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Artistic view of a Male Pteronarcys californica (Pteronarcyidae) (Giant Salmonfly) Stonefly Adult from the Gallatin River in Montana
Salmonflies
Pteronarcys californica

The giant Salmonflies of the Western mountains are legendary for their proclivity to elicit consistent dry-fly action and ferocious strikes.

Lateral view of a Male Baetidae (Blue-Winged Olive) Mayfly Dun from Mystery Creek #308 in Washington
This dun emerged from a mature nymph on my desk. Unfortunately its wings didn't perfectly dry out.
27" brown trout, my largest ever. It was the sub-dominant fish in its pool. After this, I hooked the bigger one, but I couldn't land it.
Troutnut is a project started in 2003 by salmonid ecologist Jason "Troutnut" Neuswanger to help anglers and fly tyers unabashedly embrace the entomological side of the sport. Learn more about Troutnut or support the project for an enhanced experience here.

Wbranch has attached these 7 pictures. The message is below.
Arrival in our bush plane
Denali from the lodge
Telephoto from the lodge
Grizzly paw print
Getting stuck in the mud!
Our guide
Typical fresh coho
Wbranch
Wbranch's profile picture
York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635
Wbranch on Apr 29, 2014April 29th, 2014, 11:50 am EDT
A couple of years ago in late August I went to Alaska for a week. I'm not exactly sure how far we were from Denali but someone indicated it was about 60 miles. For the first five days there were just no chances for any pictures due to heavy cloud cover. I think on the sixth, or maybe the last, day it cleared up and I got these pictures.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
Kschaefer3
Kschaefer3's profile picture
St. Paul, MN

Posts: 376
Kschaefer3 on Apr 29, 2014April 29th, 2014, 12:05 pm EDT
That looks awesome! Are you just trying to make us all jealous with your last couple posts? ;)
Wbranch
Wbranch's profile picture
York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635
Wbranch on Apr 30, 2014April 30th, 2014, 9:52 am EDT
Kyle,

Nah, just want to share some pics I don't believe I ever posted before. But maybe the big fish pics are there so you, and others, can aspire to experience the kind of fishing life I've had.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
GldstrmSam
GldstrmSam's profile picture
Fairbanks, Alaska

Posts: 212
GldstrmSam on Apr 30, 2014April 30th, 2014, 12:09 pm EDT
Fun to see some familiar scenes on the forum.

Looks like it was a fun trip.

It is amazing (and unfortunate) how some of us Alaskans take all of that scenery for granted. On a trip to Anchorage recently I didn't even get out of the car to take some pictures of Denali when it was nice and clear. Every time that I go by those mountains though, I remember what a great state I live in.

Even though I have fished hard for fish those size (salmon in general), I have never actually caught one on a rod. :( I know it gives me something to aspire to.

Actually, I am about to bust out to Wisconsin for a couple months. I hope to land some nice fish (even if they aren't salmon) down there. I have heard that the place I am going is the Musky capital...we will see.

There is no greater fan of fly fishing than the worm. ~Patrick F. McManus
Kschaefer3
Kschaefer3's profile picture
St. Paul, MN

Posts: 376
Kschaefer3 on Apr 30, 2014April 30th, 2014, 12:15 pm EDT
Kyle,

Nah, just want to share some pics I don't believe I ever posted before. But maybe the big fish pics are there so you, and others, can aspire to experience the kind of fishing life I've had.

Well, thanks for sharing! These pictures certainly do make me aspire to that kind of life. Your post on Armstrong even more, as I'm infinitely jealous of your summer fishing excursions back then. It saddens me, to a degree, that I will never be able to experience MT in that state. I just hope I can find a way to create those types of memories given my situation. The sport and the rivers are far different now.
Wbranch
Wbranch's profile picture
York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635
Wbranch on Apr 30, 2014April 30th, 2014, 12:36 pm EDT
Hi Kyle,

You wrote;

It saddens me, to a degree, that I will never be able to experience MT in that state. I just hope I can find a way to create those types of memories given my situation. The sport and the rivers are far different now.


Yep, it is true that many of the rivers that I was fortunate to fish in the late 60's and all of the 70's and 80's are pretty much screwed up with the huge influx of guys who took up fly fishing in the early 1980's and beyond.

It is hard to believe but for days and days me and my partner would be the only two guys fishing the Madison. We used to drive up from Ennis where we were staying and cross the little iron bridge where the West Fork of the Madsion enters and catch fish after fish all day long and never see another guy.

However there are still lots of less well known rivers and streams where you can go and have great fishing. Of course I can't be giving you the GPS here on line. You just need to do your homework and figure out where to go to find great fishing with few other anglers.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.
Kschaefer3
Kschaefer3's profile picture
St. Paul, MN

Posts: 376
Kschaefer3 on Apr 30, 2014April 30th, 2014, 1:04 pm EDT
Hi Kyle,

You wrote;

It saddens me, to a degree, that I will never be able to experience MT in that state. I just hope I can find a way to create those types of memories given my situation. The sport and the rivers are far different now.


Yep, it is true that many of the rivers that I was fortunate to fish in the late 60's and all of the 70's and 80's are pretty much screwed up with the huge influx of guys who took up fly fishing in the early 1980's and beyond.

It is hard to believe but for days and days me and my partner would be the only two guys fishing the Madison. We used to drive up from Ennis where we were staying and cross the little iron bridge where the West Fork of the Madsion enters and catch fish after fish all day long and never see another guy.

However there are still lots of less well known rivers and streams where you can go and have great fishing. Of course I can't be giving you the GPS here on line. You just need to do your homework and figure out where to go to find great fishing with few other anglers.


I wouldn't want the coordinates anyway (that's only half true :)). Part of the fun for me is exploring and finding water that is productive. I oftern fish places solely because I don't think others do. You never know when you might stumble on a "secret" honey hole.
Oldredbarn
Oldredbarn's profile picture
Novi, MI

Posts: 2600
Oldredbarn on May 1, 2014May 1st, 2014, 10:54 am EDT
They ever recover that pick-up? Man! That ones in below the axles...

Matt,

I haven't been to Alaska since 1973. A good friend of mine flies up there every year...It's on the bucket list.

I have a friend that works for Eppinger Lures that goes up to the Northwest Territories in the fall and fish's Great Slave Lake and Bear Lake for monster spawning Lake Trout on a fly rod...Incredible!

Boys...There are still some very nice, wild, places out there to explore.

Spence
"Even when my best efforts fail it's a satisfying challenge, and that, after all, is the essence of fly fishing." -Chauncy Lively

"Envy not the man who lives beside the river, but the man the river flows through." Joseph T Heywood
Wbranch
Wbranch's profile picture
York & Starlight PA

Posts: 2635
Wbranch on May 1, 2014May 1st, 2014, 11:17 am EDT
Message deleted.
Catskill fly fisher for fifty-five years.

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