When it comes to thinking about moving waters, for as long as I can remember back in time me and my clan have been fascinating by Western freestones, big and small, and we’ve forever been digging around through the rocks and pebbles looking for bits and pieces of time and place frozen into polished stones glistening beneath the surface.
Our kids, now both three decades and change in this world, and Montana-based fishers, hunters, and all-around outdoor folk in their own rights, would spend hours at the water’s edge, filling buckets (mostly big-assed 5 gallon buckets) full of rocks to take home or save for throwing out of the drift boat or raft on that days float or skipping across the fishy pool around the corner.
Once old enough to tote their own first camera gear around in their early teens, they joined their old man in snapping pics of water just for the hell of it (those are Jess’ feet to the right, not mine).
Jake just spent a few days hiking into smaller waters in the Northeast Corner of Yellowstone with friends and told tales of multiple griz sightings, plenty of hatches, and hours spent rockhounding in those pristine waters. One of his buddies, recently married Ethan, a former guide and expert fisher, apparently spends as much time these days prospecting for Montana agates and other treasures along the Yellowstone (and other places which shan’t be named) as he does throwing flies at wary trout.
Garden and Gun recently ran a piece about prospecting for shark’s teeth and other treasures for those of us visiting the coasts now and again; with family roots running deep on the Texas coast that article brought a smile and memories of hours beach combing with friends and family. (Image below via the linked article).
Don’t forget to put the fly rod down now and again and do a little prospecting (or beach combing) of your own.
