Date: Friday, July 2, 1993
Time: 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Species: Browns, Rainbows
Armstrong’s Spring Creek
Water Temp/Time: 52º/10:00 Air Temp/Time:

Peak Activity for this day: 11:00 – 1:00 and 3:00 – 4:00

Unbelievable! Like fishing in an aquarium, or maybe a fish hatchery. With invaluable assistance from guide Rodney Campbell, start out fishing tiny (#18) pheasant tail emergers, and actually have some success! Tiny bit of split shot, with strike indicator, 6x tippett – first fish in Montana is a nice 14” brown. The whole scene is quite different – the little old lady who owns the ranch lets us on even though there’s been some mix-up with destinations – our neighbours at the Chico Inn aren’t so lucky – she runs ‘em off! There are about a dozen fishermen on about a mile of creek, but it doesn’t seem to matter. When the hatch starts, it’s absolutely nuts – fish literally everywhere, and good ones at that. Switch to PMD surface emerger, with more action, then to #18 PMD sparkle duns. Very touch fish to fool, end up actually using 7x tippett at one stage. Weather starts out calm, overcast and warm – various thunderstorms during the day. I invite Rod to fish, and he lands some nice fish, earlier on with my 5 wt. and late with his 2 wt., 7x tippett, lands big old 18” brown. I end up something like 10 for ? (many) – (Rod about the same, but bigger fish) – fish are in 12 – 15” category . All in all, just an incredible spring creek. Note: learn new knot – “surgeons” to attach fly to leader.