Thoughts on the Mid-Summer Madison River
With it now being August it officially marks the mid way point in our season. It is also the time of year when things are hot, dry and with lower numbers of hatches to keep the fish interested. The party of June has come and gone and the big bugs are all but gone for another year save a few nocturnal stone fly's. Here are a few points that I think keep at least me excited to keep going out each and every day. First, the water will cool off each and every day. It is amazing that ...
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Guest Blog: Feel the Vibration
Feel the Vibration The ultimate postman’s holiday, a guide on a day off fishing the Madison River. You know what lives here. You know what is watching your fly go by a certain rock. You almost feel him tug a good second or two before your line goes tight and your rod bends. Then there he is. Big, brown, and toothy…one quick chocolate flash of piscatorial pleasure! Bent almost double, if your rod were a musical instrument, it would sound like Phil Lesh’s Bass guitar on Lo...
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Ennis Montana 4th of July Parade 2015 Video
Ennis Montana's famous 4th of July Parade. A great celebration of America from one of its best small towns. Filmed in the Heart of Montana, on the banks of the Madison River. The small fly fishing town of Ennis throws the best 4th of July party with a Parade and Rodeo. If you ever wanted to experience the America of past generations come to Ennis Montana on the 4th of July. ...
Read More5 Fishy Father’s Day Gifts Under 50 Bucks
With Father's Day approaching we are seeing a steady stream of traffic looking for the perfect gift for the fishing father. Many of these fathers are already customers and have most of the needed gear for any day on the water. Also many of the people shopping for Dad do not know what gear he has and what is needed. It feels like Dear old Dad does not slip in enough hints leading up to the big day. So... with all this confusion we have put together a list of some great gifts that c...
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Guest Blog: Guides Fishing With Guides….
Guides Fishing With Guides… Tackle Shop guides don’t just guide the Madison, even though it is undeniably the capitol of the fly fishing world. In April, John Way called me up and said, “Scrunch, let’s go fish the Bitterroot today. I have to guide it tomorrow.†I had been on it for a quite a few days already, and had to guide it the next day as well, but welcomed the opportunity to fish it with John. “Sure,†I said, “but we have to take your b...
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10 Best Dry Fly’s for June on the Madison River
The 10 Best Dry Fly’s for June on the Madison River. June in Montana is a special time, not quite summer yet but not spring. Sort of an in between time where you can expect snow one day and 70 and sunny the next. An epic battle between spring and summer played out each day with the soundtrack of some of the best and most prolific hatches of the year. Legendary hatches like salmon fly’s, golden’s, caddis and PMD keep hungry fish looking to the surface for their nex...
Read MoreGuest Blog: The River that Makes No Sense
The River That Makes No Sense….. Nicky Acosta and I were grabbing dinner at the Mccallister Inn after a day on the Madison. I was commenting that I had worked an island that looked perfect. The water in front it formed a perfect shelf with good depth plus good current. The water below and to the side of the island was the same. I had taken fish in a lot less likely spots that day, and yet, the spot produced nada. Perplexed, I said “that makes no sense.†Nicky looked at me an...
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Ennis Montana Brew and Spirit Festival
If there was not enough reason to visit Ennis Montana on May 16 besides the opening of the Upper Madison River to fishing there is also the Tap in to Ennis Brew and Spirit Festival. This is hosted by the Ennis Chamber of Commerce and is held in Lyons Club Park. There will be over 20 Montana breweries and distilleries on hand as well as food, music, kids face painting and fun for the entire family. All of the proceeds from the festival go directly into Main Street Ennis. Many of the ...
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Lat. 45 Adventure Ministries Fishing Derby
On this past Saturday Lat. 45 Adventure Ministries held their first annual fishing derby, fundraiser and banquet here in Ennis. Lat 45 is a local non profit that is dedicated to taking kids on no cost multi day back packing trips. They feel that by getting kids away from modern conveniences and expose them to the rigors of a mult day trip that they will grow and become closer to christ. In fact this is direct from them. " At Lat 45 we believe that getting kids into the outdoors, and a...
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The 10 Best Fly’s for Spring in SW Montana
The Top 10 Patterns for Spring in South West Montana Spring in South West Montana can be special time. The rivers are awakening and the fish are hungry for the first significant food of the year. Also, it is a great time to fish as most of the busy Tourist fisherman are still home and you are left with large amounts of river to yourself. Our guides absolutely love this time of year and get in most of their personal fishing for the entire season during the spring. You need to be pr...
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