Fast water. Big fish. Great action. We floated different sections of the Missouri River and with each trip Joe and Greg of Big Sky Anglers used different tactics and flies to bring up the big ones who were holding outside their normal haunts due to the high, fast water.
Except for a few instances where we fished quiet water with dry flies, we used a variety of nymphs and fished them heavily weighted and deep. We used 6-weight medium-fast to fast action rods with weight-forward floating lines with leaders anywhere between 9-feet to 14-feet long.
We caught a lot of fish. Not so
much because of our skill but that of the guides, who knew
where the fish were holding and directed our casts to the
correct spots. We were speeding down river at a pretty
decent clip and I was told to toss a cast at a small pocket
of quiet water behind a boulder next to the bank. You only
get one shot but I managed to hit it spot on and within
seconds there was a big brown trout on the end of the line
which we took downstream with us through the fast water
then fought it out in the flats.
WHAT TO BRING: As for clothing and
equipment, always consult your guide or a local fly fishing
shop if one happens to be in the area. We brought
everything from thermal underwear to hot weather shirts
because it can be in the 30's at night but 80's by the
afternoon (it snowed a week before we arrived). The town of
Craig has several fly fishing shops and we hung out at
Headhunters Fly Shop which is right
next to Izaak's Restaurant (a great
place--the Bison burger is killer). We had problems with
missing luggage because of a flight delay, however I had
all my fishing stuff (including waders) in my carry-on,
which consisted of one rolling bag and a rod tube for
4-piece rods (can hold five sticks) with extra clothing
packed in. I wore my Korkers wading shoes with the normal
walking soles and had the spare felt soles in my bag. I
did have to buy another shirt, but the fly shops there
are well stocked and everyone needs a souvenir shirt or
two. As far as underwear goes, well, let's not discuss
that at this point in time.
EQUIPMENT: I brought a 9' 4-weight medium
action rod for dry fly fishing, a 9' 5-weight fast action
rod for dry fly fishing in heavy wind and as a general use
backup, and a 9' 6-weight medium fast rod for general
fishing with a Rio Nymph floating line. I also brought a 9'
8-weight with a floating line and a sink tip just in case
we had to fish really heavy streamers in deep water but I
could have left this one at home. The guides are also well
equipped with a full lineup of rods and reels, so you could
leave your stuff home and fish their rigs if you like. They
use quality material so no worries.
THE GUIDES: Not much to say here except to
offer advice which can be applied anywhere you decide to
use a guide. They're professionals. They know the
territory. Listen to them and the fish will come. Guides
love working with clients and they'll often just accept a
case of beer as a tip, but anywhere from $60 on up is
customary.