Fly Fishing The Gallatin 2-7-12

Things are pretty sleepy on main street today, as per usual for February.  What a spectacular season for the fly fisherman with warm 40 degree days the fishing has been better than any winter i've seen in Montana.  I went for a walk wade yesterday on the Gallatin with my dog Trutta and my 11' 7wt. Winston to do some streamer swinging.  The action was typical of winter time with all the fish hanging in the slow tailouts and despite the sunshine a decent midge hatch occured mid afternoon.  Had quite a few grabs on a Coffey's Sparkle Minnow and McCune's Sculpin which have become two of my absolute favorites, but i do like to trim about 3/4 inch off the tail on the McCune's and then it swims better than a real fish does with all that good rabbit fur and marabou.  On the walk back to the truck Trutta made a nice flush on a hen pheasant and I instantly made a countdown of the remaining days untill upland hunting season opens again.  At least i can fish every day of the year.

Peter