Since our river closed, Jeff Lyman and I took off for Montana to fish the Big Horn River with our buddy Paul Garrison form the Big Horn River Outfitters.  We left Seattle and headed into an adventure.  With warm temps around 40 – 50 deg last week in Montana we were excited to warm up and catch some fish.  We landed in Billings and Paul picked us up at the airport.  We grabbed some food and wine and head to Fort Smith.

We arrived at Paul’s lodge and had a great dinner and rigged up our rods for the next day.  We ran switch 5wt rods with shooting heads and sink tips.  Paul’s home tied files adorned the lines and we had a drink and said good night.

The next day we slept in and had a huge homemade breakfast of biscuits and gravy.  With a temp of -2 deg we were excited to stand in 44 deg water.  We grabbed the warmest clothes we had and jumped into the truck headed for 3mi launch.

When we got there a light 5-10 mph wind was blowing around.  With high hopes, we jumped out of the truck and  grabbed the rods and launched some flies.  Well it was cold…

Paul’s first cast produced a double hook up (yea we were running 2 flies).  If you have ever fished with Paul you know he can bomb a line and hook up fast.  We were stoked.  I waded out and stripped out my line and tossed out my first cast.  Bam, I was on.  While pulling in the line I was stopped abruptly by iced up guides.  Aaaaa….I hate iced up guides.  Next cast another fish.  Aaaaa…lost it to iced up guides.

So what do you do when the wind starts up and it’s -10 with wind chill.  You keep fishing.  Well, we tried.  Frostbite started to kick in.  We fished a few more minutes when Paul said “let’s grab the drift boat”.  Ok, lets get the boat.  So, we when back and grabbed the boat and headed back to find a place out of the wind.  We launched and headed out across the river.

Paul rowed us across the river for a place out of the wind.  We found it.  Jeff hooked up with his first Montana double.  He hooted and hollered.  Yea, his first Montana fish.  We kept fishing for a total of 30 fish to the hand within an hour.  Then the cold hit us all.  Paul declared “who ever says uncle we are out of here”.

Well…”UNCLE!”

We all started to all get cold.  Paul rowed back up river and we got the boat out and cranked the heater in the truck.  Fingers tingled and thoughts of whisky roamed around.  Even the propane heaters that Paul had on board would not work due to the low temp.  Try and start a lighter in -10 deg with frostbit hands.  No luck.

It was time to go home and warm up.  When we got back, Paul’s family said “told you it was going to be cold”.  We laughed and started to disrobe our waders to find them frozen in position leaving them in a life like pose.  “Don’t you have a hot tub Paul?”  We looked at him with hopeful eyes.  “Yes, jump in”.

So without a moment we striped down and headed out to the hot tub.

Jeff and I jumped in and got warm.  “I love this place” declared Jeff.  “Yea, it’s fun” I replied with a laugh.  “What is the weather forecast  for next week?” asked Jeff.  “Cold, cold, cold, perfect for fishing!” I replied.

So, we are heading out tomorrow for more laughs and frostbitten hands.  With a forecast of 9 – 18 deg we are hopeful for a warm one.

If you ever get out to the Big Horn you have to hook up with Paul and Denice and they will hook you up.  A great lodge, great food and great fishing.

We will continue our post as the days go.

Jeff’s hair in the cold.