montana
What to Bring When Fly Fishing the Madison River in the Winter Months
By. Kade Klubertanz, Shop Employee Fly fishing on the Madison River in January is a unique and rewarding experience, but it requires special preparation. The cold, often harsh conditions can make a great day on the water a little more challenging, but with the right gear and mindset, it can also be incredibly rewarding. The Madison River, located in Montana, is known for its big trout and beautiful surroundings, but fishing in the winter months brings a different set of consid...
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Review of the Grunden’s Vector Wader
By Riley Smith, Manager of The Tackle Shop, Ennis Montana If you're serious about your fishing gear, then you know how important it is to have a reliable pair of waders. After spending years working with all kinds of fishing equipment here at The Tackle Shop in Ennis, Montana, I can say with confidence that the Grundéns Vector Wader stands out as one of the best options on the market for serious anglers. As the manager of this shop and someone who’s been an angler for fourteen ye...
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Family-Friendly Fly Fishing: Enjoying August Adventures with Kids in Southwest Montana
August is a fantastic time for families to explore the great outdoors in Southwest Montana, and there's no better way to do that than by introducing your kids to the joys of fly fishing. At The Tackle Shop, we believe that fly fishing can be an incredibly rewarding experience for the whole family. From the thrill of catching a trout to the serene beauty of the Madison River, your family adventure starts here. Why Fly Fishing is Perfect for Families: Fly fishing is more than just...
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Exploring Ennis’ Rich History: Museums, Historic Sites, and Local Culture
Nestled in the picturesque Madison Valley of Montana, Ennis beckons visitors with its blend of natural beauty and rich historical heritage. As you wander through this quaint town, it's impossible not to feel the echoes of its pioneer past resonating through the streets and landmarks. Let's embark on a journey to uncover Ennis' historical charm, from its museums and historic sites to its vibrant local culture. Madison Valley History Museum A cornerstone of Ennis' historical narrative, the Mad...
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Check Your FLY Line While There’s Still Time
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 vaster as we steam into summer. We’ve already had some great sessions down on the lower river fishing the Mother’s Day Caddis hatch, with a variety of mayflies and baetis...
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Montana Spring Snowpack Summary
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 taken from a 10-year average. On March 1st, we were sitting at 73% of our ten-year average here in the Madison River drainage and some of our neighboring watersheds ...
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Still Water Ice Out Fly Fishing
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 “Ice Out” on our local lakes. As the ice melts off the lakes the fish cruise the oxygen rich open water and eat, then continue to scavenge ...
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Get your Gear Ready for Spring Fishing
Get Ready for Spring Fishing Now The glory days of spring fishing in Montana are not that far off and now is the time to start to prep. Before you know it, April will be here and all will be floating wild Montana Rivers in search of heafty browns and rainbows. Your first outing is never the time to find some of your gear is not up to the task. A non-floating fly line, leaky waders or just not the right fly will spoil your first outing. Now is the time to take stock and get y...
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Float vs. Wade for your First Trip to Montana
Float vs Wade for your first trip to Montana. Well, you have done it decided to book your first trip to Montana. You have read stories for years about fabled waters, large wild fish and endless adventure. You have decided on a river and an outfitter now you need to decide if floating or wade fishing right for you. We have this conversation with guests all the time in the store. Many are undecided on what form of fishing is best for them. While each has...
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