Troutbirder II

Troutbirder II
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Friday, March 1, 2013

How To Get A New Flyrod!


Step 1 Convince you spouse that a 10 day flyfishing trip to southwestern Montana is a really great idea. This requires special negotiating skills as she doesn't fish and cares even less for mountain roads.

Step 2 Drive 950 miles west on I-90 with the popup camper to Big Timber, Montana. Drive an additional 50 miles south, on a rutted gravel road, into the Beartooth-Absaroka Range, on Mt. 298.

The Boulder River is one of Montana's best blue-ribbon trout streams. It can be tough wading (lot of boulders!) but the rainbows, cutthroats, browns and brookies, in a beautiful stream and valley, make it all worth while.

Step 3 Make sure spouse is looking the other way when you pass the big red & yellow THIS IS GRIZZLY COUNTRY SIGN along the road.

Step 4 Set up your camper at Hicks Park, the last campground on the dead end highway.

Step 5 Fix supper. Take a walk to the Road Closed sign. It's a wilderness designation closed  road south to Cook City. Daring locals still make the illegal trip with 4 wheels, winches and chain saws. I'll stick with fishing.

Step 6 Go to bed. Get up early. Dream of the giant brown & rainbow trout in the Boulder River.  Sleep well. Dress quietly so as not to disturb Mrs. T. Ultralite waders, felt bottomed wading boots, flyvest, sunglasses etc. All set except for one thing.

Step 7 Unlock the topper on pickup for your flyrod. OMG! Where is it???? Panic!!!
Step 8 Return to camper......

Mrs. T:  "What's the matter dear? I thought you were going fishing.

Troutbirder: "Well I was but I can't find err. well maybe I ah.... see the flyrod... um

Mrs. T:  "You didn't? You did. One thousand miles to the middle of nowhere and you forgot to bring your  fishing pole."

Troutbirder:  " I wanna go home..."
Mrs. T "No way. Well go back to town and get you another one."
Later:  Fifty miles back down the rutted road and then a left to Livingston Montana. It's the former residence of famous Troutfisherman Ernest Hemmingway and Dan Bailey's troutshop. It was a tough job picking a new
flyrod out from a fabulous collection but I managed to do it.
Moral of the Story: I married an angel.
 
 

19 comments:

  1. I'd say very sneaky, TB. Except I don't think you'd deliberately forget your fishing pole. So, lucky you married an angel. Beautiful pictures.

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  2. Wow, you definitely married an angel!

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  3. What a great story about a wonderful relationship. And I suppose you caught the best trout ever, right? :-)

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  4. Were you a Boy Scout? Probably not..yes she is an angel that loves you very much..I can tell! What a wonderful trip that must have been..except for the bear sign:)

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  5. You did indeed, troutbirder. You did indeed. Hope you at least caught Mrs. T a good fish dinner.

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  6. You indeed married an angel! You foxy guy you.

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  7. HA HA HA ---My hubby forgot his camera one day when we were in Arkansas and on a trip to take PICTURES.... He was so upset... We weren't too far from our cabin --so luckily, we turned around and went back to get it... YES---I'm an angel too!!!!!!! ha ha ha

    Did you go to Yellowstone -since you were SO close? I would have.

    Betsy

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  8. This is a great story!! Mrs TB is indeed an angel! I hope you caught some good fish with your new rod. What does Mrs TB do while you're fishing?

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  9. I read this to Hubby. Very funny, thanks

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  10. You sure did marry an angel ... I hope she likes trout !

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  11. Great story. You had me "hooked" right to the end.

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  12. You really did marry and angel. I assume Mrs. T is going to get lots of special treatment as a result of this little escapade.

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  13. Got a Bass Pro certificate and can't decide between rod or waders.I saw some nice ultralight waders, any advice?

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  14. Yes, you did marry an angel! I'm wondering what Mr. Shady will be forgetting when we drive north to Canada for a fishing... trip? ;-)

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  15. This is certainly a funny story and the scenery really is terrific except for the yellow bear sign. Nice photos -- barbara

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  16. A sweet, funny story. And, like Barbara, I don't like the bear sign!

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  17. Yes you did! What an adventure!

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  18. Love it! We need more bears.

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