Last weekend, I decided to make a journey to the West Fork of the Bitterroot in search of clear water, since the main stems were all running high and dirty. Ironically though, it was running as high and dirty as everywhere else when I got there, despite being a tailwater, but I was glad to be there anyways. I had told a coworker of my intentions just the day before, and he had been in disbelief that I would be willing to make a 2-hour drive, “just to go fishing.” I chalked it up to having spent his entire life in Western Montana, where world class fishing and hunting is about 15 minutes in all directions. Still though, during the drive, I got to thinking about how I’ve never really been bored, or in a hurry, during my excursions and adventures to new places in the outdoors, regardless of the long drives. For that matter, I often do as much hiking, as actual fishing, during my time on the rivers. I owe this to my Dad having instilled in me a true love of exploring new places in the outdoors (preferably in a Land Cruiser when possible). He would literally follow an unknown dirt road for hours, just to find out where it went. I am the same way, and will often pass up great fishing spots just so I can see new stretches of river, even if it means catching a few less fish that day. It also often means taking a Honda Civic to places it was never meant to go, another trait I learned from my Pops. Personally, I believe all kids should grow up exploring the outdoors and learning how to not be in a hurry occasionally. It is often during these excursions that I receive much needed inspiration, and it is a way of life that I am trying to instill in my own two Mini Mes.

Although running high and off color, the fishing on the West Fork was still pretty good, and I managed to catch a few nice cutties, bows, and even a good-sized bull trout. The next day, however, I went out to the main stem of the Root for a couple hours near town, and it was by far the better fishing. The water was clear enough that the fish could see my flies, but off color enough that they couldn’t see me, which made for some pretty ideal nymphing. The rainbows were chasing down pretty much everything in their current aggressive state, and were acrobatic and full of fight. Tan and brown stonefly was killing it at both locations.

3-28-17 bitterroot maclay