For the past couple of weeks, friend and coworker Steve and I have been planning a trip to the Missouri. Mainly to drop off Brantley’s boat at the Trout Shop, but also to get out and swing the Spey rods for big fish. I’ve been working on some different patterns for swinging for trout, and have been excited to get the flies in the water. At the last minute another friend, Ethan, was able to join us. Better to have three paying for gas instead of two, right?
The winter storm warning for pretty much our entire route didn’t deter us from heading out yesterday morning. Steve had recently purchased a Spey rod, and I hadn’t fished with Ethan since his return from Alaska so we were all excited to get out on the water. Long story short, it was a great day on the water.
We floated Dam to Wolf Creek Bridge and spent a lot of time parked and fishing the good runs. My flies produced fish, which I was pretty excited about. (You might be seeing some for sale on the blog soon, stay tuned). Chris at The Trout Shop had directed us to a super simple olive flash bugger that was by far the fly of the day. We picked up a few fish on other flies, but they really wanted that one.
It’s always interesting when fish key in on one particular pattern, even when they’re presented with flies more realistic, detailed, and proven. All the fish caught were the standard Missouri River rainbows – big, healthy and chunky, with an occasional 20+ incher thrown in. We only floated two miles, but all agreed that it was one of the best days on the Mo any of us had had in recent memory.
Pretty much as soon as we dropped the boat off and got back on I-15 it started snowing. Then it started sticking on the road. It wasn’t too bad until we were going up the pass between Helena and Wolf Creek. The car suddenly fishtailed wildly a couple of times. Which is nerve-wracking enough as it is, but it’s even more so when there is a car right beside you. In all, I think we fishtailed 6-8 times in the slush.
It really didn’t sink in till we stopped at Burger King in Helena. We could have very easily gotten into a serious wreck, or at the very least gone in the ditch and gotten somewhat stranded. The thing that got to us all was that earlier that day we were talking about how we wanted to be buried. Ethan’s goal is to end up as trout shit, and that actually sounds pretty good. I’m torn between having my ashes dumped in my favorite rivers, or being put in a wooden drift boat and pushed out into the water as my friends and loved ones shoot flaming arrows at me, Viking style.
The rest of the drive home was a little sketchy and pretty slow, but we made it safe and sound. This morning town is blanketed in white, and I’m sure the skiers are very happy. It’s actually pretty nice to look out and see that. After last night, I’m glad to be seeing anything at all.
One thing we all agreed on was that if we had to go that night, it was a great day to end it on. What better way to go out then after a good day of fishing with your friends on one of the most famous and productive trout fisheries in the world? Sounds like a pretty good way to end it to me.
