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Thanks to all of you for your support this past year. We truly appreciate it and look forward to another great year of trout fishing in Montana.

The Big Horn

Sarah and I headed east this week to fish the worlds most famous tail water fishery, the Big Horn River. The trip started out with a little excitement in the form of a high speed tire blow out just west of Billings. With my wannabe NASCAR pit crew skills, I was able to get us back on the road and river bound in no time flat....no pun intended. Unfortunately, this bit of fun was to be the highlight of our weekend adventure. When we finally got the boat in the water this is what we found. Bright skies, a crap load of river grass, and spooky fish. We hooked one fish on a streamer, one on a nymph, and a few on drys late in the day. We even had a killer Baetis hatch, but with the blue bird skies, the only trout coming up to eat were just dinkers.

TY

October Gallatin Days

We’ve been fishing out on the Gallatin the past couple days with some luck. We started fishing close to the canyon and have been working downstream since. Closer to the canyon we were able to find some deep runs that were just filled with rainbows, and of course lots of whitefish. They were mainly hitting dead drifted olive bead head buggers, zonkers, prince nymphs, and San Juan worms. The next day we decided to pack our bags and head out to the Big City (aka. Manhattan) where the East Gallatin dumps into the Gallatin. Here we encountered some descent browns and some more bows. The browns are just starting to get aggressive and a mini sculpin pattern seemed to be the ticket. Don’t let the cold weather discourage you, bundle up and enjoy. The fishing is great.

Oct. 1st Yellowstone River

Clients, Steve and Asa, came back for their second trip this season to the Yellowstone River for some early fall Salminoid love. Though we did run into a few trout, the only true love was coming from the hoards of Whitefish that have taken over every square inch of the river. We fished every fly that a trout would love and a Whitey would only eat if it was bounced off of his nose. Still couldn't keep Mr. Whitefish off the hook. We threw the biggest Bow River Bugger I had in the boat, only to be inhaled by the biggest Whitefish upstream of Livingston. So, if you're a numbers guy and you're looking to rack up some points, head over to the Yellowstone with those crap flies you tied after too much beer. They'll eat it.

Ty

Browns gorge on mice in NZ

thought some of you might be interested in seeing this. How many mice can a brown trout fit in its belly? Also, if you havent seen it yet check out thisisfly.com, it is a great online publication on fly fishing. One of my favorites.



-Daniel

It's a warm fall

Some of us here in the Bozeman area feel like we were screwed out of about a month of summer. The month of June was officially changed to Junuary. It's now late September and it feels like it's the middle of the summer. With temps in the 80's and 90's, it looks like we're making up for that lost month of warm weather. As much as I love warm weather, cold river beer, and not wearing waders, I'm ready for fall fishing. Though the browns are getting territorial and beginning to chase streamers, we need some rain and cold weather to get those big Salmo Trutta in the mood for love and hating big rabbit fur flies. Pictured above is my client Christian Nordby and a perfect example of what can happen when fishing in these unusual warm fall conditions. It's hot and the shirt comes off. It's fall and the streamers come out. The wind picks up in the afternoon, and the picture tells the rest of the story.

TY

Lower Madison Streamer Fishing

The lower madison is beginning to show it's fall colors and big browns are looking to feed as they begin to spawn. Caught this big old hen on olive zonker size 4 by canaday boat launch so it's easy enough to find buckets from shore. Dead drifting streamers (zonkers, bow river buggers, and crayfish) with small nymph droppers (lightning bug, king prince, copper johns) have produced enough good hits to keep me happy. Look for PMD's coming off(sparingly but enough) in the afternoon and sulphur duns/callabaetis in late evening to satisfy the dry fly cravings. All in all the lower madison is shaping up nicely to regain it's beautiful fall fishing. Don't be afraid to go below the surface to find the big ones!