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On the Fly?
Read More: On the Fly?Fly fishing isn’t just about catching fish—it’s a lifelong journey of beauty, knowledge, connection, and soul-restoring peace. Read more from Montana Grant…
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Fish Care
Read More: Fish CareFishing may be a sport, but for some Fly Guys, it’s more about clout than trout. Read more from Montana Grant here…
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BUGS!!!
Read More: BUGS!!!Bugs may be a nuisance to some, but for anglers, they’re the key to a successful catch—so let’s protect them!
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Southwest Montana Fishing Reports Overview
Read More: Southwest Montana Fishing Reports OverviewWinter fly fishing is here—grab your new license, bundle up, and get ready to slow down, savor the solitude, and maybe even find some rising trout!
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Reload!!!
Read More: Reload!!!Winter is the perfect time to stock up on your ‘Go To’ flies—check your boxes, sharpen those hooks, and get ready for fishing season without any regrets. Read more from Montana Grant here…
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First Fly!!!
Read More: First Fly!!!Remember your first fly? Whether it was a worm, egg, or the classic Royal Coachman, every great fly tier starts with a simple cast of creativity! Read more from Montana Grant here…
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TAKE ME FISHING!!!
Read More: 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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WHY HIRE A FISHING GUIDE?
Read More: 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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TROUT FISHING IS CHANGING!!!
Read More: 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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TROUT HUNTING!!!
Read More: TROUT HUNTING!!!Trout hunting season is on! Hunting trout requires a certain strategy, skills, and tackle. Seeing is believing when trout hunting. […]
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WADE A LITTLE DEEPER!!!
Read More: WADE A LITTLE DEEPER!!!Wading can be dangerous. Fishermen that wet wade or wear expensive waders, always try to get a little deeper. Their […]
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BEST OF THE BEST!!!
Read More: 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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BERTHA’S BEST!!!
Read More: 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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THE BUTT FLY!!!
Read More: 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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SALMON FLY SUFFERING!!!
Read More: SALMON FLY SUFFERING!!!It seems that aquatic insect and Salmon fly populations are in the decline. This reduction of insects is related to […]
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HELICOPTER ACCESS!!!
Read More: HELICOPTER ACCESS!!!Some wealthy people feel entitled to do whatever they want. Their money and connections give them a free ticket […]
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SAVE A FISH!!!
Read More: SAVE A FISH!!!Catch and Release fishing is extremely important to conserve Wild and Native trout fisheries. A great and healthy trout may […]
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GETTING SKUNKED!!!
Read More: GETTING SKUNKED!!!Every fisherman has a bad day, occasionally. Getting Skunked Stinks! Not catching anything is not an intentional choice. We don’t […]
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MEN VS. WOMEN FISHING!!!
Read More: MEN VS. WOMEN FISHING!!!Competition between men and women seems to be in the news a lot lately. Biological Men are seen as unfair […]
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PAY TO PLAY!!!
Read More: PAY TO PLAY!!!On July 1st, anyone using Montana State fishing access sites, State Lands, or Wildlife Management Areas will be required to […]
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BIG FRY COUNTRY!!!
Read More: BIG FRY COUNTRY!!!Montana sunbathing smells like frying bacon. Getting a sunburn is easier at higher altitudes. Big Fry Country means that being […]
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KNOT KNOWLEDGE !!!
Read More: 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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BACKPACK FISHERMEN!!!
Read More: BACKPACK FISHERMEN!!!I have noticed that many fly guys are fully decked out when fly fishing. In some drift boats, there is […]
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LOOKING FOR BIG BUGS!!!
Read More: LOOKING FOR BIG BUGS!!!Now is the time for huge stoneflies and Salmon flies. Big Sky Country sports BIG BUGS during June-July. If you […]
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ALL THE MARBLES!!!
Read More: ALL THE MARBLES!!!Trout fishing is at risk in Montana and many other traditionally favorable trout waters. Generally, trout prefer cool, clean, clear […]
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CATCH LIMITS!!!
Read More: CATCH LIMITS!!!Montana fisheries are being overfished. Many anglers practice Catch and Release fishing. Trout, walleyes, or perch are hooked, landed, and […]
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THE LAST BEST FISHING HOLES!!!
Read More: 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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BIGHOLE RIVER EARNS A D!!!
Read More: BIGHOLE RIVER EARNS A D!!!The Bighole River is in trouble. It has been in trouble, and there is no plan in place to save […]
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LAST TIME TO TIE!!!
Read More: LAST TIME TO TIE!!!It’s time to double check your fly boxes. Complete an inventory and see what you need. The extra rain and […]
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BOAT READY!!!
Read More: BOAT READY!!!Well, the waters will soon become navigable again in Montana. This means that the fleet of drift boats will […]
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HAIL and HIGH WATERS!!!
Read More: 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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SAME OLD LINE!!!
Read More: 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!!!
Read More: 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!!!
Read More: 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!!!
Read More: 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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LEADER LOVE!!!
Read More: LEADER LOVE!!!Fly Fishing is the opposite of spin fishing. Spinning rods require that the weight of the bait or heavy lure […]
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FLASH and TRASH!!!
Read More: 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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BOOT RIP BOOGIE!!!
Read More: BOOT RIP BOOGIE!!!Some anglers just need to wet wade since no boots are ever going to stay waterproof on their bodies. It […]
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BROWNS DOWN!!!
Read More: BROWNS DOWN!!!Brown trout populations in Montana are on the decline. The Bighole, Bighorn, and now the upper Clarks Fork are all […]
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RIVER LIVER!!!
Read More: RIVER LIVER!!!As the rivers become more float friendly, floaters and boaters are drawn to the flows. Great weather means more water […]
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JUST A LITTLE FURTHER!!!
Read More: 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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SPRING IN YOUR STEP!!!
Read More: SPRING IN YOUR STEP!!!Getting out for the first time requires some patience. Anxious anglers have been preparing all Winter for their first Spring […]
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WADING UPRIGHT!!!
Read More: WADING UPRIGHT!!!Spring fishing means slick surfaces. The rocks and bank are often covered in ice and snow. As the waters warm […]
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PRESENTATION!!!
Read More: 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!!!
Read More: 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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CASTING!!!
Read More: 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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SNAGGING A SECRET FLY!!!
Read More: SNAGGING A SECRET FLY!!!There are times when a certain fly or lure really makes a difference. These lures are most important when you […]
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HEAVY WATERS!!!
Read More: HEAVY WATERS!!!The Gardiner River was one of my favorite rivers to fish. This river flows through the high-altitude desert of the […]
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TAT TAILS!!!
Read More: TAT TAILS!!!Many friends and fishing acquaintances have Trout Tats! Arms, legs, necks, wrists, and private parts. To each their own. You […]
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CERTIFYING A RECORD FISH!!!
Read More: CERTIFYING A RECORD FISH!!!If Old Walter, Moby Dick, or Big ED end up in your net, you may have a record book fish. […]