» Fishing The Big Hole River, Montana with Craig Fellin

Fishing The Big Hole River, Montana with Craig Fellin

2 March 2008

Big Hole River - Craig Fellin, Wednesday Sept 9th, 1992

Craig owns the fantastic Craig Fellin and Big Hole Outfitters Lodge
We fished the Browns Bridge to Glen Big Hole stretch on a magnificent sunny day on a wonderful stretch of river characterised by good riffles and pools. I really got some good lessons from Craig on upstream nymph and line control which is the essence of this technique.
I felt a lot more comfortable than at any other time that I was fishing correctly… Keep the rod up -do not wave it around -with nice line angle to water in order to maintain line tightness. I also found it unnecessary to use a strike indicator and did as Craig does - watch the end of the fly line. The take is well indicated if line is straight.
I caught a couple of fish today but it was the technique that I picked up that was important.
At one stage fish very suddenly started rising all over the riffle ( 2 feet up to 3 feet deep) and Craig put a size 16 Grey Emerger on. The technique was first as for upstream nymphing in terms of line control but it was necessary to “guess” where the emerger was. If a rise appeared in that general area the idea was to strike. I managed to get a few strikes. Another good technique for when fish are rising and it is necessary use the emerger (the adult flies could not be seen).
Craig put me onto Hopper Fishing in the afternoon. I had at least 10 quite savage rises - the first one was hooked but it got off. The next couple I missed and the fourth I broke off at the strike and left the fly in the fish’s mouth.
The speed of the rise ( in the riffle itself) - 4/5 feet deep I guess) were remarkably quick. And the takes were in fast deep riffle but Craig was quite adamant that the stillwater right on the edge should always be fished because the trout will actually search out the hoppers on this stretch. This was exciting fishing but frustrating and it was a pity I missed so many rises but what an experience.
Patty caught about 8 fish today and her casting improved significiently. She caught and released a couple of fish all by herself when Craig and I were downstream.
Craig’s techniques would work well on any trout stream in the world as could the nymphs and dry fly types being used. What a beautiful day it was!