February Madison River Newsletter

By John Way
/ 9th February 2021

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Dear Friends,

February has arrived, football is almost over, the holiday decorations are safely packed back away and the buzz of the new year has started to fade. If you live in the northern part of the US winter is still in full force and it forces us to dream of drifting a wild river which is just a few short months away. Most of the traffic in Ennis are pulling snowmobiles or have skis attached to the roof rack. Soon the seasonal shift to drift boats and rod racks will happen.

New product will be arriving in the store any day ahead of the spring season and we have started getting the calls about water conditions for spring and summer. Lots of folks calling to make sure they have their favorite guide reserved for their annual summer trip.We will again be doing our always popular Spring on the Madison Guide Trip Special as well as trips in the Missoula area to fish the Skwala hatch on the Clark Fork and Bitterroot rivers. If you are interested in any of these adventures please let us know as our spring days are limited.

We are excited about our second annual trip to El Pescador in Belize with a group of guests. If you’re interested in one of next winter’s hosted trips give us a call and we can chat about sandy warm winter fly fishing destinations.

Come Fish with Us

Spring Special on the Madison

We are again doing our always popular Spring on the Madison Guide Trip Special. Spring is a great time to get out and fish and in fact it is the favorite for many of our guides. All of our spring trips with your favorite Tackle Shop guide come with a hot riverside lunch to ward off the spring chill and a health dose of fun. Hungry fish, solitude, snow covered mountains and beautiful scenery make spring on the Madison River the best kept secret in Montana. Limited availability each day.

Spring on the Madison Stay and Play–March 15-April 30

2 Days of Guided Fishing and two nights of Lodging for two people $440 per person

Day Trips–March 15-April 30

One Day of Guided Fishing for Two $350

Skwala Hatch on the Bitterroot and Clark Fork Rivers

The Skwala stonefly hatch on the Bitterroot and Clark Fork Rivers near Missoula in March and April is the first significant hatch of the year in Montana. Being from Missoula prior to the relocation to Ennis 7 years ago we still spend a majority of spring chasing this hatch for two reasons. After a winter of lethargy by the fish and guides both are excited. Second, many large hungry fish are fooled with a dry fly during this window. If you need to scratch the dry fly itch or just want to blow the rust off winter this is your chance.

Skwala Stay and Play Package March 26-April 30

Two days of Guided Fishing for two and two nights lodging at a downtown Missoula Hotel

$550 per person

Madison River News

Snow Dance?

As most of you know our snow pack directly influences what our summer water conditions are like. Currently we are below normal and just over 80%. Yes there is lots of winter weather left and we do get a majority of our snow in the early spring. If anyone knows a snow dance please start the music.

Snow Pack

2016 Fishing Season in Photos

2016 Fishing Season in Photos

Enjoy a collection of our guests and some great fish from the 2016 fishing season. Want to make next years highlight reel give us a call.

Looking for a good spot to fish on the Madison?

We love the do it yourselfers who are not interested in guided trips but would rather figure out the river on their own. Knowledge equals success let us share our knowledge of what is happening on the Madison. Before you go check out our always fresh fishing report.

Visit the Madison River Fishing Reports

Great Gear for Spring Fishing

$475.00

Silver Sonic Zipper Wader

These are the perfect waders for spring fishing. You can keep the zipped up during the mornings when it is cool and unzip during the warmer afternoons.

$450.00

Recon 9’6wt
The perfect spring rod. It has enough back bone to throw streamers and heavy nymph rigs and the fineness for tiny blue winged olive dries.

VISIT OUR WEBSITE

Winter days in Ennis are exponentially rhythmically slower than the buzz of summer. The constant stream of fishing guides drinking coffee in the store when the snow conditions are marginal keep the days fun. The light at the end of the tunnel that is the busy season is still a ways off but it is barreling down the tracks at us. Before we know it we will be back behind the oars resisting the Madisons currents and winds on a daily basis.

The slower winter season gives us time to reflect on the past season and make resolutions for the upcoming season. My resolution is to fish more. Thank you for all your past support and please let us know if we can help in any way.

Good Fishing and God Bless,

John & Kayla Way
The Tackle Shop

406-682-4263

john@thetackleshop.com