October

ONE...

During the winter I'm lucky to be invited to Wiemerslage's Salon, a gathering of really bright folks called together by the host (Weimerslage) to discuss a fishing topic of his choice. Last year's topic was leaders and was chosen because the host spent a lot of time in the off-season reading about and digesting leaders theories and advice. The guests get together to discuss the topic and verify for the host whether the theories and advice have merit or are bogus. During last year's discussion one enlightened individual opined that one could probably fish an entire trout season with a 7 1/2' 4X leader and a few tippet spools to adjust the leader for various flies, tactics and conditions. As you might imagine, the poor soul was soundly derided for his visionary pronouncement.

You may read the exciting conclusion in Mike's Musings.

TWO...

So many tiers report having problems with hackle of all shapes and sizes that we've scheduled a one-night tying class on the subject. Solving Hackle on Thursday, October 30 will cover everything from beard and collar hackle to parchute hackle and everything in between. Hackle twisting? Having trouble tying off? Call us and we'll get you into this very cool two hour class.

THREE...

Whaddya do now that thetrout season is over? For those of you who just aren't ready to quit here are two adventures you can still schedule. If you're flexible enough to travel in October, Tracy Peterson is guiding on the Big Horn until Oct. 15th and Mark Bolton will be guiding on the Yellowstone through the end of the month. Both of these guys are first rate and will show you a grand time. Closer to home, Larry Mann and Wendy Williaamson guide for smallmouth and muskies out of their shop in Hayward. And as the smallmouth action slows, the musky action heats up right through November. Now whaddya say?

Included below is another installment in Louie's essay. As I get time I'll continue to add to it. You'll find earlier installments in the Musings file.

                                      Two Roads to Heaven

                                             Lou Lavoie

                                           The North Road, Part I

One can drive from Minneapolis to Fort Smith on the Big Horn River in 13 hours elapsed time including two stops for gas/food. It is I-94 all the way except for two short legs in Montana and even there the roads are excellent and have 75 mpr posted speed limits. In my younger days, before turning 65, I have many times left the Twin Cities at 4 a.m. and was fishing at Three-Mile by 4 p.m. Remember, you gain an hour going west. On the other hand, in my geezerhood I now start later and stop overnight exactly halfway at the Motel 6 in Bismarck, North Dakota. The rates there are about $30 per night. Relax and enjoy.

There are lots of places to stay on the Horn but most tend to be a bit more expensive than the Bismarck Motel 6. If you want to stay in Hardin and maybe scoot 14 miles over to the Bighorn Battlefield (plan three or four hours minimum for the battlefield visit) the most reasonable place I’ve found is the Lariat Motel. Coming into town from the north on route 47 take the first left after crossing the I-90 and in less than a mile you’ll see it on the left. Immediately on your right after crossing I-90 you’ll find a good fly shop way back behind the gas station. You can stay in Hardin, but it’s a little inefficient to go back and forth to the good fishing 30 or 40 miles upstream. Here are two very important things to know at this point in your journey: 1) buy your booze, wine, beer, etc. in Hardin, because the rest of the way is on the Crow Indian Reservation and alcohol sales are forbidden, 2) don’t worry about passing up the fly shop in Hardin because there are several in beautiful downtown Fort Smith.

For the hardy, adventuresome  and/or budget conscious there are two campgrounds in Fort Smith that I know of. I’ve tried and like both. One is a short distance beyond town, less than a mile, on government property. For a small fee you can tent or trailer camp. Water, picnic tables and pit toilets are provided for your camping pleasure and all 20 or so sites are on gravel. It is less than a mile from the Afterbay put-in or, if you want to try “still water” fishing you can walk a couple of hundred feet to the After Bay itself. I’ve fished it only a few times with no luck but the guides tell me it holds trout. Don’t miss the short drive up to Yellowtail itself which is two miles up-stream from Afterbay. At 525 feet it is not that much smaller than Hoover Dam and when the visitor’s center is open there is a wonderful view of its face. On the way down you get a very nice view of Afterbay and the river below it.

The other camp is three miles before you reach beautiful downtown Fort Smith. Cottonwood Camp is a private campground on the same side road that leads to the Three Mile Access. I rather prefer it for its grass and large cottonwood shade trees. There are tables, water, fire circles and toilet facilities; just like Heaven. One may also rent small cabins there. The folks who run the place are almost as nice as their wonderful dog. By the way, it’s within walking distance of Three Mile about which more later.

Several of the fly shops in town rent rooms and some even provide meals – all pretty basic and in my view a tad over-priced. There is also a grocery store, also pretty basic. As for a café, there are a couple which open and close periodically, so you’ll just have to wait and see.

There are several fishing/hunting lodges in the area, some pricey. The only one I’ve stayed at is the Kingfisher Lodge at the Big Country Outfitters. It’s closer to Three Mile than Cottonwood Camp and a sinfully short walk to the water, a quarter mile. It’s on the same side road as Cottonwood and the put-in. It’s a nice place, but more than a hundred a night, although it does include breakfast and supper. Supper is great fun in the lodge sharing the table with other anglers. Of course you can get a guide at any lodge or fly shop. The Horn is the only river I’ve hired a guide on more than once (I lie, I’ve also repeated on the Frying Pan). My fishing log indicates I do better with a guide but I think that is only because he has a boat. As for tubes, boats, etc., the Horn is normally so docile you won’t have a worry, just do your homework before you launch.