by Jack Ballard
Fishing with a winter angler’s best friend.
Montana river hatch charts are full of bugs with the word “fly” in their name—stoneflies, caddisflies, mayflies, etc. But these names are misleading as most of them are aquatic insects … Read more...
by Kubie Brown
Fall fishing in Montana.
Autumn is a magical time to be on the river in Montana. The riverbanks are frosty and crisp, the leaves are golden, and the air is filled with the reverberating calls of bull … Read more...
by Sam Lungren
Floating through the ages on the Bitterroot River
When the harsh Montana winter finally abates, the bitterroot plant blooms, with a brilliant pink blossom. Montana’s state flower also yields a meaty taproot that served as a critical … Read more...
Tips and tricks for bringing the sterling salmonid to net.
by Carson Sprague
Arctic grayling may not be Montana’s most particular fish, but there are still some things you ought to know before setting out in pursuit. Here’s a handful … Read more...
by John Bailey
Tying the Tan Cicada Foam.
For me, the Tan Cicada Foam pattern has proven very effective, especially as a second fly behind a salmonfly. In fact, one year I used it behind a large salmonfly pattern and … Read more...
by Luke Boyd
When fall and winter roll around, I have one thing on my mind: trout. The rivers are empty and the fish are hungry. What more does a guy want? As the water temps cool, fish often hold … Read more...
by John Holt
As the years pass, I find myself spending more and more time on the little creeks tumbling out of Montana’s mountain ranges. Unlike many big-name rivers, justly famous for their large trout but suffering from the near-gridlock … Read more...
by Drew Daniels
As water temps rise in the spring, bug activity increases, and trout take note. Throughout the spring, summer, and fall we get tons of different mayfly hatches, ranging from as big as a size 10 all the … 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 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.
