Big Horn River

Well, what a way to start! Our first "really big" stop was to the Big Horn River at Fort Smith, MT for fishing, eating, drinking, and smoking cigars! Now, that isn't a bad way to go! We camped at the Cottonwood Camp, a really nice camp ground within walking distance of the River. Barry helped arrange a fishing trip for the top RDs in DU back before he retired, so it was only fitting that we go to the river while they were there! Barry had called ahead for a reserved campsite, and told them we had a 33ft. 5er. When we got there, someone else ( a regular at the campground I guess), had taken our spot, so in the laid back spirit of Cottonwood Camp, we didn't argue and took one of the only other sites available. It was a lovely spot, but holy smokes it was small! There were of course lots of people in the campground, so when Barry backed the trailer in (no drive throughs) he had a large and attentive audience! This campsite was very narrow. Barry walked through it and eyed the large cottonwood tree that was growing right where our slide outs on the driver's side would normally go! So, Dorothy took her position as spotter behind the trailer, (waving arms at the ready) and Barry proceeded to back the big bugger into the spot! You have to be able to gauge how wide the trailer will be with the slide outs extended when you back in, (we have 3). I gotta tell ya, Barry did a stellar job of getting that baby in the spot. He had to back in as close as possible to the big tree and position the trailer so the tree would be between the slideouts. (I have to tell ya, I had my doubts.) But he backed it in like he had been doing it for years! The audience was even impressed with his prowness! When the trailer was where it had to be, there was approximately 12 inches between our extended dining room slide on the passenger side and the trailer next to us. (We joked with the folks in that trailer that we could dine together from our own trailers and pass the food back and forth through the window!) And on the other side, the big fat cottonwood was exactly where it had to be, with slides extended on both sides of it! What a stud that B-Man is!
The folks on both sides of us were great neighbors! One couple was from Canada, (they left the day after we got there) and Terry and Marsha on the other side were fulltimers, there for several weeks. The Canadians were replaced shortly by a couple from Mich. She, a professional flyfisher and he an environmental lawyer, able to work for the road via the net. The rose dailey, tied flys then went to the river in their individual pontoon boats. Great fish stories daily with them and Terry who also fished everyday. The Duck boys arrived the first night we were there, and of course it was great to see the old friends and meet the ones we didn't know very well. The MT Duck people had put together guides and boatsmen for the Duck boys, and they had a wonderful time. They stayed in the condo at the Cottonwood Camp which is a large double wide trailer on a foundation that sleeps 16! Great place to have a family reunion, I'm thinkin'. So on to the fishing. The Big Horn was pretty low, which wasn't all bad, as it made wade fishing easier. I will ask Barry to add to this post and tell you all the fishy details. It was great fishing, some on nymphs and the dry flying was good too. (That is always the good part.) So to sum up the Big Horn adventure, we had a great time, stayed a couple of days after the Duck boys left and fished. The weather was hot during the day and nice and cool at night, guess that is why we love WY & MT so much. And we continue.....