. Fishing the mountains and looking for interesting things to take pictures of. For those who don’t know, Pat Clayton is the worlds underwater trout photographer. You probably know whim as “Fisheye Guy Photography“. Last week we were chasing Cutthroat around in some high elevation streams and lakes, and ran into this incredible spawning ritual. Dead-centered it, as they say. Pat began taking some of his superb still images, and after doing the same from above the water, I decided to shoot some video of this incredible scene. I could have sat there and watched this for a couple of days.

Wait, I did…

And no, we did not fish. They spawnin’!

When I got home, I decided there was enough material for a short edit. A kind of “tribute’ to our native Cutthroat Trout, and the Summer Solstice. Many in the Northern Rockies associate Cutthroat  Trout with Wilderness. Much the same that Elk and Grizzlies are symbolic of the backcountry. We’ve combined Pat’s underwater still photography (always incredible) with my video to produce this “unfishing” production. If you’re serious about trout, the environment, native species and habitat, you’ll probably dig it. And if you love high-elevation Cutthroat Trout you’ll really dig it. If you’re looking for some hip-hop (or banjo’s?) and millennial, flat-brimmed, bearded, badassery – you’ll have to look elsewhere. There’s no fishing in this one.[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]This is full time business for Pat. He’s a Fine Artist, and makes the majority of his income selling large prints. Constantly on the lookout for new subjects and places to shoot, he is either a) hiking the high country and looking for underwater photography opportunities, or b) at home on the computer editing those images, or c) scouring the back-allies of Bozeman and Livingston for high-lake intel. In the winter he skis. It’s been quite an experience for me to tag along on a few of his missions. Seen some awfully cool stuff this spring.

You can too. But you can’t drive to these spots, and there’s no fly shop or shuttles available. You won’t get an up to date fishing report except from yourself. Pat and I have failed, succeeded and hit a couple of home runs this spring. So put on your boots and go, it’s pretty fun stuff.

Check out Pat’s photography at:

http://fisheyeguyphotography.com

and if you like a little humor with your art, follow him on Facebook.

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Blackfoot River fly fishing

Blackfoot River Fly Fishing – Final Countdown

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Mark and I continue to sneak over to the Blackfoot River if we can both find a day off together. Fishing has been good, and only seems to be getting better. Typical for this time of year. Things are cooling down, fall hatches are intensifying and the fish know that it’s time to eat. In a month, their metabolism will slow to a crawl as the water temperatures drop into the 30’s.

Nighttime lows are a bit chilly at these higher elevations, so there is no need to be on the water early. The best fishing occurs from 11am on. By 3 in the afternoon, the water temps have hit their peak and you will see a mixed bag of bugs. The fish will also be at their most active then.

You’ll encounter a variety of mayflies, including Trico’s, Mahogany Duns, Hecuba’s and Baetis. October Caddis were hatching the other day as well. One of our favorites. We definitely found fish that were keyed on a specific bug. And by “keyed on” I mean that fish that were eating Trico’s were not going to eat our #12 Purple Haze no matter how many times we threw it at them. Amazing how an 8 inch Cutthroat can humble you.

Hopper patterns were working very well later in the day, and produced much larger average size fish. Purple More-or less was all we tried and all we needed.

We didn’t throw any streamers, as we have become old & cranky dry fly snobs. Or it can be described as “too lazy to change flies and rigs”. Conditions were perfect, however, with a socked in sky and muggy, warm temps. We absolutely saw a few large, green trout (char?) lying around in some tailouts. I have a feeling the streamer fishing would have been pretty good.

Very few anglers around, as all of the Missoula area streams are fishing very well right now. Most anglers are probably sticking closer to town on the Clark Fork and Bitteroot.

Fishing won’t last much longer on the Blackfoot. Soon, cold temperatures will make the effort to float not worth it for a few hours of decent afternoon fishing. Wade fishing in the late afternoon will continue to be worthwhile, however. If you want to float one of the prettiest rivers in Montana, the time is now.

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Birthday Girl on the Elk River BC.

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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Today is Julie’s Birthday. You can’t wish her well face to face, because she is floating down the Elk River in BC (in the front of the boat, of course), sticking big Cutties on dries. Single dries.[/vc_column_text][us_image image=”6143″ size=”full” link=”” onclick=”lightbox”][vc_column_text]Julie making the right cast (above) and setting the hook into another big one (below).[/vc_column_text][us_image image=”6144″ size=”full” link=”” onclick=”lightbox”][vc_column_text]Julie has been on fire this week, not only catching lots of fish, but lots of big fish. Here she is with our good buddy and longtime Elk River guide Darcy Richardson. They say these fish have shoulders. I would agree. At the top, guide Sebastien Stewart is showing off another big shouldered Cutt that Julie caught.[/vc_column_text][us_image image=”6146″ size=”full” link=”” onclick=”lightbox”][vc_column_text]The Elk is a fabulous fishery, but the scenery is a big part of a fishing trip here. It’s incredible. Plenty of splashy waves to run, here with Darcy on the sticks. Also, it looks like it’s been a while since they’ve been in this spot, but they been in this spot. Julie is fine with the fact that these bear tracks are a little old.[/vc_column_text][us_image image=”6149″ size=”full” link=”” onclick=”lightbox”][us_image image=”6148″ size=”full” link=”” onclick=”lightbox”][us_image image=”6153″ size=”full” link=”” onclick=”lightbox”][vc_column_text]Our trip to Fernie, BC was great from start to finish. Great food as well, including some outstanding Sushi, Indian Food and great unique Mexican street food. Special thanks to Paul, Darcy and Sebastien at the Elk River Guiding Co. who made our trip memorable. These guys get down to the Missouri a bit as well, and you may run into them around the shop.

Speaking of the shop, thanks for all you do to make Headhunters run smooth, Julie.

Happy Birthday![/vc_column_text][us_image image=”6155″ size=”full” link=””][/vc_column][/vc_row]