Summary:
Yesterday was brutally windy throughout the entire state of Montana. However, it’s just like Montana to have an exception, happened to be in the middle of Paradise Valley. The wind was still blowing, but at a safe and reasonable level. The streamer fishing has been very consistent, but yesterday was a bit slow. Fortunately, at about 3pm the March Browns and Baetis showed up. At 5pm the Mother’s Day Caddis started trickling off at a steady pace. All in all fishing was pretty good and there was even some good dry fly fishing at times.
Best Technique:
The Dry/Dropper technique was most effective, however in the larger foam holes a shallow nymph rig (15-30 inches) with an nymph and emerger was best.
Weather & Water Conditions:
Mid-forties with variable West wind to about 15mph. The water was flowing at 2,240 cfs and had been relatively stable for a few days. The water color is a great caddis-y green.
Hatches:
Light Baetis, great March Browns and steady Mother’s Day Caddis hatch. All starting around 1pm or 2 pm, caddis are starting later as it’s been cold – around 4pm.
Best Bugs:
Our best dry was a parachute March Brown sz 12, best emergers Cat Puke and P.T. Soft Hackle sz 14, best nymph Glass House Caddis sz 12.
Here are just a few of our favorites…
How do you know you’re in Livingston, Montana?
You may have heard the following story, but I thought I’d post it for those of you who haven’t read it yet. Sure it’s an obvious comment on the capitalistic society model, but we like it because it fits our midset.
An American investment banker was at the pier of a small coastal Mexican village when a small boat with just one fisherman docked. Inside the small boat were several large yellow fin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish and asked how long it took to catch them.
The fisherman replied, only a little while.
The American then asked why didn’t he stay out longer and catch more fish?
The Mexican said he had enough to support his family’s immediate needs.
The American then asked, “but what do you do with the rest of your time?”
The Mexican fisherman said, “I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take siesta with my wife, Maria, stroll into the village each evening where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos, I have a full and busy life.”
The American scoffed, “I am a Harvard MBA and could help you. You should spend more time fishing and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat with the proceeds from the bigger boat you could buy several boats, eventually you would have a fleet of fishing boats. Instead of selling your catch to a middleman you would sell directly to the processor, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village and move to Mexico City, then LA and eventually NYC where you will run your expanding enterprise.”
The Mexican fisherman asked, “But, how long will this all take?”
To which the American replied, “15-20 years.”
“But what then?”
The American laughed and said that’s the best part. “When the time is right you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public and become very rich, you would make millions.”
“Millions.. Then what?”
The American said, “Then you would retire. Move to a small coastal fishing village where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take siesta with your wife, stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos.
Who are you, the Banker or the Fisherman?
