The water flow graphs have finally made a move for the bottom of the page. All the streams in the area are dropping and clearing, and with loads of big stoneflies, drakes, and PMD's flying around, the fish and the fishing are looking up. 

Yesterday, four guides took eight Blue Damsel guests to fish the upper stretches of the Blackfoot. Three days ago, those same stretches yielded a total of 5 trout in roughly twenty-eight fishing hours. Yesterday, however, marked the beginning of the end of our muddy water season. All guides and guests (so you know it's true!), reported good numbers of eats and some big fish brought to the net. Cutthroats and a few nice rainbow were craving the San Juan worm, and everyone enjoyed a day of bent rods and willing trout.

In other lodge news, yesterday marked the opening day of The Links at Bat-Elk Canyon, the first ever frisbee-golf course at the Blue Damsel Lodge. It is a 9-hole gem, designed with the graceful starkness of St. Andrews and Prestwick. The first ever Guest-Staff match is scheduled for Sunday. Stay tuned for results.  

Run Off Again

It seems we have finally settled into the Montana summer weather pattern on Rock Creek. Lots of sunshine and afternoon temps in the 80's are melting the last of the high elevation snow and causing the rivers to flow high and fast. The Creek is running clear, but at 2,920 cfs, it is still tough to wade and best fished from a boat. The warm weather has, however, gotten a lot of bugs flying around in the afternoons. Salmon flies, green drakes, and even some golden stones are on the move the length of the Creek.

Fishing the big rivers has been tough. The Blackfoot is pushing at 5,570 cfs and is looking pretty turbid. Folks have been floating the lower section of the river, and although slow, have reported some big fish landed on nymph rigs.

The Clark Fork and the Bitterroot are both high and looking a little like Nesquik. It seems most of our guides have been leaning towards fishing the Foot or making the drive up to the Missouri where the nymph and streamer fishing has been superb.

Although the rivers are big, guests are still catching trout and we know it will only get better. As the last of the snow melts, and the flows begin to fall, we expect one of the better summers of trout catching we have had in our 6 years. Tight lines! 

Chocolate covered salmon flies are delicious and nutritious!

Joseph was craving some Rock Creek protein.

Another June on Rock Creek

Sam pointed towards the top of the tallest ponderosa in the meadow below the lodge. "Is that a...?" Everyone got up from the porch table and stood at the rail, eyes on the pine canopy. The sun was quickly sinking below the west ridge, but in the failing light, the last remaining rays caught the beating wings of a giant bug. It was headed in the same direction as the hundreds of other over-sized insects we would later see that night: upstream. 

The salmon flies have descended on the lodge once again. A few days later than usual, but there numbers around the lodge at mile marker 11 are a positive sign, and we have high hopes for the coming days. Today the Creek is flowing at 2,970 cfs and while wading is difficult, we have been catching fish on top in slow, soft water. Hopefully, we will soon start to see water levels drop slightly and give better opportunities for waders and boaters alike. 

In other lodge news, we have been out morel picking twice. We are finding good numbers of mushrooms within a few miles of the lodge, and we predict it will only get better. Fresh picked morels, coupled with Josh's prowess in the kitchen, makes for a satisfying end to a long day of throwing huge dry flies. Life is good. 

 

Is It Summer Yet?

After a week of sopping snow and sunless days, we were relieved to wake up to blue skies and warming temperatures this morning. The spring has been the wettest and coldest in years, and although it bodes well for fishing in July and August, we are ready for summer. And this morning, it seems it is finally here.

Today the Creek is pushing water at 2,760 cubic feet per second. This is high for the third week of June, but the water is clear and there are reports of solid trout catching the length of the Creek. There have been good signs of Salmon Fly activity--dried exoskeletons line banks in stretches of the lower river--but we are still waiting for that sunny, June afternoon when the huge, orange bellied aliens hang from every branch and flutter high over the river like stoned humming birds. Today just might be that day.

As of last night, the Blue Damsel is back in business for the summer season. And with the prospect of wild cutthroats eating #4 dry flies, we could not be more excited.