Cleansing of the Senses...

Wild Skies · 07-03-2009, 10:10 AM

My candidate for "cleansing of the senses" is flyfishing DePuy Spring Creek near Livingston, MT. I was fortunate to time this year's trip with the emergence of the PMD's and near perfect weather.

With the Absaroka Range in the distant and the Gallatin Range behind you'd be hard pressed to find a more idyllic setting than this:

Bruce Day · 07-03-2009, 10:45 AM

Beautiful, beautiful. Both Lon Morris and I were fortunate to work in the Absarokas and Lon lives close by over in Roberts. Lon was a guide in the Absarokas and I worked for the National Park Service on fire and trail crew where those mountains are. Some time ago, I posted some photos of a fishing trip which turned out to be snowed under and shifted to a cowboy bar hopping trip in Montana. The Grizzly Bar in Absaroka was at the foot of the mountains.

So how about some fish and reel and rod photos? Otherwise Greg, we'll think you were worm fishing for bullhead with a J C Higgins rod and baitcasting reel.

Did you go after the UP shoot? If before, I would have loved to have talked about it with you. Maybe we'll meet at the Duluth shoot.

Wild Skies · 07-03-2009, 11:30 AM

We drove out Friday and Saturday after the UP Shoot, I took the above photo this past Tuesday, July 1st. We fished Sunday, Monday and Tuesday and returned home late Wednesday nite after a 17 hour drive straight through from Livingston, MT to Wausau, WI

Unfortunately, I didn't take any pics of the fish I caught---wish I had for you skeptics! I can assure you, with my right hand raised and my left hand resting palm down on TPS, that I caught and released several rainbows, browns and a cutthroat from 14"-19" long on PMD dries---emergers fished dry, duns and spinners...none were caught on worms using a J. C. Higgins rod and a bait casting reel! Incidently, I only fish cane.

Bruce Day · 07-03-2009, 02:38 PM

Sure, sure. Zebco then. Bullheads and suckers. Salmon eggs and cheese corn.

Talk to you at Duluth. Heading off Mon to Philmont in northern NM for a two week trek. I should be getting a new 4/5 wt C W Jenkins bamboo by the end of summer. Always fun to talk cane.

Rod N. Gunn · 07-03-2009, 03:41 PM

Here's a "reel" story... I visited Al Bellinger at his home workshop today and came home with quite a nice 3" hand-made fly reel. American sporting craftsmanship is not dead! Al is one of the nicest people I have ever met and his legacy of making hand-crafted reel seats, rods, and these gorgeous reels puts him among the all-time greats. Here's Al holding the reel he sold me.

Rod N. Gunn · 07-03-2009, 03:44 PM

Needless to say, Al has quite a collection of his reels. The large Salmon and Spey reels are stunning.

Rod N. Gunn · 07-03-2009, 03:47 PM

This one looks nice on a cane rod, no?

Rod N. Gunn · 07-03-2009, 03:49 PM

He even threw in a hand-made screw driver that fits the rim screws perfectly.

Bruce Day · 07-03-2009, 04:22 PM

Very nice, Dave. While American fine gun maufacturers struggle and mostly have gone, we have today some of the best of the best makers of fine bamboo rods and handmade reels. Bellinger, Bogdan, Sweetgrass, C W Jenkins, Bob Summers, many others.

Rod N. Gunn · 07-03-2009, 05:29 PM

True indeed, meeting Mr B. was a great pleasure. The wares of these fine craftsmen can eat into ones gun money however.