Posts Tagged ‘Montana trout fishing’
January 10th, 2012 by sorendetienne
Bald Eagle in Missouri River near Hardy Creek
Today January 9th, 2012 I made my first New Year’s resolutions, but it’s ok because I’m old (almost 60) and everyone knows old folks are a little slow!
New Year’s resolution
- To do this blog at least twice a week (I was thinking everyday but an old guy might not be that ambitious). In each blog I will tell you of my fishing adventures and show you photos of Montana.
- To walk at least an hour every other day (more ambitious) bad back and leg allowing me to.
- But most important resolution is to fish as often and as many different rivers and streams as possible this year. I live on one of the best Blue Ribbon Trout Streams in the United States, the Missouri River at Hardy Creek (about 12 miles downstream from Craig). I am also within a one or two hour drive of 6 other Blue Ribbon Trout Streams.
Today as I was beginning my walk I observed a Bald Eagle In the river I’m not sure if the eagle had caught a fish and was having lunch or just bathing, whichever, it presented a good photo opportunity.
About 30 minutes into my walk I noticed this man and his best friend fishing the Missouri just upstream from the Interstate 15 bridge crossing the Missouri River near Hardy. What a fine outing for a man and his
While fishing on the Missouri River
dog. It was about 45* F and windy, this year with the warmer temperatures, have also came high winds, today’s 24 MPH WSW. Still a nice day, any day on the river is a good day!
With my picture taking and sight, seeing this was a 2 hour adventure. With a little luck maybe I will be able to fish this hole I discovered on the river.
Fishing hole on the Missouri
Looks good to me what do you think? Are there any fish here? The man with the dog caught one while I was watching them, on the other side of the river of course.
Tags: bald eagles, Birding on Missouri River, Hiking in Montana, Man's Best Friend, Montana trout fishing, New Years Resolutions
Posted in River's Bend Lodge News | No Comments »
August 1st, 2011 by sorendetienne
The Family reunion on the Missouri River
Megan and her parents came to Montana for a Family Reunion and a little R&R under the Big Sky. Her father Greg, his sister Barbara,and brothers, Larry and Chuck met at the River’s Bend Lodge with children and spouses.
During their stay at the Lodge in July they attended the Air Show in Great Falls, did some hiking at Tower Rock State Park (only 10 minutes from the Lodge), fished a little, some river rafting, and a lot of reminiscing of child hood days in Montana.
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Tags: Air Show, Family reunion, Great Falls, Montana Bed and Breakfast, Montana trout fishing, Montana Vacation, Salt-crusted Trout
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June 14th, 2011 by sorendetienne
Eight Fly-fishermen from Idaho and Guide Mike Agee
Nine Fly-fishermen came to the River’s Bend Lodge at Hardy Creek / Cascade, Montana to fish the Missouri River. Each day two of the Guys fished with Guide Mike Agee and the others floated the Missouri from Holter Dam to Craig The Guided
Fishermen caught an average of 75 to 80 fish a day between two fishermen. They returned to the lodge each evening with tales of many fish and sore arms ….. each saying they had just experienced the best day of fishing in their lives. While the Fly-fishermen that were on their own didn’t catch as many fish everyone caught some fish, a good time was had by all…..
Todd with a large Brown Trout he caught below Hauser Dam
The weather was perfect for three of the four days they were at the Lodge, sunny and in the 60′s to 70′s, the last day it rained
hard all day. The Missouri was as high as I have ever seen it in my 17 years at Hardy Creek. While on the river, taking a break (from catching to many fish) the guys took a video of an Osprey attacking a Bald Eagle attempting to steal the fish, that the Eagle had just caught. The Osprey was not successful, however, and the video file was too large to download for this blog.
So can you catch too many fish or is that like the song “Too much Fun” ? LOL
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Tags: bald eagles, Craig Montana, Hauser Dam, Holter Dam, Missouri River, Montana Bed and Breakfast, montana fly fishing on the Missouri River, Montana Lodge Dinning, Montana trout fishing, osprey
Posted in Fishing the Missouri River in Montana | Comments Off
May 30th, 2011 by sorendetienne
Karen's first Rainbow Trout, and Guide Jay Dixon
Two Southern Belles from Texas, came to Montana in quest of filling part of their bucket lists. Visit Montana and learn to Fly-Fish. Karen and Sonemaly stayed at River’s Bend Lodge for two days while learning to be Fly-Fisher-women with Guide Jay Dixon. The First day out they spent seven hours on the Missouri River, Fly-Fishing… it rained intermitantly and was colder than normal… but they had a great time and caught several fish each. These ladies had such a great attitude, the river was high and weather was not the best…they insisted, “It beats triple digit heat any day of the week!”
Even as beginners they had great luck, way better then my first time, all I caught were bird nests. It reminded me of fishing with my grandsons; I spent most of my first time, untangling fishing line!
Day two of their Montana Fly-Fishing Adventure was colder, with lots more rain and hail… and yes several more large fish…The ladies returned to the Lodge cold and soaked to the skin.
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Tags: fly fishing, Great Falls, Helena, Missouri River, Montana Bed and Breakfast, montana fly fishing on the Missouri River, Montana trout fishing, Montana Vacation
Posted in Fishing the Missouri River in Montana | Comments Off
May 26th, 2011 by sorendetienne
Guide (Mike Agee w/fish) and Karl. Some happy fishermen!
Today May 25,2011 the Missouri is running at 15,400 (cfs) below Holter Dam, the Deerborn is running at 2,900 (cfs). The tributaries, especially the Deerborn are adding a lot of dirty water to the Missouri right now, a strong mudline can be identified on river left when passing the Deerborn and on down stream through Marshall Lanes. Just before dark I saw enough rising fish had it been earlier in the day I would have been tempted to try a few dry dries.
My buddies Micheal and Karl from Nashville, Tenn. stayed at the Lodge a week ago for four days of fishing on the Missouri River;
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Tags: Cascade Montana, Craig Montana, fly fishing, Great Falls, Helena, Lodge, Missouri River, Montana Bed and Breakfast, Montana trout fishing, Montana Vacation
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November 24th, 2010 by sorendetienne
Landing Canadian Geese
It has been in below zero -2* to -20* for the last 3 days the only thing moving much around here are the Canadian Geese. I guess the water is warmer then the air, for sure as it is not freezing over yet. The only thing I have seen them do that indicated they were aware of the coldness is to gather in a considerably large flock on a sand bar across the river from the Lodge. Some of the geese would fly up river half a mile or so (usually not out of sight of the flock) and let the current carry them back to the sandbar where they would rejoin the rest of the flock.
Yesterday I watched them returning from feeding in the fields as they came back to the water they landed in groups of 4 or 5 close to the sand bar usually up river but not always. I remember thinking it resembled a busy airport and I wondered who was the traffic controler, because he was doing a great job! One group would touch down and the next one would be on final wings in full flap position.
It was wonderful to watch and listen too. Even earily in the morning there is just not any sound greater to wake up to than the Canadian Honkers’ trumpet!
The fog and moister from the river did not seem to hinder anything; Iwas wondering how do the geese navigate in the fog and is icing ever a problem? The visibility must have been down to about 100 feet with a ceiling of about 50 t0 75 feet during most of the day.
I have seen no Birds of Prey for almost 3 weeks now. I think they must have given up and went further south for the winter.
Tags: bald eagles, Birding on Missouri River, Canadian Geese, Missouri River, Montana, Montana Bed and Breakfast, Montana trout fishing, osprey, pelicans, River's Bend Lodge News
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October 28th, 2010 by sorendetienne
Thanksgiving Cornucopia
Visit the River’s Bend Lodge on the Missouri River in Montana for Thanksgiving and get it all. Great company, a Thanksgiving Feast that lasts all day, scenery in full fall colors, wild life and bird viewing, and a quiet comfortable sleeping room in the fresh mountain air.
The SLEEPING ROOMS:
Rent one of The River’s Bend Lodge’s Suites stay 3 or 4 nights and get the room for $115 per night that is a $50.00 per night savings. Get an all day Thanksgiving Feast for $25.00 per guest, invite your friends to join you for Thanksgiving Dinner.
The FOOD
Turkey & dressing, honey glazed ham, cranberry sauce, baked yams, green bean bake, sweet baby carrots, mash potatoes and gravy, scalloped corn casserole, pumpkin pie, apple pie, coffee cake muffins, crème Brule in miniature pumpkins, and homemade bread!
All you can eat and more.
Tags: All Day Thanksgiving Feast, bald eagles, Birding on Missouri River, Montana Bed and Breakfast, Montana Lodge Dinning, Montana trout fishing, osprey, Sleeping Room Special, Thanksgiving Dinner
Posted in Specials & Packages | Comments Off
October 6th, 2010 by sorendetienne
Average Missouri River Trout
Last week I had the pleasure of meeting Michael when he stayed at the River’s Bend Lodge . Michael, a Tennessee resident, was in Montana on business for several days and decided to stay a couple of extra days to go Fly-fishing. Michael took me Fly-fishing with him on Friday Oct 1st, what a great time we had, a drift boat was dropped off just below Holter Dam for us. As we loaded our fishing gear and beer in the drift boat the fish were jumping all around us. Michael tried several different Flies over the course of the next half hour without much luck . He said “this is the greatest frustration of Fly-fishing watching them feed and not being able to figure out the right fly.” Michael tied on a hopper and a nymph Pheasant Tail Fly he had tied himself and the fish taking began. Over the next 6 to 7 hours Michael would catch thirty trout only three of them were Brown Trout, 27 were Rainbow Trout, eight were over 20” long the biggest being 26 ½” long! Four of the trout three rainbows and one brown were about 12” long, Michael classified them as small!! The rest of his catch for the day were between 16” and 20” what a day we had.
We happened on a pod of Trout feeding on bugs on the surface or just below the surface of the river, their heads would just break the surface of the water and back down they would go. It was exciting to watch those heads and mostly large ones at that, come out of the water in a feeding frenzy. Michael caught his first 3 fish, all of them over 20” out of this pod of approximately one hundred and twenty five fish.
Micheal said " This was a World Class Fly-fishing Day!"
Did I tell you Michael caught all these fish while teaching me row the boat! I’m a little hard of hearing and he was facing away from me most of the time, so he developed these hand signals to tell me where he wanted the boat. Watching him up there in the front of the boat with both hands going trying to get me in the correct spot was a hoot.
Trying to keep that boat in sync with the current and get to the desired spot on the river while avoiding the other anglers is no easy task. I gained a lot of respect for the fishing guides that do it day after day.
We drank our first beer after the 3rd large Trout was caught (Michael’s rule “no beer drinking until after the first 20” trout is caught”). Michael didn’t get to drink much beer, that day, he was to busy catching trout, not to worry though I drank his share.
Michael has Fly-fished in Europe, South America, and North America but, Montana is still his favorite spot! He has fished more rivers in Montana than I have, and I am a Montana native living here for 58 years. As he was leaving on Sunday I asked him how his Fly-fishing expierence had been this trip. He said “Soren I have had two back to back WORLD CLASS FLY-FISHING DAYS I will be back soon.”
Michael's little piece of "Heaven" Fly-fishing the Missouri River in Montana
Tags: fly fishing, Great Falls, Helena, Lodge, Missouri River, Montana, Montana Bed and Breakfast, Montana trout fishing, Montana Vacation, River's Bend Lodge News
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October 4th, 2010 by sorendetienne
Ever had one of those days fishing while on vacation no matter what you tried it didn’t work. I was having one of those days fishing or trying to, with my two grandsons Soren and Nevan (5 years old) when they visited me this summer at the Lodge . We finally gave up the ghost and came home, Nevan wanted to try a few casts of the front yard on the Missouri River, my son in-law took him down to try his luck! This 24″ Brown Trout was the result of his first cast. The whole day was instantly a success and all the tangled fishing line, blown casts, hooked fingers , lost tackle, wet feet, etc. were forgotten. New bragging rights had to be established!!
Tags: fly fishing, Great Falls, Montana, Montana Bed and Breakfast, Montana trout fishing, River's Bend Lodge News
Posted in Fishing the Missouri River in Montana | Comments Off
