Most of these fish were pretty easy access, even for an old guy like Montgomery, with the exception of the gila trout. The gila was only made legal to fish for again only two years ago, the first time in 41 years. So when we wrote the book, it wasn't even (legally) possible for him to fish for them. The remote location where gilas are found will continue to protect them (at least from anglers), I think. It was about 15 miles round trip, the trail is rough, steep and really overgrown, and the day I chose to go, it was a real scorcher. I ended up drinking a freakin' gallon of water that day.
I could've stayed overnight, but the last entry in the trailhead logbook was from a month before and that night it was torrential rain and thunder and lightning, on par with what we saw in Montana that time. I'm glad I gutted it out and chilled that night in a well-deserved motel room.
Montgomery would've approved...
--Fly Guy Dave
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