Enjoying The Outdoors Year Round: Captain’s Column
By Matt Schauer

Posted: December 27, 2012

The year is fast coming to a close. 2012 was an interesting year to say the least. The year was full of events that were topped off with the predicted world actually coming to an end. This was an event that was suppose to take place late last week, and by all accounts did not happen. I don’t know about you but when the world actually does come to an end I would rather be caught by surprise then have a date set in stone.

This is the time of the year that we should reflect back on what took place in 2012. For me it was a very good year full of fishing and hunting days. I was able to enjoy just about everything that Montana and Idaho has to offer when it comes to fishing.

The year started out ice fishing with Jim Johnson and Dennis Peterson, from Lincoln, and Steve Knudson, from Billings, on Nelson Reservoir, east of Malta. We caught quit a few 2 to 4 pound northern pike and some nice 2 to 3 pound walleyes.

Steelhead fishing was next on the calendar for February and March, Johnson and I had one of the best days on the Clearwater River in Idaho that any angler could ask for as we caught and released so many steelhead in one day that we actually lost count.

In late April, it was time to head to Holter to try my luck on rainbow trout. The reservoir, located north of Helena, once again didn’t disappoint.

In June, it was back to Idaho to try my luck fishing for king salmon on the Clearwater River. This time I convinced local steelhead and king salmon guru Tom Steinbrenner, of Missoula, to come with me. It was a successful trip with Steinbrenner tips and knowledge of the fishery paying big dividends.

The latter part of June and July my fishing attention turned to walleye fishing. I have said many times that if you want to catch walleyes then there are two months that you want to be on the water and those months are June and July.

The first stop was Canyon Ferry Reservoir and then from there Jim Farrington, from Stevensville, and I headed for Fort Peck Reservoir. We were lucky as we hit both lakes while the walleye fishing was hot. I headed back to Fort Peck in July and had phenomenal trip fishing for bass, walleye and northern pike with brother in law Tim Frost and Johnson.

My hunting season was highlighted by my first ever waterfowl hunting trip to Canada. I went with my brother Dan Ward, Jens Gran, of Polson and Rob Hart, of Missoula. Dan.

Then I headed to eastern Montana to fill my antelope tag. Hunting for elk and the cow elk I eventually bagged consumed just about all of November for me.

So now we head into 2013 and I am looking forward to it. It will be our 15th year doing the Montana Outdoor Radio Show, which is now heard on 22 radio stations every week. plus our web site montanaoutdoor.com is enjoying 120,000 page views each month and 4170 fans follow us on facebook.

I hope that your 2012 went well and that you all have a Happy New Year!

-Captain

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