The Tattoos hit the river on Day One of their fishing, Father's Day 2015, and saw most of their boats following the foam of the now departed Ones by seeking the bounty that the Ones had found on the Lower Clark Fork of the Columbia River. Well, folks, the story of Montana is one of Mother Nature and, as I can personally attest by having now fished the same section of that wonderful river on each of the Day Ones, the river she is a changing! Whereas last Sunday with daughter Trina "Boots" Clausen we landed nearly fifty (yes, 50 fish) today with Montana Matters Troubadour Shane Clouse we landed exactly half that amount-in the course of the last seven days the river has dropped over two feet, the water flow is declining at the rate of 950 cfs and the water temperatures are resultantly increasing with fish, being adverse to changes (they are Capricorns like me!) they sought new depths and became more elusive.

Such was also the case with seven (count 'em!) other of the Group Two boats who each, to a boat, reported a very respectable bounty of between 25 and 30 fish per boat with the biggest in each being precisely 18" in length. So found Al "Good Earth" Baylacq fishing with school chum Zane "Coyote" Wiley; Kevin "CPA" Sweeny and son "Wee Brandon"; Shanna "Banana" Rodgers and Lori "Fawn Lady" Ware; Gisella "Doc" Carapia and Mardi "CT" Rodgers; Brad "Maven" Miller and son Jack "Son of Maven' [pictured above and more below] Miller; John "Big Enchilada McGhee" and John "Little Enchilada" Reynolds; and Joe "Compari" Ciatti and NWF's Tom France...sameo, sameo, sameo!

One of the Two's boats ventured to the Blackfoot River (which had fished poorly for the Ones) where Greg "Good Living" Livengood and boat mate Adam "Iron Man" Eichorn landed 25 fish in and amongst dancing and diving osprey and eagles, the largest being a 17" cutthroat; and the final two of the Two ventured to the Bitterroot River (where I bet most of the fleet will end up on their Day Two) where solo fisherman Matt Brown (fishing without ailing brother Joe) boated 10 fish with the largest being an 18" rainbow and father-son combo Jerry" The Juice" and Tony "No Neck" Pantaleo netting an aggregate of 25 Root bows, browns and cutthroats, the largest being a 25" brown.

So you can see from the above, the Twenty Inch Board remained untouched from the productivity of the Twos on their Day One, but all were so touched with the élan and enthusiasm of young twelve year old Jack Miller that he was awarded the Yellow Hat for his efforts on Day One, which so wore him out that as soon as he got back to headquarters he went to bed fully clothed and has yet to stir, so you know before he does of the real take home of the day-witnessed above with his kissing his first ever fish landed, a 16 ½" beauty (a tradition in these here parts, btw-you always kiss your first landed fly fish, kiddo!), smoking a celebratory (candy) cigar with guide Chad Dubois, and then being heard to say in Hooters (he having landed 7 fish, and father Brad only 6), "I crushed the Old Man!!"

Indeed, Jack, indeed.

So it is off to bed for a short RCR nap before arising again to fish with the Tattoos who are enjoying as much as the Ones, the culinary talents of our wonderful chef Maria Freeman.

Viva la Extravaganza!!

Rock Creek Ron
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