[SAGE]

Just returned form my Moms place in NW Montana. River fishing was a bit slow with the water levels low. Walked 3.5 mile two days with allot of smaller fish out of some of the deeper holes, but couldn’t manage to pick off and big ones from under the log jams. Did see some monsters tho.
Weather was killer with temps nearing the 80’s during the day and 30-40 at night. We started to see the effects of the local fires and things got hazy ( one night we watched one fire flare up on a hillside 10 miles away with flames reaching 200ft + in the air….crazy )
Things really changed when we decided to give one of our favorite local alpine lakes a try and ended up having all of the 136 acher lake to ourselves from 9-5. Fishing was the best I have every seen it. Sight fished 18-22 “ Rainbows, Cuts & hybrids from shore and the drift boat all day. Every thing hit dry flies without hesitation ( a #10 mosquitoes and Hoppers with 9’ tapered leader with 18” of 3-4lb floro tippet with a 4wt 9’ sage ) and it was wide open all day. Lake temp was mid to low 50’s with 60ft of viz in the water,at a 5000ft elevation.
Saw a few 28-30” fish that I couldn’t get…..blue ribbon fishing at it’s best
Side note: found a 6 point white tail rack ( he’s 7x7 this year : ) and a mountain lion shit the size of my arm !!! Had to be some kind of a record , almost kept it .
Another epic Montana trip.