2014 season wrap-up - expressing many thanks and indelible memories

Jack Mauer and Dave Brandt in 2004

The 2014 Guide Season is officially over having my last personal guide days the last week of October. Despite the slow fishing, the radiant fall colors and memories of fast fishing we had through out the year helped ease in the inevitable - winter coming on!

I want to say many words of thanks to all who fished with Wapiti Waters during this glorious season of good flows and good angling. I would also like to mention a couple of anglers who have passed on to the "Happy Fishing Ground" namely E. Terrill Nobles (Terry Nobles) and Dave Brandt. These two fishermen were the reasons we love guiding. Their attitudes were upbeat whether the fishing was fast or slow and they genuinely loved the waterways and trout environment. Their desires to share this love will always be with us. We will forever miss yet forever remember them.

Dave Brandt and daughter KJ in 2009

Thank you,
Jack Mauer, Wapiti Waters Fly Fishing Montana, Outfitter #867

Terry Nobles in 2005

Jack Mauer and Terry Nobles in 2007

We also had the privilege of  fishing with Dave Brandt in Argentina- fantastic time and memories.

On the Bitterroot River doubling up with pike and trout

Jack and Jeff again, pike and trout. Taken Oct 8.

Trico hatch on the Bitterroot in September

Jack and I fished the trico hatch on the lower Bitterroot on September 11. Here are a few of my favorites and at the bottom of the post is a slideshow of the day. Here is a slideshow of photos tricos as we approached this "cloud."

A couple of BRTU board members spend a day fishing the Bitterroot River

Bitterroot Trout Unlimited Board members Jack Mauer and Greg Chester on the Bitterroot River April 24.

Greg is a tireless supporter of fishing conservation, education and youth in the Bitterroot Valley. Today he is on a donated float by Jack to Bitterroot Trout Unlimited. Greg bid on and got the trip, Jack was happy to oblige. This is one of the best trout they got that beautiful day.

Both Greg and Jack are hard working conservationists and you can see here that they "walk their talk."

Bitterroot River April 6 - Dusty Bernard Crew

I was hoping to get a few more photos from these guys but haven't yet...so here are the few that were on Jack's camera. This group is from San Diego and always fishes this time of year with Wapiti Waters...they love to fish, just look at the smiles.

Bob Ratcheson on the Bitterroot with Jack in early April

Bob and Peggy fished with Jack...the day was a little cold (as has been this Montana spring) but the catching was good.

Doc Bolton on the Bitterroot in early October

Doc came a little later this fall than usual. He was waiting for the fire smoke to clear. Probably a good strategy. The sky cleared up, temperatures cooled and fishing was good. Great to see both Doc and Liz! Hope they both come back up in the spring.

Jerry on the Bitterroot in September catching pike and trout

September 23, Jerry and Jack fished the lower Bitterroot. They caught trout but the only photo Jack got was this one of Jerry with a pike he caught. It was a good day of fishing but any day they take pike out of the Bitterroot is a great day.

Sorry Jerry for the late post, I am catching up on some of the photos I missed posting. This is a great one of you and that nasty pike. Merle

October photo journal on the Bitterroot River

Take a trip down the Bitterroot River on this beautiful fall day. See the slideshow below.

Nice trout for Mrs. Thomas in Sept

Still catching up on posts. Here is one from mid-September.

Pike and trout fishing on the Bitterroot River in early September

Hickman with a nice trout

Jack with a smaller pike

Jack with a big pike and Freda, our Chessie, is looking on.

a sharper photo of John's trout.

Great July day of fishing on the Bitterroot

Jack and Scott Warren guided the Chandler group on the Bitterroot on July 21. Beautiful day and fun catching trout.

July fishing on the Bitterroot with Dick

Dick Kane fished with Jack on the Bitterroot and caught some really nice fish. Here is one of them. Another great day on the water.

A windy day on the Missouri River in early May

You can see the wind moving the water!

Nice brown trout - yes, it was released ASAP

Jack spent a few days on the Missouri River with his daughter and two grandsons. The young boys were dressed warm enough and that is good. It was cold and very windy. But, there were fish to be caught again.

Here are a couple of photos.

Fishing the Missouri River in late April with Jeff and Reed

Jeff and Reed had a fishing agenda in late April and it included fishing the Missouri River with Jack. It was pretty darn cold that day but they were up to the challenge. Fish were caught but the camera was mostly kept in the bag. Rowing was the priority to help keep the boat headed downriver in the wind.

All in all, it was a very good day.

Fishing the Bitterroot - awesome day

One of the cutthroat I caught, yea!

The temperature was warmer as promised by the weather man. It got to 66 degrees, lovely afternoon with some wind sometimes, no wind sometimes..just enough to keep you tuned in to your casting skills. Bugs, yes. That is all I will say. The fish were rising, we had so much fun. John Hickman, Jack, me and our Chesapeake Bay Retriever Freda. Happy day!

Here are some photos - see the slideshow below.

View all

Mid-March update for Bitterroot River

Tucker Crossing on the middle Bitterroot, looking southeast at the Sapphire Mountains

This month has been good for the snowpack. The Bitterroot Mountains have been receiving and storing snow at the higher elevations. There have been some teaser warm days, but the current week (third full week of March) will be cooler in temperatures and more snow is in the forecast.

Sunday (3/18) Evening's First Alert Forecast: Slushy Snow Tonight for MISSOULA COUNTY
By Adam Painter Meteorologist

 NWCC - Montana MAP with SNOTEL Current Snow Water Equivalent (SWE) % of Normal 

Stream flow data in the middle Bitterroot River

Riverside Cottage vacation rental on East Fork of the Bitterroot River

Wapiti Waters recommends this cottage for a couple or a couple of guys that are interested in fishing the upper Bitterroot River and even the Big Hole River in Montana. It is affordable, clean, private and quiet. There are year-round activities such as hiking, biking, fishing, canoe, cross country and downhill skiing. Lost Trail Powder Mountain and Chief Joseph Pass cross country ski trails are about 40 miles south. Painted Rocks Reservoir and Trapper Peak are 22 miles southwest on West Fork road.

This bright and cheery spacious river cottage sits just 50' from the river's edge. Come and enjoy the luxury of your own fishing hole and relax in the private treed setting.

Learn more about the cottage at SweetSage Vacation Rental - Riverside Cottage

It is a one bedroom home and is newly renovated and completely outfitted for your comfort. A comfortable futon couch can be used as an extra double bed, sleeping a total of four people. The covered porch facing the river provides a great outdoor living space. Its location in the southern end of the Bitterroot Valley makes this home a recreationalist's dream.

The cottage is managed by Amy Sage of SweetSage Vacation Rental. You can reach her at (406) 642-6400 or sweetsage@bitterroot.com.

$115/night. WINTER $550/week SUMMER $700/week

Geoff on the Big Hole River in mid-August

Geoff Fitzgerald fished the Big Hole in mid-August for a few days. He had a great trip and one reason was this year there was a lot of water. He ended up fishing mainly in the faster water. Geoff takes lots of pictures when out fishing. He photos are of anything unusual and occasionally of trout. He shared two photos from his August Big Hole River trip that illustrate both the unusual and trout.

Here are his descriptions of the photos:
"The brown in the pic was right below Jerry Creek Bridge and it was hookedon the first cast using a yellow marabou muddler.

The speckled egg on the algae mat was incredible, yet a little tragic; absolutely untouched and unbroken - must've rolled out of a nest near the bank (meadowlark nest perhaps) or on gravel bar (in that case possibly spotted sandpiper or killdeer)."

Anyone have any firm ideas of the species of bird egg?

Geoff, thanks for sharing. We love getting other "points of view."

Little people love to fish, too

We love taking kids fishing, but there are certain clients that we have the most fun with. Connell's are some of our favorite people to fish with and when we can get great client's kids interested in fishing, that is a banner day. Matthew came up to visit Grandma and Grandpa this summer and got to actually catch some fish, not just be in the boat. Thanks to guide Eddie Olwell for these photos of Matthew. Isn't he just the cutest fisherman you have ever seen? I think he might be 'hooked.'