Montana: Part 1

It's nearing dusk as the wind starts to whip the surface of the water.  I had to move to a protected area to have a hope of casting any distance, or at least have the wind help my cast versus push against it.  My little ultralight pole with a 6 pound mono wasn't quite the gear you'd imagine for this fishing, but it'd have to do.  My weedless spoon out in the water, all I could do is wait for a bite.  And I got one.

Around early to mid June of 2018, my parents and I planned a special trip for me for a location of my choice.  My choice of location: Montana.  Montana has been on my bucket list for a while, mostly for an elk hunt I want to do in the future.  But Montana also has some great scenery and fishing, so that also added to why I wished to come up.  I bought my license, got my gear ready and packed, and a day after my summer college semester ended, we headed out.

We stayed at a house overlooking Wade Lake in south-western Montana near the (apparently world famous, I would find out) Madison River.  I didn't know at the time, but it's famed for it's trout and for it's "50 Mile Riffle".  A river or stream is normally broken up into natural riffles, runs, and pools caused by the flow of the water.  Riffle is fast, shallow water.  Run is a steady flow of deeper water.  And a pool is slow moving water deeper than the run.  However, the Madison has a riffle that is nearly 50 miles long.  Unless I am wrong, a riffle that long is almost unheard of.  No matter, it was fun to fish.  I didn't have any luck there on the chances I had, but that's ok, I have a feeling I'll be back someday.  I did see a really nice trout, but that's not quite the same as catching it!

The Madison River, this is part of the 50 Mile Riffle

Wade Lake was an interesting one.  I fished it with my spinning rod versus my fly rod.  I did manage to catch a nice rainbow there, but during the day a lot of the shoreline was crowded, as it is a good kayaking/paddling lake, and has a campsite.  Which does make it a good weekend vacation spot I'd say.

Wade Lake Rainbow

While down in southern Montana, we visited Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone National Park.  The views in Grand Teton were amazing, and I would definitely go back there.  Yellowstone, was also a great destination, though I think it felt different compared to the other national parks I've been to since the traffic and commercialization of the park have affected it in some ways.  A great place to visit, yes, but if you ask me, I'm probably going to Grand Teton and Glacier National Park(s) before Yellowstone again.  But, you won't be disappointed with any of them.

View of Grand Teton is the far left peak

Next up, Glacier National Park!