Homage to the Chef

There are no guarantees in fishing. Angling is a fickle game. We can always say, "the fishing was good, the catching not so," but sometimes it is difficult to truly feel that way. It doesn't matter where you are in the world, sometimes trout just don't bite. In Montana, perhaps, it happens less than other places, but it still happens every once in a while. 

But for the off day on the river, we have a back-up plan at the Blue Damsel. One thing that can make up for a slow day on the river is a top-notch cocktail and a hot meal. And around the dinner table, we are always on. Unlike anglers, Chef Josh doesn't have off days. Whether he's working on slow smoked rib-eye, roasted corn chowder, pesto orzo, or maybe a fresh huckleberry tart, he seems to always be on his game. So for the day when the fish just won't cooperate or when your hook set is never on time, we say thank you, Chef Josh, for providing the bite everyday. Guaranteed. 

Fall is Coming

With two days of solid rain, most of us feel good about declaring us over the mid-summer heat hump. Sustained high-pressure systems brought lots of sun and high temps over the last week and a half, but it is safe to say the last several days have put the final nail in the coffin of potentially hard trout fishing conditions. 

As I write this blog, rain is clanking off the tin roof of the lodge and our rain barrels are slowly filling up. The meadow is looking greener than it has in months and the low-pressure has gotten trout looking up for dry flies. Yesterday, guests fished the Clark Fork just above Alberton Gorge, west of Missoula. They brought about 20 trout to the net with lots of fish in the 15-18" class, and reported lots of silver heads gobbling hoppers and may fly attractors. We are still a far way from fall, but today it sure doesn't feel that way.

As the staff gears up for the Blue Damsel's busiest September ever, the prospect for trout fishing could not be better. Dates in the first half of October are still available, and we are eager to fill those slots. We have not had the opportunity to share fishing conditions like this in years. We think every angler should have the chance to experience Montana trout fishing during a cool, wet fall. So if you have some time in October, give us a call.

As always, tight lines!

Milltown Dam Update

On March 28th of this year, the Milltown Dam was breached, allowing the Clark Fork and Blackfoot Rivers to flow freely for the first time in over a hundred years. Though a definite plus for the long-term health of the drainage, the removal of the dam brought immediate concerns for Missoula anglers: toxins in the dam tailings, heavy sediment, and a surge of stagnated water might have a dire effect on trout and insect life for several years. Many fishermen felt the lower Clark Fork would not be much of an angling option for at least the 2008 season. I was one of them.

I was wrong.

No river in the area has been fishing as consistently and as well as the Clark Fork. Blue Damsel guests have been returning from the river with sore arms and smiles plastered on their faces. It seems our huge run-off this year washed dam tailings past our trout before much harm could be done. The run-off that had us pulling our hair out the last week of June is making us giddy with bent rods and 18 inchers now. 

Here is some evidence: