We just returned from 7 days in Montana. The word of the trip was Severe Weather. We ran into some hellacious thunder, lightning and wind while we were there. In short, fishing was marginal during our stay. Fishing up to just a couple of days before was fantastic. Our first 2 days were the first 90 degree days that they had seen all summer, and our outfitter attributed the change in fishing to that weather. We have known him for 12 years, so he can't get BS by us anymore . . . who knows?
We stayed up in Philipsburg, at the Forks of Rock Creek, for the first time in our 12 years of going back. The West Fork of Rock Creek went right off our deck. Pburg is a fun little Gold Rush era town, like so many of those in the Sierra's. Three reasonable restaurants, a pub, a craft brewery and a good bar in town, what more could one ask for?
We wade fished Flint Creek, Rock Creek and the West Fork of Rock Creek, higher up in the mountains. We drifted the Upper and Lower Clark Fork and the North Fork of the Blackfoot. We were supposed to float the main stem of the Blackfoot, but upon arrival to the river after a 2 hour drive, found it chocolate brown from a thunderstorm induced mudslide from the night before.
The Clark Fork did not fish well for us this time. We got caught in a microburst on the Upper which just churned up the river with the 40+ mph wind and utter downpour. On the next day on the Lower, we got caught in 30 mph winds, which quickly had the drift boats making a beeline for the riverside Water's Edge bar, where we could drown our sorrows and re hydrate while the guides had to row out for 3 more miles to make the takeout. We made their job easier by staying at the bar and having them pick us up on the way home. The audible to go to the NF Blackfoot worked out pretty well as we got into some nice Cutthroat and a couple of Bull Trout.
The wade fishing on Rock Creek and especially the upper section of the West Fork of Rock Creek was pretty good. We got into some 16"-18" Browns and Cutties on some pretty small water.
I would recommend the lodging to anyone. it is called Twisted Fork Ranch, and they have 3 rental houses, all on the banks of the West Fork of Rock Creek. The location is great for wade fishing, but does involve a bit of driving for float days.
The pictures show how damn dark it got when these cells developed. The one over Pburg looked like Armageddon was about to descend upon us. The whole town looked like night had fallen when this hit. All hell broke loose just after the picture. The scenery shot is from the backyard of the house, looking at the WF of Rock Creek.
All-in-all, this is always a great trip. Of the 4 of us who began going on this 12 years ago, 2 have passed away, albeit way too young. One last year at age 60, a non-smoker, he passed from lung cancer. Another, at 53, from a stroke. These have allowed us to enjoy the meanings of these trips, besides fishing, a bit more . . . the trips are certainly deeper to us than a good or bad day of fishing.
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