Sunday brought a full day of To-Dos as our last day in Montana. First up was going out to breakfast in Red Lodge followed by the laundromat and a side trip to an old ski lodge. Why is it flapjacks taste so much better when they are from a restaurant? At the laundromat we knocked out FIVE loads of laundry in ninety minutes! Wish I could do that back home!!
Afterwards we went fishing! All afternoon and into the evening we fished. Never eating lunch. There were four public fishing access points north of town that we had our eyes on to visit. The forestry service gives fishing access to the water here. Most with vault toilets and dry camping spots. You can easily find these access points online along with many, many others here in Montana.
As the day progressed we managed to stop at them all. We were able to fish three of them as one was busy with other fishermen. The excitement and anticipation kept us focused. Both Tim and I had strikes throughout the day. However the end of the day brought no fish. And that’s okay! We were outside with nature as one. Not a care in the world as we cast those flys out. The beautiful landscape was enhanced by the constant sound of the fast flowing water of the creeks. Peaceful!
Was it really about catching fish today? Was it about the adventure of each stop? The unknown around each bend in the creek as we waded? The thrill of the ‘hunt’? With each stop the terrain was a different challenge. At one I fell. I told Tim this is steep, I don’t want to fall. Two steps later down I went.
Five minutes later after we maneuvered the steep creek bank and parted ways, one south and one north, I had to lower myself into the river by hanging onto a fallen tree. We waded through and across what ever we came across. It was a fun day filled with the adventure of fishing!
At another location it was just a few simple small creek crossings by foot to get to the larger creek access. The last and best location called for a steep drop from the parking lot to a fast flowing irrigation ditch that we had to wade across. Immediately there after was a wide shallow fast flowing creek that had a foot bridge. I took the bridge, Tim waded those waters.
The beautiful small meadows that we crossed next were easy compared to the spectacular fast flowing larger creek that we approached next. This was the best location yet and exactly what we were looking for. Good open moving water to wade and discover where those fish might be hiding. It’s all about reading the flow of the moving water.
Here there is a large culvert that diverts water for the irrigation ditch with a series of manual flow gates. Someone even left a tractor seat for me to fish from! Tim and I both had a few good strikes here. We
landed no fish but still had one our best days of adventure fishing on this trip. Like I always say ‘It’s better than a good day at work!’ And I guess my hat didn’t work! LOL
Tomorrow, Monday, brings a travel day for us. We are looking forward to the next segment of this journey but not so excited about leaving this part of country. Stay tuned for hints about our next location!
Hint 1 - It’s not out west.
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