by Jamie Rankin
Montana’s meandering, scenic rivers are known around the globe for their access to wild trout. Fly-fishers come from far and wide to chase browns, rainbows, and even the elusive cutthroat, all of which are born, and grow … Read more...
by Eli Fournier
What’s the best way to visualize the number one million? Abstractly, it’s about the population of Montana. In more relative terms, it’s the maximum capacity of 13 NFL stadiums put together, or approximately 40 Montana Griz stadiums … Read more...
by Peter Moreno
The crystal-clear alpine lake boiled with rings as the sun set; hungry trout feasted on surface bugs after their long winter dormancy. My first backcast caught on the small spruce behind me. It took me 30 minutes … Read more...
by Kurt Dehmer, artwork by Monte Dolack
Angling art is a niche genre. Those folks who enjoy, purchase, or collect it are most likely anglers, or at least fish enthusiasts. However, there is one “angling artist” that everyone in Montana … Read more...
by Pat Straub
Big trout—the monsters of Montana’s rivers, creeks, and lakes—lurk in lairs of undercut banks, deep drop-offs, and driftwood snags. They hold in those places where a good cast is earned and where small trout dare not swim. … Read more...
Learn a reach cast and access more water.
When targeting big fish, a reach cast is helpful because it keeps the line from floating downstream before the fly. It allows a streamer to land tight to the … Read more...
by E. Donnall Thomas Jr.
Since the afternoon heat had approached the frankly oppressive level, I was working the bank from the water wearing cut-offs and running shoes rather than the expensive chest waders that have become socially obligatory farther … Read more...
by Pat Straub
Coffey’s Sparkle Minnow. Few flies look as realistic as this when stripped through the water. With ice dubbing in flashy colors and a conehead, the Sparkle Minnow is akin to a Woolly Bugger on a Vegas binge.
by Dave Hemphill
It all started in 1952, when Bud Lilly, Montana’s father of fly fishing and often referred to as “a trout’s best friend,” bought his fishing shop in West Yellowstone. Two years later, his wife Pat delivered their … Read more...
by Dave Hemphill
In Montana, Bud Lilly’s name carries weight. Any angler who has knowledge of the West’s fly-fishing heritage has heard of the man. Legends may be soft-spoken, but their reputations don’t allow them to remain silent.
Born in … Read more...
