There was a time, about fifty-some years ago, when I was a fair hand with a fly rod. Today my tremor makes it all but impossible to tie on different presentations. My balance (peripheral neuropathy) presents a further problem.

I vividly remember casting into a pool on Rapid Creek near Placerville church camp and setting the hook when I saw a brown trout racing from the depths toward my fly. I also recall crouching down so the trout couldn’t see me along the creek that feeds into Deerfield Lake and taking rainbows, browns, and brookies. There were similar adventures in Spearfish Canyon. I had all but written fly casting off when Tom, my son-in-law, told me of his recent fly casting adventure in Montana’s Glacier National Park.

Tom’s fly fishing adventure took place in the West Glacier area, about a three-and-a-half hour drive north of Missoula. He booked his trip with Glacier Guides Montana Raft, an outfitter he found on the Internet (phone 1-406-300-5421). The outfitter offers this trip from mid-June through September. The 8:30 A.M. to 6:30 P.M. trip cost $550 for two anglers – lunches and all tackle/gear included. Two-day Montana fishing licenses cost an additional $45 apiece. In telling me of their adventure, Tom radiated excitement, and he said he would do it again in a heartbeat.

Tom and Amy, his wife, along with their guide, Cam, drifted an eleven mile stretch of the South Fork of the Flathead River and into the Middle Fork as Cam manned the oars of the McKenzie style drift boat the entire way. Tom described the waters of the Flathead as being “gin clear,” the entire bottom strewn with rocks of every size including boulders. He estimated the current at 2-3 miles per hour. Because of drought conditions, the river was low, but that didn’t affect the quality of the fishing.

These Flathead trout known as “cutbows” were a cutthroatrainbow hybrid. Typical size was ten inches in length, with what Tom described as “big” running twelve inches. They did see occasional 15-16 inch fish, but didn’t catch any of these. While Amy served as trip photographer, Tom caught about a dozen fish while losing four times as many for failure to set the hook. The fishing was strictly catch & release, and the hooks were barbless. The 7’-9’ tippet of Tom’s fly rod was of three-pound test. Tom mentioned that long casts weren’t necessary. Ten foot casts were sufficient with the fly drifting the same speed as the boat.

Tom was deeply impressed with Cam, their guide. Other than being a wealth of knowledge relating to the trout, flora, and fauna, he was absolutely tireless when it came to constantly changing flies – both wet and dry. At times a wet fly “trailer” was used behind dry fly floaters.

Although Tom was more than pleased with the action, I think he felt like he had learned a lot, and that he would do even better the next time he tries this. He talked about his failure to constantly look ahead and watch for rises as trout rose to take insects on the surface.

Other than the fishing, Tom felt that Glacier National Park was spectacular – “his favorite national park” as he put it. He and Amy camped the entire time in a park campground, and spent their days on long hikes as they observed wildlife including moose and grizzly bears. Tom carried a precautionary bear spray repellant.

Tom felt like I could successfully cast flies from the drift boat while seated. Because of my poor balance, I can no longer stand in a boat – a poor practice anytime. Now I’ll be adding a western river trout-fishing float trip to my bucket list and put it on the agenda for next summer.

See you next week.