Sales Trip

 I have been doing a lot of research on the Bozeman and surrounding market for work. I needed to get out on the road after some tough news on a big project that went to the bad guys!... Sales can be tough

 On the way I stopped for as few hours on the Madison. 2 browns, 5 rainbows and 5 whitty's.

 Felt so good to be in the sun and fly fishing.

 Bozeman was really cool. In the Cannery District the houses were all older but with modern updates. All the breweries I called on had full bike racks, creeks and rivers flowing through backyards, college town, etc... the town has a lot going for it.

 I ate dinner at the famous Ted's Tuesday night and had the Bison burger with jalapenos, swiss and guac. It was so good...

 I stayed at the Heritage Montana Inn on main street and as I walked in the lobby an older gentlemen was talking to the front desk gal.. some of the conversation went like this, all the mean while she was checking me in typing away at her computer... 

"how old are you, 20?"  Old guy

"haha 21" Front desk gal

"What time you get off?" 

"as much as possible, haha (laughter)." said the young 21 year old girl...

"well I might stain my pants tonight" said the old man.

"I can run a load of laundry if you need" young girl

I finally cut in... "look, it's late... can I get my room key?" 

It went on from there and when I came back down for ice they were still at it. Probably harmless but WTF???

 

 I went on 10 calls and saw 9 people. Good timimg on a few of them. I like my chances with at least two of those buyers... I stopped at a bar in Ennis for a burger and listened to the local bar tender gossip with the locals. In a town where billionaires mingle with fishing guides and bar tenders it made for interesting listening...

"who the hell was that guy?" local guy

"he was one of the original facebook guys, he has piles of cash and he bought a ranch near Palisades..." "he is digging out a pond and has contractor's everywhere up there..." "he is a nice guy, but crazy as fuck."

The stalemate continues in the Madison valley between "locals" and rich guys from Texas and California moving and "buying all the land!"

Above is the Spinx in the Madison Range. 

Drove by the cabin overlooking the Madison we rented with the Cutty's, Frsich's and Downing's last summer. What a spot...

 Hit the Madison on the way out back to Utah and caught a few memorable fish. Jefferey turned me onto a secret log jam where he lost a big one last summer. I found the said log jam and caught this guy... He tore off like a freight train and then the line went limp... I thought I lost him and started to look up to the sky in sadness. He turned down stream though and headed straight to the log jam. He was still on!!!!

 A few minutes later I had him in my net.

 Something about this river has me very excited and flustered. I lost 4 rigs and I spent a bunch of time in timeout re-rigging. Nervously tying new flies on. I also found my self sweating and heart rate up as I worked up stream trying to beat the sunset.

 Another beauty..

 Caught some sweet fish..

 There is a BIG brown under a log that I have hooked twice and I have yet to land him. I am really hoping I land him someday.

 A look up stream

 Why I fly fish and why I sell in places like this is the sheer beauty and peace.

 A view on the way out.

 Stayed at Pond's Lodge in Island Park. Took in the Giant's game and had a pizza at the bar. Giant's are in the world series!!!

 Got a new lid from my customer. I paid full price though... I will rock it with pride!

I will be putting some serious time in trying to get some new accounts in this area of the world.

Thanks,

Chris Giles

Bear Lake with the Frisch's, Downing's and McGuinn's

Loaded a trailer with everybody's bikes and chariot's.

I couldn't resist going up a day early though and go back to one of my favorite places... The kids hiked down to the river once the big bull took off up the hill... That time of year.

The kids had their water shoes on and they were having a blast...

Ash and Dylan.

Mean while anxious Dad tried to show the kids he could in fact catch a fish...

 

There we go.

Crossing the river one foot at a time.

Liv battles her first Cutty! On a streamer!!!!

After Dad's diversion we went and met up with the Frisch's, Downings and McGuinn's at Bear Lake for some family time.

The first day was great and we all went to the beach. 

The second day was raining and the rest of the weekend as well. We still managed some bike rides, pool time, good meals, game night, Utah football game (they lost to WSU), huge laughs, and some really great friends.

Downing found a Mexican restaurant while on our bike ride. What a great trip!

Thanks,

Chris Giles

Strawberry with Bills and Grider

Bill's put out a call to meet him in Heber at 6:00 AM. Grider came along and we were on the water before the sun came up!

The sunset was a sight!

Bill's with a real nice Cutty.

Grider with a big Rainbow.

Tried all sorts of stuff and it got slow.. We went up to the narrows and I caught a few rainbows on streamers. So nice to float around early in the morning.

Grider trying his hand at trolling and he caught a few.

Overall it was a bit slow. Hopefully we can head back up right when the ice is going on and catch a few hungry ones getting ready for hibernation...

Thanks,

Chris Giles

Jeffery's Cabin

 Talk about the half light of the canyon... The view from Jeffery's cabin looking down stream. 

I have been lucky to enjoy this sanctuary on several occasions.  I remember one time showing up with Jeff and meeting his parents at the cabin (circa 2003???) . We both un-packed in the back bed room and we both ended up taking a long afternoon nap. One of the only naps I have ever taken... The windows black out and the feel of an old rustic cabin put you at ease to say the least. Back then its the pressure of school and now days jobs, etc.... The cabin just has a good feel...

Grider and I met at the gate that afternoon and we fished for a few hours together. Once we knew Jeff was close we went back to the cabin. He was so ready to catch a fish he stripped down to his boxers and I loaned him my already rigged rod so we could catch the last of the light. He caught two and we called it a night. Tony also showed up that night after he took in the cougar game. Haha... See said Adam's boxers below...

 Haha!!!!

 Here is the view from the front deck. I slept out in the screened in deck that night. The sound of the river, wind and thunder hit the spot. Late in the night the rain moved in and the tin roof didn't disappoint.  I see a tin roof in my future...

 This was the honey hole of the trip. Most of the fish we caught were out of here. Bunch of small rainbows, couple of really good cutty's, no browns (which is a good sign for the NATIVES) and one whitty. Nobody got skunked. .

 Jefferey's cabin with the screened in porch.

We played poker that night and enjoyed sloppy joe's prepared by the Beaver! Ask anyone who won the poker game that night and they will tell you one name...

 Group shot on Sunday before we headed out. The fishing was tough but nobody cared to much. The leaves are changing  and it was nice to be fishing with buddies...

One last shot of Grider, Tony and Adams.

Thanks,

Chris Giles

Hebgen Lake (Pemi's Cabin)

 We have spent many days at rugby under the cottonwood trees at Sugar House Park, talking about Pemi's cabin on Hebgen lake. We have had many "almost" trips but it has never really gelled.  This year it finally did.

 Beez caught some nice fish! He would have eaten this guy but he decided to let him go.

It was Dalt, Beez and I that drove up and met Pemi at his cabin. 

The first night we were all very excited and played many tunes on the guitars/banjos by the big rock fire place. This cabin is a classic! Giant stuffed trout adorn the walls along with family photos. Screened in porches and original wood work make this place feel rugged and perfect. This place is a true fisherman's paradise. With Henry's Fork and the Madison less than 20 minutes away it is right in the thick of the West's trout country.

 We started the day fishing from Pemi's boat on Hebgen Lake. We found some famous "Gulpers" but it took precision casting and when you got to close they would spook. We watched one fish probably take 40 dry flies within two minutes. Heart wrenching stuff... After a long morning on the lake with a few takes we decided to get back in our comfort zone... a river. (above Dalton casts to fish on the Madison above Hebgen Lake)

 We caught a few in here. We were in the exploring mood though and we set off for the South Fork of the Madison. It was smaller and more manageable.We all caught some really great fish! 

 Beez smiling at a nice Rainbow..

 Great meals all weekend that we all cooked at the cabin together. Three nights of great food, company, music and we even caught a few rugby games on TV by the fire.

 Got to have a selfie...

 Dalt and Beez cross the river after a long day.

 Dalt and Beez on the South Fork taking turns slaying the fish. We caught Rainbows, Browns and Whitty's on this great stretch. Really nice pools and runs.

 Beez takes a quiet moment in TROUT COUNTRY! 

 Pemi took over the front seat and Beez's hat! His rain jacket never came off! 

It rained most of the weekend. The patter on the metal roof at night really hit the spot. I cracked my window so I could hear and smell the rain.

Dry flies were not on so we spent alot of time on wet flies and streamers. 

I lost a really big Brown (probably the biggest fish I have ever hooked). Dalton also lost a monster Rainbow. That's what keeps you coming back I guess. Hope to be back soon...

Giles