sldrose

looks like one to me. The redds i've seen are usually deeper, but have seen some shallower ones like in the photo as well. The browns are still spawning downtown on the bow, just saw a bunch of them today.

from yesterday, and the shadow of the bridge should give the location away (it's very specific) my observations from last year are that either the male or female will stand guard for another day or so. the other fish will move on but i think these may be early spawners? I spotted other smaller fish under the bridge (which haven't been there previously) so I assume that they have moved upriver as well. It's great to watch and I agree that we all should see this at least once.

Sorry about the picture quality and audio, best i could do with an iphone and polarized sunglasses as a filter. Managed to find these two redds (smaller one at the back) when walking at lunch. Please take professori's advice and test your steps for loose gravel. I had reasonable visibility from this vantage point but had I been wading out from the bank, the glare was too much and I couldn't even see this redd. (I did try to get more video from the bank but couldn't see anything) please enjoy and don't fish to any browns doing their thing. (wish i had a better camera!) cheers

So about 5-10 minutes per fish right Don? haha Certainly, I apply a lot more side pressure and change the fish's direction to get them into the landing net sooner. I'd really like to see some videos of how long it takes fish to recover using both techniques. I see many photos of good fish from evidently skilled anglers that are usually accompanied by others asking "how did you get the fish to stay so still for the photo" usually followed by "they swam away fine" Just wondering if this isn't something that we can do better as a community by encouraging newbie's to use a net and asking us oldies to step away from old traditions/habits. (i.e. fighting the fish until its head remains out of the water)

With the push towards better fish handling, the one thing I don't see mentioned or reinforced is the "when" should a fish be landed 25 years ago when I was learning, the collective wisdom was to fight a fish until you can "Get And Keep" its head above the water. At that point, either land or net the fish. I realize we all fish differently, but I am curious to know if: - you were taught the same thing, to get it's head up before landing? - if you've since changed how you fight fish? - if you still land fish this way? - if you fish without a net and why? cheers

hoping it doesn't come to this, but what are you supposed to do if you do catch a fish with suspected whirling disease? what protocols did they implement in Montana other than cleaning gear?

http://www.rockymountainpaddling.com/?page_id=87 I followed up vitalkeith's suggestion the company is called rockymountainpaddling.com $150 inflatable with rowing frame

hey TroutNV I sometimes drift bigger clousers, buggers or leaches on an indi rig giving them the occasional strip. I haven't really tried it during runoff or high water before. I'll give it a go Anyone else find swing the streamer being less effective in high water?

Hi all, Everyone knows that "banging the banks" from a boat is a successful tactic in high water/runoff conditions. The fish have been pushed into the bank by the volume of water coming down. But, what do you do when you're restricted to fishing from the bank? I've caught fish casting up the bank and twitching it back down (although it is tiring keeping tension on the streamer to make sure it has action), as well as the usual across and down and strip up the bank. What tactics have brought you success in these conditions that we are seeing on the bow right now? It'd be great to hear any other strategies or variations that work for you. cheers

are the nymphs stone cased on the bow? Anyone taken a stomach sample of a fish feeding on October caddis nymphs? curious to know if there are little rocks or pebbles in the sample

x2 on Frenchies advice with the hopper dropper, and a single nymph to learn (just start with a big buoyant dry) bobbers are great for a team of flies, but when you fish a dry fly, it is way more noticeable when the rig starts to drag. Give it a shot, bobbers are definitely the preferred method for the bow and can support heavier/muliple flies for deeper runs, but a dry dropper will help you nail the concept. a big stimmi/golden stone and a sz16 caddis nymph on a 4ft dropper will get you nymphing right (plus you might get a big smash on the dry soon) Once you've had some success, definitely move to the bobber for the bow

Are you suggesting that we don't call this in? I know its a tough decision not to call F&W, but when the bureaucracy shuts the launch down as per graves we all suffer. thoughts?

this may be a dumb question but, is there a reason that a stocking pilot isn't being considered to see if natives can reclaim a foothold now that the brookie numbers have been diminished?

I'll be swinging too!

wow, my research into this is taking me in many different directions not that I'd expect to set the hook at that distance, but..... Tongariro Roll Cast http://www.instagram.com/p/BGGSJDFk0eU/?r=1675598948 So i'm convinced that these water borne casts are pretty versatile, efficient and can get some killer distance. So a starter switch rod 10 to 11ft, what do you guys recommend? What's the best value cheers SeanD

Thanks Bron, Burning Chrome, I guess that the issue. I'll see the occasional rise maybe 40ft horizontally out from the bank so I know the fish are holding further out in the main river. I can make the cast with my single hand rod (casting between or under the trees on my backcast which is a pain in itself) but I still have the problem of faster current between where I am standing, and where the fish is holding. And at that distance, the rod isn't long enough to mend above the faster current, or i'm into my running line and it cant throw a decent mend. I could look into a longer, maybe 10ft single hand nymph rod, but then i'm into switch lengths anyways, and don't get to learn something new. But i'll accept the collective advice from everyone that nymphing with a switch rod is a PITA. I've been warned! I just don't see myself arriving at a run to swing a streamer through without having nymphed up the run first. (been skunked less on the nymph vs the streamer) But you're all converts so there must be something in it. So far i'm looking at a switch 4/5 10-11ft, with something like the RIO switch chucker thanks to jdangler for introducing me to the single hand skagit heads like the OPST commando.......One more thing to decipher. I guess that's the thing with spey fishing. It's so configurable to you're own personal styles and preferences, which is awesome when you know what you want, but confusing when you're just getting into it. Especially when i'm not approaching this as a steelheader I'm learning alot. cheers guys

Thanks guys for the great input. So i'm hearing that nymphing has some drawbacks. Is this only due to having more line out when trying to set the hook? I was working on the presumption that the extra distance and mendability would get me into fish I wouldn't be able to get to with a single hand. Not true? So would you prefer a shorter 10'6 vs an 11' 6 for nymphing? I'll take a look at the switch chucker, I looked at the Rio site, and assumed that the versitip lines paired with the 10ft MOW tips, but that wasn't clear with the switch chucker as it wasn't labeled versitip. Thanks for the insight guys, keep it coming.

Hi Guys, I want to get into this double hand game and so I'm looking for advice. I've been to the fishtales spey-o-rama day and cast a variety of rods and I left with more questions than before I started. The one thing I did learn is that there is such a variety of lengths and setups/styles, that I need help to dial it in before I make a purchase. As this will be primarily for the bow, I'm looking for a setup that will be 70% indicator nymphing, 30% swinging, and something to help me learn double handed techniques. I'm leaning towards switch as I've heard that the shorter length would allow it to be used from a drift boat, but doubt i'll single hand the rod much. So I need something that can throw some distance, but also, it'll need to mend pretty well. (The Skagit rigs I tried, the running line was too fine to mend properly.) What are your recommendations for a good introductory rod? (I don't mind building myself) and What lines would suit the above scenario? (is there anything with a mendable running line that has interchangeable tips for when I am swinging? or am I better off to get 2 separate lines?) Thanks for the advice in advance, and I am looking forward to connecting to those of you who do nymph with a double hand rig. (I know the concept is akin to bait fishing in steelheading circles) cheers Sean

I have to believe the flurocarbon myth. Otherwise i have to acknowledge that redbeard is a better fisherman than me.

boat launch/takeout request - done

experiencing similar but got into a pod of whitefish on my last outing (no trout in the mix). Very different water to where i've caught fish during the warmer months. Anything under thigh deep was devoid of life, even though it was perfect looking "trouty" water. It had to be at least waist deep, slow, but most importantly had to have some character. In this case a seam and slight ripple change, or at least something to concentrate the food. I fished further downstream where is was still deep and slow, but lacking that defined character and nothing. still learning these winter holes myself

Also looking for sun, warmth and bonefish. So what "bonefishing" destinations have currency's that aren't locked to the USD? Hoping to find somewhere where the rates are in the local currency and have kept inline with the CAD.

Thanks for the tip Don, i'll give it a try. Do you find the flyline catches the pole when it's hanging down? any tips for this?

heaps of places rent them out in Montana with the liability insurance, but i guess they're full time outfitters. (and maybe the missouri is an easier river to row) Still it would be great if there was at least one place that did it in Calgary. You'd have the corner on this market. i'd rent it out. (plus if its a business you could tax deduct all your own fishing gear and expenses right!)

Hey Jordan, Great work on this. On a side note, and for anyone interested, the guys are apparently from Bhutan which is a devout Buddhist country and culturally they should've been practicing catch and release! There is a great 90's Australian travel/fishing documentary called "A River Somewhere" where the hosts had to get special permission to fish in Bhutan Check it out on youtube A River Somewhere 2x01 Bhutan (jump to 14min) cheers