Speyeye
After too many weeks of excuses due to cold weather, youth hockey games, honey dos and life’s details, I just needed to get on the water. Sam Wike from the Big R Fly Shop had recently hired Justin Olson from Reno to come out and work in Montana. Sam texted me late on Monday night; “Are you fishing tomorrow?” Apparently, Justin was available and needed to visit his new home water. I decided that yes, I am fishing tomorrow, even though my thermometer still registered single digits. I’m not a wimp when it comes to cold weather fishing; I just hate it when my line freezes constantly. At some point though, you just have to suck it up and go or you might be waiting until spring.
I picked up Justin at about 9:30 and we drove south up the Missouri. It was a balmy 22 degrees when we got to Craig, so maybe the deep freeze was lifting. We got on the water a little before 11 after stopping at Headhunters to get the fishing report. Mark Raisler suggested we nymph pink stuff (a Missouri River curiosity that is very effective) like Czech Nymphs and Lightning Bugs, but we wanted to throw streamers. Last year at the same time, I had fantastic action fishing slow water with a variety of strip leeches. Justin showed up with an impressive group of big streamers and tales of huge Nevada Cutthroat and Browns. He rigged up a shooting head and I decided to swing with a 6wt Spey and floating line.
When it’s really cold, fishing the spey rod is nice, because on the swing, you can alternate a hand in either pocket. I like to swing from moderate current into almost dead water and then retrieve about half the cast back in. I had a quick tight line grab on the swing and then hooked a rainbow on the retrieve. I was fishing a white bunny leech that I have found effective for fewer but often larger fish than the darker colors. After a few more swings, I had a solid grab and was expecting a golden flanked brown trout. Instead, I soon found myself staring into the crystalline marbled eye of a very fat walleye. Staring into that eye really took me back. I can remember how those eyes seemed to glow with a wild consciousness, that captivated me as a young boy fishing Boulder Lake in northern Wisconsin.
There is a debate going on right now about Walleye below Holter Dam. Recently, the Montana FW&P Commission set a “no limit” regulation on walleye from Holter Dam to Cascade Bridge and a “20 daily/40 in possession” limit from Cascade Bridge to Black Eagle Dam. These regulations were the result of a growing concern from trout anglers that the walleye population is rising and could impact the trout population. I heard from two FW&P Biologists at a recent Missouri River Fly Fishers meeting on the subject. Their data, though not conclusive, suggests that the walleye population is modest and increases and decreases with water volume along the same lines as the trout. {“0………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….” Quote from my spoiled cat O’Malley who wants some salmon.} They do not feel there is a big concern at the present time and the new regs are an overreaction. From a few radio tagged fish, it is notable that some walleye move up to Holter Dam in the winter, but after spawning, they move downstream and spend the bulk of the season below Cascade. Walleye are not native to Montana and thought to have been illegally planted in Canyon Ferry (upstream). I don’t believe in “Bucket Biology”, but the current fishery is now solid and enhanced. As there will always be some fish carried over the dams, they are likely here to stay. My motto is “Any fish, anytime, on the fly.”, so I hope to hook a few more. I might even fry one up. It’s been a long time.
