Nate O Taylor

Food, Fishing, and Outdoor Adventures

Some People Just Like Trash

September 19, 2010 by n.taylor 2 Comments

This fine morning the air was brisk, the skies cleared, and we were on the water yet again. David was eagerly throwing streamers in the early daylight hours, but after early refusals he was left to explore other options.

David's Choice

David's Choice

We pulled the boat to shore as David searched through his box for the perfect fly. A fly that would present itself effortlessly in the rift of the current, encouraging another beautiful trout to partake in its glory.

David chose a classic for this particular stretch, the girdle bug. This pattern imitates the stonefly as it makes a suicidal journey, bouncing along the river bottom. Trout often sit below small rapids gorging themselves on these innocent stoneflies who have been knocked loose from their rock homes. David secretly concocted a plan to fool one of these elusive game species with this deadly stonefly nymph.

As we rounded the bend David let fly a beautiful roll cast that landed 15 feet from the stern of the boat. The nymphs floated as close to a natural insect as I have ever seen. I lost sight of them as they neared the bottom, but even then I was sure David was destined for glory.

His indicator plunged and with a hook-set that even Roland Martin would envy David was on the business end of an epic battle. The fish gave him violent head-shakes and rolled in and out of the current as he continued to hold strong, giving line when needed but always in control of the fight. At first he was positive it was another whitefish, but from the apparent size David confirmed that this must be a trout, and a fine one indeed. As the battle drew to a close and I netted the fish, a great flood of laughter and tears came from the rest of the boat. David was elated, he held his catch like a proud father and urged us to admire his greatness. He gloated at the size of his “carp” and asked aloud how many others might be lurking in Montana’s waterways. We assured him it was a rarity and that only the finest of anglers could present a fly perfect enough to fool them. As he released his catch those of us in the boat took an oath to not let him know the error in his judgement. David had caught and landed the most sought after sport fish in North America, the Longnose Sucker.

The Longnose

The Longnose

Filed Under: Fall Tagged With: Blackfoot, Floating, Luna, Montana

The Big Blackfoot

September 16, 2010 by n.taylor 3 Comments

Planning on fishing the Blackfoot, David and I took to preparing for our first full-day outing by tying some flies. Now, I’m not much of a tie, but David is pretty damn good so I watched South Park and watched him make cool shiny things for me.

I Always Work On Vacation

I Always Work On Vacation

By 12:30 I was ready for bed and David was finishing trying to teach me how to spin deer hair. To his credit, David was able to wake up this morning before his alarm went off. I really appreciate when people do that, because there is nothing worse than having an alarm clock wake you up. I would much rather have David’s soft voice awaken me from my slumber.

Back on track though, after a quick cup of coffee, a short deliberation, a drive of intermediate distance and a rain shower we were ready to put the boat in the water. Now the water on the upper reaches of the Blackfoot has two distinguishing attributes. It is clear, not “gin” clear like you hear about on the South Platte, but it is literally clear. It is one of the few places I have been to that human vision can penetrate twenty feet into the water column unobstructed. The second definable feature of the upper Blackfoot and its tributaries is that they are very cold. This did not detour our copper john maniac David Luna however, he wasted no time tying on some of his freakish looking articulated streamers and a few copper johns of varying colors.

Montana Carp

Montana Carp

Within ten minutes David managed to hook this whitefish on his articulated meat strip. I’m not even sure how or why this thing thought it could eat his offering, regardless however, it was the largest whitey I have ever seen eat a streamer. It might be the only whitefish I have ever seen eat a streamer, I’m not really sure. This is how David got introduced to Montana’s version carp (trash fish). Enter captain whitey.

As the day progressed David was overwhelmed with countless whitefish and seemed ecstatic to haul them into the boat. I was thrilled, this is the easiest kid to please in the world, if guides could get paid money to put people on whitefish then not only would their tips be amazing but it would also be the easiest job in the world (sign me up). As the rain started to come down sideways David hooked what he assumed was just another large whitey.

Shoulder Press

Shoulder Press

I was skeptical as I watched from the front of the boat, shades of yellow seemed to speak cutthroat to me as he continued to battle the fish in the current. “Went straight to the bottom, definitely a whitey” says David as if he is now an expert. I love his enthusiasm. As the battle entered its final stages and the fish began to concede defeat, to our mutual joy it was indeed a native trout, an exhilarating victory. As the smile on his face started to turn to a smirk the only thing he could tell me was how well his opponent fought. He glanced up from his rod to say simply “Nothing like tailwater trout Nathan”. Indeed David, it just is a whole different ball-game when the fish have to fight run-off, temperature changes, and other predators in the air and water.

The day concluded much as it began, with many a whitefish and a few nice trout. For David’s first day on Montana I would say it was an overwhelming success. I pray his new found arrogance will not anger the fishing gods and bestow upon us times of great despair. Developing…

Copper Luna

Copper Luna

Filed Under: Fall Tagged With: Floating, Luna, Montana, Whitey

What To Do Before Dinner

September 15, 2010 by n.taylor 1 Comment

In Montana, there are only a few things to do before dinner. I like to do this. I think I got David excited for this weekend. We shall see what else unfolds as we make a furious attempt to hook as many fish as we can until Sunday. Wish us luck.

David Luna

David Luna

Filed Under: Fall Tagged With: Bull Trout, Luna, Montana

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