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TAKE ME FISHING!!!
When your life partner, kids, or friends are down in the dumps, sad, cranky, and out of sorts, they send […]
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THE SECRET STREAM!!!
We all have that secret hot spot that we look forward to fishing. It may be a stream, river, or […]
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WHY HIRE A FISHING GUIDE?
Fishing guides are easy to come by in Montana. Many see guiding as Big money. Others are great rowers but […]
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DRESSING!!!
I always wondered why gutting a critter is called “Dressing”. It does sound better “gutting” but you certainly do […]
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TROUT FISHING IS CHANGING!!!
The BEST trout fishing in the world is changing. Blame it on global warming, climate change, overfishing, development, or pollution. […]
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BREAKING BREAD!!!
Hunting or fish camp meals are fast, tasty, and plenty. The hunters and anglers are tired and hungry after a […]
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MASTERING MELONS!!!
Sweet, ripe, full, and tasty melons are a summer treat. Cantaloupe and watermelons are the most common melons that are […]
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SMOKIN GOOD!!!
Trout are a salmonid and can be cooked to tasty perfection. Freshwater trout tend to be milder and have a […]
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MONTANA GRIT!!!
Big Sky Country has its own special vistas, places, and flavors. Food without spices can be less appealing. There are […]
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BIG SKY BEST?
Big Sky Country is certainly the Last Best Place, but for what? For every person you ask, you will get […]
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BEST OF THE BEST!!!
We have all been influenced by great mentors and fishermen. As kids, we were exposed to men and women […]
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FAT and HAPPY CAMP MEAL!!!
When hunters return from the hills, they will be hungry. Carbs, meat, pasta, and potatoes will fit their bill and […]
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MONTANA’S BEST!!!
This is the time of year when Big Sky Country Shines. The rain slows, the warmer temperature means comfortable weather. […]
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BERTHA’S BEST!!!
Over the years I have guided boatloads of fishermen. Some were celebrities, many were newbies, and lots of kids. I […]
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WASTED STEAKS!!!
Great steaks are becoming hard to find in Montana. The best steaks often came from small, family-owned cafes and restaurants. […]
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THE BUTT FLY!!!
Every fly angler has a ton of their favorite flies. One box may be full of nymphs, another is loaded […]
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FOOD ON FIRE!!!
Humans have been cooking over fire since fire was discovered. Fire cooked foods are healthier and more flavorful. The charcoal […]
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IS NEW BETTER?
Sportsmen love new stuff. It seems that we never have enough hats, fishing rods, guns, gadgets, garments, and outdoor stuff. […]
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MONTANA ESCAPE!!!
The trend of people moving to Montana may be changing. According to the National Census numbers, more people are leaving […]
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DOG HAIR!!!
Anyone with a dog knows that shed hair is a problem. Hairy dust bunnies gather in corners of the floor, […]
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KNOT KNOWLEDGE !!!
Fishing knots are critical to fishing success. Different knots are required for certain line types, gear, and presentations. Not all […]
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SQUITOS!!!
Big Sky Country is also home to huge blood sucking mosquitoes. They grow big in the Rocky Mountains. These blood […]
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MONTANA NAMES!!!
Everyone has a little cowboy or cowgirl spirit. Humans are Hunters and Gatherers. Our pioneer spirit continues to bring folks […]
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KISS MY BASS!!!
Bass fishing is a great sport but is limited in Montana. Since bass are not native to our state, the […]
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HOWARD’S GREENS!!!
Years ago, we would take annual trips to fish Canada. The local outdoor shows would come to town, and we […]
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BUTTERFLY FISH TRICK!!!
Filleting trout is a learned skill. Butterflying a fish is even tougher and takes a lot of practice with a […]
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THE LAST BEST FISHING HOLES!!!
Secret Fishing Holes have become fewer and further between. There seem to be more folks that have discovered the joys […]
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PIONEER PLANT!!!
Rhubarb is in full leafy growth, just in time for Strawberry season. Each Summer, I harvest several crops of this […]
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MEMORIAL DAY!!!
We just celebrated Memorial Day. This holiday honors the memory of great soldiers that helped to keep America free and […]
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HAIL and HIGH WATERS!!!
Years ago, I was guiding some ladies from Georgia. We put in at Warm Springs access, along the lower Madison, […]
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ROUGHING IT!!!
Camping is simple and fun. It is supposed to be about enjoying nature without modern conveniences. Yes, you may need […]
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SAME OLD LINE!!!
Fly lines have come a long way. The first fly lines were made from waxed and braided horse tail […]
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NET JOBS!!!
Pictures of trout and other fish in nets are on the rise. Many Catch and Release fishermen want a picture […]
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THE FLYING FISHERMAN!!!
Outdoorsmen love their outdoor shows. Some shows focus on education, others on unique destinations, some promote hunting or fishing, others […]
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CUTS COMING BACK!!!
Yellowstone Lakes cutthroat trout population is coming back. This unique native trout has survived the relentless attack from invasive Lake […]
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FLASH and TRASH!!!
High and off-color water doesn’t mean no fishing, you just need to change strategies. A fish must eat, and a […]
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MATERS!!!
We used to call Tomatoes “Maters” back in the day. Summer tomatoes are tasty and a wonderful garden crop. These […]
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FIREPOWER!!!
Most outdoorsmen have a preferred way to build a fire. Different fires have different uses. Some may be for cooking […]
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A BUTTE LIMIT!!!
Butte was once the wealthiest city in North America. It was also the capital of Montana. The “Treasure State” is […]
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JUST A LITTLE FURTHER!!!
Sometimes an angler must cast a really long way. Perhaps they just saw a huge fish surface, or closer casts […]
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and a SPORTSMAN LIVES HERE!!!
Montana is full of outdoorsmen and women. Many folks migrated here to enjoy the diversity of hunting, fishing, and […]
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LADIES FIRST!!!
Times have certainly changed in America. It’s become hard to know when to hold a door, take off your hat, […]
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THE NEW BIG BANANA!!!
Back in the day, I was fishing in a creek in Maryland called Deer Creek. It was near Pennsylvania and […]
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ANSWERING THE CALL!!!
When a hunter calls in the game it is very exciting. Animal calls let the hunter talk to the animals. […]
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FISH LOAF!!!
Fishermen love meat loaf. The leftover meat loaf sandwiches the next day are great. So why not make a meat […]
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PRESENTATION!!!
Catching fish on a fly is simply about ONE thing. The fisherman must Present the fly so that it […]
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SPINNER WINNER!!!
Spin fishing is great fun. Tossing metal around ponds and rivers attracts hungry fish and aggressive strikes. These treble hooked […]
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FREE GEAR!!!
All sportsmen love FREE stuff. Fishermen can always use more hooks, sinkers, lures, or flies. Hunters always need some extra […]
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CASTING!!!
Casting a line takes some skill. You also need to practice. Eventually, muscle memory and feel will take over. Casting […]
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FISH COOKERY!!!
Hopefully, some of snowpack will melt and great fishing will begin. So far, ice covered lakes, snow drift lined rivers, […]