John Way is the owner of The Tackle Shop and Montana Way Outfitters, with over 25 years of guiding experience in Montana and other states. His expertise on the water and deep knowledge of Montana’s fisheries make him a trusted voice in the angling community.
As a writer, John shares practical fishing advice, insights on Montana’s waters, and tips for anglers of all levels. His articles are built on real experience, offering straightforward guidance and a passion for the sport.
Check out his latest articles below.
“The Before Party” By: James “Jimbob” Terry As we enter the second half of June here in Ennis, Montana; we prepare for invasion. They will be here soon. They can’t be stopped. They are known for choosing favorable weather to invade. They will cover land, air, and sea in overwhelming numbers… Lucky for us, it […]
- John Way
Keeping catch and release fishing as ethical as possible! By Guide: James “Jimbob” Terry “Game fish are too valuable to be caught only once” -Lee Wulff Wether we like it or not, fly fishing can be a blood sport. As gentle as we may try to be when handling our fishy friends, occasionally one […]
- John Way
Are you ready to immerse yourself in the unparalleled beauty and serenity of Ennis, Montana, while experiencing world-class fly fishing on the iconic Madison River ? As you prepare for your guided fly fishing excursion with The Tackle Shop, ensuring you have the right gear is essential for a successful and enjoyable day on the […]
- John Way
Check Your FLY Line While There’s Still Time By Guide James “Jimbob” Terry Here at The Tackle Shop, we like our dry flies. A quick scan of our fly bins will show you where our hearts are. Luckily here In Southwest Montana, we have seemingly endless dry fly-fishing opportunities and hatches with the options getting […]
- John Way
Spring Snowpack Summary By: James “Jimbob” Terry As we roll into May (which is my birthday month for those wondering) snowpack across the state is looking less than ideal, but not dismal! The Upper Madison is looking good enough, and I think our nearby rivers are too. Keep in mind while reading these percentages are […]
- John Way
Still Water Ice Out Fly Fishing By James “Jimbob” Terry There’s plenty to love about spring. The weather gets warmer, the days get longer, and angling opportunities broaden. Yellowstone National Park opens up (not for fishing until the third Saturday in May) for the critter watchers too. One of my personal favorite spring happenings is […]
- John Way
The Mothers Day Caddis Might Just be the Madison Best Hatch As the days grow longer and the temperatures begin to rise, fly fishermen eagerly anticipate the arrival of spring and the emergence of one of nature’s most captivating events: the Mother’s Day Caddis hatch on the Madison River. For anglers seeking to capitalize on […]
- John Way
The Madison is More than Just a Fly Fishing River Embarking on a fly fishing adventure along the Madison River isn’t just about hooking trout—it’s also an opportunity to immerse yourself in the wildlife that calls SouthWest Montana home. From majestic bald eagles soaring overhead to playful otters frolicking in the shallows, the Madison River […]
- John Way
New Fishing Regulations on the Madison River Among a list of revisions to the Montana Fishing Regulations starting in the 2024/2025 season is a new set of rules on the upper Madison River, specifically from Varney Bridge to Ennis Lake. These rules specially pertain to hooks. Anglers are now required to fish barbless, single pointed […]
- John Way
Is This Spring? Well the calendar says spring and it is officially the end of April so we should be in spring but really it is 3rd winter. We have seen a winter for the ages. There was snow in my back yard that melted this week that fell October 22. Unheard of for Ennis. […]
- John Way