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If you don't already know this, I love fishing drag free drifts under bobbers (indicators for the snooby reader.)  I have been criticized for this hundreds of times, and even corked out of my drifts on several occasions in spite of my tactics (TODAY).  Growing up, I learned the importance of knowing what your lure looks like under water.  It's obvious that many people don't think this way when they are fishing.  I couldn't count the times I have seen people lose it because they are not catching fish when using "the exact same thing" as a fisherman that is producing big numbers right next to them.  In most cases, the fisher person locking up on the regs is in the right water, though it may only be one microcurrent away from the unproductive wrecking ball angler. 


CLASSIC MO' RIVER BOWS NYMPHED UP TODAY 


Learning the water you need to be fishing at the right time only comes with experience, and lots of time on the water.  Don't expect to know where and how to fish if you haven't put in your time.  Fly shops and blogs can help, but not too much.  It's like upper level physics, if you don't study, you will fail.  


BIG ROB PATON GETTING IT DONE TO UNDER THE BOBBER


A good piece of advice for you from someone who struggled to fish bobbers correctly is to watch anglers who know how to run a proper drift.  It wasn't until I watched a good buddy run razor sharp drifts until I understood why certain people catch more fish.  I thought I knew how to nymph, I didn't.  I thought nymphing was lame...(selling your soul.)  I considered myself a 0x streamer fisherman.  I usually only fished streamers, even when fish were eating emergers.  When fish started to eat drys freakishly, then I might have tried to throw on that strand of 4x and throw a dry.  I was the guy that was stripping streamers all day, who would once in a while connect with a decent brown.  I'll be the first to admit that I was unknowledgeable.  Sometimes when I look at streamers, I think to myself that they are no different looking than crank bait.  They are called sculpins, but look like needle fish.  Streamer fishing is as close to cranking 6 inch plastic baits as it comes.  This may be why its so fun!  I love to strip streamers when it's on, and when I do it, I usually get rewarded with a nice slab of gold.  


BROWN I TOOK ON A STRIPPED STREAMER YESTERDAY ON THE MO.


THE SIX INCH 'BOW THAT WAS HANGING OUT OF THE PICTURED BROWN'S JAWS

Whatever it is that you are doing, do it right.  If you are pulling around streamers at the right pace and depth, it will probably be worth blowing your shoulder doing it.  If you like bobber fishing, get technical with your leaders, and present your flies the way fish want them.  If you are soaking bait with a gear stick, use small barbless hooks, its the least you can do.  If you are using this trickery, be nice to the fish, because I know as well as you that you will catch them.  The gear guys I watched today caught ALOT of rainbows.  They were using small hooks and quickly released every one they caught.  I applaud these guys for that, and realize that we all have our place on the river if we are holding a MT fishing license.  Sticking a size 4 hook in a 16 inch rainbow's face is like sticking a clothing hanger hook in yours.  This goes out to all breeds of fisher people.  Please be nice to the fish, it's all alot of us have. 

Good morning to all you 'wake up early the day after Christmas and check Missouri River fishing blogs to see what you missed out on yesterday' hardcore anglers.  For me, this Christmas was very different than any I had ever had the pleasure of living through thus far.  It was the first year I didn't make the long drive or short flight back to the land of cheeses and packaged meats (chalk up another pack attack.)  When working the week before and week following Christmas Day, this is where I fortunately had to spend my Christmas.  Yes, I missed Mom, Dad, Sisters, Nephews, Aunts, Uncles, Grandma, and the fluff balls, but I didn't miss out on stroking feisty rainbows and browns just south of town. 

They all say the tug is the drug, and it was on Christmas day.  I met with "Party" Paul Constandine, and long time Mo. River guide, and hell of a good guy Erik Mondragon at Wolf Creek Bridge, 9 a.m.

          The wind was down up at WCB and the temps were hovering around 40.  Would we see 50 yesterday like they told us we would?  No.  I am in no position to complain about wind, because it was indeed tolerable all day.  Paul shows up at my place at 8 with no waders, no tippet, no food, no liquids, no gloves, and only one puck of flies.  Ulm, closed down, no Quigley’s burritos for us, serious bummer.  Cascade??? Boarded up of course, no water or beverages for us.

          We dunked the boat at 9:15, and I rowed up into the inside slot while Mondragon and Party ran the shuttle. My first bobber drift got wacked by a classic 17" wild bow.  Present #1 for me.  Mondragon gets in front, Paul loads into the back.  I row back into the slot for a real drift thru this time.  Wack, wack, wack.  Three bows before we get back to the ramp we put in @.  Good start.  Mondragon and Paul wanted to pull streamers within 100 yards.  Paul went 3-4 on streamers right away.  Mondragon does 2 for 3.  At this point we could have rowed up to WCB and called it with Christmas smiles, but Mondragon hopped on the sticks.  More nymph fish for me, more streamer eaters for Party.  I found myself stripping quickly after, and tricked a nice bow immediately.  The key to streamer success, which Paul pioneered early in the float, was an ever slow retrieval on floating line.  To cut to the chase, we all landed lots of fish, including a stud or two each. 

 

Action was consistent all day with the exception of the tail end of the float.  Thank you so much to Mrs. Mondragon for the outstanding Christmas FEAST.  I'm still in the middle of a food coma!  Can't wait to do it again on the 31st and New Years day.  Visit the shop in the next few days, and I'll put you on some Streamers and nymphs which will produce a great day for you.

Despite an overwhelming desire to get out and freeze your hands and feet for winter fly fishing fun, most of us are spending more time indoors during the cold season.  During these dark times, you can still stay connected to the fishy world online.  Besides a double handful of great fishing blogs out there, there is some serious media to follow.  Be warned though.  You may develop an emotionally overpowering need to visit some far flung location that’s warmer than Montana or buy plane tickets to Alaska for next summer.  Here is a list of some sites I check from time to time. 
*True Online Magazines that are worth a look.

American Angler

*Bloodknot Magazine

*Catch Magazine

*Contemporary Sportsman

Drake Magazine

Field&Stream

Fine Fishing

Fish Alaska

Fly Fish America

Fly Fisherman Magazine

Flymage

Fly Rod & Reel

Hatches Magazine

 

See page 12 in the current Kype issue for Solstice Salmon by yours truly

Midcurrent

*Pool 32

*Sleeping in the Dirt

*Streamside Canada

*This is Fly

flyfusion

Let us know if you have another link we should check out and remeber...tis the season to visit your local fly shop.  We have some great gift ideas and lots of materials so you can tie the next killer fly . Stay warm my friends.

Big R Fly Shop December 2011 Newsletter is now live and better than ever.  This month:

Graham's Place, Honduras
>>Guess you just had to be there

Great Falls Gets a Pair
>> Freed Tellen and Paul Bloch join the team

Catch Ya' Latter, KK!
>>  Kriss Keller is off to tie in Thailand

Honing Idaho Steel, creature feature, and holiday savings on all your favorite Big R Fly Shop gear!

Fred has become quite the spey caster the past few years (honestly a very good caster with a double hand).  So much so that local outfitter Brian Neilsen with Finfetchers Outfitting thought he would take a lesson.  Lessons from Fred are being offered "Guide Style" and very casual... put your waders on... lay all your flies out on the table... grab a Rainer... and learn to spey cast (no water, rod, or freezing temps necessary). 

First:  The Mouse Track... full swing and start with the rod tip low.


































Second:  The D Loop... come all the way around and raise your rod tip slightly to lift your line out of the water leaving only your tip submerged to load the rod.


































3rd:  Make sure you push and pull... Brian you need to use both hands.  Use the advantage of having two handles and allow the rod to do the work. 


















4th:  Just be cool and wait, let that sucker swing around all the way to the hang down (the tug is the drug)


















... and I think he's got it.

This class is not currently being offered.  However, Fred is in the shop in Great Falls to answer any spey questions you may have, and may be down for on the spot waterless casting lessons as well.  New spey gear is arriving in the shop from Beulah, Rio, Airflo, and more.  The Missouri is a great river to swing, and seems to be especially effective during the fall, winter, and spring months.  Come quiz Fred and the guys for more information.

The fly fishing industry has exploded in the past two decades around the globe.  River access points are looking similar to mall parking lots, spots that were once known by few are now exposed, and quiet creeks running through private land are being explored like never before.  This has created a grumbling, and sometimes feelings of animosity between many fisher people.  Sports people are often clashing heads, as well as lines on the river, arguing over who has the right to be there more.  Some altercations end as quick as they start, and others turn into lifelong grudges.  Some of us don't want to fish unless we are stroking 30 plus fish per day.  Some of us even think we are entitled to a particular piece of water every time we are present.  Fishing etiquette seems to be set on the back burner too often.    Why is this happening?  This brings a common  question to my mind.  Why do we fish?  I challenge anyone who is becoming annoyed with fishing to try exploring new water.  Less conventional spots often lead to a more enjoyable experience, where you will be forced to open your mind to a new technique.  These new areas might even provide you with a different outlook on why you are fishing in the first place.  It might help us to realize that fishing is a never ending learning experience with hidden challenges that you may have never encountered unless you choose to step outside of your comfort zone.  We fish because its outrageously fun, and we should continue to provide fun for ourselves and anyone who chooses to cast a fly line.  I give props to anyone who chooses to laugh and smile on the river.  After all, what would you honestly rather be doing?  If anyone has any other suggestions how to keep it fun, feel free to share.

I took this guy from Texas (good thing it was a Texan so no humans were injured) fishing this week on the Big Thompson outside of Estes Park. It was his first ever fly fishing venture.  A crowd gathered on the highway to take pictures, including a Denver Post guy. One of the pics is on the front page of todays Denver post.

(This came in today from our Spokane, Washington Store Manager. Source and photographer unknown.)

Probably one of the most unique new footwear products we saw at the shows last year was a brand called "Brew Shoes."  Brew Shoes are slip on mock style shoe for casual attire (apri fly fishing).  The shoes colors are named after micro brews such as a Mocha Porter or Hazelnut Brown.  They come in a sturdy 6 pack handled box, the treads are bottles so you leave a cool pattern when you are walking around, they are treated to be water and stain resistent, the tread is non-slip, they have removable insoles, and the backs fold down so you don't have to bend over to slide them on.  Best of all, they look cool.  We have the canvas style Walters as well as the Dudes in stock now.  Their tagline "Walk Responsibly."  Come check them out.