Day 6 and Day 7 Montana Fishing and Sightseeing escapades!

Day 6 - 9.21.2022 Kootenai River Dam Part 2

After making more 3/4 oz slinkies we headed to the dam. We decided to fish a slightly different part of the river. This area of the riverbank is right in the middle of the area where I connected with 3 large fish.

This new spot would not show us any love. I don't enjoy this style of fishing. We had been using 1/2 oz to 3/4 oz slinkies. Our rods are rated for the weight, but the slinging that much over and over. Jack would bring two 15" rainbows to hand. We then decided to fish the dam for just a few hours.  

We then went to fish down into the lower Kootenai River. Here like in all trout waters you want to concentrate on where the trout are more likely to be. In this scenario we will be swinging soft hackles through boulder fields. For folks who do not know a boulder field in a river is a large amount of good size rocks that are partially submerged. This creates holding and feeding lies for the trout.

I strung up my 375 to 500 grain switch rod with a Skagit short 350 head and a 10 foot poly sinking leader (thank you Lou). My switch rod I rigged it up with a number 12 brown pheasant tail style soft hackle. I rigged up my TFO TiCr single hander with a number 8 chubby and a number 12 brown soft hackle. I rigged up Jack with the same tandem set up. I set him up on a nice small run with some broken water that the fish could use as cover.   

I waded out onto a freestone shoal. This shoal had a nice deep cut and good broken water to hide a trout. I used my switch rod and worked the water column. I then glanced over at Jack, and he had a fish on. I yelled out " you the man". I was so happy for him to see everything come together for him. 

I worked the water in this first area on the Kootenai and came up zero. That is all part of it to try n try again. We all hope for that one magical moment. I would have such a moment at the next boulder field. 

Jack and I drove down to the next spot. Now mind you the amount people fish this body of water with a watercraft. This next boulder field had no reel path to access it. As a matter of a fact, I had to set way points with my Garmin 64sx to find our way out. We beat the bush and dropped onto the Kootenai riverbank. 

You could hear the thunder of the water as it cascaded over the rocks. It can be intimidating if you don't take your time to read the water. After explaining to Jack what he needed to do and making sure he felt safe I went down stream.

I found some large pocket waters to fish. I rerigged my single-handed rod. I swapped my other flies for a tandem soft hackle set up. The point soft hackle was a number 12 olive, and the trailer soft hackle was a number 12 brown. Both flies had tungsten beads on them and about 3 feet apart. I used a bobber to drift them.   

I looked at Jack and he was landing a trout.   

Then on my third cast a large 15"+ fish breached the water. The fish also took the rear fly and broke off in the process of breaching out of the water. I hooted and hollered in the excitement and disbelief. We walked a little further downstream to see if we can connect with a trout or two.

This would prove to be pointless. We broke our rods down and began the Lewis & Clark esq-hike back to the truck. The hike back was rough in high weeds and since we were walking in the riverbed the entire way it was filled with potholes and undulating ground. We arrived battered but not beaten at the truck finally we called it a day and closed out this chapter.  

Day 7 - 9.22.2022 Glacier NP Road to the Sun and Two Medicine 

We woke up to rain and fog. Well, we headed out anyhow. Sure, picture taking would be tougher, but more opportunity to take some unique photos. The land in the Glacier NP is as pristine as it gets. You can tell some of the forest is old and thick. The smell of the conifers is intoxicating. Some of the water was this turquoise color. Enjoy the photo journal from the day.

Logan Pass video looking south