Quality over Quantity

What does a fish head do when he has a few days off work starting on February 3rd? Tom Isaacs and Justin Carroll prefer to drive up to the world famous Missouri River. They know this river is especially productive during the winter, and only a few other waters in the Rockies can produce as many fish as the Mo. Last week, fish were still nipping big bugs and randomly slurping dries. Nymphs put up outstanding numbers then, and fishing, when the wind wasn't tearing down billboards, was excellent.

The past week has been bi-polar weather wise. We have seen huge wind gusts, frigid temps, warm spells, dead calm periods, and everything in between. With the water temps in the mid-thirties, fish can still be found herded up on the slow side, and often times somewhere around the edge of the channel.

This usually means 20 feet off the bank in 4-9 feet of consistent water. Saturday was goofy. The wind was miserable, though it wasn't forecasted to be. Many people made the trek up to Holter on Saturday, only to be blown around and forced to fish the standard pinkies and greys. Seasoned veterans in the know were taking fish off the top using bonefish like tactics. This was super fun to watch. Our boat dredged streamers nearly all day without much luck. However, fewer numbers translated into sexier fish. We all broke 20 at some point during the day.

Sunday provided us with dream like conditions. Only one other boat shared Craig to Spite Hill with us that day. It was almost as if the previous weather spooked the crowds. Fishing was again a few strokes over par, but we raised nice fish on the weighted line. #8 full sink lake lines out fished sink tips all day. The retrieval was arduous, but the fish were hot once tricked. The big girl jumped and peeled line three different times. The eats remain subtle, so don't go out there and set for bass, believe me, I do it way too often. Fish like these on a less productive day will make every frozen finger and toe regain blood flow, quickly.

The portable heater was more than key. I advise everyone who spends any time outside recreating when the water is steaming at the ripe temp of 35 degrees to invest in one. The price is right, and the value of warm hands and feet is impossible to appraise. When Justin and Tom boogied at three, I went up the trout playground for a few more tugs. For those of you who look to the internet for fishing reports to save money on gas, listen closely. FISH ARE RISING EVERY WHERE BEFORE DARK. Now let’s see if you have the right bugs and technique to trick them.

-PAUL BLOCH