The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

Attached is a Photoshow of the trip if you are interested in pics.

We flew in a headed straight over to Rock Creek. Fishing was OK, but there was no big evening hatch. In the end, this was the last evening hatch we fished on the trip.

Next day we floated the lower Clark Fork. We tried to get on the water by 6am, but the best we ended up with was 7am. Most of the activity was while we were setting up the raft and completing the shuttle. There were lots of fish working the surface to what appeared to be spent PMDs. We through lots at them, went down to 7x, and between 4 of us fishing until about 12pm caught 0! We actually spotted a few fish that we worked from the bank and the bottom line was that the fish behavior was ABHERENT! They were skitterish, and clearly stressed by the conditions. At that point we just floated the remainder of the drift and stopped fishing. 2 of our party are from Missoula and this was a unique experience for them as well.

We changed our strategy that night to fish between 5am-10am and 8pm-10pm for the next couple days. Give the fish and us a break from the heat. Next day we dropped one guy off at work (Paws Up to take some clients into the Bob) and we fished the Upper Blackfoot early in the AM. Again, no fish. Lots of cattle were crossing the river and silting it up badly.

We moved up to fish upper Montour creek. Lots of bushwhacking, deer flies, and log jams, and only 2 fish between 2 of us for about 4 hours and 2 miles but we loved it. It was beautiful! We voted this our favorite fishing experience. Just goes to show its not about how many or how big.

Back to Rock Creek and shut out that night by massive Thunderstorms and fires in passes from strikes. But we had a very nice salad buffet at Eckstroms. Nice throwback place, old stage coach house/barn.

Next morning Rock Creek came alive with cooler water, cooler air temps, and increased humidty. Caught about a dozen fish in an hour. It slowed a bit as the day went on, but very nice as all the dust was washed off the trees and plants and the air smelled great. This seemed more like the reason we went to Montana.

Mid day naps, followed by second unsuccesful attempt at evening hatch on Rock Creek. Huge front blew through making casting pert near impossible. Plus the helicopter siphoning water out of the hole we were fishing to fight a local fire didn't help much either. There was a very cool local dog who watched my drift with more tenacity than I did, and would move upriver after every cast. He kept looking at me like "What the heck is wrong with you???"

Next day we added back in our buddy Jim from Missoula and floated the upper-middle Blackfoot. Beautiful country, beautiful river, and as predicted just as the sun hit the water the fish came up. Really good fishing for a couple hours, then we voluntarily stopped as it got very hot. The float was difficult as there was very little water. Though I must say the connection to A River Runs Through It can definitely be felt here, and one of the 4 boys who took the boat to go over the falls still is alive and lived in the area (according to friend from Missoula). We ended the drift to find the Blackfoot closed the next day after 2pm, and all tribs closed permanently (look at the pic and its reference until early/mid Sept).

Next we picked up Curtis the outfitter and Paws Up and drove all evening to South Fork of the Flathead. We went to the edge of the Bob, and prepared for a 15 mile float. We had to carry the raft, frame, and all accessories about 1/2 mile down a steep ravine trail. The payoff was absolute solitude. The water was cooler, but the fishing was slow. We caught fish, about 4-10 each. But is was the scenery and solitude that rejuvinted the sole. It was simply a great place to be, and none of us wanted to leave.

We took out and headed for just a few miles shy of the Canadian border for our last float of the trip down the North Fork of the Flathead. On our way there we encountered the "Flathead Vortex". Two cars were pulled over on the side of the road with car problems. We pulled over to help only to find we had a flat. Long story short, it was a couple of hours, which included bent suspension, but what we remember is that in the middle of nowhere every car would stop and offer help, support, tools, food, drinks. THIS IS THE WAY THE WORLD IS SUPPOSED TO BE. Folk out in the middle of nowhere helping because it is simply the right thing to do. What a great country we live in!!!

We perserved and made it to Polebridge and put in for our final day. Fish were very active, and we caught lots of little fish. Interesting to note that this is the only day we ever had to share the water with other floating fisherman (2 boats).

So 2007 was about people and places. Some old, some new. Fishing was the excuse to get there, and we were all comfortable with making it second fiddle this trip.

I hope all of you get to create experiences like this. Remember, its what you make it, so when the world gives you lemons...

Montana 2007 Trip