Archive for 'Dry in rivers' Category
Bighorn River, Montana. Guide, Brent Downey
12 March 2008Bighorn River - Brent Downey: Monday Sept21st ,1992
Arrived in Fort Smith, Montana from Yellowstone after about 250 miles drive which included crossing the Rockies on the Bear Tooth Highway. What magnificent scenery at 10998 ft - snow, alpine lakes, boulders, canyons, alpine meadows and winding roads (not forgetting the wooden ‘his’ and ‘hers’ on top of the mountain range. Fort Smith can hardly be called a town but the presence of 3 fly shops amongst only a few other shops and a newly built Baptist Church tells you something - This is fishing country.
Brent, the 24 yr old son of Brad Downey ( now remarried to Tricia with two small daughters) picked me up at 9am and by 10am we were on the Bighorn below the second dam (Afterbay) used to even out flows. The river was verdent and very very clear. As we drifted downstream many big fish were seen moving out of the path of the boat.
Started fishing the nymph rig from the boat casting as shown. Bites were taken as anything unusual but the “obvious” fish bites seemed to twitch the PP fibre often. The first fish was soon caught in the crystal clear water - a lovely Brown trout. A few more fish were caught using this method then we got out of the boat when there was an inlet to the river shortly after the start on the RHS bank looking downstream. Fish were rising to Trico’s (millions had been seen “spinning” first before launching the boat. I fished the Trico spinner to rising fish and caught about 6 -accurate casting to selected fish was the order of the day.
We then sight fished to rainbows and browns along the side of the river and caught one -Brent did the spotting. To keep the nymph ( a black buzzer at the correct depth a ’stick -on” strike indicator was used. This was very interesting short line fishing when roll casting only could be used. Onto the boat again and a beautiful 3 lb + Rainbow amongst a number of good browns was caught. I hooked a fish that literally for the first time in my life made my line “sing” as it rushed upstream. This was a good fish - his rush worked and he got off.
On the outside of a hide bend before Dags riffle downstream of Red Cliffs (not quite the correct name) we got out of the boat and had lunch before we fished the #18 black sedge to big rising fish. I caught around 6 3 to 3 1/2 lb Browns and a 2 lb Rainbow before a boat came through the area and put the fish down. (Lots of boats and bank anglers on this river but did not cause any concerns). What wonderful fishing - the best I have ever had. To cap the day Brent caught a 3 feet long garter snake (in the grass!).
Onto the boat again for a short drift (more fish) before getting out and made fishing Dags riffle. Some excellent fish including a 2 lb Rainbow and 2 or 3 large Browns were caught in this deep riffle.
Back into the boat and caught another excellent Brown before calling it a day - My best ever day’s fishing. Excellent weather all day. A Dream River. Only drifted 3 miles (trailer had been taken 12 miles but proved no problem!!).
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