Montana Mayfly Tour - April 2008

 
Another April - another season opener in Western Montana.  Son #2 makes his first pilgrimage to the Rockies accompanied by 3 old guys and 2 Blue Ribbon Flies Guides for a crash course in early season trout angling.  Take a close look - many of the trout he met were handled by his first split Bamboo fly rod, a really sweet 7'6" 3 piece 5 weight that was up to the task on the Ruby, Beaverhead and McCoy Spring Creek.  A good time was had by all!
Geoff get things started with a little upside down Brown.  Adam's wondering what this is all about.

Here's one for Ralphie.  The kid demonstrates a gentle release so this Brown trout will live to play again another day.

Adam lifts a sweet "Silver Torpedo" out of the Ruby.  Some of the early season Browns take on this silver color with shades of Brown and Gold down their back.  What a beauty!  Look close and you can see the #20 Scottie's Midge in his lip.
   
A fine Ruby River double.  I try to be a good Father but I draw the line when comparing trout.  Adam still manages a smile even though Dad is holding the fatty.
 
Spring time in the Rockies.  This is our excellent guide Geoffrey trying to cast that dry fly between the snowflakes.
 

Call this an Abel advertisement. A nice fat Brookie out of Kansas Lake on the McCoy Cattle Company ranch.

 
The Montana version of Jaws.
 
One last pair out of McCoy Spring Creek - Looks like the kid figured it out!
 
Richie shows off another one of those spring torpedos, this time from the Beaverhead River just up from Dillon.  Could be a record day as Rich and Al were hooked up just about all day long - as you will see later in this page!
If you ever get the chance to fish with P.C. you will fully under stand this photo.
An interesting perspective of a real porker (the trout)
Al's Six-Pack - What a weekend.
One of the pleasures of an April day in Montana.
Sorry - I just couldn't resist.  We told him to keep the backcast high - and he did!
Down on bended knee.
A scenic look at the Ruby - no trout cluttering the view.
The highlight of the day - Cam's Big Hole Chili - hot out of the pot!
Richie tenderly displays a Big Hole brown.  This trout came at a high price - as shown below.  Gotta love streamers in the wind - especially when you're in the back of the boat.
 
 
Another swell pair - a great way to end the trip.
 
What a gorgeous Bamboo fly rod - nice trout too.

Outstanding spring adventure - thanks again to Cam & Geoff out of Blue Ribbon Flies, Montana Fly Company, and McCoy Spring Creek.

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