Is Your Blue Damsel Trip Booked Yet?

It is definately time to make your 2102 spring, summer and fall plans for a fly fishing trip to Western Montana's Blue Damsel Lodge. The super bowl is over and spring is on the way. Snow pack looks good, but not crazy like last year.

All systems are go and we are anticipating a very good fishing season. There is still a good bit of availability, but, the phone is ringing with guests selecting dates. If you've been here before, you know what a great trip to expect and we'd sure love to see you again. If you haven't been yet, now is the time to get in touch and find out about available dates, fishing expectations and how simple it is to book maybe the best fly fishing trip of your life. You deserve a fly fishing adventure this summer and we suggest you take a few minutes to contact us about just that!

Happy New Year-in with the new, fond memories of the past

As we roll into a great looking 2012, we are just reflecting on the past season. There are some great memories and photos of really good times, great food, good music, new friends, and wonderful fishing. We made some new friends and caught some great fish; We also lost some memorable fish and good friends and choose to fondly remember the missed fish, past days, and departed friends.
We would like to share two links with you that remind us of the essence of 2011. The first was produced and directed by Craig Chiesa, who did a summer practicum with us as part of his program with the University of Montana. His friend, Thomas Caywood Vincent shot the video and put most of it together. Also, a special thanks to Bela Fleck and the Flecktones for the original sound track. The link will take you to the video on the vimeo site. This is only about a 2 minute video, but it is hi-def, on a hi-def site so it may take a while to download. To keep it from pausing, etc, just start it, hit pause and let it download before you watch it. It's a really good little video that captures a lot of what the lodge and fishing is about.
The second link is to a You tube video of "US", the staff house band last season, aka, Maren Wing and the Rock Bottom Boys doing an impromptu cover of a Felice Brother's tune that was one of our favorite of the season. It is also just about 2 minutes and downloads really fast.
Enjoy and stay in touch. Still lots of good dates, but we are filling up fast for 2012. Hope to see you at the Blue Damsel this year.

Link to Blue Damsel Video:
http://vimeo.com/29176206

Link to youtube music video:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=GyKxAtRViOw

Nice Finish to a Nice Season

Here is a picture of Enrique, and guide Adam, with a very nice Blackfoot River brown trout. Enrique and Paul were our last guests of the 2011 season and they just left after spending a week fishing with us. Enrique caught this monster (really near to 2 foot of fish) on his second day. His fishing partner, Paul took the photo and shared it with us. Thanks to both of you for helping us put a good end to a good season. You are both world class sportsmen!

We wanted to get this picture posted now, before we get busy with the end of season party and closing up for winter. Today brings our 2011 season to a close and we want to thank all our guests, staff, guides, friends, and trout for making this the best season yet! Soon we will post links to the awesome video Craig made and some you-tube video of the Blue Damsel Staff, aka "Maren Wing and the Rock Bottom Boys" doing our favorite tune of the season. But for now, we are done... Signing out for a while from the Blue Damsel Lodge. Keith's going fishing!

The Rock Bottom Boys

Thanks to Fred Crawford, we have a photo of the Blue Damsel house band- The Rock Bottom Boys. Technically, this season it has been Maren Wing and The Rock Bottom Boys. From left to right, we have Troy Lorenz on the stand up bass fiddle, (world famous?)guest guitarist Jim Cox sitting in on accoustic guitar, Josh Wing on fiddle and vocals, Maren Wing (Troy's wife and Josh's sister) on accordian and vocals, and Keith on lead guitar. This was a little session we did mid September on a wonderful evening after a great day of fishing.
We only have two weeks left this season to try and get a video/audio put together, but we are working on that right now. If it happens, we'll post the link here.

Farewell to a Friend

We just met David this year, but he came out twice so we got to know him pretty well. We just found out David took his last fishing trip-one he won't come back from. We are so sorry to hear that and so very glad to have known you and honored to have fished with you. Goodbye buddy-from all the staff and guides.

The Trout Is Saved!

This is not the typical conservation story, but this fish was saved by Kirk Kanady, one of Keith's lodge partners. Thanks Kirk! Any of you who have been to the lodge in the past several years know the trout sculpture displayed on the main level. This sculpture, by Missoua artist Jonathan Qualben, has been on display here for 4 years. Jothathan found a buyer for this, the last of his 8 foot trout sculptures, and told us he would make another one if we wanted to keep our old friend. And Kirk "threw down" and bought the trout!
Those of you who have been here this summer knew that we were concerned about being able to keep the fish and may be relieved to know that the big old trout stayes right where it is. Thanks again Kirk!

Unforgettable..The Blue Damsel Lodge

7 o’clock. Pitch black dark back at home in my native Alabama. As I sit here and write, the images explode in recent memory. Deep diving Gorges lined with evergreen spruce and ponderosa pine, and river banks teeming with fresh hatchlings coming off the water, precisely at this same time that I am sitting in the aforementioned pitch black dark. Don’t get me wrong , I love being at my home and I love my state, but over the past week the Blue Damsel Lodge outside of Missoula Montana provided me with some of my fondest memories and experiences to date as a Fly Fisherman and Outdoorsman.

We arrived at the Blue Damsel early on our first day, ensured by our host Keith that we would not be intruding by getting there early. After a brief tour around the lodge, which was immaculate, we got a special little lunch packed by their amazing Chef and all around renaissance man Josh and we headed out for a little self guided fishing on Rock Creek. I had done my homework leading up to our trip and thought I had seen some of the beautiful vistas that rock creek could offer, however I was amazed as we trekked through the clear waters running slightly higher than normal at the authentic beauty of the river and surrounding mountains. A few rising fish were our first sign that there was a nice hatch occurring and subsequently we tied on what we thought to be a good match. Upon further inspection we realized that there was a large number of golden stoneflies hatching and the fish seemed to be turned on to them. On went a rubber leg yellow stimulator and the fish started to fall victim to our offerings. We worked our way upstream and ended the day with several nice bows, browns, and cutts. When we returned to the lodge we were greeted by the friendly people at the lodge and we got our fill of wonderful food and glorious tales of fishing greatness to come on our float trip the next day.

Sunrise the next morning brought about an eagerness to get out on the water, but not before another wonderful meal prepared by the lodge staff. We were met at the gathering place by our guide for the next two days Adam Spenner. Immediately I knew that Adam and I had a similar mindset as it pertained to Fly Fishing. Over the course of the next two days my fiancé and I experienced some of the best fishing I have ever been privileged enough to be a part of. Adam was a terrific guide and his knowledge of fishing was more than adequate to put us on the fish. Moreover his skills as a rower on the driftboat were downright amazing. I have been on a few driftboat float trips before and Adam takes the proverbial cake for the best driftboat guide I have had. Our first day on the Blackfoot river was spectacular filled with lots of dry fly action and good solid cutts , bows, and brows all in the 12-16” range. I was so thrilled for my fiancé to be able to experience the glorious vistas offered up to us by the blackfoot as well as fast and furious fishing action. In fact as much as I hate to admit it, she outfished me on that day! Overall 40+ fish in a day, wonderful companionship, and breathtaking scenery made for an amazing day, but what was to come was even more of a thrill.

Our second day on the blackfoot began similarly to our first, a great breakfast at the lodge followed by a drive to meet up with adam to head to the river. This time we went much higher up river and started our drift surrounded by ospreys and even more spectacular scenery. Adam decided that we would target the “mack daddys” by going deep and slow, dredging some larger bugs on the bottom. That strategy immediately payed unforgettable dividends when I hooked into and landed a 17” Bull which immediately inspired me to enjoy a victory cigar. I never thought I would have the chance to catch one of these beauties and reality was setting in as I kneeled in the river, fish in hand, surrounded by the ubiquitous beauty of the Montana wilderness. The day progressed on wonderfully as we witnessed several eagles fly over head and brought fish after fish to the boat, including this beauty of a 19” brown.

After several hours on the river we made our way down to the takeout saddened to be departing from our guide and new found friend but full of gratitude and for his effort and conversation. Overall the day yielded another large number of fish and all but a few being over the 14” mark. My largest brown, cut, and cuttbow, as well as my only bull all came on this momentous day, a day not soon to be forgotten.

We returned back to the lodge for our final night and were once again amazed at the hospitality and talent of Keith and everyone else at the lodge. After our meal we said our goodbyes and thanked them for one of the greatest weeks of our lives. There are experiences in life that one will always remember for the people, places and thrills enjoyed and our stay at the Blue Damsel Lodge was undoubtedly one of them. I cannot recommend the Blue Damsel enough and I can never thank them enough for the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of Montana in with such class and care.
C. Bryan Crumpler
www.ReviveFlyFishing.com