Rockies in Winter + Browns

It was cold, damp, and wintry in Livingston today. It is deep winter in the Rockies. The river is jammed up with ice, and the only open water that can be found is capped with films of slush ice. I broke out the sticks and ran some drifts in nice and close, started with the indicator after that thinking that I could pursue more fish, trying to keep the spook to a minimum. This produced one flimsy little whitey.

Ice closed the gap within my guides every five to seven casts. Combinations of four letter words slipped from my mouth on numerous occasions. I thought about calling it early, but recalled what Jamie at the Yellowstone Angler told me earlier.

I started to swing fat headed creatures with heavy tips, only so I could penetrate the slush and mini ice islands. This worked. Polarized was key today. Many fish would follow up the swung out bug which I would then pause and jig around. That’s where most of the browns came from. In fact, everything that straightened my kinked, iced up line was a brown.

They all wanted olive, but I’m sure other colors would have done the job, too. Using the car as a heating shack kept me in for the long run. It’s wild how tugs on your line translate into warmth in your hands and toes. Just when you can’t take the cold any more, another tug keeps you mumbling 'three more casts.’

Check out the spots on this brown. I was sure to focus (kind of) first, lift, shoot, and dunk quickly. Fish like this should never leave the water, and for that I am guilty.