I did not make a cast today. It’s not that I didn’t go fishing. I spent three hours walking the shoreline of Hebgen Lake looking for rising fish. It’s just that I didn’t see any, so no reason to cast. It was just a morning walk with a fly rod and my dog. I tell myself that […]
A Walk With A Fly Rod Read More »
In Montana, it’s hard to drive around without seeing many drift boats. We live in a world where everyone owns a drift boat, no matter how much one fishes. This is for good reason, as drift boats provide an epic fishing experience floating the West’s most famous trout streams. But I’m here to advocate for the
The Case For Small Boats in Fly Fishing Read More »
Summer fishing in the Yellowstone Region is what we all dream about. The big sky looms over blooming wildflowers, rutting bison, hoppers bouncing, gulpers gulping, and humming trout towns. The Summer season is short in the Yellowstone Region, with July and August the only two months when we can rely on warm temperatures and consistent weather.
Summer In The Yellowstone Region (Photo Essay) Read More »
Each approach in fly fishing has elements that make it unique and challenging. Streamer fishing requires persistence and practice in moving a fly. Nymphing requires understanding weight and managing line for long drifts. Trout spey requires a rhythm and understanding of complex currents. In addition, sight fishing has its own set of rules and characteristics that
As we head into August, I have hoppers on my mind. For whatever reason, I do not prioritize terrestrials in my tying over the winter months. I have other bugs on my mind and rarely get around to it by the time spring fishing gets good. So I catch myself tying last-minute terrestrials come August. I
Tying A Hopper Pattern Read More »
It is the middle of summer after what was a historically cool and dry winter. The inevitable is here, and we face warm temperatures and hoot owl restrictions across the Yellowstone Region fisheries. We were incredibly lucky to have a wet June and epic fishing for most of spring and early summer. Now that things
Thoughts On Current Fishing Conditions Read More »
There is one fish that stands above all else in the Greater Yellowstone Region. Yes, brown trout grow big and eat streamers, and rainbow trout jump and fight like none other. But the Yellowstone Cutthroat is one of the defining species of the Yellowstone Region. It is the only place in the world where anglers
Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Read More »
Among us anglers, there is a sound we look forward to all year long. It’s a sound of summer fly fishing, heard on calm lakes throughout the Yellowstone Region. The sound brings excitement, challenge, frustration, and potentially reward. The sound is the renowned “gulp” that a big stillwater trout makes when it breaks the surface
Addicted To Gulpers Read More »
There is a lot out of our control in fly fishing. Weather, angler pressure, hatches, flows, water temperatures, and overall conditions can drastically change the outcome of a day of fishing. It’s inevitable that a day you plan to fish will have many of these factors working against you. And it’s so easy to check the weather
Spring fishing in the Yellowstone Region has really grown on me over the years. When I first moved to Montana, I fell in love with the fall fishing for migratory fish and the beautiful scenery. I thought spring was too difficult because of runoff and sporadic weather patterns. Now that I have been fishing the
Spring Fishing Recap 2026 Read More »
