• TAKE ME FISHING!!!

    When your life partner, kids, or friends are down in the dumps, sad, cranky, and out of sorts, they send […]

  • THE SECRET STREAM!!!

    We all have that secret hot spot that we look forward to fishing. It may be a stream, river, or […]

  • 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 […]

  • DRESSING!!!

      I always wondered why gutting a critter is called “Dressing”. It does sound better “gutting” but you certainly do […]

  • TROUT FISHING IS CHANGING!!!

    The BEST trout fishing in the world is changing. Blame it on global warming, climate change, overfishing, development, or pollution. […]

  • BREAKING BREAD!!!

    Hunting or fish camp meals are fast, tasty, and plenty. The hunters and anglers are tired and hungry after a […]

  • MASTERING MELONS!!!

    Sweet, ripe, full, and tasty melons are a summer treat. Cantaloupe and watermelons are the most common melons that are […]

  • SMOKIN GOOD!!!

    Trout are a salmonid and can be cooked to tasty perfection. Freshwater trout tend to be milder and have a […]

  • MONTANA GRIT!!!

    Big Sky Country has its own special vistas, places, and flavors. Food without spices can be less appealing. There are […]

  • BIG SKY BEST?

    Big Sky Country is certainly the Last Best Place, but for what? For every person you ask, you will get […]

  • BEST OF THE BEST!!!

      We have all been influenced by great mentors and fishermen. As kids, we were exposed to men and women […]

  • 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 […]

  • MONTANA’S BEST!!!

    This is the time of year when Big Sky Country Shines. The rain slows, the warmer temperature means comfortable weather. […]

  • BERTHA’S BEST!!!

    Over the years I have guided boatloads of fishermen. Some were celebrities, many were newbies, and lots of kids. I […]

  • WASTED STEAKS!!!

    Great steaks are becoming hard to find in Montana. The best steaks often came from small, family-owned cafes and restaurants. […]

  • THE BUTT FLY!!!

    Every fly angler has a ton of their favorite flies. One box may be full of nymphs, another is loaded […]

  • FOOD ON FIRE!!!

    Humans have been cooking over fire since fire was discovered. Fire cooked foods are healthier and more flavorful. The charcoal […]

  • IS NEW BETTER?

    Sportsmen love new stuff. It seems that we never have enough hats, fishing rods, guns, gadgets, garments, and outdoor stuff. […]

  • MONTANA ESCAPE!!!

    The trend of people moving to Montana may be changing. According to the National Census numbers, more people are leaving […]

  • DOG HAIR!!!

    Anyone with a dog knows that shed hair is a problem. Hairy dust bunnies gather in corners of the floor, […]

  • KNOT KNOWLEDGE !!!

    Fishing knots are critical to fishing success. Different knots are required for certain line types, gear, and presentations. Not all […]

  • SQUITOS!!!

    Big Sky Country is also home to huge blood sucking mosquitoes. They grow big in the Rocky Mountains. These blood […]

  • MONTANA NAMES!!!

    Everyone has a little cowboy or cowgirl spirit. Humans are Hunters and Gatherers. Our pioneer spirit continues to bring folks […]

  • KISS MY BASS!!!

    Bass fishing is a great sport but is limited in Montana. Since bass are not native to our state, the […]

  • HOWARD’S GREENS!!!

    Years ago, we would take annual trips to fish Canada. The local outdoor shows would come to town, and we […]

  • BUTTERFLY FISH TRICK!!!

    Filleting trout is a learned skill. Butterflying a fish is even tougher and takes a lot of practice with a […]

  • 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 […]

  • PIONEER PLANT!!!

    Rhubarb is in full leafy growth, just in time for Strawberry season. Each Summer, I harvest several crops of this […]

  • MEMORIAL DAY!!!

    We just celebrated Memorial Day. This holiday honors the memory of great soldiers that helped to keep America free and […]

  • HAIL and HIGH WATERS!!!

    Years ago, I was guiding some ladies from Georgia. We put in at Warm Springs access, along the lower Madison, […]

  • ROUGHING IT!!!

    Camping is simple and fun. It is supposed to be about enjoying nature without modern conveniences. Yes, you may need […]

  • SAME OLD LINE!!!

      Fly lines have come a long way. The first fly lines were made from waxed and braided horse tail […]

  • NET JOBS!!!

    Pictures of trout and other fish in nets are on the rise. Many Catch and Release fishermen want a picture […]

  • THE FLYING FISHERMAN!!!

    Outdoorsmen love their outdoor shows. Some shows focus on education, others on unique destinations, some promote hunting or fishing, others […]

  • CUTS COMING BACK!!!

    Yellowstone Lakes cutthroat trout population is coming back. This unique native trout has survived the relentless attack from invasive Lake […]

  • 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 […]

  • MATERS!!!

    We used to call Tomatoes “Maters” back in the day. Summer tomatoes are tasty and a wonderful garden crop. These […]

  • FIREPOWER!!!

    Most outdoorsmen have a preferred way to build a fire. Different fires have different uses. Some may be for cooking […]

  • A BUTTE LIMIT!!!

    Butte was once the wealthiest city in North America. It was also the capital of Montana. The “Treasure State” is […]

  • JUST A LITTLE FURTHER!!!

    Sometimes an angler must cast a really long way. Perhaps they just saw a huge fish surface, or closer casts […]

  • and a SPORTSMAN LIVES HERE!!!

      Montana is full of outdoorsmen and women. Many folks migrated here to enjoy the diversity of hunting, fishing, and […]

  • LADIES FIRST!!!

    Times have certainly changed in America. It’s become hard to know when to hold a door, take off your hat, […]

  • THE NEW BIG BANANA!!!

    Back in the day, I was fishing in a creek in Maryland called Deer Creek. It was near Pennsylvania and […]

  • ANSWERING THE CALL!!!

    When a hunter calls in the game it is very exciting. Animal calls let the hunter talk to the animals. […]

  • FISH LOAF!!!

    Fishermen love meat loaf. The leftover meat loaf sandwiches the next day are great. So why not make a meat […]

  • PRESENTATION!!!

      Catching fish on a fly is simply about ONE thing. The fisherman must Present the fly so that it […]

  • SPINNER WINNER!!!

    Spin fishing is great fun. Tossing metal around ponds and rivers attracts hungry fish and aggressive strikes. These treble hooked […]

  • FREE GEAR!!!

    All sportsmen love FREE stuff. Fishermen can always use more hooks, sinkers, lures, or flies. Hunters always need some extra […]

  • CASTING!!!

    Casting a line takes some skill. You also need to practice. Eventually, muscle memory and feel will take over. Casting […]

  • FISH COOKERY!!!

    Hopefully, some of snowpack will melt and great fishing will begin. So far, ice covered lakes, snow drift lined rivers, […]