Another Day on the Missouri...

Chucky Woods Bridge @ Sunset

View from the Craig Bridge @ 9am

SOL going into Hardy Rapids

Michelle Wells benefit tomorrow night at Joe's. Come on out and have some fun. Izaak's music on the porch Saturday night. Fishing is outstanding, hopper fishing is coming on strong. Get here before they are full...why not this weekend...Craig MT...where time has no meaning.

"There is certainly something in angling that tends to produce a gentleness of spirit
and a pure serenity of mind"

Washington Irving

Come Donate to a Great Cause!

Michelle Wells is in some need of help. Michelle has been helping us out for many, many years...she means the world to most of us. We love her dearly. Craig is having a benefit for our friend Michelle on Thursday July 30th @ Joe's Bar from 6 p.m. until ? Music by Erik "Fingers" Ray from 7 til 11 p.m. This is the first of many fund raisers we will have for Michelle to help diffuse some of the medical costs she will incur.

Any of you folks who have been served by the Queen of Joe's, open your pocket book, and help out our, and your dear friend.

We are donating a Yeti 45qt. for auction, retail value of $279...throw out five hundy...get a cooler and feel really good about it.

Thanks to all of you folks who will donate, I, and the community will certainly appreciate it.

Thanks, thanks, thanks, thanks, thanks.....

20 Q with FFC and SOL

Fly Fish Chick and Squeeky Oar Lock bellied up @ Joe's Bar and answered 20+ questions about fly fishing and life. We both agreed upon several things first. No Jam Bands, yuck...No "poor me" fishing discussions by snively bitches...No "Trout Warrior" stories like this... "There was this big brown sipping on the shore, 1 centimeter off, and I had to make the perfect, precise cast, with a sz. 24 hatching, one wing missing, semi-crippled, CDC, Biot Bodied...you get the jist.

Fly Fish Chick and Squeaky Oar Lock changing flies, catching fish, and discussing life on the Missouri River.

1. Fishing or Sex?
   FFC: Sex.
   SOL: Sex.
2. Favorite Fly?
   FFC: Purple Haze
   SOL: Buzz Ball
   
3. Favorite cocktail?
   FFC: Mount Gay & Tonic
   SOL: Bombay Sapphire & Tonic
4. Best Karaoke Song?
   FFC: I Will Survive...Gloria Gaynor
   SOL: Rocky Mountain High...John Denver
5. Texas or Montana?
   FFC: Pass, abstain
   SOL: Montana
6. Fresh Water or Salt Water?
   FFC: Fresh, but getting saltier every day
   SOL: Fresh, with a grain of salt
7. Best Trout Stream in the World?
   FFC: Missouri
   SOL: Missouri
8. If you could be anybody, who would you be?
   FFC: Me, less 15 lbs.
   SOL: Me, with more money
   
9. Best Song on Joe's Juke Box?
   FFC: #6508, Buck Owens Down on the Corner of Love
   SOL: #7412, Atlanta Rhythm Section So Into You
10. Favorite Rod?
    FFC: Scott G2 9' 5 wt....2nd fav Winston IM6 Joan Wulff Favorite 8 1/2 5 wt.
    SOL: Winston IM6 8 1/2' 5 wt....2nd fav Scott original G 9' 5wt
    Ed. Note...spooky how similar...soggy rod fans!
11. Last Supper?
    FFC: Veal Stuffed Tortellini with cream sauce w/ an Italian Red Wine, in Italy
    SOL: Filet Medium w/ Green Peppercorn cream sauce, side of penne alfredo
    
12. Fishing Mentor?
    FFC: Mitch Kowalski aka "Super Guide"
    SOL: Larry Tarmelli
13. Why do you Blog?
    FFC: Because I'm an aspiring writer
    SOL: To listen to myself think
14. Why do you fish?
    FFC: I cannot, not fish
    SOL: To realize humility
15. How do you perpetuate/promote fly fishing?
    FFC: Blog and take L'il Chick fishing
    SOL: Create successful environs for "first timers" and educate all who will listen
    
16. Fishing Wish?
    FFC: Salt water fishing with the Professor
    SOL: Catch lots of Bones
17. WF or DT?
    FFC: WF
    SOL: DT
    
18. Is nymphing cheating?
    FFC: No, but it's pretty slutty
    SOL: No, but I'm slutty
19. Eat in the bar or the dining room?
    FFC: Dining room
    SOL: Dining room
    
20. Have you been laid in the Craig Campground?
    FFC: No
    SOL: Yes
21. Skinny Dipper?
    FFC: Yes
    SOL: Yes
22. Could you live in Craig MT?
    FFC: No, Wolf Creek
    SOL: No, sub-urban Craig
23. Ball Cap or Visor?
    FFC: Visor
    SOL: Visor
    
    
    

Lens Talent

Ben Bolden is a young photographer from California who has been hanging out in Craig (and other parts of Montana) for the season. At first, we thought he was just some kind of bum hanging around the shop. The we realized he is a bum...trout bum that is. We see a lot of trout bums pass through, but few with the photographic skills that Ben has. Ben is just starting out in the photography business, so we thought we should help get his name out. Check out his website at benbolden.com. Here are a few of his killer images...

Headhunters on TV

Mark and John just finished 2 days of shooting Hook.TV's Adventure Guides series that will air on the Outdoor Channel later this year. We had a blast with the host and crew, and got some great dry fly footage on the 'Mo. Mark did most of the guiding, while John ran the camera boat. Host John Dietsch (fly fishing consultant on a River Runs Through It) was a pleasure to fish with and meet.

Mark puts the heat on a nice Rainbow for the HOOK.TV crew.

The crew showed up on day one with our good friend Christine "Fly Fish Chick" Johnston. Mark and Christine have been pal's for years and had a great dynamic going on. Of course, they stuck some great fish as well. The ongoing banter was enough for a couple of shows. We look forward to working more with Christine in the future. Maybe "Fly Fish Chick" and "Squeeky Oar Lock" will conspire to do a jopint blog or two.

Mark and host John Dietsch posted up on a pod.

Day two was John Dietsch's introduction to technical dry fly fishing on the 'Mo. Sure, we could have tied on the bobber and caught dozens, but where would the fun be in that? Instead, we hunted big fish in tough spots, and John finished the show with a 20+ inch Rainbow sipping in skinny water.

During the afternoon of the second day, we saw a puff of smoke on the horizon. A short time later, we received a call from Julie "The Brain" informing us that a wildfire was threatening the area that many of us live in, and was particularly close to Mark's home. The ensuing evacuation and aggressive firefighting action made for an exciting end to the day. The fire was controlled and everyone was allowed back in the next day. Evac Parties in Craig are always a good time...

Though we're not the editors, expect to see some great instruction from Mark on downstream presentations when the show airs. John really appreciated Mark's knowledge of the Missouri River and the techniques we employ to fool fish on the Missouri.

You'll see Headhunters at least another time on TV this year. We'll keep you up to date when show's air.

Brown Trout Fest 2009

Paul Taylor with one of many Browns he and Papa Joe wrangled with this last week. They are SOL's longest term clients and Sol cannot believe the endurance of the Taylor's. They have been with me through thick and thin...and there has been plenty of the latter!

This nice specimen came from a local bank on SOL's favorite fly, the LaFontaine's Buzz Ball. No negative reinforcement, no wing profile...emulates the #1 topwater diet of our feeding fish...bits and pieces of dead decomposing insects.

Boy, there are a shit ton of healthy fish this year. Wow.

Guide Performance of the Day: Mike Ward, best day ever...yesterday was too, and the day before, etc.

Great Comment from Client to Guide: I'm pretty sure you (guide) are holding the cat I'm (client) screwing...

Husband to Wife Comment of the Year: "No, I don't want to go to Bed, Bath, & Beyond...I 'm going fishing!"

SoCal Comment of the Minute: I'm Super-Eco Dude

Personal Mission: Guiding is what SOL does when not chasing Danielle

Thanks to all who support Outfitter owned and operated fly shops...primarily SOL and Scumliners shop...Headhunters Fly Shop & Guide Service...the closest fly shop to the Mo, outstanding customer service, education, and information, the most popular Guide Service on the Missouri...Kicking Ass in Craig Montana for well over a year now

They Just Don't Write Like That Anymore...

This song really Kicks-___...known as the Break-Up Song...from the late 70's...check it out on You tube...relive your childhood...I know I do, daily. The childhood part. A common theme with guides, doing what they love and disregarding everything our parents taught us.

The parallel I am getting at with this entry has to do with the Missouri. They don't make rivers like this anymore. This river blows doors off of many others. If you like big fish...on top, on the bottom, swinging, and so forth...reminds me of another pursuit that we all love...

As I have certainly told you the Missouri has not fished this well in 10 years. The amazing stat about the Mo can be described as another cliche analogy...Bad pizza is like bad sex...even when it's bad it's still pretty good, darn good.

If you are not making your annual pilgrimage this year, I'm sorry. My condolences from all who are here, have been here, or are coming here in the banner year of 2009. Start making plans for 2010 and into the foreseeable future. Two water years like this and last will provide outstanding fishing for at least 3 years. We have the precedental years of '97-'98 to look back upon and those of you who remember the Utopia need not tell a soul...you can tell your best friend about it, if you want. Just don't tell those arseholes in the cubicle next to you.,...not your boss either. Just slash his tires...or better yet...put a small pebble, very small, under his valve cap, tighten just enough to release the air slowly...and walk away smiling.

I have clients, JT & PT, that do not tell their friends that they fish the Mo. "Where do you fella's fish in Montana?" Reply: " You know, the Madison, Gallatin."

Put that in your Blog and Smoke it!

Capt. Carp and SOL will be fishing No Tell 'Em Creek for BIG CARP on a dry in August. We'll tell you whee it's at for a handle of Bombay Sapphire.

Humorous Guide Comment of the Day: Cast faster sir...faster, faster, faster...

Humorous Guide Comment of Yesterday: You are tangled on your tip sir...Shake it...it'll come off...

Headhunters Fly Shop: Purveyors of the Magic Wand

There are Dark Sides to Living the Dream

Fly Rodding requires participation by both parties: The caster and the fish...please participate in your fishing experience.

Val Fischer with a knock out Rainbow...New Breed Chicks Rule...
donning the HH Colors...Nice!

Disclaimer: Notice, no swearing in the Blog Today...my mother told me that swear words indicate a shallow and narrow vocabulary...she also told me & I could go blind if I continue...