I spent last week travelling some thirty five miles on horseback, hiking almost the same, listening to wolves howl in the distance, watching them run up hillsides, spooking grizzly bears from the trail, revelling in campfire stories, gazing at a sky so full of stars you'd swear you could touch one, and guiding a fantastic group of fishermen into arguably the best Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout fishery remaining today.

We began our trip near the shores of Yellowstone Lake on Pelican Creek. The first day's ride took us through the beautiful Pelican Valley, and up to Mist Creek Pass. On day two we followed Mist Creek from its headwaters on the divide, watching it turn from a trickle that was barely big enough to get drinking water from to a beautiful trout stream that joins the Lamar River.  We camped at the junction of Mist Creek and the Lamar for three nights where we explore the upper reaches of the Lamar and its tributaries.

Late summer conditions provided cold, star-filled nights and hot, sunny afternoons. Each morning, as the sun slowly warmed the hillsides, the chirping of hoppers would grow from an occasional buzz to a constant volley. The water warmed soon after, and the upper Lamar's seemingly endless supply of Cutthroat Trout were on the hunt for terrestrials.

At the end of the day it was back to camp for some of George's cowboy cuisine, Bill's hand-picked wine, and a lively round campfire conversation.

Three days and dozens of cutthroat later, it was time to leave our upper Lamar basecamp and head down river.  Six miles downstream from its confluence with Mist Creek, the Lamar grows in size and flows in and out of small pocket canyons. Our final two nights were spent camped roughly a mile upstream of Miller Creek's junction with the Lamar where we enjoyed access to the middle Lamar's larger water and bigger fish.

On the seventh, and final, day of our trip we rode out ten miles to the Lamar Valley and our trailhead near the Soda Butte junction. The ride, and ultimately our trip was capped off by an up close and personal view of several hundred snorting, grunting bison spread out across the valley.

This was my 12th trip to the headwaters of the Lamar. Every time I reach that vast meadow at the junction of Mist Creek and the Lamar, or hear the wolves howling below Pollux and Castor peaks I'm struck with a feeling of raw wilderness that's unlike any other part of the park. It's a special place, and I'm happy to have shared it with another fantastic group of adventurous anglers. Many thanks to Denny, Bruce, Bill, Ken, Greg, Dave, George, and Bill. 

For a google map of our trip to the Lamar CLICK HERE.

To learn more about Oarsmen's Horse Trips CLICK HERE.

Steve Hoovler

September '09

John Hudgens, Phillip Rolles, and I just finished four days of awesome bonefishing in the Joulters off of North Andros in the Bahamas. John and I headed to Andros to visit with Phillip, and put the finishing touches on our Oarsmen Expeditions trip for next spring.

Once again the Joulters lived up to their reputation as one of the world's premier bonefishing destinations. We enjoyed one endless flat after another to ourselves, and found scores of bonefish in the 3 to 5 pound class with several fish pushing 8 pounds.

As is typical in the Joulters, all of our fishing was done on foot. We waded mile after mile of sand flats stalking singes, doubles, and schools of bonefish. The opportunities to wade for bonefish are more plentiful here in the Joulters than most places in the world.  The suspense and subsequent rush of hunting a fish by foot on the flats is second to none.

While on Andros we stayed at Phillips lovely guest house, and ate like kings thanks to our local chef and daily catches from the reef. Our comfortable lodging was clean, air conditioned and a short stroll down the waterfront to the legendary Sly Fox where the Kaliks are always cold and the conch salad is to die for.

Our dates and rates are set for next spring. Click Here for more info on this terrific saltwater trip.

Steve Hoovler

Oarsmen Expeditions

June '09

     We've wrapped up a great month of spring road trips across southwest Montana. Our hunt for fishable waters and rising trout took us to the Madison, Missouri, Gallatin, Ruby, Yellowstone, Boulder, and   Stillwater Rivers. Weather proved to be the biggest variable this spring. Weekly storms passed through the area keeping the conditions prime for Baetis and March Brown emergences, and the guides on their toes.

     We started our trips in the Yellowstone River drainage fishing the Yellowstone, Boulder, and Stillwater rivers. These lower areas tend to warm sooner in the spring and offer dry fly fishing as early as late-march. Fishing was good with a combination of nymphing and daily hatches of baetis and march browns. Water conditions held through the second week in April when warm temps brought the first snowmelt down from the mountains.

     The following week it was over to the Madison, Ruby, and Gallatin Rivers where cooler temps held back run-off leaving perfect water conditions. Baetis hatches were strong on the Ruby and Gallatin, while the Madison offered up consistent nymphing for big healthy rainbows.

     Next, it was off to the Missouri to catch the first baetis hatches of the season. Cool weather prolonged the start of the hatch until well into the afternoon. Nymphing was productive in the meantime, and once the bugs began, good numbers of big Missouri river bruisers came to the surface.

     Finally, we spent a week dodging muddy water and chasing mother's day caddis. We never did hit the caddis all that well, but we found plenty of baetis and march browns along the way. From the lower Madison to the Gallatin, Ruby and Yellowstone we managed to tap dance around run-off and find some great fishing.

     With a great spring season in the bag we're gearing up for some saltwater fishing before the summer season kicks off. Stay Tuned.