Day Eight: O'Hair's Spring Creek with Marcus

Most people who have fly fished in Montana would agree that the spring creeks in Livingston are the most difficult challenge you can find.  Today we decided to finish our fly fishing trip on O'Hair's Ranch and the fishing was as difficult as I've ever seen it.  The skies were mostly clear (though by 4:00PM we were about to get dumped on) and the wind was not a problem.  However, the fish were picky beyond description.

At one point we "chummed" the water with live grasshoppers.  The trout turned their noses up at them.  So I ask you how can my imitation hopper with a less than perfect drift hope to compete with a perfect natural?   I think the answer is...it can't.

Jon was able to take a couple of fish and hooked up several other times.  I think that separates him from 95% of the anglers who venture forth onto these hallowed waters.  It is just very, very difficult fishing and though I would have liked to finish our trip up with a banner day, I think Jon now appreciates how difficult spring creeks can be.  It really takes a PhD in fly fishing to score on these creeks and the boy done good.  I'm proud of how well he fished here.

So, with lightning flashing and a T-storm barreling across Paradise Valley, we barely made it into the car before the skies dumped on us.  We pointed the old Toyota east and set out for our 120 miles drive to Billings.

Tomorrow we'll fly to Denver and then to Atlanta.  We've had a great trip, seen a million interesting sights, had some great fishing and a wonderful; time together...I couldn't have asked for a better time.