On The Lake

The rivers were high and muddy yesterday, so I suggested to a friend
from work that we should hit one of the local lakes. I suggested some
float tubing, and as he had never done it, offered the loan of my tube.
We headed out to the Pass area at a civilized hour (9 a.m), and first
went to the local fly shop to buy licenses and pick up on some of the
local gossip. I not only ended up with a licensees, but also new wading
boots, my first pair of breathable waders, and some other stuff.

We were told that one of the lakes was fishing pretty hot, and as I
usually do okay on it, we changed our plans and went there. As it was
Ron's first time in a float tube, I helped him get set up before I put
my one-man pontoon boat in the water. Ron enjoyed the tubing thoroughly,
especially since he had hooked and landed two before I even got my boat
into the water. The fishing was good all day, and we caught a lot. My
favorite fish was a 16" fat female that I hooked while wind-drifting a
midge. She put up quite a fight. My second favorite was a colorful,
toothy 17" male that I hooked on a catatonic leech. Ron had been trying
to hook it for a while, then gave up and told me to try. It took a
little doing, but I was successful.

Overall, it was a real nice day. We left the lake at five-thirty or so,
and Ron was surprised at how late it was. He thought it was only three
pm. I think the hallmark of a good day on the water is that, sadly, time
passes faster than you think.

Tim Lysyk

On 3-May-2007, Tim Lysyk wrote:

The rivers were high and muddy yesterday, so I suggested to a friend
from work that we should hit one of the local lakes. I suggested some
float tubing, and as he had never done it, offered the loan of my tube.
We headed out to the Pass area at a civilized hour (9 a.m), and first
went to the local fly shop to buy licenses and pick up on some of the
local gossip. I not only ended up with a licensees, but also new wading
boots, my first pair of breathable waders, and some other stuff.

We were told that one of the lakes was fishing pretty hot, and as I
usually do okay on it, we changed our plans and went there. As it was
Ron's first time in a float tube, I helped him get set up before I put
my one-man pontoon boat in the water. Ron enjoyed the tubing thoroughly,
especially since he had hooked and landed two before I even got my boat
into the water. The fishing was good all day, and we caught a lot. My
favorite fish was a 16" fat female that I hooked while wind-drifting a
midge. She put up quite a fight. My second favorite was a colorful,
toothy 17" male that I hooked on a catatonic leech. Ron had been trying
to hook it for a while, then gave up and told me to try. It took a
little doing, but I was successful.

Overall, it was a real nice day. We left the lake at five-thirty or so,
and Ron was surprised at how late it was. He thought it was only three
pm. I think the hallmark of a good day on the water is that, sadly, time
passes faster than you think.

Tim Lysyk

This sounds great
I should get my own ass out on some new lake real soon
I like rivers better but a lake can be real nice

Thanks for the post
Fred

Tim Lysyk wrote:

The rivers were high and muddy yesterday, so I suggested to a friend
from work that we should hit one of the local lakes.

[snip of good day in the Pass]

Overall, it was a real nice day. We left the lake at five-thirty or so,
and Ron was surprised at how late it was. He thought it was only three
pm. I think the hallmark of a good day on the water is that, sadly, time
passes faster than you think.

Nice to hear you got out on the water. Is that lake a few miles off
the highway near the north end of the Pass? :-)

And what's the weather like now? No snow? :-)


Chuck Vance

Conan The Librarian wrote:
Nice to hear you got out on the water. Is that lake a few miles off
the highway near the north end of the Pass? :-)

Nope. More towards the south and east.


And what's the weather like now? No snow? :-)

Snow is long gone, but it could return anytime. We are in the usual "Its
May and anything can happen" mode. Todays high is supposed to be 11C,
but we'll have highs of 24 by Tuesday.

Tim

"Tim Lysyk" wrote

Overall, it was a real nice day. We left the lake at five-thirty or so,
and Ron was surprised at how late it was. He thought it was only three pm.
I think the hallmark of a good day on the water is that, sadly, time
passes faster than you think.




Cool !

One of the tough things about fly fishing is that the list of "wanna do"
places gets so long as to be impossible. I have several lake destinations
on my list, including the Black Feet area near Glacier, which I hope to
sample this summer. For some reason, fishing a midge larva or pupa under
an indicator while wind drifting is something I find relaxing and pleasant a
few times a year, although I almost never actually enjoy indicator nymphing
on moving water ? don't even understand it myself !

I applied for a passport months ago and my wife has plane tickets to Great
Falls purchased, all with the idea of visiting Alberta late in June. Hope
they get the damn passport to me in time. If not I may spend more time in
the Glacier area than planned :-( I guess the number of passport
applications has soared with the new travel regs.


Thanks for sharing your day.

Larry L wrote:
"Tim Lysyk" wrote

Overall, it was a real nice day. We left the lake at five-thirty or so,
and Ron was surprised at how late it was. He thought it was only three pm.
I think the hallmark of a good day on the water is that, sadly, time
passes faster than you think.





Cool !

One of the tough things about fly fishing is that the list of "wanna do"
places gets so long as to be impossible. I have several lake destinations
on my list, including the Black Feet area near Glacier, which I hope to
sample this summer. For some reason, fishing a midge larva or pupa under
an indicator while wind drifting is something I find relaxing and pleasant a
few times a year, although I almost never actually enjoy indicator nymphing
on moving water ? don't even understand it myself !

I applied for a passport months ago and my wife has plane tickets to Great
Falls purchased, all with the idea of visiting Alberta late in June. Hope
they get the damn passport to me in time. If not I may spend more time in
the Glacier area than planned :-( I guess the number of passport
applications has soared with the new travel regs.

You should try the reservoirs at the Duck Valley Indian Reservation some
time on your way to Idaho. It's in Nevada, just across the Idaho border
south of Mountain Home. It's good in May before the lakes weed up, and
I've heard it's also good in the fall after the weeds die off, but I've
never fished it in that season. I like Lake Billy Shaw (the only one
I've fished). Use heavy tippet because this recently made reservoir
still has lots of submerged sagebrush (and the fish are quite large).
Make sure that you get a tribal permit -- they check everyone every day.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

"rw" wrote

You should try the reservoirs at the Duck Valley Indian Reservation some
time on your way to Idaho. It's in Nevada, just across the Idaho border
south of Mountain Home.

Off hand I don't remember ever taking that route to Idaho .... and I've been
going to Idaho 2+ time/ year for decades

I've been the all lonely desert route from over near JR in Oregon into Boise
and my normal route is from Well up to Twin Falls.


Especially towing the trailer I try to avoid two laned busy roads as much as
possible ... seems someone is always on my bumper and someone else is always
going slower than I could in front but not slow enough to allow safe passing
while towing .... I stress out over the 93 section from Wells to the to the
Picabo turn off for days in advance ;-) and make every effort to hit it off
peak hours/days

Getting old has many not so nice things, but THE one I notice most and hate
most is decreased 'boldness.' Things that I wouldn't have even thought
about 15 years ago, now worry, even scare me. Example, I'm leaving here
next Monday or Tuesday and I'd kinda like to stop, buy the tribal permit,
and fish Ft Hall for a week or so. BUT, the "roads" down in the bottoms
are terrible, maybe worse than terrible, and getting stuck up to the axle
and miles from anyone else would be a real trauma for an old man with
limited walking range. So I probably won't stop. That ****es me off,
.... at myself ... and my old man cowardly nature.


Opps, I tend to wander G I wanted to ask. Is that road up from I-80
into Mountain Home the same .. better than ... worse than ... 93 from Wells
into Twin Falls .... IYO ? and imagine towing as you ponder the question

Larry L wrote:
"rw" wrote


You should try the reservoirs at the Duck Valley Indian Reservation some
time on your way to Idaho. It's in Nevada, just across the Idaho border
south of Mountain Home.


Off hand I don't remember ever taking that route to Idaho .... and I've been
going to Idaho 2+ time/ year for decades

I've been the all lonely desert route from over near JR in Oregon into Boise
and my normal route is from Well up to Twin Falls.

I've driven that route through Oregon dozens of times. In fact, I'm
leaving California for Idaho tomorrow or Sunday and plan to go that way.
It's a long and not windey road.

Opps, I tend to wander G I wanted to ask. Is that road up from I-80
into Mountain Home the same .. better than ... worse than ... 93 from Wells
into Twin Falls .... IYO ? and imagine towing as you ponder the question

I've only approached Duck Valley from the north. That road is pretty
good. I've heard, but cannot verify, that the route from the south is
problematical.

--
Cut "to the chase" for my email address.

On 4-May-2007, "Larry L" wrote:

have several lake destinations
on my list, including the Black Feet area near Glacier, which I hope to
sample this summer. For some reason, fishing a midge larva or pupa
under
an indicator while wind drifting is something I find relaxing and pleasant
a
few times a year, although I almost never actually enjoy indicator
nymphing
on moving water ? don't even understand it myself !

What are the names of these lakes near Gl;lacier?

Sincerely
Fred

wrote


What are the names of these lakes near Gl;lacier?



there are a bunch of them on the Blackfeet lands .... you need a tribal
permit

I've never been there, so I can't suggest a specific lake .... I bet a
Google would turn up lots of links ...

here is the only one I have bookmarked ... the tribal fish and game dept

http://www.blackfeetfishandwildlife.com/


I have fished and hunted on several different tribal lands in the west ....
obey the letter of the tribal laws and you will find it a pleasant
experience