The Underground’s Montana Fly Fishing Road Trip Wrapup
By Tom Chandler on Jul 17, 2008 in Fishing Report, Road Trip
I’m still knocking Montana dust off my fly fishing gear, and it’s already time to pack it up for a quick visit to Maine.
First, always bring duct tape. Always.
Sometimes a road trip to a famous place acquires a surreal patina; you anticipate it like a kid anticipates Christmas, and while you’re fishing, you’re trying to experience everything fully.
I often found myself measuring my experience against what happens at home, which was good because the life I’d built myself back there was just waiting, pretty much like I left it.
The transition from one to the next requires only a little recalibration, especially when the place you fished is fly fishing’s Disneyland (only with wolves and 100 year-old freshwater mussels), and home is no slouch on the fly fishing front either.
In truth, Missoula’s a town like a lot of other college/ag towns, though when you exit the freeway and your windshield is so smeared with bugs from the evening Clark Fork caddis hatch that you can’t read the street signs, you know at least some of the hype about the place was true.
Below are a few pictures that simply didn’t fit anywhere else.
That’s not to say they’re beautiful or scenic like most of the photographs I’ve already posted, but they’re representative of something. Enjoy.
John Gierach wrote repeatedly about the giant lake caddis. Now I’ve seen it.
No, we didn’t go in; we admired this Butte Anaconda, MT bar from a distance.
We got tired of dropping trout we were trying to photograph, so…
Waiter, Tables for two, streamside please.
This is what a madman’s streamer box looks like.
Sure, I already used this one, but liked it enough to run it again.
This one too. That stream was unforgettable.
I appreciate all your comments on my various Montana Road Trip posts. I’m glad I could share it with you, and hope that - while the summer’s still young - everyone sneaks out and fishes somewhere beautiful.
Which is my cue for one final image:
See you somewhere beautiful, Tom Chandler.
Tom Sorenson | Jul 17, 2008 | Reply
Awesome - what a great trip you had. We just got back from fishing the South Fork of the Snake River (got a few blogs posted on it with more to come) so I can agree with you that everyone needs to go out and fish somewhere beautiful.
Awesome photos.
snokid | Jul 17, 2008 | Reply
Hey there
Thank you for sharing…now that you’ve had a small taste when ya comin’ back…
outstanding photos…
Grace and peace
Ben
Iowa Trout Fisherman | Jul 17, 2008 | Reply
That last picture is impressive. No wonder they call it Big Sky, huh?
I just got back from a trip to Idaho and got to fish some streams by Henry’s Lake.
fishhead | Jul 17, 2008 | Reply
Nice images! You got the sky!
One caption correction- the Club Moderne is in Anaconda. Next time your’re in the area stop in at the Harp and Thistle for Black Widow on tap-mmmm! The fish will start smiling back at you!
Harry | Jul 18, 2008 | Reply
Great pics-perfect picture to end the post with.
Love the duct tape work!
David Stagliano | Jul 18, 2008 | Reply
Hey Tom,
you made mention of 100 year-old freshwater mussels, these are the Western Pearlshells— where did you guys see them..I am doing a study on these mussels currently and am compiling sites across MT and ID. Just curious,
Tight lines,
Dave
fishskicanoe | Jul 18, 2008 | Reply
Wow. That was enjoyable. Maine next? Tough gig you’ve got going there, Tom.
Tom Chandler | Jul 18, 2008 | Reply
David: Your inspired gambit - wherein you prey on the Underground’s love for all things conservation to suss out a prime fishing spot - almost worked. Almost.
We have just one question: would your “study” of the Western Pearlshell happen to include a fly rod? Are we next going to hear about your father’s deathbed wish that he be buried with Pearlshell?
Seriously, we found out later of the Pearlshell’s existence from the fisheries biologist. You can contact me via the contact form if you need more information.
Eduardo Sanchez | Jul 20, 2008 | Reply
Excellent! I guest that Montana must be the Fly Fishing Meca in USA, except for Alaska.
Regards.