Twin Bridges, Montana

Monday, March 23: Arrived in Twin Bridges yesterday afternoon via Wisdom, MT. Lots of snow there and also along most of the Big Hole River's length (the Big Hole River is the one Lewis and Clark ventured up first before deciding that the Beaverhead--marginally to the east-- was a better route--they climbed the high bluff to the left side of the photo above to make this determination). It is definitely late winter here, not early spring. Monday dawned gray and frosted-looking with a powder coat of snow everywhere on everything. With dim prospects for fishing we donned all of our cold weather clothing and ventured upriver with our assigned guide, Frank Kneeshaw, of 4 Rivers Fishing Company. Our first piece of luck was that the wind was not blowing, making mid-30's feel just fine. The second piece was a hooked and boated brown trout within the first half hour of fishing. Lastly, it turned out to be a gorgeous stretch of streamer fishing water with more cooperative trout than Rick and I have seen in some time. A great day on the water. Hooked lots of fish, stayed toasty warm (despite a high south of 40) and enjoyed the company of an excellent Big Hole River guide in Frank.

Tuesday, March 24: Another cold day, definitely colder than yesterday. 19 degrees at 7am and only mildly warmer by the time we got to the river, one float upstream from yesterday (again on the Big Hole). The guides on our fly rods were icing up for the first few hours, even when we were convinced the temperature was above freezing. It turned out to be another glorious day of trout fishing. We boated at least as many fish as yesterday, including two browns over 20". It would not be a gross overstatement to say that this was the best two days of trout fishing we have enjoyed in a very long time, perhaps ever. We are both in love with this part of Montana and had a great time with Frank. We hope to fish with him again.