Davy Wotton's Fishing Report
October 2009
What I Did on My Summer Vacation
It’s mid August and the time of the year we make the 1600 mile trip to Kelley Galloups Slide Inn set on the banks of the river Madison, located a little west of Yellowstone National Park.
There are many reasons why l choose to travel the two days distance to this location. Aside from the resources of great trout waters in the region, we have many friends who live there.
But l did have to work some for a four-day period. I shot two new fly tying videos, one related to tying wet/spider and soft hackles flies, the other a beginner’s guide to fly tying. Both should be out in the New Year, all things equal as editing does take some time.
Aside from the rivers, and as much as l enjoy to fish new waters after spending countless thousands of hours on my home river, the White, it is the draw of fishing the lakes and still waters that is my great love. These were the mainstay of my fly fishing life when l lived in the UK.
Saying that, l was more than happy to hook and land a fine 23 inch Madison Brown, fishing a pair of soft hackles on 6X tippet. 
Those of you who have never had the experience of fishing lakes and still waters are missing a great deal of fly fishing fun. Often as not, trout in these waters are larger than the average size you will find in most rivers. Many applicable techniques far outweigh what you would ever use when fishing river systems.
In still waters, fish have to be located, then correct choice of fly line and flies to be used is all part of the equation. Then we have two options to fish, one being to wade and the other to fish from a boat. In some cases, options are dependent on access and regulations.
For me fishing wet flies through the lake surface and watching a fish rise to follow and take the fly is an awesome experience. You never know if it will be a moderate fish or a fish of many pounds. On the other hand, fishing either chironomids or other flies at depth still gets my adrenalin going in a hurry when the take is seen and the fish is hooked. It’s all great fly fishing fun at the end of the day.
The highlight was fishing Lewis Lake, found in the SE corner of Yellowstone. This lake holds a very special interest to for me for the reason that back in the 1890s Lough Leven strain Brown trout were introduced into North America, raised from eggs, and then transported to Yellowstone to be stocked into this lake system. Since this time, no further stockings have taken place which means that Lewis is just about the only known place that true strain Levens are to be found. Any place else where Brown trout are found in the USA, they were cross strained with other genetic strains introduced from Germany.
After hauling one of my boats to Yellowstone, we were able to obtain the required permit to go afloat and fish this hallowed water. I also invited one of my guide friends to join us for the day. For him this would be an experience. For us it would be a wonderful day’s fishing catching these difficult lake fish in an environment that has been their domain for 120 years. 
How many of you guys know of Maggie Merriman, The Fly Fishing Lady of the West? Maggie has been around in the Fly Fishing world for many years and taught the skills of fly fishing the western rivers, and still does. I have known Maggie for a very long time, and we made a point of meeting up with her in West Yellowstone where she resides during the fishing season. Maggie returns to warmer climates in California during the long cold winters of Montana.
Spending some time with Maggie is a hoot. She is one of a kind! So a day on the river together was in the cards, where we fished both the Firehole and Madison rivers. (pic of DW and Maggie ) Maggie told me she had a great interest to see my European style of fishing rivers, primarily wet fly fishing. So that is what l did. Maggie was interested in how l work flies through the meniscus and draw fish up to take those flies. And no doubt the fish found in those two rivers were eager to play the game that day. If you have never fished the Firehole, then you need to put it on your list. It is a fun river, be it fished with wet fly, soft hackles, nymphs, or dries. Our day ended with dinner at one of the local restaurants in Yellowstone before we bid farewell till we meet again next year.
For me the long drive back home is not as much fun as the journey out west. Some of that interstate highway is totally boring to say the least. In fact, l decided to leave my lake boat at Kelley’s in readiness for next year’s visit. This saved me a few hours since hauling a boat at 70 mph is not a good idea. But we did return with many great fly fishing memories of our time in Montana.
l was happy to be back home. I retrieved from the kennel Sian and Weeny my two Jack Russell’s, as well as checking on Shiloh my parrot and the many other animals l keep here on the farm. Then I prepared for Conclave and the fall guiding season.
Davy Wotton