So, are you gonna eat those or what?

Continued…

A few days into a great week of fishing on the Missouri River near Craig, MT and camp was pretty much settled in.  We’re into our norms – when people get up and shake off the whiskey, PBR, and way more food that you should eat from the night before and start thinking about getting back on the water.  That means breakfast, and breakfast means a big meal so that lunch on the river can be the easy one for the day.

Planning meals for a large group, even with a base camp, can be an occupational hazard.  Luckily, this group is pretty easy about food – if it’s hot and had at least two legs, it works.  I’m a big fan of breakfast, and eggs are good binders for peppers, meat, onions, and cheese.  In fact, most breakfast’s were either left over London Broil, Venison smokies or Elk backstraps.  Throw in some pig and it’s done.  It’s a good thing we brought five dozen eggs, cause the cardboard container they are housed in can get moist in the cooler, and well….the dogs came in handy for clean up.

One of the many..

The fishing was outstanding.  Most days consisted of getting on the water around 11 am, and watching hordes of midges take over the surface of the river.  There were few boats, mostly we were the only anglers on the water.  Over the course of the week, we developed a nice pattern on the lower river, between Stickney and Mountain Palace.  Midges, BWO’s, and when it got slow on top, drifting a Fire Bead Czech with a Ray Charles underneath.  Now, this particular style of fishing – in the words of a local guide, can be very technical.  And it’s true – the fish were in specific spots and depths.  Sean McAfee, who guides for Linehan Outfitting Company, knows this river well and shared just enough to get the rest of us in line.  Fish the braided water over the weed beds, 8 foot leader, a split shot – well, for those who enjoy sub-surface fishing, this is what works.  I prefer to fish dry flies, and the Comparadun in size 18 worked.

Fishing HQ

Among the basic camping sites along the Missouri, this was the most appealing.  Away from Hwy 15, at the terminus of great dry fly water, and wide open.  The Fly Fishers Inn, in the background, was once the hub of activity on the MO – prior to the sleepy little town of Craig becoming a Mecca for tailwater fishing in the West.  When your home water is blown out, the MO is a sure bet.

I heard that the property is for sale – a little more juice than I have in the pitcher right now, but the location sure is sweet and it’s turn-key.  If you want to own it, maybe we can work something out….

It’s quiet on the MO at night – except for here.  This apparently is breeding central for Canadian Geese, and the males were competing for cliff-side nesting space, and for females.  And we heard about it all day and night long.

Next up…Shuttleman’s.

The river was moving at 6000 cfs – and there was little of the river cobble to be seen, but for a very few places.  Tucking into the corners gave little respite from the flow, nor at the ends of the barely visible islands that normally make up the river’s edge and banks during lower flows.  But that’s where the force of the water was the most reasonable.  I suspect that underneath the Salmonfly, amid the caddisflies and golden stones in the water, that we were right on top of the fish.  Maggie spotted them, gave out a small bark…your next Emerging Rivers Guide Services protege!

Here’s the river dog all suited up and ready for her maiden voyage on the Yakima.  She did well, mostly rested and let me do all the work…it’s a dog’s life.  She’s got her Orvis dog bed on order…

We felt the river dropping underneath us, and sure enough after getting home the numbers told the story.  There will be a short period of time over the next few days in which to sneak in a float and perhaps catch the river on the drop…

Not much has changed in the lower canyon, although this stump just above the Rock Garden is certainly new.  Won’t pose a problem to most floaters, but it will provide some main channel structure.

We drove home via Hwy 10 between Ellensburg and Cle Elum, to check out the upper canyon area.  It was certainly windy but a nice sunny day.  I’m going to float this section on Saturday – in high water, the pools in this section are even better.

Put $5 in the can…

Lest you think it was a perfect day…we ran into traffic on the way home.  Two hours later, in the gray and rainy skies, we were home after a successful first river float for Maggie and me.  We didn’t fish, but the fish were there.  Middle of the river, splashy vertical rises for size 16 tan caddis and blue winged olives, dripping slowly into the water like the rain drops on the windshield.  Thanks for reading – Derek & Maggie.