eddyline
08-04-06, 10:50 AM
Just got back from a family trip to Northern Montana - the Big Fork area -- if anyone is up there be sure to catch Jerimiah Payne (my half brother) and the King of Hearts Band at the Road House or elsewhere "best **** country band around" or so he says - actually, their very good and this from one who is not a country fan.
Anyway - in between hiking trips to Glacier Park and avoiding the fire (really bad - 25,000 acres near St. Mary's as of Tuesday) :eek: , I managed to fish the Swann River near Ferndale and the North Fork of the Flathead about 12 miles or so below Canada. I really needed some of you experts to guide me cause the Swann was a bust. :( The Flathead, however, at least offered spectacular scenery and a couple of bows and a cutthroat off a #6 Orange Stimulator. If you go, there is a forest road north of Columbia Falls (I wasn't driving so I can't be more specific but locals could set you on the right path), drive till you come to Big Creek and then take the first dirt road on the right after crossing the bridge (partially hidden) - it winds down to a beautiful spot and campsite where Big Creek enters. Probably anyone on this list could do a good deal better but it is an awesome spot surrounded by mountains, aspen trees, rocky shoals, some deep holes and eddies -- places like that that will keep me flyfishing and learning for a lifetime.
Anyway - in between hiking trips to Glacier Park and avoiding the fire (really bad - 25,000 acres near St. Mary's as of Tuesday) :eek: , I managed to fish the Swann River near Ferndale and the North Fork of the Flathead about 12 miles or so below Canada. I really needed some of you experts to guide me cause the Swann was a bust. :( The Flathead, however, at least offered spectacular scenery and a couple of bows and a cutthroat off a #6 Orange Stimulator. If you go, there is a forest road north of Columbia Falls (I wasn't driving so I can't be more specific but locals could set you on the right path), drive till you come to Big Creek and then take the first dirt road on the right after crossing the bridge (partially hidden) - it winds down to a beautiful spot and campsite where Big Creek enters. Probably anyone on this list could do a good deal better but it is an awesome spot surrounded by mountains, aspen trees, rocky shoals, some deep holes and eddies -- places like that that will keep me flyfishing and learning for a lifetime.