NW Tour Day 22 ~ Sheridan to North Platte River

On the road to Casper in the morning. Fall has brought out the big game hunters, trucks parked near the interstate fences along the freeway.

Noon - Arrived at Alcova and the Grey Reef section of the North Platte. Secured campsite 7. The water level is at 500 cfs, this is 1/6 the flow of August. Weeds and fingerling trout are everywhere. Fished nymphs and streamers, even dry with droppers.

I flushed a covey of Hungarian Partridge at The Redds walk in trail. It has been 30 years since I have seen that site. Brought back all of the excitement of upland hunting.

Late in the fading light, a big fish grabbed my Thin Mint streamer, broke the leader at the fly not more than a rods length away. It was a sudden surge of excitement in an otherwise calm afternoon on the river.

Campfire, supper, some writing then bed.

Rabbit friend along the river trail

Sunset over Gray Reef

View North

NW Tour Day 21 ~ St Regis to Columbus to Sheridan

Left the Nugget early and drove through to Columbus, MT. Worked my way up the Stillwater River to Whitebird Access and found a spot to camp. Got set up and fished the water near the camp.

Flooding has changed river and the fishing was off. Made a fire and some supper. Packed up and drove to Sheridan WY.

Parked in the Walmart lot north of the store. There were a couple of other RVs and big rigs doing the same. Local kids doing burnouts in their cars until 1 am. No ideal for sleeping but eventually crashed out.

NW Tour Day 20 ~ Kokanee Limit at Wolf Lodge Bay & St.Regis

Launched the boat in the morning chill at Mineral Ridge, casted for pike in Blue Creek Bay for an hour with no fish presenting themselves to my spinnerbait.

Rigged for Kokanee and trolled the Pink Trout Killer tipped with pink corn behind an once of lead. Speed at 1.6 to 2 mph, 100’ of line.

Fish were found off of Higgins Point and the H 75 South curve. Limit of 15 fish by 11am. Action steady, several doubles. Caught and released an additional 5 fish. Cleaned and froze the catch, will add to the smoker when back at the Preserve.

Stopped at Fins & Feathers then Black Sheep to pickup second downrigger for boat. Stopped at Marks Marine.

Afternoon ~ packed up and drove to Nugget Campground in St Regis, MT. For the night.

Limit of Kokanee ~ Wolf Lodge Bay

Blue Creek Bay ~ Morning Fog

Mineral Ridge Boat Launch

Trout Killer Rig

Camper Supper

NW Tour Day 19 ~ Hudson’s and Wolf Lodge Bay

Organized the boat in the morning then hit the shower before Austin picked me up for lunch at Hudsons.

The place was packed but we got a place at the counter. Good as always, one of a kind.

Fished Wolf Lodge Bay near Higgins Point. Caught 8 small Kokanee. Pulled the boat and drove to Camp Coeur D’Alene for the night.

NW Tour Day 18 ~ Palouse Ridge.

Rolled out of the Shan-Gri-La RV park west of Dayton, Wa at 7:30. Stopped for coffee and breakfast at a local Main Street cafe.

Headed north through the Palouse hills. Saw two wild rooster pheasants along the Highway. A first in many years.

Arrived at Palouse Ridge, hit some warm up balls then tackled the hilly course while fighting the eastern Washington prairie wind. Play slowed at the turn and we called it after 12 holes.

Stopped for lunch at Eddie’s Chinese in Colfax. Rolled on to Spokane. Jack checked into the Wingate by the airport for an early departure on Southwest.

Set up the camper at the fairgrounds RV park. Austin and Carrie picked me up for dinner at Capones. Racked out around 9.

NW Tour Day 17 ~ Wine Valley

Made our way south, to Walla Walla. Played Wine Valley Golf Club.

Course was exceptional, links style, fast and firm. Amazing how the land was used to creat a visually appealing layout on every hole. Fun course to play. Top 10 list for me. 77 with 3 birdies.

NW Tour Day 16 ~ Hayden Last Day

Up early, Pike fishing, no action in Mockins Bay. Late breakfast, started packing up. Afternoon, fished Sportsman’s Arm, caught a dozen bluegill at the sea wall. One 12” crappie. Pulled the boat, readied for morning departure.

NW Tour Day 15 ~ The Raven & Tomahawk

Met up with Austin at his house at 10:30. Drove on out to Worley for a noon shotgun start at Circling Raven.

The weather was perfect, the course condition and setting make it one of our all-time favorites.

We had a nice round then headed back to Austin and Carries for dinner. On the menu was a Tomahawk Ribeye from Tim’s Meats in Post Falls. Carrie made vegetable kabobs and the finest home made carrot cake we have ever tasted.

It was a nice evening with everyone including Fry and Maggie.

NW Tour Day 14 ~ The Links

Up at 5:30, went out fishing in Mockins Bay. Trolled and casted for pike. Had one slashing strike but no connection.

Headed to town at noon, stopped at Zips in Post Falls on our way to meet Austin and Johnny at the Links.

Teed off at 2:30, perfect evening and pleasant weather. Austin and I both had 83.

Met up with Carrie at Syringa for some sushi. Back at the cabin by 9:30.

NW Tour Day 13 ~ Day of the Pike

On the water at 7, fished the pike water near Camp Mivoden then around the point in the back of the next bay to the south. Caught our first pike, a small one, but a pike none the less. He took the red white daredevil over shallow weeds.

Returned to our bay and caught a second pike of about the same size on a spinnerbait.

Had some breakfast, Fowler showed up, back on the water at 2:30. Fished all around the lake with every type of gear. Caught a few smallmouth, a sunfish, a pumpkinseed an Jack picked off a goncho perch. Off the water at 5:30.

Roasted some chicken, salad, mushrooms and garlic bread. Relaxed a bit and turned in around 9.

NW Tour Day 12~ Hayden Cabin

Had a good rest and shower after 11 nights in the camper. Took our time on getting rolling this morning. Breakfast, boat organization, trip to Sportsman’s Access to launch. Headed out fishing around 11.

Had a nice 3’ + pike follow up my red & white daredevil spoon just out from the Camp Mivoden sandbar. Did some trolling for Kokanee off of the main point to the west. Another boat caught a couple at 35’ depth.

Returned to the cabin. Put a Tri Tip roast on the grill. Visit from Austin and Fry Dog around 3.

Austin caught a smallmouth off of the rock point, I caught a minnow smallmouth. Fry did good on his first boat trip.

Wrapped up the day around 9.

NW Tour Day 11 ~ Spirit Lake to Hayden Lake

On the water at Spirit Lake before the sun was over the mountains, the shade of the hills protected the surface. Trolled around the rock point where we marked fish yesterday.

Fished 7am to 9 am and landed 5 Kokanee. When the sun got high over the hills the bite stopped. Came in to Fowler’s Cabin, Brad fixed us breakfast.

Packed up, resupplied at Super One and Black Sheep. Pulled into the Mockins Bay cabin at 4.

Got settled in and met Nick the neighbor. Wound things down and to bed by 9.

NW Tour Day 10 ~ Lower Twin and Fowler’s Cabin

Left the Fairgrounds RV Park and launched the boat at Lower Twin. Fished a couple hours in perfect weather. Hooked one fish and lost it. No other action. Headed over to Fowler’s cabin, had some lunch then launched at Maiden Rock at Spirit.

Evening fishing we caught one Kokanee but located some concentrations of fish for a morning outing.

We had an excellent meal prepared by Brooke Fowler, Grilled trout, salsa, mint over rice. Good wine and better conversation. Many thanks to the Fowler’s for hosting us!

Camper set up in the driveway, turned in after dark.

NW Tour Day 9 ~ Idaho Club

Left Trout Creek at 8, picked up an hour on the drive up 200 to the Idaho Club. Perfect weather, Austin rolled in around 9:30.

Cooked breakfast sandwiches in the parking lot. Camper is now broke in completely.

Teed off at 10:40. Enjoyable round. Camped in unit 24 at the fairgrounds in CDA. Austin and Carrie picked us up for dinner at The Porch in Hayden.

NW Tour Day 8 ~ Dillon to Trout Creek

Broke camp early then went to grab the boat at Les Schwab. They did a great job fixing the trailer, confident in getting through the rest of the trip. Had breakfast at The Golden, saw Archie from the RV Park and bid farewell to Dillon.

Drove North on 15 then west on 90 to Missoula. Stopped for fuel and a couple items at Walmart. Arrived to our camp at Trout Creek Motel and RV Park around 4. Nice drive up highway 220. Got stopped for second time to inspect boat.

Grilled Ribeyes and sat by the fire until bedtime.

NW Tour Day 7 ~ Dillon, MT

Got the trailer spiffed up and back on the road after 3 hour delay. Pulled into camp spot after dark.

Left Clark Canyon Reservoir before daylight, breakfast at 4B’s. Dropped the boat trailer with Dave at Les Schwab for further repairs on the bearings and tires. Hit the car wash and cleaned up the outfit.

Played 9 holes at Beaverhead Golf Course. Visited Atomic 79, great store, owner Dan and his brother most hospitable. Secured a camp axe and Stanley organizers for the camping kit.

Had a wagyu burger at The Golden, visited with Jo. Camping tonight at the Beaverhead River RV Park.

NW Tour Day 6 ~ Broke Down in Dubois Idaho

Golfed at Links of Teton Valley, fun round, chased off course by a lighting and hail storm on hole 15. Took shelter in the camper then finished the final 3 holes.

Headed north on route 15, stopped in Dubois for fuel and firewood. Discovered a burnt up wheel bearing on the boat trailer. Contacted a local mechanic hoping to figure out a fix in the next couple hours.

NW Tour Day 5 ~ Soda Lake to Palisades

Feeling better after 11 hours rest. Up before daylight. Made a fire, deer camp bacon and eggs, Jack made coffee. Cool calm morning.

Hit the water as the sun came over the peaks to the east. Trolled for a couple hours, found fish, tried everything. No catch. Soda Lake off the list.

Packed up, to Pinedale and a burger at the Wrangler Cafe. Jack took the helm and drove to Riverside Campground at the base of Palisades Dam where we got a spot with power for the night.

NW Tour Day 4 ~ Pinedale

Golf at Rendezvous Meadows, walked 6 holes. Lunch and fishing license. Pharmacy visit for sore throat.

Drive to Soda Lake, set up camp looking toward the Wind River Mountain Range.

Trolled the lake at 4 pm, no hits and not many fish showing. Feeling run down so bed at 5:30.

NW Tour Day 3 - Fishing Twin Buttes / Pinedale

Up this morning, launched the boat and fished until 10:30. Perfect sunny day, smooth water. Trolled 3 rods for 3.5 hours, no fish, no hits. Not many fish marked. Twin Buttes is off the list of trout destinations after two unproductive trips. Moving on tho Soda Lake.

Jack made breakfast, we packed up and drove to Yellowstone Trail Campground on the west edge of Pinedale. Relaxed at the fire then shut things down around 10.