Blue Skies and Big Fish

As many of you know, mid-July in our neck of the woods can mean long, hot days, dry weather, and forest fires. Although the trout fishing usually survives (if not improves) under a smoky sky, we always prefer our beloved big blue. We are happy to report that so far this year there are no signs of fire. In fact, our summer has been so cool, and relatively wet, that river conditions are still favorable enough to catch fish right through the heat of the afternoon. This morning, our guests were chowing on Josh's famous buckwheat pancakes at 7:30 and fishing on the river at 9:00. And when fish are eating bushy #8 dry flies, life is easy. We are fishing hoppers, golden stones, and PMDs these days, and enjoying the extra rest and happy trout provided by this awesome Montana weather.