Blog

Snowpack figures for the area have declined slightly since my last report. Current figures put the upper Henry's Fork at around 91% of average through the 24th of February. The same is true for the Montana side of the divide with the upper Madison coming in at 87%.  All things considered, these are still very good figures for this time of year. We have just reached the half way point in the winter snowpack reporting period with a full two months to go. Over the past two weeks I have received a number of calls from anglers around the area inquiring about the fishing. During the last two weeks of January there was a ten day or so period where the weather turned unseasonably warm. This provided the locals with an opportunity to get out and try their hand at some early season fishing. We had some decent reports from the Vernon Bridge to Chester section of the river. Most fishermen reported they had their best luck using tandem rigs of beadhead nymphs under an indicator. Since the first of February old man winter has not given us the same kind of break in the weather like we had in late January. There have been very few days when the weather was nice enough to temp anglers to get out on the water. The formula for success now is pretty much the same as it was last month and will remain the same for the coming month. That is, a two fly beadhead combo fished slow and deep under your favorite strike indicator ( I like the new Thingamabobbers myself). The report for the Madison over this same time period is pretty much the same except that the Madison did provide a few days of decent midge fishing allowing for some top water action on small adult midge imitations. Just a reminder, if you want to fish the Madison below Quake Lake you only have until February 28th. The season closes then and does not reopen until the third Saturday in May.

Archipelago Los Roques National Park is a coral reef that sits about 80 miles off the north coast of Venezuela. Over 350 islands, islets and cayes are arranged in an oval shape around a central lagoon. It is a stunning sight from an airplane.  I was pretty sure it was going to look even better while wading it's waters in search of bonefish.

I was fortunate enough to have been invited to fish this world class saltwater destination by Jim Klug and Chris Patterson of Confluence Films. Jim and Chris were beginning work on their second feature flyfishing movie and I was to be fishing in front of the camera with Jason Jagger, an exceptional angler who has spent countless days exploring Los Roques.  For those who have not seen Confluence Film's first feature, DRIFT, be sure to check it out!

I have to admit I had a couple of late night panic attacks at the thought of spending a night anywhere near Cararas, the murder capital of South America. Since the birth of my daughter Ella three years ago, exotic travel just isn't the same.  Was I being selfish to knowingly put myself in a potentially dangerous situation when there was someone that was more important than any fishing trip?!!! I know, you think I'm crazy...it's totally a mom thing. Having a kid really messes you up...but it's worth it. Rich talked me down and we flew to New Jersey to drop Ella off with her grandparents. Two days later, still filled with anxiety, I boarded a plane for Venezuela with Rich.

Before we get onto the good stuff, I have to tell you we landed at La Guaira at 10pm and spent one very comfortable, quiet and safe night just outside Caracas. I'm embarrassed to say that it was no big deal. The next morning we caught a 5am flight to Los Roques where we were greeted by our host Chris and our guides. It was a 5 minute walk (because there are no cars on the island) to the Posada Acualera, our home for the week. The smell of stong coffee, homemade bread, bacon and eggs filled the open air dining room when we entered. Lush, exotic plants climbed the walls in search of the sun and a comfortable, warm humidity melted over my skin as we sat down to eat and discuss the fishing. I was already in heaven.

According to Chris, we could not have chosen a worse month than November to fish Los Roques. Tides were high (all day long), and it was the rainy season. I was nervous but happy to be there. Rods, guides and cameras ready, we headed for the boats. Five minutes into the ride the rain started but we got to the first flat and only had to wait a few more minutes before the sun came out. We jumped out of the boats. Chris wasn't lying. The water was indeed high, up to my armpits. Oh well. Rich and Jim went one way around a caye and my guide Jesus, Jason and I went the other. By the time we met on the other side 15 minutes later, Rich, Jim and myself were hooked up on bonefish and Jason was 100 yards behind me casting to two tailing permit. That is the way the next 4 days continued - intermittent rain and flat after flat of bonefish averaging over 4 lbs! We often walked along picturesque white sand beaches casting to groups of 2-5 bonefish slowly cruising in search of baitfish. Schools of jacks would often blitz the bait near the beach resulting in  fast and furious casting to frenzied fish. We also spent one day sight fishing to baby tarpon with Jose, the singing guide. Super fun. 3 or 4 jumps and the tarpon were tired out and in the boat. I really enjoyed fighting tarpon while being serenaded by Jose.

Then it was time to see the "rainy season", and did it ever rain. The fishing didn't really change, just our attire. Our guides were determined and professional. With their help, and a little help from the pelicans, some of the biggest fish of the trip (8-10 lbs.) were landed in the rain. As pelicans dive for bait, huge bonefish attack in search of stunned minnows (look closely at the pelican photo). It's fascinating and adds a fun challenge to the casting. Immediately after the pelican dives, you try to cast as close as possible to it without hooking it. Strip, strip and and more often than not you have a huge bonefish. I'll never forget Rich releasing a pelican he accidently hooked as 2 kids relentlessly teased him as by painting sand mustaches on their faces. When Rich shook his fist at the boys they came back at him with sand tears painted on their faces. Very cute.

On one particularly rainy day we were escorted to a pretty remote caye where we were instructed to fish and drink vodka for an hour. If you know me at all you know I did just that. As I fished with Jesus (and sipped vodka) I watched 2 or 3 guys hauling lobsters into a boat. They brought them ashore and 30 minutes later we sat under a tin roof  in pouring rain while feasting on the freshest lobster I will ever eat.

At the end of each day we returned to Acualera where Mimo, the incredible and all too charming chef from Sicily, fed us truly authentic Italian meals each night. The dining and lodging were the icing on the cake after a long day of fishing. The entire experience was perfect and surreal. Towards the end of our trip I was wishing to extend my stay...but someone was tugging at my heart to go home.

Many thanks to Jim Klug and Chris Patterson for inviting me to fish for them. And highest compliments to Chris Yrazabal and his guide staff at SightCast as well as Mimo and his crew at Acualera. 

I can't wait to go back, perhaps as early as April. If you have any interest in joining me, email me.  -Millie Jo Paini

I can't believe that one full month has already slipped by in the new year. We here at Trouthunter would like to take this opportunity to thank all of you for your support in 2008 and look forward to seeing and visiting with you in 2009. Now that the election is over, the holidays are past and the inauguration is part of our history, it's time to start thinking seriously about the coming fishing season. If you haven't yet started tying flies for the coming season it's still not to late to get started. This is the time of year to get the fly boxes out and take inventory, clean and grease those reels, check rods to make sure reel seats are functioning properly, the guides are in good shape and properly aligned and ferrules are waxed. It's the time of year to inspect waders and to check the calendar to make sure you have made your room and guide reservations at TroutHunter. For those of you who are planning a trip to the area this summer I'm happy to report that the snow pack reports through February 1st are anywhere from 94 to 100% of normal both here in the Henry's Fork drainage and on the other side of the divide in Montana. It's still a little early in the season to be able to make any definitive predictions about summer water conditions but with last season's excellent carry over, a fairly wet Fall, and a good start on the snow pack, we should be headed in the right direction. Keep checking in on our web site and we will keep you up to date on snow pack reports and give you are best predictions for water flows this coming year.
Please feel free to call us at the shop. 
-Rick Smith