Driftless late season...the good old days!

Driftless trout fishing is winding down.  Probably a good thing...I can't get enough of it.  The fishing is fantastic...and, as one of our fish managers says...now is the good old days.  The fly fishing for trout is the best I've ever seen it...I would even go out on a limb and call it the best spring creek fishing on the planet.  And, I've fished the spring creeks of the paradise valley...many times.  Today, as many nice trout came to hand in two hours as in a full day at Armstrongs, Nelsons, or Dupuys.  And, that was fee fishing...this is public water.  I've seen two other cars the last five times out and they were together and throwing spinners.  Ten miles of one of the best driftless spring creeks to myself all summer...you all have seen the pictures...just has me shaking my head in wonder as the west fork and timber coulee get pounded.  And, I've spent years guiding on both...

Now, you are probably saying I'm full of...myself.  And, you could be right...I feel pretty good after the afternoon rise and then watching my 14 yr old play football for his middle school.  He caught his second TD pass in two games today and another 40 yard pass he ran down to the two yard line...so you can hopefully pardon my strong opinions.  The rise ended just in time for me to get there to see the kickoff...

A bluebird day... trout were just starting to come up as I entered the water.  They were in shallow riffles and undercuts, sometimes in only inches of water...casting accuracy and careful wading were at a premium.  As they always are...but, my trude matched the bwo's perfectly and had few refusals.  My apologies, these pictures don't do the fishing justice...