Rubberlegs Worm

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. 

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.

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.

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.

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.

havent figured out the panarama setting yet

best you can do when you are fisherman and photographer

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.

cut-bow

spingtime on the thompson, high and green

Thompson rainbow

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.

thats what i'm talking about!