Fly Fishing Trips of 2020

A Look in the Rearview Mirror

2020 started with excitement. Fishing trips were planned and this was the year to truly launch our pet project, Fly Fishing Waters. In early March we were set to leave for a month-long trout and bass fishing trip to Arizona and Utah. Covid-19 canceled our plans and we did a big shopping trip at Costco instead.

There would be no visits to Lees Ferry, Dutch John, or Navajo Dam.

Homewaters

As the headlines turned grim, we knew staying home, surrounded by some of the best trout water in the west, was the right thing to do. In March, hatches begin on the Bitterroot River, just an easy drive from our little log cabin in the Rock Creek Valley. Tim knew the perfect spot. An afternoon baetis hatch was a welcomed sight. In a couple of weeks, the Skwala Stonefly hatch would begin followed by the March Browns. Spring was coming soon.

Rock Creek

Less than a two-minute walk from the backdoor is Rock Creek. Depending on the weather and ice coverage, trout start looking for food as the days lengthen in late March on the creek.

With stay-at-home orders in places and a quarantine order for out-of-staters, we had the creek to ourselves. The best remedy we found for the uncertainty in the world, was catching trout on BWO dries in the afternoon.

Our Fishing Trip Begins

For us, taking a three-month fishing trip each summer is mandatory. We rent our little cabin to vacationers/anglers from mid-May to mid-September. We pack up and move our personal items into our camper, give the door keys to guests, and head for epic places to fly fish.

As lockdowns and quarantines lifted, we decided 2020 trips would be within an easy day ride home should the world go crazier than it already was.

Big Fish, Little Fish

From catching big, chunky rainbow on Hebgen Lake near West Yellowstone, Montana to hooking tiny native cutthroat in the North Fork of the Salmon River as it tumbled from the elevations, 2020 was pleasantly fish-full.

For the second year in a row, we arrived at the Big Hole River just in time for the Salmonfly hatch; only to have a killing frost show up within 24 hours of our arrival and end the whole darn thing.

Our trip to the Green River was delayed a day as I mistakenly filled our diesel truck full of gasoline. After that hiccup, we spent 3 weeks fishing and exploring more of Wyoming.

Friends joined us at the Henry’s Fork of the Snake in Last Chance, Idaho for some fishing and exploring. One of our best day trips turned into a week-long routine of fishing Hebgen for the “Gulpers” – watch later in the winter for the story! Just wow, big trout and long casts, good times!

The Northwest part of Montana was our destination for the month of September. From the Kootenai River to the Thompson to the Clark Fork and tiny Fish Creek, I do hope we can spend a little more time there in 2021.

Plans for 2021

We hope this terrible pandemic will be beaten in 2021. But as I write this on New Year’s Eve day, vaccine roll-out is slow.

Our wishlist includes Arizona and Utah in March, Montana in April, Idaho and Oregon in May, Montana in June, Wyoming in July, Colorado in August, home in September, and New Hampshire in October. Then Nymphing in November followed by Argentina in December. Will that happen? Follow along and see!

2020 in Photos

Hey Thanks For Following Along

We really appreciate our followers. You inspire us to keep cameras with us as we fish and explore places to catch trout and other fishes. Thank you, thank you!