by Judy Lehmberg, BioPics Photography, www.vernelehmberg.com (25% off sale of all photos until midnight tonight if you use the code “4000likes” without the quotation marks)
I’ve told you about Armstrong’s Spring Creek we fished a few days ago now I want to show you the other creek we fished, Nelson’s. Armstrong’s is on the west side of the Yellowstone River, Nelson’s is on the east side. They are both near the north end of Paradise Valley. We really like both of them but Nelson’s is special because they allow only 6 people a day and we have been fishing with the same people on July 15th for years and years. We only see them once a year but we really look forward to seeing our “Nelson’s” friends and the creek itself.
Spring creeks are special. Because the water comes straight out of the ground the temperature doesn’t fluctuate as much as in other creeks or rivers. That relatively constant water temperature allows a longer growing season for vegetation and the aquatic insects trout love. So there are lots of big, healthy trout.
The above photo is of a pale morning dun (PMD) mayfly on my husband’s finger. It is one of the most common aquatic insects on these spring creeks and is therefore a really important part of the trout’s diet.
Well maintained spring creeks normally have many large trout, and that is why we love spring creeks. Nelson’s also has a healthy population of cedar waxwings. You don’t see them until around 10:30 or 11:00 am when the PMDs start hatching. One year I was standing quietly watching fish rise and a cedar waxwing landed on the end of my fly rod. It happened again two more times that day. It has never happened before that day or after, but I keep hoping one of them will feel at ease with me and do it again.
They are such delicate birds and I love their quiet, high pitched call.
While I was busy filming a trout rising I heard something behind me. I turned around and just as I did a female deer popped her head up out of the tall grass.
At first I thought she was alone but then her baby popped its head up too.
See that little indentation on the top of the babies’ head in front of its ear? I think that is where an antler will start growing so I guess it is a male.
We only get one day a year on this lovely spring creek but we always enjoy that day and start looking forward to next year on our way out the gate.
Thank you both. Kitty I totally agree, I am lucky.
The whitetails are beautiful.
I call them ‘supermodels’ of the deer family, they are such elegant animals.
Thank you for your interesting stories.
What a wonderful story, Judy. How lucky you are to have such beautiful places to visit and photograph. I love the photos, especially the cedar waxwing.