Pickwick Creek

Hey you all. Fished Pickwick Creek last weekend. Did well on #14 orange scuds. Great creek. Water was clear. Any of you fished this stretch? The same weekend went to another creek where the scenerey and fishing was outstanding.

It seems like most streams the fish are still deep and out of the shallow riffles. Have you all noticed this too?

Also, a friend and I are heading out to Montana at the end of the month. Have any you ever fished out there and have any good spots? We will be starting at the Big Hole and making our way to the Madison later in the week. Fished any other rivers?

I have fished Pickwick but it has been a few years ago. Fr0m what I remember it was a very beautiful creek, but I only caught a few small browns and one over 15″. I was out west for a few weeks last year. The Big Horn was low then and a lot of drifting long strands of moss made fishing with spinners somewhat agrivating but I caught some small bows and a few fair browns, 10″ to 14″. I fished here and there from I-90 to the dam. It was crouded and did not live up to the hipe. I stopped at Boozeman I found Gallatin to be good around town, But I was dissapointed in the Madison, we fished a stretch of this river below the canyon and only caught a few tiny rainbows.
I traveled over to Island Park Idaho, and flogged Henerys Fork and caught a couple of nice Rainbows, nothing huge, 14″ was the biggest! This area can realy get crowded. I also passed through Flaming Gorge Idaho, there were so many folks here that I didn’t wet a line. This is seeming somewhat depressing! I think that the key to fishing out west is to avoid the big advertised rivers and streams and get back out to some of the smaller ones or find a good guide to help you out. If you go late enough in the spring, a very productive stream is Spearfish Creek in Spearfish South Dakota. From the middle of June to October this stream can produce some very large Browns and Rainbows especialy through town. Spinners are dynamite here! If the Blackhills are on your agenda try Rapid Creek through Rapid city all the way to lake Pactola. I have never caught anything over 15″ on this stream but no stream that I know of has more trout per square foot! I actualy caught two trout on one cast with a Super Bow spinner they were each on a different barb of the treble hook.
I hope this is of some use, If I can be of further help. let me know. I’ll try to get back here later with some folks to contact if you would like.
Good luck!
John Eggers

I have been out to Montana a couple of times. The most productive stream that I have fished is Rock Creek near Missoula. Not sure if you want to go that far west, but is is a good stream – lots of fish, but not real big. There are many more productive streams within 30-40 miles from Missoula, in fact the Clark Fork runs right through the town – it is an excellent stream also.

Todd Olson
The Fly Guys Guide Service
EFN Field Staff
[email protected]

Hey,

just returned from Montana last week, basically circumnavigated the state looking for the best conditions.

fished the following: Big Horn( don’t go, very low flows), stillwater (running clear still, some dry action starting) yellowstone (off color till June), DePuys Spring Creek ( 75.00 per day, but like fishing the rush with LOTS of 3-5lb bows and cuts) Madison (fished GREAT! wade fished varney bridge area backchannels, averaged 19-20″ on a 40 fish day, all nymphing)and the Big Mo (Missouri fished excellent as well, floated craig to pelican point, nymphed select seams and chucked big streamers for browns)

Send a PM if you desire some more detailed info!

off to Gray Reef on the north platte next week for some 10lb Bows!

Mike T