A few years ago I did a tuna trip out of Westport. I was surprised to see US highway 12. Sure enough it is the same highway that goes through my hometown of Litchfield, MN. That put a road trip idea in my head. Well, things came together - I needed to visit family this year, I needed to show my family this van I have been going on and on about the last few years and it just so happened some classmates decided to have a 40 year reunion.
I didn't backtrack to Westport, but did drive 1400+ miles of hwy 12 from just west of Walla Walla to the Darwin Rod and Gun Club - the reunion location
. The return trip was a more southern route that I thought would give some good fishing opps. This map shows the main route.
This is the final trip odometer - actual miles was about 3788 as I put bigger tires and have not calibrated the odometer.
Before I got to 12, I made a stop to try to add a new species to the list. It took a while to find the target species, but I did see some sunfish and spent some time fishing for those to see if I could add a redear. No such luck, but it has been about 30 years since I held either one of these.
Finally found the target species and got an eat on the first cast. I guess I had a beat up leader and broke it off trying to keep it out of the weeds. Also broke off a PB SMB the same way - ugh. Didn't have another leader but finally found a fish (or 4) in more open water and didn't need to put the screws to it quite as hard. It was a good fish - about 27 inch fork length.
Got a late start to the day and spent a lot of time chasing capr so didn't get to my target destination before it was time to find a place to sleep. Ended up a couple miles up Smith Creek Rd.
Up early the next morning and fished the first good looking water I found on the Lochsa. Was fishing a dry and nothing was happening. I know nothing about this fishery so didn't spend too much time in that spot.
Was stopping at various pullouts to take pics as I worked my way upstream - beautiful river.
I went down a short river access road and parked thinking I would just take more pics. Got my first look at the water and turned around to retrieve a rod. Has to be fish in there!
Landed 5 cutts. Only took a pic of the first. Last one was a little bigger and actually put a good bend in the rod.
Fished a couple more spots but couldn't find any more fish willing to rise to a dry. I either suck at fishing the fast pocket water or it doesn't hold fish in this river.
On to Montana. I have only fishing in MT one time - Glacier NP. I didn't plan any stops. Just figured I would wing it. When I saw signs for Rock Creek, I figured I had to stop. Drove up a ways before I stopped to fish. Saw these sheep along the way.
Most access points had vehicles in them. Finally stopped at a rather shallow fast section but did manage a couple micro browns and a small bow from various pockets behind rocks and along the bank. Definitely the smallest brown I have ever caught.
On to Helena
and some very lonely areas in eastern MT. Biggest herd of elk I have ever seen - counted around 140 - just west of Spring Creek campground.
By the time I got there it was pretty late. I did see a bull moose on the drive in but he spooked right away.
Looked around a bit past the campground in the morning before heading back out. It was a nice area. Saw this just off the road. Not sure what kind of critter it was
Some interesting rock formations on the road out.
Stopped to say hi to these guys just before getting back on Hwy 12.
Thanks MT for posting fishing access signs. I stopped at Selkirk on the Musselshell but the storms that rolled through the night before had it high and milky. Only made a couple casts.
This one, on the other hand occupied a good bit of my time. 2 more caprs!
This is traffic in eastern Montana
I didn't backtrack to Westport, but did drive 1400+ miles of hwy 12 from just west of Walla Walla to the Darwin Rod and Gun Club - the reunion location
. The return trip was a more southern route that I thought would give some good fishing opps. This map shows the main route.This is the final trip odometer - actual miles was about 3788 as I put bigger tires and have not calibrated the odometer.
Before I got to 12, I made a stop to try to add a new species to the list. It took a while to find the target species, but I did see some sunfish and spent some time fishing for those to see if I could add a redear. No such luck, but it has been about 30 years since I held either one of these.
Finally found the target species and got an eat on the first cast. I guess I had a beat up leader and broke it off trying to keep it out of the weeds. Also broke off a PB SMB the same way - ugh. Didn't have another leader but finally found a fish (or 4) in more open water and didn't need to put the screws to it quite as hard. It was a good fish - about 27 inch fork length.
Got a late start to the day and spent a lot of time chasing capr so didn't get to my target destination before it was time to find a place to sleep. Ended up a couple miles up Smith Creek Rd.
Up early the next morning and fished the first good looking water I found on the Lochsa. Was fishing a dry and nothing was happening. I know nothing about this fishery so didn't spend too much time in that spot.
Was stopping at various pullouts to take pics as I worked my way upstream - beautiful river.
I went down a short river access road and parked thinking I would just take more pics. Got my first look at the water and turned around to retrieve a rod. Has to be fish in there!
Landed 5 cutts. Only took a pic of the first. Last one was a little bigger and actually put a good bend in the rod.
Fished a couple more spots but couldn't find any more fish willing to rise to a dry. I either suck at fishing the fast pocket water or it doesn't hold fish in this river.
On to Montana. I have only fishing in MT one time - Glacier NP. I didn't plan any stops. Just figured I would wing it. When I saw signs for Rock Creek, I figured I had to stop. Drove up a ways before I stopped to fish. Saw these sheep along the way.
Most access points had vehicles in them. Finally stopped at a rather shallow fast section but did manage a couple micro browns and a small bow from various pockets behind rocks and along the bank. Definitely the smallest brown I have ever caught.
On to Helena
and some very lonely areas in eastern MT. Biggest herd of elk I have ever seen - counted around 140 - just west of Spring Creek campground.
By the time I got there it was pretty late. I did see a bull moose on the drive in but he spooked right away.
Looked around a bit past the campground in the morning before heading back out. It was a nice area. Saw this just off the road. Not sure what kind of critter it was
Some interesting rock formations on the road out.
Stopped to say hi to these guys just before getting back on Hwy 12.
Thanks MT for posting fishing access signs. I stopped at Selkirk on the Musselshell but the storms that rolled through the night before had it high and milky. Only made a couple casts.
This one, on the other hand occupied a good bit of my time. 2 more caprs!
This is traffic in eastern Montana
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