Fishing is synonymous with fun for the Travel Wizard. In the wilds of Montana the hunt for the honey hole, the Utopian wonderland where the fish are big, hungry, and biting, is a very real thing. Rumors suggest the best fishing is East of the Rockies. In the vastness of Montana there are many little blue dots on the map that make the imagination ponder what they hold. The day we found Pishkun Reservoir was one of those days we just picked a spot on the map and drove there....in search of the great hidden fisherman's pot of gold.
Nestled just west somewhere between Augusta and Choteau is the reservoir. It is very cozy next to and integrated with a Wildlife Refuge which shares its name. The Rockies rise up like massive teeth against a robins egg blue sky painted with wisping and dense clouds which give reprieve from a hot sun in late summer. The nearest Hwy is 287, but due East is the 15 eventually, and Great Falls. I suggest you have a full tank of gas in case you spelunk like we do on the forest roads. You will not find a gas station often, and the nearest is probably in the aforementioned Towns above.
The day we ventured out we strived to arrive before 6 a.m. All roads in were covered with dense fog and the deer were out in numbers. It was slow going, but we had our coffee, cocoa, and excitement to help us press forth into the unknown. Of course, we had our trusty vintage Skamper pop up camper on the truck in case a storm came, we got tired, or needed a rest. If you are traveling with pets or children in bear country I highly recommend this investment.
Eventually we arrived and the sky cleared and rewarded us with majestic views. We drove through the camp ground, which was empty. In fact there were no people except us anywhere to be seen. The camp ground is cozy with lean-to type shelters here and there for campers. The water is a little shallow on that edge of the lake for fishing though....
In preparation for our journey I had downloaded a nautical chart of the reservoir so we had an idea where the deeper holes were to fish at. This is a good habit to get in to so you can waste as little time as possible before getting your line in the water. We chose a nice spot where the depth dropped fast just around the corner from the Northern edge of the "dam" which is a earth dam. There is a nice little pull off to the left of the road. You have to walk down about 25 feet to get to the water.
On this day we used a very simple set up of plain line, a weight, bobber, and hook. The bait was big fat worms. We spaced ourselves out as fresh air moved softly through our hair. We settled on to the rocks to wait, listen, and just be.
A whole hour went by before magic happened. We laughed and teased each other. Our dogs sniffed the beach which had rocks covered with sleeping bugs as it was too cool yet for them to wake up. One lone truck drove by and waved.
Suddenly, the Travel Wizards bobber plunged under the water and gave the pole a yank! I yelped as he bravely began reeling...not too fast and not too slow! Mom! Mom! Fish on! I ran for him with the net in my hands and soon a big daddy trout was flopping close to shore. We scooped him up and he was a big boy! That familiar sparkle glowed in the Travel Wizards eyes and pride visibly welled up his throat and colored his cheeks a jolly rose color.
The fever kicked in as sure as could be. "Mommy! help me get my line back in!" Travel Wizard had the equivalent of gold fever for the fishes now, just like we all get after a good catch. Out zipped his line. It was a good cast. Then.... BAM! Fifteen minutes later the boy had another, and this time the pole bent very low! Was it bigger?
The battle was on and my boy wanted to bring it in on his own. This one fought hard. He tried to tangle the line with mine and pulled my bobber under as well. That did not work and eventually he was on shore making his distaste known as he opened his mouth and closed it and flipped his tale. He was a beautiful catch.
While Mom and Dad tried to catch some of the bounty, this time only the Travel Wizard succeeded. Eventually we just drove along the edges of the lake enjoying the views. We encountered deer wandering and many rustic camping spots with little fire rings for those who prefer solitude over a accessible campground bathroom.
Soon little rain drops speckled the stones on the beaches and after glancing up at the Rockies we knew it was time to depart. A large dark mass of cloud was rolling down the canyon, and it was rumbling a little. We were completely satisfied with this trip and knew it was one for the record books for the boy. It will always be one of our favorites.
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