Been there, done that (peak of run-off), but it also coincided with the salmonfly hatch on the Madison. We caught a lot of fish chunking heavily-weighted nymphs, and later, as the day warmed, with big dries imitating the hatching flies. Great fun, even if tempered by the cold temps and high, muddy water. Nothing like fishing all bundled up like you're going duck hunting. As good as it was, and I treasure the experience, I like fishing out west more in the late summer and fall. Summer crowds taper off, fall fishing picks up, animals moving more, just a great time.
Good going on the 8-wt. A very versatile choice for the fishing you described. Until a fat albie grabs hold, and then you'll be shopping for a strong 9- or even 10-wt!
Nowhere near the water and size of fish as your trip, but this was the first weekend in April on some small North GA water. The little native ‘bows are so colorful! The larger one was likely a stocker, but well upstream of the last stocking point and he hit like a freight train.
Most of the water was small with overhangs like this:
But we did find one large pool that held a few fish:
Food Court Apprentice
Semper Paratus certified AR15 armorer
Yup, I wasn’t ready for the cold. Was following temps for the previous three weeks and expecting 55-60 days and 35-40 night temps but no one told me that in Montana it can drop from 55 down to 29 and snow heavily for 20 minutes and then be back up in the 60s. And do this three times in a 10- hr fishing trip. I was layered appropriately and didn’t have to put the waders on - but definitely regretted leaving the Goretex at home. I did catch one Rainbow on the Yellowstone at 6 AM one morning since the levels dropped after two days of below freezing temps (in the mountains) on a bruised leech. Felt great as it was my first time fishing un-guided. It was a unique experience for a Southern boy, having to break the ice off the guides to loosen everything and having the line freeze up. Every time I casted, a sheet of ice would fling off my frozen line. Almost in June. Montana is another world….
My buddy took me on my first charter boat. The boat only had 8ish customers on it. I nabbed 2 blue fish. He caught 1 and gave me his. I have very limited fishing experience.
Had a blast.
Cooked the fish tonight and my wife and 2 girls loved it. They couldn’t wait for it to be done so they could try it. Turned out good. Little over cooked but not enough to complain much.
I rucked around a wildlife area for about an hour Sunday with my fly rod case attached to the pack. I caught several bluegill and two small bass (or the same bass twice).
Bluefish tends to get a bad rap as a “fishy” fish and if mishandled it certain can be. However properly bled, iced, and eaten fresh it is very good. I cooked some up Sunday myself.
Back to some fishing pictures…speaking of Bluefish. Buddy with a fish upfront me hooked up in the stern, this was posted by a local captain.
Dropped what would have been a larger rec. Bluefin last week on the inaugural offshore trip. Hopefully will get after them again this week.
Stud NE YFT, buddy and I doubled up got his in the boat. Hooked pulled on mine at the boat the fish we lost dwarfed the one we landed probably close to a triple digit fish……
That's awesome!
But, now I'm embarrassed to post any photos of the 2-pound Blues and 4-pound Speckled (sea) Trout I caught recently.
SIL caught a 40-pound Drum off the beach a week or so ago but had to let it go because it was bigger than the allowed size.
Was hoping to catch a Hammerhead. Several had been caught off the beach recently... No joy.
"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." - Thomas Jefferson, Virginia Constitution, Draft 1, 1776