RANTINGS AND RAVINGS OF AN OLD MAN TRULY RUINED BY SPORT

Friday, June 1, 2018

FFGMT is now for sale on Amazon Books
As of today, June 1, 2018 the all new 4th Edition, larger format, full color, Flyfisher's Guide to Montana is up and running on Amazon Books (https://www.amazon.com/Flyfishers-Guide-Montana-Chuck-Robbins/dp/1940239222). To order your copy please click on Book Image in the right hand column.

Detailed descriptions of all of Montana major trout rivers, lakes and reservoirs plus dozens of smaller waters, over 40 full color maps/GPS coordinates, depicting Fishing Access Sites, boat ramps, campgrounds, public lands and more including Montana hatch chart and favorite flies, trip planning suggestions, angling tactics, Montana Stream Access Law, Outfitters and Fly Shops. Everything needed under one cover to plan your next Montana fly fishing adventure.

FYI, I am a licensed Montana fishing guide (20 years), author of 5 books and dozens of magazine, e-zine, newspaper articles, several of which have been collected in anthologies. My office wall is papered with OWAA and NOWA Excellence-In-Craft awards and in 2013 was awarded NOWA's most prestigious Enos Bradner award for EIC and Outdoor Writing/Photography Professionalism. In a long career now spanning about 50 years, along with wife, Gale, we have published countless photographs, fly fished all over the country and in several Canadian Provinces. Once the fishing stops we--Gale, me and our German wire-haired pointers chase wild upland birds all over Montana, Idaho, North Dakota and Arizona.

Thanks for stoppin' by...Chuck n Gale n the wirehair sisters.

Monday, April 30, 2018

Flyfisher's Guide to Montana (New Full Color Edition)

New Edition; 8 1/2 x 11; Full color; 253 pages; all major Montana Trout rivers, lakes and reservoirs, as well as dozens off the beaten path waters, over 40 full color maps/GPS coordinates showing public land, public access sites, river miles, boat ramps, campgrounds and other major features. 

Hot off the Press: Lots of color photos, lots of new, updated and/or revised text. Forty-plus, full page, full color maps/GPS coordinates showing public land/access sites, river miles, boat ramps, campgrounds and other major features. Featuring detailed descriptions and advice for fly fishing and access to dozens of rivers, creeks, lakes and reservoirs. Montana fly chart, full color fly pattern photos, angling tactics, suggested gear, rigs, trip planning and more. Mostly about trout but other species such as carp are covered as well. Thinking of doing the Smith River? Be sure to check out what Mike Geary, Lewis and Clark Expeditions (largest outfitter on the river) has to say on what truly is one of the most unique float trips in the lower 48. For each region I've added trip planning suggestions for Easy Access, Weekend Getaways, Week-Long Vacations and Area Fly-Shops and Outfitters. 253 pages/$29.95; Wilderness Adventures Press.

Monday, April 23, 2018

Fly Fishing Tip #4 (Part 1)

The most important tool in a trout angler's kit
Poll question of the day: What is the most important tool in a trout angler's kit? If you answered “stream thermometer” quit reading and go fishing.

Based based on countless conversations with fellow anglers, how water temperatures affect trout be-havior and thus our fishing success is the least understood piece of the fly fishing puzzle. In an effort to solve the puzzle, I set a course to learn as much as possible and so what follows is the result of decades spent talking to biologists, reading everything I could get my hands on, combined with decades of steadfast stream thermometer use and studious observation. As with most investigations some of the stuff I uncovered seemed spot on and, of course, some of it didn’t quite fit my personal observations.

Anyway, here ya go:

The ideal water temperature for brown trout is about 60°F; for rainbow and brook trout a cou-ple degrees less.

Trout are most active at their individual ideal water temperature. In general trout (aquatic food chain) engines are firing on all cylinders in water ranging from 55-65°F.

Oxygen plays a major roll. Oxygen levels rise and fall more or less in direct relationship to both water temperature and flow rate. Fast water always contains more oxygen.

On the high end, once temperatures reach about 70-72°F metabolisms slow down and trout begin to migrate to cooler, more oxygenated water—deep pools, riffles, runs and in extreme situations, often abandon completely long stretches of the main stem, migrate long distances to spring holes and/or mouths of cold tributaries.

On the low end, once water temperatures fall to the low 50s metabolisms slow down.  But, de-spite the higher oxygen levels in fast water, trout migrate to deep, slow pools to conserve energy.

The good news is once the trout become conditioned to lower water temperatures they still must eat. As a rule of thumb fish low and slow. Even in dead of winter trout often gang up in eddies and backwaters to gorge on hatching midges.

Two words I’ve learned to never utter in a fishing discussion are “always and never.”  So yes, some trout become conditioned to higher and lower water temperatures and thus fall outside the above parameters. The Firehole is a good example on the high end and the San Juan, below Navajo Dam, where the water enters at a chilly 39°F year around, is a prime example on the low end.

Because of depleted oxygen levels at both ends, anglers need to bring trout to hand quickly, get the hook out and back in the water pronto—or kill it—your call. But trust me any trout mishandled even a little bit, in 70°F+ water is in serious jeopardy.  At the low end not so much but still the quicker the ordeal the better.

The faster the water temperature is rising above or falling from the ideal the slower the fishing.