Great Big Fish near Great Falls

A presenter at one of Dave’s Trout Unlimited meetings had presented the idea of catching enormous Rainbow Trout on the Missouri River in Montana.  As Dave is oriented to the pleasures and learning experiences of his children, he would ask the presenter for some advice as to where Caleb and Anika might catch some of these large “bows”.  With this information in hand Dave set out on his own for a day of reconnaissance to the Blue Ribbon Fishing Section of the Missouri River in the tail-waters of the Holter Dam.  Caleb, Anika and Kirsten would stay back at the KOA in Great Falls and enjoy the day at the water park there. 

Dave would watch as these enormous rainbow trout would be caught by the dozens of fisherman floating by in drift boats.  He would then watch as dozens of these porpoise behaving fish would roll around him and even fin within casting reach.  At one point he said a Montana Fish and Wildlife Ranger would stop to check Dave’s fishing license and would exclaim, “hey look at all those ‘big dogs’ around you – you should go after them”.  Dave was not pleased…

But, he was pleased when he caught two of these “big dogs”.  He would catch this 20 incher and another 18 incher. 

The next day Dave would bring the kids to this hole, but alas the fish were far more finicky on this day.

Even with Dave’s help the kids just couldn’t hook into one of these big rainbows.

Directly from this fishing hole we would head to Missoula, Montana where Kirsten would be reunited with her long lost BFF from High School.  Until then…

…Big Wet Kisses, Mookie, “The Bloggin’ Dog”