OT: Catching wild rainbows in my front yard today.

[Batman1939]

You've probably heard about all the flooding along the Missouri River in MT. In fact, about 20 feet of my lower lawn is covered with water to about 18" deep. At the downstream end of my little lot is a volunteer cottonwood tree that has reached pretty large size in the past 8 years or so. This morning while doing some yard work I noticed some fish working on caddisflies under the tree. I ran upstairs and got my 3 wt rod and put on a caddis imitation. In the next 30-45 minutes I landed 5 rainbows (15"+) and an equivalent number broke me off. I hadn't been fishing yet this year because of all the high water, so I tried to set the hook too quickly on the first few takes.

Even though I couldn't see my fly well in the shade of the low-hanging limbs, the flys were taken aggressively and the fish were strong. I was able to keep all of the fish from escaping into the main channel of the river, which is about 130 yards wide here, so it was fairly easy to ease them unstream and land them on the grass. I didn't even have to touch most of them, but released them by removing the hook with forceps as they lay on the lawn.. They streaked back into the river and I continued fishing for a while longer.

Finally, the sun's position (almost directly overhead) made the shaded area so small that I couldn't flip a fly in under the branches. I've just finished tying up another half-dozen caddis dries and will be waiting for feeding time tomorrow. Of course, there is no guarantee that the same pattern will hold, but chances seem good.

Sorry, but I just have to brag to someone. I won't see my buds until later this afternoon when we will get together for horseshoes and a bar-b-que.

Happy Independence Day to all.

[Rusty]

Batman you are to be admired sir! I'd say the only thing you did wrong was not harvesting a few of those rainbows for the grill. We practice fillet and release here.

[Pitchy]

[woods-walker]

Great story. I am getting hungry just thinking about those Trout filets..... I admire and agree with your respect for this Game Fish.

[kimwcook]

Sounds like you turned a part of a sow's ear into a silk purse. Good for you.

[Hobie]

I believe I might have had a fish dinner in spite of the possible health hazards from all the stuff that water has washed through. Sounds like great fun and a story to tell for the rest of your life.

[Ben_Rumson]

[quietman]

Talk about having fun!!! Thanks for sharing.

[Twodot]

Nothing like a little fishing to make the yard work go faster.

As a guess I'd say you are located below Holter someplace?
..

[rjohns94]

take pictures of your next adventure in your back yard. well done.

[Batman1939]

Batman you are to be admired sir! I'd say the only thing you did wrong was not harvesting a few of those rainbows for the grill. We practice fillet and release here.

I do keep the fish (trout) mostly I catch from lakes here; they are fatter than footballs this year and taste like fresh salmon. I even canned a few jars (does this make sense) this year for the first time; turned out great. I occasionally keep a trout from the river, especially if it seems injured with little prospects for survival.

Fishing along this stretch of the Missouri is extremely popular and it's considered "blue ribbon water" .
Harvest regs are fairly restrictive-all brown trout under 22" must be released (one over 22" may be kept) and IIRC the limit on rainbows in this stretch is 3/day. Most people do release fish caught from the river, though they do make fine table fare.

Fish on the grill I have no problem with!!

[Batman1939]

Nothing like a little fishing to make the yard work go faster.

As a guess I'd say you are located below Holter someplace?
..

Yep, were something like 18 mi downstream, right at the 244 exit. Likewise, I'd hazard a guess that you might be from Twodot. I've often thought of asking you about your "handle".

Mike- I do have some pictures, but recently my server keeps timing out when I try to send pictures via e-mail. I've never posted pics here, but probably need to figure out how. I've got a very antiquated Mac and we are currently weighing options about when to get a new one. I understand that the "new models" are expected out this month-though Apple hasn't announced a date-they want to sell the old ones first.

If I'm able to post some pics I will try on another thread probably.

Gary

[Twodot]

Gary,

No, not from Two Dot but it makes a good screen name. I'm on the Yellowstone. I guess you heard about the busted crude oil pipeline. Bad deal.

I've probably floated past your place a half dozen times while fishing. Next time I'll wave or stop in and say Howdy.
..

[Batman1939]

TwoDot,

Yes, that's a bad deal with the oil pipeline breaking. I don't think anyone really knows how much oil got dumped. Guv Sweitzer made a pretty good statement on tonight's news talking about how important clean water was to everyone (we all drink water, right? as well as its agricultural uses) and the big economic boost, through fishing, it provides to the state.

I'm in the Cascade directory and would welcome a visit sometime. Sounds like you know this section of the river well.

Where on the Yellowstone?

Gary

[Mike D.]

No fishing in our "yard" quite yet. Heavy snow still remains a few thousand feet above us and the river is in full melt flow in early July. Even the otters are having a hard time finding a peaceful spot to eat and play. Very loud and hard to carry on a conversation outside. Lulls you to sleep after dark, though.

[Batman1939]

Mike, Wow, that stream is rompin'. Think it'll be a while before the dry fly fishing turns on.

[Mike D.]

My rods are in the kitchen hangin' in the rack. Vest and net on the back door. When the water calms a bit I will be tossing a #4 Blue Fox for BIG Browns. My largest was 9 lbs, but another big trout hunter has pulled 12s out of that river. Big cannibalistic trout are kicked back; they're no good to eat anyhow. I like 10-14" best, especially in the fry pan. There are both Brown and Rainbows in the river, all "natives". The last Browns were introduced in the late 1950s, but the 'Bows have been there forever. Very colorful fish both.

[Ji in Hawaii]

That's sounds like great fun. Reminds me of fishing the North Fork of the Payette River in Idaho 30 years ago. They were 99% hatchery fish, and the limit was ten a day. The Kokanee which were all wild was 30 a day. I never could understand this as they were about 5 pounds each average. What would a guy do with 30 fish? I targeted the females keeping just a couple, love Salmon caviar.

[Les Staley]

Ji, Darlene and I are spending the summer here in St. Maries Id, at our place on the St. Joe river.. I've been fishing Coeur D' Alene lake for the past two to three weeks.. getting our limits of Kokanee .... and smokeing them. These fish are the smaller size, up to maybe 12".. and smoke up wonderfully.. (That is what you do with 30 fish, or in our case with a tribal license 25).... best... Les