The lodge is within reach of five proper rivers and one remarkable little private creek. Two rivers, the Beaverhead and the Big Hole, are well-known sizeable waters. A third, the Jefferson, is formed by the joining of the first two and is a scandalously under-fished sleeper. The last two, the Ruby and the Red Rock, are smaller rivers, which I didn't fish during my visit in mid-September. But now to that extraordinary little creek.

Lyle, the guide, pulled up next to what could unkindly be described as an irrigation ditch, only 6 ft. or so wide and running straight along the side of the fields, like a miniature Itchen carrier. I looked a little skeptical, so Lyle grinned and said "Oh, they're in there, all right!", "let Bill fish first, then", I said. "I'll take some photos."
Sliding down into the creek, I began to see how it could hold big fish. The water was clear and the gravel clean and bright, with substantial ranunculus beds full of shrimps and nymphs and deep holes on the inside of every miniature bend. It began to seem unimportant that if I reached out my hands I could touch the head-high grasses on both banks. A hunter passed in his truck, and the buzz of grasshoppers surrounded us, providing genuinely big, and it was my turn to fish, too!
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