Late April, pre-runoff fishing. I thought the fishing would have been better, but I think the water was still fairly cold and the fish a little lethargic. The river had some color to it and is rising, but won't be in full runoff mode until mid May or so. I saw a few mother's day caddis here and there which surprised me and I saw a few large salmonfly nymphs. Don't know if this river gets those in any big numbers like the Henry's Fork which it runs into near Ashton, Idaho.

Fish were small rainbows but I did lose a 15-16" rainbow at the net. I am sure there are larger fish in the system but I am guessing they are lower down the river at this time of year. Rainbows move around quite a bit so I bet they are hanging out in the Henry's Fork or around the mouth of the Fall.

I fished upstream of Ashton. The river seems to change a lot in the lowlands with spillways and irrigation here and there. Upstream where the river is in the national forest, it is a wild and free river. Have read there are grizzlies up there as it flows out from Yellowstone. Very pleasant stream to fish and I would imagine the dry fly fishing is great later in the summer.

Probably the last time I fish the Pit. I am still recovering from the beating I took among the rocks and brambles. Tore a small hole in my net and lost my watch. This is the lower Pit 4/5 section at 550cfs. Anything higher and you are risking your life! Very dangerous river to fish, especially alone like I did.

The river is much larger and even more savage than the Pit 3 section, though slightly easier to walk around the bank (at least, at these flows). Saw a massive river otter which scared me at first. Somehow thought it was an Alligator for a brief second, LOL.

A large fish, I am guessing about 17-18" and most likely a brown, bent my hook in the strong current. I would recommend using 3x fluoro here. The pocket water is insane and if a fish gets downstream it is game over. I lost another good fish about the same size when he got below me in another pocket.