Chasing salmon flies

Traveled to Montana to meet up with Wayne and Swimmy for some trout fishing using salmon fly (large adult stone fly) imitations. This is what the natural looks like:



A little closer look:

 

[Salmo_g]

I have one fly box containing only salmon fly patterns:




This one is my current favorite:

 

[Salmo_g]

We fished the Madison River.

 

[Salmo_g]

We saw one to three adult salmon flies each day from June 26 - 30. Fishing was slow as a result. But we found a few trout looking up and willing to take an artificial salmon fly:

 

[Salmo_g]

Then on Saturday, July 1, we saw more salmon flies in our first hour on the river than I had seen in total the previous 5 days. Fishing improved.



Swimmy sends his regards to everyone as he takes an umbrella break from the hot sun:



As he often does, Swimmy takes a little time trying to set up a perfect landscape photo:

 

[mcswny]

looks like a great time @Salmo_g

 

[JACKspASS]

Awesome! Hi @swimmy

 

[skyriver]

Good to see @swimmy And glad to see I'm not the only one throwing a frame on a Striker.

And @Salmo_g I too have a box dedicated to salmon flies. I haven't used it for a few years. I better fix that next season! Nice report.

 

[MGM]

Thank You ! Enjoyed that, brought back memories. That can be a difficult hatch to find the sweet spot, but when you do... hogs to the trough.

 

[Buzzy]

Nice report and pics. Thanks for sharing. Nice to see pictures of @_WW_ and @swimmy, is that you as the headless angler?

 

[Salmo_g]

is that you as the headless angler?

Yeah, and that damn Swimmy is supposed to be a good photographer!

If I can remember how to move photos from my phone to my computer I may add a couple more pictures.

 

[Yard Sale]

I've never done fuck all on those big gaudy foam patterns. I imagine they do great the first hour or two but after that the more natural stimi style patterns always worked better for me.

Looks like dang nice floating water and conditions!

 

[Long_Rod_Silvers]

Awesome photos! That picture of @swimmy with the umbrella cracks me up.

 

[Rob Allen]

Great report..

I am on the Madison now.. fishing is pretty slow. Afternoon rain storms are killing the salmonfly hatch. They emerge just get flying then a storm rolls in. Lots of Caddis hatching and a few fish will eat them, just not the usual hot and heavy July action

 

[MT_Flyfisher]

Am I the only person to really miss Swimmy on this site? Thanks for the report and pictures, @Salmo_g

 

[skyriver]

Am I the only person to really miss Swimmy on this site? Thanks for the report and pictures, @Salmo_g

Our collective fashion sense has probably declined without him around.

 

[Rob Allen]

Am I the only person to really miss Swimmy on this site? Thanks for the report and pictures, @Salmo_g

No, you're not the only one.

 

[Pink Nighty]

No, you're not the only one.

Can confirm

 

[mcswny]

Can confirm

 

[Long_Rod_Silvers]

Am I the only person to really miss Swimmy on this site? Thanks for the report and pictures, @Salmo_g

I miss his trip reports. Awesome photos. And damn that guy can catch some trout.