Fly Fishing Diaries: USA July 2008

9 July 2008 – Sydney to Seattle

Met Peter Hayes in Sydney. We caught United Airlines to San Francisco and then another United flight from San Francisco to Seattle (cost $3997).

From USA July 2008

See the smiles.... that’s because we are 25 minutes into a 14 hour flight!

We stayed at the Warwick Hotel in Seattle. Met Randall Trethewie (who is from Launceston) there, who had flown in separately.

From USA July 2008

Haysie had brought a new rod with him, a beautiful bamboo rod made by Australia’s best bamboo rod maker, Nick Taransky . So he thought he would try it out. It was late and dark and so where else could he practice??

10 July 2008 Seattle

Hayes wakes Zarifeh at 5.05am. Considering we hadn’t got to be until about 12.45am, Zarifeh was not happy.

Breakfast at the Java Dinner on Washington St. Paid $11 and had a massive omelette and hash browns. Coffee was weak, but I liked it.

Caught the 10.40am ferry to Bainbridge Island ($6.70 one way, but you only pay one way and get a free return trip). We went to the Sage factory and met the guys there and tried a few rods. They were very hospitable and generous with their time. They even took us out for a Thai lunch. Caught the 3.50pm ferry home.

From USA July 2008

Peter and Jerry Siem

From USA July 2008

We flew out that night to Bozeman Montana at 8.25pm, arriving there are 11pm. We met Chuck Ravetta there (he was one of Matt Howell’s mates) and we then drove 2 hours to his place at Hebgen Lake. In bed by 3am.

11 July – Lake Hebgen, Montana

Up at 7am, mucked around in town getting fishing licences, having a feed, site seeing, buying t shirt, looking at fly fishing shops. Didn’t get on the water until 4pm. We drifted the Madison with Chuck in his raft. Did 8 miles. Caught about 10 or 12 between us.

Zarifeh and Ravetta

Gearing UP

From USA July 2008

I fell into the water at one stage getting back into the raft! Didn’t that give Chuck and Haysie something to laugh about!!! We finished the drift at 10pm. It was really cold at that stage! Glad the heater in the car worked on the way back to Chuck’s place.

Chuck's Place

From USA July 2008

12 July – Lake Hebgen Montana

Fished Grayling Creek today with Chuck. Randall and Haysie went into West Yellowstone Park. Not sure why they called it that....never caught a grayling!

From USA July 2008

Chuck on Grayling Creek

From USA July 2008

13 July – Lake Hebgen to Jackson Hole Wyoming to Idaho Falls Idaho

Outside Jack Dennis’ store in Jackson Hole Wyoming

From USA July 2008

We then drove on to Idaho Falls. We were too late to get into a flash steak place for dinner so we ended up eating at Denny’s. Not the best tucker in town I am sure. We stayed at the Hilton Garden Hotel for $140 per night for a double room.

From USA July 2008

We went through the Tetons on the way

From USA July 2008

I had just seen 5 topless girls swimming... and I was 3 seconds away from letting Haysie know. I have decided that I should not show you the next couple of photos.... they involve awful sunburns on various body parts.

From USA July 2008

14 July – Idaho Falls, Idaho

Visited the Hyde Drift boat factory today and then went out fishing with Lamoyne Hyde (the owner) and his son Matt on the South Fork of the Snake River. Awesome day.

Matt Hyde

From USA July 2008

Me, the two Hydes and Randall

From USA July 2008

We then drove to Dillon Montana. Got there about 9.30pm. We stayed at the Dillon Comfort Inn just out of town. Once again Haysie and I shared a room, $120 per night for both of us.

We kept the record in tact............ as we weren’t in bed before midnight. We actually went the hole trip without going to bed on the correct day!

15 July – Dillon Montana to McCoy’s Creek to Twin Bridges to Wise River Montana

We went to McCoy’s Creek today as Peter wanted to see how a man made spring creek operation was run. They charged $120 a day for an angler to fish a certain beat.

McCoy's Creek

From USA July 2008

Then we took off and went to Twin Bridges to have a look at the Winston Factory.

From USA July 2008

We also checked out the Sweetgrass Bamboo rod making factory in Twin Bridges.

Off again to Wise River. I got to drive for this stretch as the boys were tired. The road we took was really pretty and I enjoyed the quiet drive. We stopped in to say hello to Chuck at the Big Hole Lodge which is on the Wise River

Afternoon beers at the Big Hole Lodge (where Chuck works as a guide) on Wise River.

From USA July 2008

We stayed the night at the Wise River Bar – got your own room for $30.

16 July – Wise River Montana

Randall and I floated the Big Horn River today with a guide Matt that works with Chuck. We caught about 15 between us, just about all on stimulator dries. A good day. We paid him $400 for his superb efforts!

From USA July 2008

Matt putting the boat in, Randall getting ready.

From USA July 2008

Waiting for the big one!

From USA July 2008

Haysie fished with Chuck for the day. It seems they had plenty of fun and caught a few fish!

17 July - Wise River

Randall rigging up at the Big Hole Lodge (where Chuck guides) on the Wise River. Haysie and Randall fished the Wise River.

Walking home

The menu at the Wise River Club!

Chuck, yours truly, Haysie and Randall having a laugh (well Haysie, Randall and I are.. Ravetta is eating.)

18 July - Bitteroot River

Haysie's first grayling

My first grayling, and my first fish on a bamboo rod!

Breakfast at Wisdom, on the way to the Bitterroot, just an average sized serve.

The boys

Chuck, Haysie and Randall fished together today. I fished up the Bitterroot by myself. Had a good time, caught a few too.

Caught by the main road.

Haysie and Chuck having a pow-wow (looks like my language assimilation classes were finally paying off).

20 July - Darby Montana

Chuck had organised us some accommodation on Highway 93 between Conner and Darby. A really nice spot.

The local poison.

Just your average main gate.

22 July - Whitefish Montana

We had driven up through Missoula to Kalispell to Whitefish.

Site of the 2008 FFF Conclave.... Whitefish high school.

Our accommodation for the Whitefish conclave, the Whitefish Mountain Resort.

23 July 2008

The day I did my FFF Master Certified Casting Instructors test... and Passed! One of 6 that tested. To read more about my Masters test go here. Here is a copy of an email I sent to all my friends that night:

Two of my examiners, Molly Semenik, and John Breslin (who is on the Board of Governors). The other examiner was Rod McGarry who took the photo.)

First - apologies for the generic email, but I would like to plead extenuating circumstances... I am sitting in a car on my mate Peter's laptop getting free internet connection from a lodge in our complex as our lodge doesnt have internet connection. Its 11pm at night, I am in Whitefish, elevation 5500 feet and its quite warm out, in fact it was raining before.

I just wanted to pass on some good news, I passed my FFF Masters test today, which you will know that I have been practicing for quite extensively for the last few months. I was tested by 3 people and the test went for just under 5 hours. I thought the test was challenging but ok, if you had done the work. I made every cast that I had to do in the performance component on the first go and all the testers were pretty happy with that, except I had to redo one a couple of times - which I found out after the test it was because they were impressed with my 'hovering skills' - (don't worry about for all you people who arent fly casters) on the accuracy part of the test and they wanted to see it again. I should add that I was bloody wrapped with how smoothly the casting went but didnt want to convey that too much in the test - wanted it to seem like i cast like that every day :-)

Its been a great day - and I will say this for the yanks, if you achieve something they will all congratulate you and give you a pat on the back. I had people coming up to me all night saying well done (we had a FFF organised dinner on tonight - and thats why i saw all of them). As you can imagine I felt proud of my effort and even more so a little later on in the night when I found out that of the 5 people that sat the masters test only one passed.... some little aussie battler just having a go :-)

Anyway i thought you would like to know my news. Otherwise have been having a great time - the yanks are hospitable and the place is a scenic delight - and one serve of eggs and bacon for breakfast would feed half of ethiopia for a week ... and all for $4.75 - unreal.. no wonder they are massive.

Catch up with you when i get back.

It really was a special day for me.

24 July to 27 July - Whitefish Montana

A couple of the awesome FFF girls, Barbara on the left and Angela on the right. I actually think Ang is squeezing Barb's butt in this shot... but I am not 100% sure.

Haysie watching Al Buhr

Randall smiling as he had just bought an Orvis Helios and reel from the store below:

Proud new owner of a Helios

Casting with the tip of the rod... for some fun

Molly Semenik (left) and Denise Maxwell. Molly was one of the FFF MCIs that conducted my test.

Bruce Richards of Scientific Angler fame

This sign says it all!

28 July - Baltimore

Haysie and I flew to Baltimore this morning and visited Lefty Kreh. Lefty was kind enough to pick us up at the airport. What a great bloke he is, always telling jokes and having a laugh. He has forgotten more about fly fishing than I will ever know. But I can aspire to own as much gear as he has!