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5 Things Your Friends Expect You to Know About the Salmon Fly Hatch

The Salmon Fly hatch on famous Montana Rivers like the Madison or the Big Hole are almost a state sponsored event and reach near religious devotions.  If your new to fly fishing, Montana or just want to sound cool when sitting at the local bar you need to know a few things about the culture, mystery and fishing of Montana's Hatch. 1:  Big Flies and Big Fish  Yes this is probably the best time of the year to catch a really large fish on a dry fly.  Imagine a all you can eat buffet with ri...

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Madison River Fishing Conditions

It is all about to start here on the Madison River.  The flows have tabled off about 2750 cfs at Varney Bridge and you can now see 16 inches into the water.  We did a little recon trip and kicked over some rocks at the 8 Mile Access and we found salmon fly and golden nymphs all lined up and ready for the party.  Best guess  a week before the confetti drops.  Things are looking good now for a little float with some large rubber legs and worm hatches.  I would not be afraid to drop in at ...

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Summer anticipation

As summer's warm temperatures melt off larger portions of the snow pack you can feel the anticipation and excitement grow. Yes runoff's current conditions are pushing the fish down deep and decreasing the visibility but as people talk over techniques for getting their flies down you can see them getting excited for the weeks ahead. Is this the last large push of water to insure clarity and flows are optimal for those B-52 bombers to start slamming into the river? Cotton is filling the air, ...

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May Madison River Montana Newsletter

Having trouble viewing this email? Click here  Website   About    Guided Fishing      Blog       Fishing Reports       Contact       Shop  Dear Friends,   Here we are waist deep in May and staring down the barrel to the best time of the year on the Madison River.   June will arrive before you know it and with i...

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Fish Like Worms!

Fish Like Worms! During this season of flux on the Madison River when the river looks more like bad fly shop coffee than a pristine blue ribbon stream anglers struggle to find the answer.  With all the rain we have been having the edges of the river are water logged and the worms that live below start to move.  My first few years of spring trout fishing was done with the real thing.  Starting on rainy nights and a flashlight picking night crawlers in all the neighbors lawns.  The followin...

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Wednesday Wanderings and other Muddy River fishing Ideas.

Wednesday Wanderings and other Muddy River  fishing Ideas. This little bout of cold and snow sure threw off the fisherman as well as the weather guessers. I never understood how every weather service forecasts light rain and we end up with more snow on the ground than all winter. How can they be so wrong and continue to keep their job? Either way this bout of heavy wet snow with cool temps is just what the doctor order for the Madison River. Obviously the snow and moisture is great but the ...

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Five Montana Fly Fishing Taboos you should Break

Five Montana Fly Fishing Taboos you should Break Fly fishing has become an almost color by number sport. Go to X spot tie this fly on this leader and cast here to get fish. This myth has been perpetuated by the big gear manufacturers as well as the outfitting and shop industry as a whole. If you follow their directions and do not break any of the rules you will be as successful as the Instagram hero’s, we can’t stop following. Like a drug when a person is successful following th...

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Making the Most of your First Fly Fishing Trip to Montana

Making the Most out of your first fishing trip to Montana Each year thousands of people make the trek from each and every state and other countries for their first fishing trip to Montana. They have been lured by numerous magazine articles, blog posts, tales and stories from the in the know crowd and they depart for Montana ready to land two foot trout and pay a pilgrimage to the holy water. Most pick a river or two that they have dreamed of fishing find the closest airport and they are off o...

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5 Items under $50 for Dad for Father’s Day

Father's Day is just around the corner and Dad's can be hard to shop for.  So we have come up with 5 items that won't break the bank and your father will love as much as he loves you. 1) Fishpond San Juan Vertical Chest Pack $49.95 - This Chest pack is great for dad. The San Juan chest pack is compact in size but can hold everything dad needs for a day out fishing. Plus he might even stop wearing that old vest he has had since he was a kid. 2) Ball Cap $20.00 - Hats are a great gift for...

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MEET THE NEW SHOP HANDS

This summer the Tackle Shop introduced two new faces to Ennis. Austin Stowell and James Terry will be in the shop all summer to help with any of your fly-fishing needs as well as giving some sub-par fishing advice. James Terry hails from a small town named White, located in northern Georgia. His passion lies in small stream fishing for elusive Brook Trout. James fell in love with Montana last year while he spent a month perfecting the trout bum lifestyle, fishing the Bighorn, Boulder, and Ye...

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