Understanding the fish gods' plan

I was all excited to fish Hebgen gulpers, but the fish gods had another plan for me. Got there early, they gulped sporadically on tricos til about 9:30, then the wind and rain came and the fish retreated. I checked in at Blue Ribbon Flies and was told today, there would be no gulping, for it was windy.

Instead, I was told to make the pilgrimage to Three Dollar Bridge on the upper Madison, where fish are plentiful enough to feed the multitude. It was good - actually fished a baetis hatch in August. There is a time for every hatch under heaven (baetis isn't usually August though). Caught a couple in the 17- to 18-inch range on a Sparkle Dun. Also got the Clouser to work, but not on big fish.

While I'm all about fishing new and/or small water, it was kind of nice to fish big, easy water. No hiking necessary and good fishing (almost) guaranteed.
Saturday we floated the lower Madison. Can't beat floating under the sun, drinking beer, catching lots of fi... - oh wait. We maybe boated three 8-inch trout, all on streamers, all by Jake. There were rises and chases, but few.
Why, fish gods, have you forsaken me?
Alas, we must have faith, for skunks are the devil's work.

Go in peace, catch some fish.

The Bridges of Madison County: How Now Brown Clouser?

Remember that guy on the Ruby River who sued the state over its stream access law in 2004? We fished the river on his property on Friday. There aren't even any 'no trespassing' signs, nor are there any fences crossing the river. Maybe he's come around...
The streamer bite was good, but the surface bite was tough - only small fish here and there on Humpies and Chernobyls. It helped that that stretch was flowing at 83 cfs, courtesy of irrigation.
It felt good to fish the property of the old curmudgeon who wants to take that right away.

Don't let the man keep you out.

Bighorn Creek

Finally got some pics from "Bighorn Creek" and permission to post them. In three outings over about 10 days, three guys landed 11 brown trout over 20 inches. These photos have not been altered in anyway.