Getting ready for a new season…

Another fly fishing season is just about here…

Screenshot

Cairo testing new rods, reels and fly lines at the Pasadena Casting Club Pond…

 

 

PT/TB

RAYNOLDS PASS to LA and HOME…

Saturday, September 2, 2024 and it was time to pack up and head home to Los Angeles. Micael and his family drove back to Bozeman to fly to Burbank while Ally, Nick and PT prepped for another 1000 mile drive…it turned out to be longer…

6:30 AM at Raynolds Pass looking towards West Yellowstone…

Pack ’em up !!!

The TROUTHUNTER FLY SHOP/ BAR & GRILL  in Island Park, ID…first visit for Ally and Nick…

Some items for me and Miles who couldn’t make the trip…

Entrance to the Bar & Grill…the Fly Shop is on the right…

Somewhere in Northern Idaho…

Crossing into Northern UTAH on I-15…

Salt Lake City, heading South…

Just outside Beaver, Utah…

Less than 400 miles to go !!!

Nick at In-An-Out in St. George , UT…

Dinner of Champions…

This was the first time I had returned to St. George, UT since my Mom worked with John Wayne in “The Conquerer”. My twin Brother and I lived there for three months during the location shoots. I participated in a documentary about that film in 2023. It was making the Film Festival Tour in the Fall of 2023. I saw it a with Nadia and Ally in Newport Beach, CA – participating in a panel discussion with others about my experience there and the direct effect it had on my family…

Screenshot

(L-R) Dick Powell, John Wayne, my Mom Greg and me…

My twin Brother ( Greg ) and I next to our Mom on the set…

Panel discussion…My twin Brother survived Prostate Cancer and I have survived a tumor on my left kidney which had to be removed…

With the Producer, William Nunez…” The Conquerer : Hollwood Fallout” / trailer…

Getting on the I-15 leaving St. George …

South of St. George, Utah…

Just North of Las Vegas…

 

Detour in Vegas…the I-15 was closed South of Las Vegas to Baker, CA due to extreme flooding. We had to go around through Searchlight, NV to hook up with the I-15 near Barstow, CA…about three hours was added to the drive…

 

NEXT: Some flies perhaps ???

 

 

PT/TB

 

 

 

 

Michael’s Birthday in Montana…

September 1, 2024 marked Michael’s 40th. Birthday. This trip to Montana, with the family ( minus Nadia and Miles ) was a celebration of the event. Those guys made a morning trip over to Biscuit Basin in Yellowstone National Park, while I worked on the evening’s meal for the group…

Looking towards Ennis from the Madison Angler’s House at 7 AM…

Cairo at the Lower Falls of the Yellowstone River…

Michael and Cairo catching raindrops at the Falls…

Steamy pool at Biscuit Basin…

Posing by the sulphur stink…

Outflow from one of the pools in Biscuit Basin…

Location and map of Biscuit Basin in YNP…

Sapphire Pool…

More pools in Biscuit Basin… stay on the boardwalk !!!

Elevated view of Biscuit Basin…

Firehole River at Biscuit Basin…Fly Fished here since 1977…

Cairo’s favorite creatures in Yellowstone National Park…

The marinade for the steaks…heavy on the garlic…

The usual stand-by for munching while preparing food and cooking…

Steaks in the marinade…

It was really storming at the house while the food prep was in progress…

another view…

Michael and the crew came back from the Park and headed down to $3.00 Bridge for a Birthday Trout…

Rainbow Trout to net…

Michael with his Trout…released for another day…

Last shot of $3.00 Bridge at sunset…

Montana brewed booze for this who imbibe…

Cairo’s back to run the show while Nick scratches his head…

…looking West at sunset…storm has cleared…

…just after sunset…

Dragon salad and veggies…

French Fries of course…

Steaks BBQ’d by Nick…

Dinner at almost 9PM…

 

 

Next: Traveling back to LA…

 

 

PT/TB

 

West Fork Of the Madison and Hebgen Lake Boating…

The family heads down to the West Fork area of the Madison River to fish the water just South of West Fork Cabin Camp, where Michael and I stayed in 2017. This is all riffle water with very few exposed boulders…

West Fork area on the Madison River…

Breakfast round of go-fish with Cairo…

Cairo…ready for a busy day…

These are a few of the streamer patterns I packed for this section of the Madison River…three Articulated and one Cone Head…

The view from the bridge at West Fork on the Madison River…

It was bit windy when we arrived…

Aimee, Diane and Cairo…dressed for wind…

Looking North…Up the 80 mile riffle…

Looking South…

Michael out in the middle…

Cairo lending suggestions, advise and pro tips…

Michael retrieving a streamer…

Using my Scott Centric 10′, 6wt. fly rod and Nautilus CCF X2 Reel…

The “old guy” geared up  with new Simms G4Z Sockingfoot waders ( they are the bomb)…especially when one has an Ostomy…

The only boulder in the river within miles…

Michael with a nice Brown Trout…

These are the rods and reels Ally, Nick and I used here…(L-R) Scott Centric 10′, 6wt., Scott A2 10′, 6wt. and Winston BIIIX Super 10, 5wt. 

My driver, heading back to the Madison Angler’s House…

 

Aimee wanted the entire family to spend the afternoon boating on Hebgen Lake. We took snacks and beverages to explore parts of the lake I had never seen in all of my trips up to that particular area…Cairo had a blast…

The Marina at Hebgen Lake, MT…

There were small Trout rising to Callibaetis emergers all over the place in here…

Zooming Hebgen Lake…

Snacking in a cove away from the wind…

There are lots of sheltered spots to pull into…

Cairo and Michael…

Cairo in the groove in the front of the boat, He was jumping up and down while Michael held on to his life vest strap. Probably the most fun of the entire trip…

After our boating adventure, we all headed to West Yellowstone and the pilgrimage to Blue Ribbon Flies…

Ally at the shop…

A view towards the rear of the shop…fly bins on the right…

…and towards the front of the shop…

Hair bin…I am not going to mince words. The quality of this onetime Fly Fishing Mecca has gone down the tubes since Craig Matthews is no longer involved. I am sorry to say that now, it’s just another run of the mill fly shop in West Yellowstone…

I did, however, pick up a few things…

TR’s Burgers in West Yellowstone for dinner, next to BRF and Michael rated as excellent Bison Burgers…

Michael photobombing Aimee…

…for the tourists…

Cairo’s crash landing at TR’s Burgers…

 

NEXT: Last Day in Montana….The Bridge and Moo’s 40th. celebration

 

 

PT/TB

BETWEEN THE LAKES and $3.00 BRIDGE…

Bright and clear morning at the Raynolds Pass, Madison Angler’s House. Time to get out on the water with the entire family. On the morning schedule Nick and Ally  went down to the Madison at $3.00 Bridge to get a head start on the rest of us. Later, a visit to the area known as “Between the Lakes” when those guys returned …That would be between Earthquake Lake and Hebgen Lake on the Madison river…

Heading out from the Madison Angler’s House to HWY 187…

Wait. there’s a crowd down there…

A gathering of Pelicans above $3.00 Bridge…

Nick giving my Scott A2, 10′, 6wt. fly rod a workout…

There’s a bend in that rod !!!

Nick’s first Madison Rainbow on a fly pattern…

This Blue Perdigon of mine was the ticket…

Putting on the waders and gearing up at the house…

On the road…

Just passed Kelly’s Slide INN…the Madison on the right…

Earthquake Lake is on the right…

Turn off to Campfire Lodge…

Mountain Goats on the far side of the Madison River…Part of a group that frequents the Quake Lake area…

The “Old Guy” getting wet in his new Simms G4 Waders and Patagonia Boots…

Michael rigging up while Aimee works the water…

Cairo spreading good Trout fishing JuJu…

Michael gets a small Rainbow in a side channel…

This is the Perdigon that all the guys wanted to use…

Ally tries her hand with PT’s Winston Super 10, 5wt.

Michael crossing the river…

Ally in a side channel …nymphing…

Whoa !!! She caught a monster !!!

Ally was using this Midge pattern…Tobacco Midge…

Some pretty flower along the bank…

A few more in blue…

My Thomas and Thomas Paradigm, 9′,5wt. wit a Tibor reel…a favorite dry fly set-up…

This pattern produced…Cupcake Midge…

.and so did this…Skinny Midge…

The guys went back down to $3.00 Bridge for the afternoon while Cairo and I stayed at the house…

…another view upstream…all lined up…

The Bridge at sunset…

Cairo sketching…

Moonrise from the deck…

 

Next: West Fork and Boating

 

 

PT/TB

 

 

Up to Bozeman and Yellowstone National Park…

Michael and Aimee had already done their shopping and eating in Bozeman when they flew in from Los Angeles so it was our turn to head there and get some things done. Those guys went to YNP for the day while Ally, Nick and I did the rounds here:

Dianne (GMa) and Cairo at breakfast playing Go Fish…

Heading down to Ennis and on to Bozeman…

First stop was REI in Bozeman ,on a side of town that has every big box store in the U.S.

Ally was hungry so we stopped downtown in Bozeman at this eatery – Revelry…

Ally ordered the watermelon salad…

Hungry people – Ally & Nick…

My usual…Virgin Bloody Mary…

Perusing the menu…

Went with pizza…

After lunch we went to Schnee’s. This has been a favorite to visit since it was the Powderhorn back in 1998…

Ally and Nick wanted to pick up some refreshments here at this local state-store…Meow…

I got the usual…

We stopped at the local Safeway to pick up some ribeye steaks for Michael’s 40th. Birthday Celebration…This is what they looked like while marinating…enough garlic, ya’ think…

In awe over the selection of BBQ and Hot Sauces…

Ally wanted to check out the food Co-Op for sides and greenery…

On to The River’s Edge Fly Shop to check it out. This is the Simm’s Flagship Retail Store now. Only one store now and no longer at Four Corner’s…

Modest selection in their stock list. I got a Simm’s shirt for Michael and myself here…

I have been coming to the fly shop located here at Four Corner’s since 2001. Until now, it has always been a dump – in several iterations. This is now, most probably, the best Fly Shop in all of Bozeman. These guys have their stuff together…Got that Trouthunter tippet post while visiting…

On the road back to Ennis…this is the Beartrap Canyon Campsite – North, on the Madison above Norris, MT…

Coming down off the grade into Ennis, MT. I take a photo here on every trip to Montana…

Shedhorn Sports in Ennis, MT…I stop in here on occasion just to check out the firearms, ammo and other goodies located herein…

Hello Mr. Bear…but no thanks on the .303 Brit that’s almost $60.00 for a box of 20…

Trout Stalkers in Ennis…

Where I picked up this Patagonia SST Jacket that reached out and grabbed me…

Meanwhile…these guys were over in Yellowstone National Park sightseeing…

Cairo and Aimee being safe, not looking for Darwin Awards…

Cairo on the boardwalk, where one is supposed to be…

Stinky but beautiful…

These are pools at Bisquit Basin near the Firehole River…

Stay a safe distance away ..someone is always gettin burned here…

“Old Faithful” through the trees…

Another perspective…

One of many waterfalls in the Park…

Cairo scaring all the other animals in the Park…

Mr. Trekker…

Ally and Nick chilling on the porch…

A view from the porch…

Looking South…

Storm rolling in from the West…

The Gang at the Driftwood Bar and Bistro for dinner – again…Michael is wearing the Simms shirt I got for him at The River’s Edge…

Burger & Onion Rings…Mmmmm…

Somebody turn out the lights…

 

Next: Between the lakes – a family affair…

 

 

PT/TB

 

 

 

 

$3.00 BRIDGE and WADE LAKE….

After seven years, my first trip back to $3.00 Bridge. It’s a much different experience when one fishes with the family and a Grandson – unforgettable and the best. Ally had not been back to this spot since 2004. Michael and Aimee had been back several times in the past few years and this was a first for Cairo, Nick and Aimee’s Mom…

Fog covers the Madison River at 6AM…

Michael and Cairo with Cairo in Ally’s Teeny Fly Fishing Vest…

Cairo modeling front…

…and back –  with Classic  Brodin net…

Cairo and Aimee’s Mom in the parking lot at $3.00 Bridge…

Nick and Ally geared up…Ally says the red wading belt made the outfit complete…

The old guy back in “the spot”…with Winston Super 10, 5wt.

Cairo and Aimee watching the fly fishers…

Ally and a Blue Heron sighting / flyover…

Ally and Nick, working the water…

Cairo giving tips and advise to the troops…

Michael’s Rainbow…

Michael with ” a few more casts” before heading back to the Madison Angler’s House…

Time for Cairo’s nap…

Wade Lake…not far from $3.00 Bridge…

“This canoe Dad ???”

Plying the water…

Michael and Cairo…

Magical…

Aimee and Cairo go for a swim…

Cairo solo with Ally watching…

Michael decided to head back down to the bridge after the Wade Lake adventures…

Nice photo, no trout…

Looking upriver…

Rainbow from the house…

Looking towards Ennis, MT from the house…

Birthday cake for Michael with Cairo…

 

Next: Bozeman visit and YNP…

 

 

PT/TB

 

 

 

 

Lazy Sunday in Montana…

So Michael was itching to go fishing while the rest of us needed to get our fishing licenses and some gear down in Ennis. Ally, Nick and I wanted to visit Kelly Galloup’s new shop ( Galloup’s Slide North ) , outside Ennis, MT and stop at the Ennis Pharmacy for some Indian Fry Bread…

Looking North,(towards Ennis) from The Madison Angler’s House at Raynolds Pass, MT…

Cairo checking out the loft in the cabin…

Michael and Ally…breakfast coffee…

Cairo and Nick on the deck…

Heading down to Ennis from Raynolds Pass…

Kelly Galloup’s Shop on the North side of Ennis, MT…Nick and Ally check out the wading boots outside of the shop…

Interior of the shop. There was still a lot of stock waiting to be put in…

Free swag and a photo with Kelly…

Our next stop was MRFC – Madison River Fishing Company to check out their stock of women’s waders for Ally and some new wading boots…

New Simms waders and Patagonia River Salt Boots…👍

The Ennis Pharmacy…

It was busy…

Indian Fry Bread…

Michael, and Cairo with a Rainbow between the lakes on the Madison River…

Cairo, his Mom Aimee and GMa Diane between the lakes…

Just Cairo…

Palisades on the Madison on the return trip from Ennis back to Raynolds Pass…

Raynolds Pass, Madison River in the evening…

Nick nymphing at Raynolds Pass…

Moo changing flies…

Michael LDR’d a nice brown just above here…

Late afternoon view at Raynolds Pass…

Just doing photography and slacking off…

…riverside flowers…

Looking Southeast almost at sunset…

Meanwhile…Cairo and Ally having fun with a slinky…

Train painting…

 

Next: $3.00 Bridge

 

 

PT/TB

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Montana 2023… 1. getting there…

The family, minus Nadia and Miles (because of an early school start), headed up to Montana and the Madison River to celebrate Michael’s 40th. Birthday. O’Pop, Ally and Nick drove to Raynolds Pass while Michael, Aimee, Cairo and Aimee’s Mom flew into Bozeman and rented a very large vehicle before driving up to the cabin…

The route that Ally decided to take…

Leaving Los Angeles and heading across Pear Blossom Hwy. at 4AM…

Michael and sharknado guy in their seats and read for Bozeman, MT…

Vegaz at 6:30 AM…

More Vegaz…

Breakfast of champions at a super stop ( Maverick – they had these on I -15 all the way to Montana, everyone had the same interior) for gas and food…

Utah…

Southern Utah…

Middle Utah…

Traffic jam in Salt Lake City…sure Ally, your route will be 30 minutes faster…

Idaho…

Southern Idaho…weather coming in…

The TroutHunter, Island Park, Idaho…I called ahead so that we could eat dinner but the entire place was booked for a wedding…

Up ahead Hwy. 87 towards Henrys Lake and Montana…

Montana…finally…

Cairo and Aimee at the cabin at Raynols Pass…

Cairo checks out the tractor on the property…

Big Sky boy…

Sunset at the Madison Angler’s Cabin…

After 1,000 + miles, dinner at the Driftwood Bar and Bistro for the road guys…

The eats and a Virgin Mary…

Ally and Nick at the bar…

 

Next: a busy Sunday for the family…

 

 

PT/TB

 

Cairo’s snowy trip to the Sierra in July…2023

Cairo and his Mom and Dad along with his GMa on Aimee’s side, ventured up to the Eastern Sierra in early July 2023 after the wettest year since 2017. There was still a tremendous amount of snow piled up in the higher elevations around Bridgeport, CA…

Cairo prepping with his new sleeping bag…

…and his Patagonia “puffy”…

Some casting practice with Dad at the Pasadena Casting Club after having his bubble filled…

…like a Pro…

Virginia Lakes Resort, still not open on July 1, 2023…

Portions of the parking lot have over six feet of packed snow…

…early dinner at the campsite…

…then some fly and bubble tossing at Little Virgina Lake…

Little Virginia Lake…very cold water…

…another view from where the boats and float tubes launch…

With Mom at campsite…

…Sunset at Little Virginia Lake…

Big Virginia Lake…

Blue Lake Brookie…

Roaring falls in the backcountry…

Rainbow for Cairo…

…it tasted real good…

Cairo preparing to trek…

Michael and Cairo in the aspens and mule ears…

On the trail to higher elevations…

The meadow at Green Creek…

A roaring Green Creek…

On the trail…above Parker Lake…

Parker Lake…

Michael packing Cairo in a snowfield with avalanche downed trees…

A waterfall coming off a snowfield above Parker Lake…

Coming back down the trail from Parker Lake…

…another waterfall coming off a big snowfield…

At the campsite with Mom and Dad…

Strawberries and pancakes…

On an after dinner hike with Dad and Bob…Mono Lake is the the background…

Taking care of business…

Watching Dad cast at Blue Lake…

Michael working the water for Brookies at Blue Lake…

Intensity with a snowbank in the background…

The dudes at the Jolly Cone in Bridgeport…

Nightfall above Bridgeport, CA…

 

NEXT…Montana, August-September 2023…

 

 

PT/TB