Insights
Explore Your Curiousity
This is where I share the tips, techniques, and viewpoints that have led to my success on the water. I am not a guide or expert angler, though I believe this is a sport of lifetime learning where the most successful angler is the most curious one. I also believe teaching is the best way to learn and grow as an angler, so I hope sharing these insights benefits me as much as it does you. Not only do I share practical tips that will help you catch more fish, but I also share perspectives to ponder in fishing and life.
Spring Streamer Fishing
Spring is a magical time here in Montana. The days grow longer as the sun warms the vast valleys. The snow-covered peaks standout amongst the cloudy skies. Rivers break free of ice as water temperatures warm. Green grass grows, and the landscape fills with the colors of spring. Every spring feels like a new awakening as we survive another harsh winter and have lots to look forward to. As fly anglers, spring streamer fishing
Short Leash Nymphing
Many think of nymphing as oversized bobbers, split-shot, and heavy nymphs. Or for those that euro nymph think of long rods, perdigons, and sighter material. In this article, I overview a different way to nymph that is less common but just as effective as other techniques. Many call it short-leash nymphing, and I have enjoyed learning about it over the past few years. What Is Short Leash Nymphing? Short-leash nymphing is just another way to
Success Is In The Details
We have all been there at some point: fishing a blue-ribbon trout stream, struggling to catch a fish even though trout are rising all around us. You have tried everything you can think of, but nothing seems to be working. Then, you notice the angler upstream of you netting fish after fish. You can’t help but think, “What fly are they using?” While this may be our first thought, I believe it is more
Best Small Dry Fly Hooks
We are in the midst of fly tying season here in the Yellowstone Region and I am filling my dry fly boxes. I have been tying many small dry flies for the upcoming season, which prompted this article on my best small dry fly hooks. Many anglers I speak to tend to shy away from small flies in the Greater Yellowstone Region. Unlike many Colorado streams (from what I am told), where flies tied
Winter Midge Fishing
Many anglers put the dry fly boxes away in the winter months and stick to nymphing. This may catch fish, but little do they know that winter has some of the best dry fly fishing of the year. Winter midge fishing is one of my favorite hatches in the Yellowstone region. With little fishing pressure and the river to myself, I enjoy head hunting with small flies while the snow falls. Those who fish
Where To Fish In The Winter?
Winter fly fishing in Montana is something I look forward to every year. Many anglers in the Yellowstone region travel to warmer parts of the world to fly fish or put the fly rods down to pursue other hobbies in the winter months. However, winter fishing in Montana and the surrounding region can be some of the year’s best for anglers willing to bear the cold temperatures. Fly fishing in the winter is much
My Thoughts On Tippet
Tippet is essential in any fly angler’s tackle when targeting trout. It is also a complicated subject; with so many brands, sizes, and types, many anglers get confused when faced with a wall of tippet in a fly shop. As a beginner, I was confused for many years and often made mistakes when selecting and using tippet. I still make many mistakes, but I now put much more thought and priority into my tippet. In
Fishing During The Spawn
As we get deeper into fall, brown trout will move to their spawning grounds and begin their annual spawn. It can be a great time of year to fish, but it also creates controversy among the fly fishing community. In this blog post, I share my thoughts on fishing during the trout spawning season. Fishing During The Spawn Fishing during the spawn is an interesting topic in the fishing community. On the one hand, many of
The Season Of One
Fall is a magical time of year for fly fishing in the Greater Yellowstone Region. Fall’s changing colors, migratory trout, and the onset of hatches make it many anglers’ favorite time of year to cast a fly. There is nothing better than a fall sunrise on the river. My mindset on the water shifts as we sift through the seasons. In the winter months, I am grateful to get out on a “warm” day and
Fly Fishing Is Hard, Embrace It
This fall, I have been reminded just how hard fly fishing is. No matter how experienced you are as an angler, the pursuit’s many challenges are inevitable. You will experience fishless days Feel the disappointment after losing a big fish And tangle your leader to where there is no going back. You endure foul weather Alarms before sunrise And sore muscles from miles on the water. You have to talk yourself
Use a Longer Tippet – Dry Fly Fishing Tip
Use a Longer Tippet Fly fishing is a passion where continuous learning is inevitable. Each day presents an opportunity to learn something new, which is one of the reasons I fell in love with it. This summer has been no different. I’ve explored new rivers and met experienced anglers kind enough to share their knowledge. One thing I’ve learned this summer is the importance of a long tippet when technical dry fly fishing.
Fly Fishing and Warm Water Temperatures in Southwest Montana
As we approach the end of July here in Southwest Montana, what we most feared this winter is coming true. The low snowpack from this winter and the hot weather over the past few weeks are making it challenging to fish in the ladder part of our 2024 summer. Warm water temperatures plague many of our trout streams in the Greater Yellowstone Region, and it doesn’t look like it will end anytime soon. Snow