45 degrees, calm, overcast. During the winter months, one can’t ask for better fishing conditions. Having just returned from a morning at Bridger Bowl and now seated at the bench working on fly orders I did my best to focus on the task at hand. Yet with a solid winter spot just outside of town and only a 5 minute drive, not to mention waders, rod and flies all at the ready, I had no choice. Just an hour.

Though optimistic that I’d find some midge activity and and a chance to spot and stalk a few rising fish, I was armed with a few SJ Worms and, my winter standby, the Shrimp Cocktail, just in case. With no surface activity whatsoever I was forced to go with plan B.

Perfect winter conditions

Shrimp Cocktail did the trick. Nothing ate the worm

Even stumbled into a few big browns