West '05 Trip - Day 19

Posted: 2006-04-11
By: Randy Cochran

I took my time getting up and about. A good hotel room is not a thing to be wasted, especially when living in a tent or car is your norm (at least for the time being, anyway).

The Federation of Fly Fishers' Discovery Center in Livingston had my name on it, and has for the last few years. It is a destination that should not be missed by anyone that loves fly fishing.

I arrived at 11am to a nearly empty museum... only one other couple was there at the time I visited. What a great experience. Just about everything you could want to see or learn about fly-angling-wise is there. I really wish that I had taken more pictures, as there are so many amazing things on display. I suppose you will have to go and see for yourself, eh?

Headed off to the river after a quick visit to George Anderson's Yellowstone Angler. Spent too much, as always; gave some friendly advice on midwest smallie chasing to a younger guy there. I can't remember his name, but I do hope he had a nice time. Hopefully I didn't steer him too wrong. :)

I started my fishing at an area directly down from an outflow of one of the private spring creeks on the Yellowstone. Swinging an olive/white Clouser pattern drew several misses from nicer fish. I hooked and launched a little wee trout on the hookset. Hope he's OK.

Rises everywhere told me that it was time to start prospecting with dries, and soon after I ended up with a few golden nuggets, in the form of small yet very pretty browns. All came on a parachute Adams.

Moving upstream, I switched back to a Clouser with no reaction, then to a double nymph rig, with the same end. Moved back down and broke off on a tree guarding some particularly good looking water.

Weather moved in and I was disgusted, so I broke for lunch and mental health. After eating I went to "Old Faithful", my never-miss spot. The water was way down this year from last. Still, there were fish working everywhere that I expected to see them. One of these fish turned out to be a nicer than average cutt of 16" or so. My second fish was a small cutt fouled in the back. Then the wind came up fiercely. By this time it was nearing dark, so I put away the rod and stepped behind the wheel in search of a spot to camp.

I drove up one of the smaller tributaries to sleep, spotting 4 Mule deer on the way in. First mulies I've seen during the trip, I believe.

Steak, potatoes, corn-on-the-cob and salad graced the dinner menu tonight. Not too shabby! Dinner prep ran a little longer than desired, with no daylight left to make camp, so it was another frigid night of sleep.