New name = Rubberlegs Worm
It is a
pleasure to be back in the land where the further downstream you go the bigger
the river gets. unlike most in the Western States of America. I packed up the old Forester and left despite
the winter storm warnings for Northern Colorado and Southern Wyoming. Destination Big Timber Montana a good days
drive away. Cheyenne had a foot of snow
and more coming down, the interstate was like a one lane road with a parking
lot on the side. Finally by Casper I was out of the storm, even had some blue
sky and sunshine.
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| the park in Big Timber |
The
Boulder river in Big Timber Montana is awesome.
Big Timber is a perfect Montana town, friendly people, and scenic vistas
all around. You have the Crazy
Mountains to the West and The Absorokees to the South everybody is friendly at
the "fort" where you can get gas, coffee, and, a fishing license
(but, don't try to get extra large thingamabobbers here). Then zip across the
street to the Frosty Freeze for some biscuits and gravy, the way real Montanans
start their day. This is the second time
I have hit the Boulder in the spring
pre-runoff, and if you can time it, it's well worth it, and as I drove over the
bridge heading to the park, a glorious sight- clear water! You
know it is spring in Montana, when you start and finish with the same two flies
on your line, without so much as a look-see at the days hatches.
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| you can catch some monsters under this guys deck |
As a matter of fact I am thinking of changing
my name permanently, my new moniker will from this day forward will be
"Rubberlegs Worm" if you want to call me RL that would be fine. For you newbies or non fly fishers this is
because, especially when you are nymph fishing you generally tie on two
flies, my preference is the rubberlegs,
which imitates a stonefly nymph and a san Juan worm which...... hell it's a
worm for goodness sake what fish wouldn't eat a worm? The Boulder is a great river to fish, I am
sure that most of the fish in the spring are coming up from the Yellowstone,
which means they are largish fish for a
river the size of the Boulder.
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| main fork Boulder with Absarokees in background |
I started my day fishing the Boulder by
driving all the way up stream to the "forks" where the West Boulder
flows into the Boulder. After parking
the car I heard a ruckus going on, it was two Sand hill cranes fighting over a
bunch of hay presumably for nesting or some bizarre mating ritual, they were
carrying on so much I had to try and get a picture. Unfortunately they weren't so into themselves that they would let me get
close. The forks are small up here, and
the scenery is excellent, and I did manage to catch a 17 inch rainbow in
spawning colors in about 6 inches of water. I hear if you go further up there is a spot
where the river disappears into the ground only to reappear further down the
valley.
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| he ate the rubberlegs! |
The fishing was great with
browns, rainbows, and even one cut-bow, devouring the rubberlegs and san juan
worm about evenly. The only problem I
have with the Boulder is lack of access, but it seems where ever I could get to
the river there were plenty of hungry trout to catch.
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| havent figured out the panarama setting yet |
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| best you can do when you are fisherman and photographer |
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| Boulder bow |
So I fished my way back to "the
Fort" and got me some Bent nail IPA, and headed west on I90, and the next
days fishing, the Thompson which is where I have been accused of going to way
too
much. I knew the Thompson would.
because i checked the flows and it said 850 cfs (the Boulder was at 150) Time
for lots of split shot and where to find those grande thingamabobbers? So I pulled into the world famous Dan Bailey's
fly shop in Livingston Mt. with one
thing on my mind. I bee lined for the
rack of strike indicators and saw my quarry, just then the guy asked if he
could help me ( with one eye on my bare feet).
I replied "nope got what I need right here!" He laughed and told me they had some
kickballs in the back if I needed a larger one, I declined and was once again
off down I90 going west. While it hurt
to pass all those other rivers like the Madison, the Gallatin, Rock creek, Blackfoot
, etc.... I had to stay focused.
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| cut-bow |
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| spingtime on the thompson, high and green |
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| Thompson rainbow |
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| Thompson brown on the worm |
I am
glad to say it was worth it.
The Thompson was just like I like it..... high and
clear. lengthen your leader, put on a couple of macho split shot, attach your
kickball thingamabobber, and start the chucking and ducking. In fact I may have invented a new cast, I call
it the "Thompson Twirl" , you throw your junk in a circular pattern
so you don't get a monster split shot upside the noggin. Oh yeah, What's My Name?........ Right........ RUBBERLEGS WORM.
enough said.
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| thats what i'm talking about! |
