MOctober Pt.1

The fog is just breaking, and I'm driving past rings of the rise from camp at the bridge all the way to Craig.  The truck thermometer fluctuates between 29 and 33. I carefully climb over the ladder and down the frosty trail to the maze of little islands and side channels below. Wading is easy at this great, remarkable low flow of 2,600 cfs. The fog burns off to a warm bright sunny sky. The sun already feels like a heat lamp. There's not a hint of a breeze.

The first channel is super low, most of the weeds are gone, and it's smooth as glass except for a couple of rings down low. There's fish making wakes at the top where the river comes in. I just know its going to be right.

I don't make it out of that first run until early afternoon.  There's fish all over it, dozens of them, all pigs.  The mouth of this channel has a pod of about 20, near as I can count.  Loaded.

I finally make my way down to the next little side channel.  At the top where the riffle curves into the slick, a pod of 10 or so fish boil and slurp the afternoon baetis. 125 ft. down the slick, another pod of 10 make the slick look like a riffle. It eventually becomes one of those "know when to say when" days.  Classic.  Epic.  October dreamy.

Loaded and ready

I saw this one waking around in ankle deep water

This skinny water holds fish this time of year.

Montana steelhead

From below

The black Adams is a clear winner in the glare.  

A pod at the top, and a pod at the bottom.

The Almost Dun, always a winner here in the fall.  Suprisingly visible as the sun lights up the packing foam wing even in a bright glare.

Heads in a pod.  Shooting fish in a barrel.

My October tree, shot from across the river.

The age-old iconic view I'll never get tired of.  Goose bumps.

So many advantages to the low water.  It could be years before I see it this low again.

Water temp in the 50's, on a steady decline.  This is likely the peak of perfection, not too warm, not too cold.  Active fish all day.  Just right.