It happens every year. The weather gets nice and more people start fishing. The tourists that are here to ski turn to the rivers instead. Locals put thoughts of the slopes aside and head out to the local waters. After a winter of peace and quiet the rivers are suddenly busy again.
It’s always a rough transition. These people are in your river, in your spot, and they’re catching your fish. It’s hard to not think like that in the slower months when you often are the only one on the water. Over the past couple of weeks I’ve been slowly trying to shift my mindset from that to remembering that there is an awful lot of water here to fish. More than you could probably fish in a lifetime.
Through the winter at the shop I’ve had weekends off. This lines up great with the girlfriend, who also shares those days off. But now that it is spring again it poses a problem: the crowds on the rivers are at their peak during the weekends. This weekend in particular it got to me. The weather was forecasted to be in the high 60s both days and all week long in the shop I helped folks who were going out. Going out to places I wanted to fish. Damn.
So when Saturday morning rolled around I was less than enthused about leaving the comfort of my warm bed and hitting the water. But screw it, at least it’s a nice drive, right? I loaded up (late) and headed up the Gallatin Canyon, a place I figured would be packed for sure. But the further I got up the canyon, I was shocked by how few anglers were actually out. It might have been the windier than forecast conditions or the looming storm clouds, but regardless I was able to find one of my favorite pools wide open.
Sunday morning I wanted to fish the Upper Madison and was sure it would be swarming with people. I fished all morning in complete solitude. The 25 mph winds might have had something to do with that, but still. You get the point.
It’s a lesson that is hard for me to relearn and I have to do it every year. Even if the rivers are going to be busy, just go. You’ll never find that quiet little honey hole by sitting on the couch. Get out and go fishing.
