Bathroom Art. Gravel Bar, Ennis MT.

That’s right, the OTR Report is back with the first installment for 2017. It’s been a long winter and its about damn time. Chewy needs a change of pace, luckily for me I was able to assemble a mostly willing crew of fellow fly tossers and head south for a day. From the looks of it, Ennis and a majority of the Madison River valley would be sheltered from the wintery-mix expected across most of the state. In addition to the promising weather outlook, word on the boat ramps was the streamer bite had picked up. Water temps were (and still are) much warmer than the MO and fish were chasing down big meals. If you know me or anything about me, you know that alone is enough to get me going.

If you’ve ever fished the Madison you know it can ambiguously frustrating. No real defined seams or obvious holding water, the entire river is, as I’m sure you’ve noticed, one big riffle. Fish hold in the tightest pockets, the smallest seam created by the most imperceptible of rocks. There are no limits to the number of targets to throw at and for that matter, no discernible spot  where the next fish may come from. The opportunities are endless. It wasn’t too long after we launched that the big white streamers getting tossed starting getting some attention. Fish darting from their cover, inspecting and swiping. First fish to the net was a healthy Brown caught by WCA guide Billy Brann on a lil’ something whipped up by yours truly. Fly
selection varied throughout the day from white, to olive/white, to olive, to grey, back to olive/white. Fish seemed to react right after a bug change but their excitement for a fresh fly waned after a few dozen casts. Either way Billy and I were able to net a few nice fish over the course of our 16 mile float. That’s right, 16, windy, boulder dodging, low-bridge ducking miles. In hindsight, not the wisest of choices of floats, but I’ve done dumber things with less intelligent people.

By the end of the day Bill and I were both pretty well spent. Casting 7 wts with big flies in the wind all day paired with rowing can take it out of ya’. As good fortune may have it, the Gravel Bar in Ennis was still serving by the time we came back through town. After a round or two of draft beers we hit the road home. The Madison Range faded into the night as the clouds blanketed them once more, undoubtedly dropping more snow on the already frigid peaks. I’m looking forward to returning when the snow begins turning into runoff and the Salmonflies make their annual appearance.

With another weather window popping up later on this week, it looks like I’ll be getting out again. Make sure to check back for more updates from the road as we push into spring.

~CHEERS, CHEWY.