By the end of the week I’ll be Montana bound, a bundle of fly rods on the front seat, a duffel of equipment in the truck bed.
Assuming my ancient Toyota econobox pickup survives the 14 hour trip, this coming weekend could find me scoring heavy on big trout with big, big dries (hint: stonefly sized).
The route, as traversed by a 21 year-old Toyota pickup (hopefully).
That’s a reality offering ample opportunity for online reportage, if not outright gloating.
Let’s face it: the word “Montana” stirs the psyche of your average fly fisherman, neurons firing freely in the part of the brain that covets big trout.
Known for its famous rivers - sometimes overrun with out-of-staters like me – Montana’s also home to smaller, less-visited waters, and if you dig a little deeper into the word itself, you’ll find the promise of uncrowded water staring back at you.
I’m leeching off staying with the Underground’s Anonymous Director of Housing For Snarkish Fly Fishing Bloggers, and yes, attempting to file reports along the way.
Naturally, the Frelancer’s Curse has landed hard; the law of nature where booking a vacation means work and new clients pour out of the woodwork.
That means I haven’t been fishing much (nor writing about it when I do). Between work, packing and duct-taping parts back on the truck, there may not be any fishing before the trip.
Not that I’m complaining. There’s a light at the end of this particular tunnel, and it’s cast by the Big Sky sun.
You’ll know what’s happening on slightly after I do, and until then, see you on the road, Tom Chandler.
Technorati Tags: fly fishing, fishing, fly fishing montana, montana, road trip
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
BaconGurl 06.24.08 at 8:12 am
Dude… are you coming through Bend?
Tom Chandler 06.24.08 at 8:14 am
I believe I am. Just not sure when.
Chile Doctor 06.24.08 at 8:23 am
Tom, this threatens to be a bigger adventure than your planned interplanetary trip! I remember your older truck (the one before this one), and I’m sure you’ve got comparable equipment this time.
And comparable survival chances.
Any possibility of starting a betting pool on this one?
As for when you get to/through Bend: It depends. Really. On Murphy and his interaction with your transport system (loosely identified)…
CD
BaconGurl 06.24.08 at 8:37 am
Well email me and I’ll send you some contact information. If you make it my way you deserve a brew.
Will 06.24.08 at 12:04 pm
Tom, Have an excellent trip! You’ll be driving right by my sister in Spokane and the St. Joe not too far from her. Good country.
It’s too bad you haven’t been able to fish the Sac recently - I stayed at Wayne’s place a few days back and I went through quite a few #8 hooks tying up Drakes and Stones in the morning and then getting them chewed up in the evening by nice fish. But maybe you don’t want to hear it…(if it makes you feel better, my flies and I also fell victim to more than a few overhanging trees).
Best, Will
Tom Sorenson 06.24.08 at 1:54 pm
It looks like you’ll be driving through a lot of good trout country between starting and stopping. I know around Bend is some awesome trout country - And it looks like you’ll be going through the Moses Lake, WA area - again, some really good trout country out towards Ephrata. So, you know, just in case the Toyota has some problems, make sure it happens close to some good water.
Tom Chandler 06.24.08 at 3:13 pm
Bacon: Will do.
Will: I said hadn’t been fishing much, or writing about it.
Tom: Plenty of great stuff around there, but with a good 13-14 hours of driving — and an unnamed-yet-big-fish packed secret destination in front of me — I’m probably going with the flog.
Scott 06.24.08 at 4:00 pm
Tom, I’ve made the drive quite a few times between Seattle and Craig and can tell you that the hottest coffee known to man is sold out of a little espresso stand in Frenchtown. It is the universal opposite of Hamms which has been shown to always stay 10 degrees colder then any other beer. Just an FYI.
Will you visit the Missouri? The flows are just now coming down from what I think is the first ever “flush” of that river. It should be an interesting year once the flows and the fish settle down.
Don 06.24.08 at 5:54 pm
I see, the State is ablaze and you’re going to bail and leave the rest of us to fend for ourselves…nice. What about the better-half and Wally the wonderdog?
Tom, drive safely and have a GREAT time! Looking forward to your reports from Mecca.
Rick 06.24.08 at 7:43 pm
Hey Tom,
I head out a week from today on the beginning of my own western run, also driving vintage, The Jug, an ‘86 Chevy Beauville, dark gray with tinted windows - a sinister looking 1/2 ton of art (and fly rod) carrying machine. I have to admit, I’ll be envying your mileage at $4+/gallon.
Denver to Jackson to Crested Butte, and eventually to Sausalito for a Labor Day weekend show.A few flights home over the summer, but a few long stretches with time to kill between selling opportunities. Guess I’ll have to fish.
Travel safe, and if you stray into Wyoming and see a dark and spooky van with NY plates, stop by for a beer or a bourbon.
Rick
Dave 06.24.08 at 8:27 pm
ROAD TRIP!!!!!! Nuthin heals quite like some windshelid time in beautiful country w/ the promise of haunting rivers and fat trout at the end of the journey.
Kick some good tunes in and have fun, Tom. We’re all root’n for ya.
I’ll bet the trip out will be just as inspiring as the trip back home. It always is.
Smellslikefish 06.24.08 at 11:01 pm
Dude(I know you love being called that)! You’ve got a bacon-loving chick trying to buy you a beer?!?!?!!!!
You’re passing up an opportunity to make millions. Share your secrets…
SMJ 06.25.08 at 6:35 am
I think Singlebarbed should ride shotgun. He smells better than Wally, he’ll make sure you eat right (no slaw dogs), and he’s well trained in the fine art of bikini warfare. Competing reports could be filed along the way, allowing the Undergrounders to decide who the bigger liar is. It’s a win-win.
Tom Chandler 06.25.08 at 7:10 am
Scott: The Road to Montana is paved with many things, though given my somewhat hostile reaction to caffeine, it probably won’t be coffee.
Don: See today’s post.
Rick: I just filled up the Toyota Econo-Truck with $4.75/gallon gas, though the downside is I can’t really sleep in the thing, and obviously, chicks dig vans.
Dave: The tunes idea is a good one, but the radio/tape player died many, many years ago. Could make for some interesting (and involved) interior monologues…
Smells: Expect an Information Product soon.
SMJ: How can you be sure Singlebarbed smells better than Wally? I do like the competing report idea; it would be the perfect opportunity to show the world that my reports are meticulously researched and based wholly on Absolute Truth, and that his aren’t.
Eduardo Sanchez 06.25.08 at 1:14 pm
I wish to have that kind of technology here in Argentina. We still use the stars to make our way.
fishhead 06.26.08 at 10:13 am
Tom,
I’ll be somewhere between the Clark Fork and the Bighole over the 4th weekend. Leaving here on Thursday PM. If you are still in the country by then and the fish have worked up your thirst, give me call.
BTW, I have a couple Toyota parts around here you’re welcome to, a fan belt, lights. Check back, my kids knockin’ pieces off his truck all the time.
Good news, gas here just broke $4 a gallon so you can budget your savings into the brew fund, truck parts fund, or the funky local fly fund.
Have fun, the bugs are on!
fly fishing 07.02.08 at 3:52 am
Awsome fly fishing blog you got here! check out for more fly fishing huch atlantic salmon catched 9 kg juni 2008 picture