Had the time of my life for two days in late May of 2011 when on the Beaverhead as an obviously inexperienced fly fisher I had the good fortune to strike up a conversation with Erik Mondragon. Hell this guy was barely wading in the river and plucking his line down not more than 10 feet in front of him and hauling fish out like he owned the river. Everyone else was throwing 60 feet of line out and beating the water and a few fish over the head and doing next to nothing. Erik befriended me and for the next two days served as my guide on the river and taught me how to fish. We traded stories, dodged a couple thunderstorms, had breakfast in Twin Bridges, managed to stay within the strict confines of the law and not get arrested.
After Erik left on the second day I hooked what I suspect was a large brown trout and for the next five minutes got towed downstream by what felt like a garbage truck. The fish broke off and part of me was glad that he did cuz I knew that Erik would be back to fish there again some day. Erik– that one I left is for you!

Thanks for a great two days on the Beaverhead!

Barry Craig