Nelson's Spring Creek

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kdTASxq4XM

[aaron]

i got to fish an afternoon there with Jacque Nelson, a few years back. A trout fishing experience doesn't get much better.

[Larry S]

Hey Aaron,
Ever fish Idaho's Kelly Creek; off the Clearwater?
Best,
Larry S
Sun Diego - actually experiencing the season's first rain.
Hallelujah!

[Randy B]

Fished Armstrong's and DePuy's last summer. We were bummed that Nelson's was booked and we couldn't complete the Livingston Spring Creek trifecta on that trip. It is on the top of the list.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

I love that kind of trout fishing......

.......Long leaders, long light tippets and small flies on top.



We fished Fall river, Hat creek in Nor Cal some years ago when Bob Quigley was up there.

I did get to fish Silver Creek in Idaho with 'Spring Creek Commandos', Don Rotsma and Rick Jorgensen.



I like a 9' soft action 4 weight with a click-n-pawl reel for this delicate fly fishing.

For most of it I would use a WF4F with a 9' 5x leader and 3 to 4 feet of 6x tippet.

Most are using size 16 and smaller cripples and paradun with a few larger exception.


This is really high class fly fishing.................

[HSano]

My brother and I were fortunate to be able to take yearly trips in late September to Idaho/Montana from the early 70's to the late 90's. I'm guessing I fished Nelson's 35-40 days. Armstrong 50+ days and a few days on Depuys. Reliable hatches of midges, baetis, ants and sometimes sulphurs. Beautiful scenery, easy wading and good-sized rainbows, browns and cutthroats. We loved Nelson's so much that we would make reservations two years in advance and Armstrong one year in advance. Nelson's had a six-rod limit and we were competing with local guides who would also book way in advance. Hitting Silver Creek and the Henry's Fork on the way up to Montana, we focused most of our fishing on spring creeks.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

My brother and I were fortunate to be able to take yearly trips in late September to Idaho/Montana from the early 70's to the late 90's. I'm guessing I fished Nelson's 35-40 days. Armstrong 50+ days and a few days on Depuys. Reliable hatches of midges, baetis, ants and sometimes sulphurs. Beautiful scenery, easy wading and good-sized rainbows, browns and cutthroats. We loved Nelson's so much that we would make reservations two years in advance and Armstrong one year in advance. Nelson's had a six-rod limit and we were competing with local guides who would also book way in advance. Hitting Silver Creek and the Henry's Fork on the way up to Montana, we focused most of our fishing on spring creeks.


Thanks for posting your wonderful history here HSano......

You were so blessed to be able to spend so much quality time, "one on one", with your brother.

Hard to imagine how many good days on the 'smooth water' that you two got to enjoy.

We are the same age, old farts now, born at the end of World War II.

Are you guys still doing some fishing?

[HSano]

My brother and I still take trips together. However, due to some medical problems with my wife, I can't get away nearly as often as I used to. But you are right about the quality time with my brother. What's really cool is that for the last 35+ years we have kept a journal of all of our trips. So every night after fishing we each spend a few minutes at the motel writing about the day's fishing. The journal allows me to re-visit trips that i took long, long ago. It's not only enjoyable reading, but a good learning tool

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

You guys will always have those wonderful memories.....thanks for sharing.

[aaron]

Hey Aaron,
Ever fish Idaho's Kelly Creek; off the Clearwater?
Best,
Larry S
Sun Diego - actually experiencing the season's first rain.
Hallelujah!


I have not, unfortunately that part of the world is 12+ hours from these parts. With no steelhead showing on the clearwater anymore I likely won't.

[Larry S]

aaron,
So sad with the low returns for both salmon and steelhead on the Clearwater. I understand that the
bull trout are really suffering as a result.
In better news, your skiing conditions are looking good!
Best,
Larry S
Sun Diego

[Bob Loblaw]

Was there in October for a week. Stayed in a cabin right on the Yellowstone. Booked a drift on the Yellowstone and half a day on DePuy and Half a Day on Nelsons. It was 12 degrees and snowing when we arrived. I gutted out the drift boat but cancelled the spring creeks. Gives me an excuse to go back.

[Mike Stephenson]

I'm booked for a day of guided and a day of non guided fishing here next May. Can't wait.