Big-Fish Tips & Techniques
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...
Category: Fall-Winter 2023
Chasing the Beast
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...
Warm Spell
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...
Top Flies for Big Fall Trout
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.
Lady of the Line
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...
Local Legend
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...
Battle of Bismarck
by Art Kehler
Slowly twirling across the water’s surface, the yellow leaf hinted at the gilded denizens lurking below. The exhilarating, cool air was aromatic with the odor of molding foliage. On that late-October day, I was standing by my … Read more...
Fly Tying: Magic Winter Tag Nymph
by Drew Daniels
If you’re looking for serenity and beautiful views, winter can be one of the best times to fish in Montana. The fish do not stop feeding, but you must change tactics from your typical warm-weather fishing. A … Read more...
Homeward Bound
by Eli Fournier
In early November, we load up the truck. Fly rods, camping box, cooler, canoe. Eleven hours to Montana. Gas is pricey, but worth it. This year’s lineup is better than the last: Big Horn, Yellowstone, Madison, Missouri, … Read more...
Passing the Torch
Nestled near the banks of the Yellowstone River, Dan Bailey’s is much more than Livingston’s go-to outdoor shop. Within its walls lives a reminder of the first days of Montana fly fishing. This legacy is carried through every fly tied, … Read more...