RIVER OF RETURN

THE SMITH RIVER IS MONTANA’S MOST COVETED FLY-FISHING FLOAT

DENNIS PASTUCHA

THE PONDEROSA PINES THAT LINED THE RIVERBANKS AND CLIMBED ALONG THE HILLSIDES RELEASED THEIR POLLEN IN A YELLOW HAZE AS THE SUN BEGAN DESCENDING BEHIND THE RIDGELINE AT OUR FIRST CAMPSITE. STREAKS OF SUNLIGHT ILLUMINATED THE FLICKERING CADDIS AND PALE MORNING DUNS LIKE SWIRLING BALLS OF LIGHT. A HANDFUL OF PMDS RODE THE CURRENTS, DRYING THEIR WINGS IN THE WANING LIGHT, OBLIVIOUS TO THEIR INEVITABLE DEMISE IN THE JAWS OF THE SMITH’S WILD TROUT. At least that’s what I envisioned in my mind, and true to form while fly fishing somewhere new, the river chose to surprise and intrigue me. The duns remained untouched through prime feeding lanes, a tease for this mayfly-obsessed angler. Our guide slowly backrowed and slid the raft ashore onto a pebble beach. Three young gear boaters…

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Fly Fisherman (Digital) - 1 Issue, October/November/December 2024

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