Montata - The Gallatin River - Brown Trout & Rainbow Trout - Mid July 2013

For the grand finale of the trip we headed to a ranch that belonged to one of Mike's friends. We had a great drive from Jackson Hole through Yellowstone to Montana.

The Fire Hole river in Yellowstone fed by hotsprings on all sides

Hot springs in Yellowstone

Massive Hot springs leaking minerals onto the rocks

The ranch was close to some of the best trout waters in the continental United States - The yellowstone River, The Gallatin River, and many others. For us the, Gallatin was by far the best. Although we had some trouble finding open access to the river, once we found it, it was incredible. 

Mike shooting his .300 Win mag

The Ranch

Driving though the ranch to the house.

Shooting by car light

Belle, Mikes dog, watches us fish the yellowstone. It was hard to fish this great river from shore.

The Ranch

Fish on!

Belle, mikes dog, was a great fishing partner

The Gallatin River

Brown trout, Gallatin River on a grey drake extended body.

For some reason, I was catching exclusively big browns but no rainbows, and Mike was hitting big rainbows, but no browns, sometimes out of the same hole. You could tell right away what you had hooked; the rainbow trout often jump out of the water while the browns dive deep.

Belle Watches me cast to rising brown trout along the shore.

Mike with one of many rainbows.

We spent 3 days total fishing the Gallatin. We never made it very far in any direction because we were pulling in fish from behind every stone. We started fishing with size 12 extended body grey drakes and had much success. Later mike fished a 14 Elk Hair caddis and I fished a CDC klinkhammer I had made up (pictured below). Later we both  also had success with size 14 Purple Haze Parachute Adams - a color that has become popular in Montana.  

This hole was particularly productive for Mike.
Several rainbows, including one that was too big to
pull from under the sunken logs and got away.

Walter and Katie spent the first few days at the ranch with us. 

For dinner: Elk Walter shot last fall and beans.