May 2011
Springtime in Montana weather and fishing always keeps you on your toes and all things set aside it really is one of my favorite times of year. Thinking outside the box has been my saving grace lately and the number of lakes and spring creeks in the area are fishing so good it'll leave you saying "Runoff, what runoff?" Had the pleasure of guiding Bernie and Eric, a couple of great guys, one who is well aware of the dangerous addiction of fly fishing and the other just getting his...
Some rivers are nearing flood stages and with more rain and warm weather in the forecast looks like more of the same. It's time to pump up the float tube and hit some stillwaters or book a day on a spring creek. Been fishing the creeks the last couple of days which has been truly a guilty pleasure things are so good. No 5lb slabs but nothing makes me smile like a day full of agressive 12" trout on nymphs, dries, and streamers is enough to almost make you forget the...
Normally a high and dirty Madison River doesn't keep me off the water. Getting out of the boat and thoroughly fishing slow the pockets and inside seams is the key to catching trout in these conditions. But right now, the problem is that the water temps are on the cold side and the fish aren't willing to move too far to eat a fly. You have to get your fly right in his face to have any chance at all of putting a trout in your hand. Yesterday, my client, Mr....
This past Monday fellow fishing gillie, Miles Nolte, and I headed to the land of no cell phone coverage, Ft. Smith, Montana. The goal was to disconnect from the real world and fish the Big Horn River before the heavy guide season starts. The first two days on the river were possibly the best dry fly fishing I have ever had. But the flies were the only thing dry during this wet and blustery 48 hour period. It rained from the time we left Bozeman on Monday morning, to the time we pulled...
Warm weather and sunshine have graced us with their presence lately which helps the snow melt and the rivers turn brown. What does this mean for the trout bum itching to get out there? Dirty water bugs ie: Black Wooly Buggers, Rubberleg Stonefly Nymphs, San Juan Worms/eggs and the like. The fishing can be great when muddy water flows it just requires a little different way of thinking. The insect life is still there and if you get your imitations right in front of their...
The Montana fly fishing guides at the Bozeman Angler are excited to announce that 2011 will be one of the best years for fly fishing in the Gallatin Valley in recent memory. This year’s winter was snowy and cold, which means a deep snow-pack and a high runoff that will start as soon as within the week. This will ensure excellent fly fishing on the Madison, Yellowstone, and Gallatin rivers starting as early as June and continuing late into the fall, so if even if you can't book a trip or make...
Had a lovely time this Sunday showing the willing participants of the Bozeman Angler's second Womens rowing clinic. The goal is to get girls confidant enough on the oars to enjoy the sport with their significant others and friends without the constant "Uh a bit closer to the bank....now we're too close." Everybody did a great job, had a blast, and raised some money for breast cancer research to boot. Thanks so much to the ladies and guides who donated their time and skills...