"OK" I couldn't take it any longer. The smoke from the fires finally got to me. So To relieve myself from the caustic air down here in the valley and ya know catch a few trout I headed up & up & up. I tried to get above the smoke but I failed. It was everywhere. No worries though. The trip was three fold. First to get out of the smoke, I didn't. Second to catch a few trout, I did, and 3rd to start looking for my beloved Ruffed Grouse, I found only one. Bird Season starts in 4 weeks. Anyway, here are a few shots of a creek I fished yesterday above 8,000 feet. The Grouse will have to wait. Those of you concerned about stressing the trout in summer drought conditions relax. The water was cold and oxygenated and 54 degrees at 1pm. And, there was a number of Green Drakes and tiny #20 BWO's hatching. That and a ton of ants about. The bears like them too. The trout were healthy and accommodating. So here are a few photos of Monkey Puzzle Creek. You say you like rocks? Well here's a few. Don't want to snap an ankle here. You'll never get out. Enjoy!
Mark

Monkey Puzzle Creek;








The Bears like Ants too. A couple of logs torn apart for them;





Oh! Did I say there were rocks?



















The trout like ants too!

I was up a creek looked just like that, rocks and all, a week ago. Same pretty pink flower too! Cutts were smaller than your bows though.

Very nice!
Carl

Nice, and big fish for such a small and rocky creek. The structure is very much like what I fish in the Sierra Nevada - and the fish look similar too. Thanks for sharing!

.

A #10 black foam ant.

Hi Rick,
Yea, slow and steady wins the race. Or saved ankles. I have used and will continue to use Simms "Intruder" wet wading boot. I fish a lot and hike in often. I've gotten six plus years out of my first pair. I have two brand new pairs waiting in the wings. So I have about another twelve or so years of wading boots ready to go! To bad Simms took these off of the market. To me they are the best wet wading boot ever. They were a hiking boot turned wading boot. Light, comfortable and durable. The soles I use are studded rubber. Love'em!
As for the rod and reel I was fishing a Winston "Leetle Feller" cane rod with a Bogdan Narrow Baby loaded with an SA DT3F. Otherwise my back up rod was an original first issue Sage "0" weight and Hardy Featherweight standing by in the ready.

glorious, thank you..

Excellent Majicwrench! That looks like a few creeks I fish up near Libby.

Great pictures and posts …. Reminds me a little of Kintla Creek ….