Home Again

After a whirlwind trip to Bozeman over the weekend I am home and sick.Figures that I would get sick on my long drive home.I spent the past 2 days in bed but was able to rally this morning and got my ass to class.Should I have stayed home?YES,but a midterm review in my hardest course was mandatory so...

Thinking back on my Montana experience one thing stands out.Montana is the most beautiful place that I have ever visited.Huge mountains and rivers and hard fighting wild fish!What more can a fly fisher ask for?

The folks at Simms Fishing Products put on a great event for us guides.The highlight for me was the Marketing seminar that was a roundtable with Eric Adams from Montana Fly Fishing Guides llc (http://www.montanaflyfishingguides.com/) and Dan "Rooster" Leavins from Stonefly Inn and Outfitters (http://www.thestoneflyinn.com/) and one other outfitter whos name escapes me at this time.Eric and Rooster had lots of great info and even had the time after the seminar to talk to me in person and share some more marketing ideas.Thanks guys you rock!!

I did get a chance to fish a bit but only landed one small rainbow on the lower Madison.I was humbled by the upper Madison where a combination of laziness and frustration led to lost fish and broken off fish.I hate breaking off fish!!I guess I better elaborate...After fishing dries for a bit with one solid hookup I decided to switch over to nymphing.As I unwound my nymph leader I got in a hurry and created a royal mess.The 10 second rule took over and I had to scrap the whole leader.Looking through my fanny pack I realized that I left a major component of my rigging back in the truck so I decided to use my tapered 5x dry fly leader.This worked ok at first until I hooked into a hot fish that promptly broke me off.After retieing again another fish broke me off.By this point I was hot under the collar but it didn't matter as my cutoff time had come.I had to start for home .The lesson I learned (that I already know) is be prepared for any kind of fishing condition that you may come across.I was unprepared and paid the price!The drive back to California was uneventful and became routine after leaving the beauty of Montana behind.I know I will visit there again someday and I hope it is sooner rather than later!
I need to say a quick thanks to the wonderful people at Simms Fishing Products for their continued support of fly fishing professionals and for the great products that they produce!Thanks Simms!!