Monday September 14,
2015 Day 48 Gallatin N.F. Baker’s Hole Campground, site 31, 4th
day
This is our last day at Baker’s Hole, and the last day in
the Yellowstone area. We will start
making our way home tomorrow.
Low 30’s this morning.
Had coffee and breakfast in the electrically heated Oliver. After killing some time with a leisurely morning,
we headed to the West Yellowstone Town Park again to work on our blogs and try
to catch up. Went back to the trailer after
a chilling hour at the park’s picnic table (ever try typing with gloves
on?)
Marsha made some hot chili to warm us up. After lunch, I had to go fishing because it
was my last day to do so. I didn’t feel
like taking the 45 minute drive to my Madison spot and then walk for 30
minutes, so I decided to stay closer. I
didn’t have a park license so that was out and I had to fish in Montana because
I had one day left. So I chose to go
north on US-191 towards Bozeman and Big Sky and try the Gallatin River. 191 follows the Gallatin River almost all the
way to Bozeman. 191 also enters a corner
of the park and then comes out when it crosses back into the Gallatin National
Forrest. So I had to drive beyond the
Yellowstone Park boundary to legally fish.
Not long after leaving the Park, you come to Taylor Fork
Road. It follows Taylor Fork, a major
tributary creek to the Gallatin River.
Years ago, maybe 15, I have fished it (successfully for small
cutthroats) on two occasions and had a great time. So I drove up this unimproved bumpy mountain
road for a few miles and found a spot that looked good. I got nothing. Here’s some excuses: it was very windy, very cold, overcast,
sprinkling rain, etc. It wasn’t
enjoyable. I killed about one hour
there.
 |
| Taylor Fork upstream. |
 |
| Taylor Fork downstream. |
Drove back down the bumpy road to 191 and pulled off at a
two-track leading to the Gallatin. I figured
it must come to the confluence of the Taylor Fork and the Gallatin and it
did. The Gallatin was flowing along the
base of a rock cliff in a high gradient resulting in rapids (I don’t know what
class, I don’t kayak). I tried nymphing
along that section with no luck. I
killed about an hour here, too. Was not
enjoying myself on this gloomy day.
 |
| Gallatin looking upstream. |
 |
| Gallatin looking downstream. |
I had redeemed myself on the Madison yesterday and it really
wasn’t necessary that I keep trying. So
I drove the half hour back to the campsite.
After a two hot dog dinner, an older couple stopped by our trailer to
look at it. They were tent campers and
admitted they couldn’t afford our trailer, but wanted to see it. They are considering a smaller Casita or
Scamp. So they didn’t talk long about
the trailer, but got into fly fishing talk big time. Him and his wife, George and Judy. But she changed over to talking to Marsha
about quilting.
George grabbed me and we walked backed to his campsite and
he handed me a 9 ft. 5 wt. Scott rod. It
is a premium rod made in Colorado where they were from. I never casted a Scott. It was awesome. I casted it better than George did. He walked me down to the river to show me how
he successfully landed 20” fish at the river right outside his campsite. He used soft hackle flies quartered and
drifted down. Some of the fly shops
mentioned the use of soft hackles, but I have never used them with any
success. He showed me how to do it and
handed the rod to me, coaching me every step of the way like a guide. I had three hookups in about ½ hour, but didn’t
have them on for more than a few seconds.
I jerked the rod when I felt the strike out of instinct and this pulls
the fly right out of their mouth. You
have to let them take it and then run.
But the bottom line is, I learned a new technique, a successful technique
for these big fish, and something to look forward to for next year. It was getting dark and we left the water.
Since it was our last night, I will have to wait until next
year to try what George taught me.
Packed up and got ready to leave early in the morning. |
| Marsha making that scarf while I fish. |
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