In This Newsletter
- The Fly Fishing Show – Pleasanton, CA
- Fishing Report
- Ice Fishing Report
- Renew Your MT Fishing License
- Snowpack
We want to thank all of you who came by our booth at the Edison, NJ, Fly Fishing Show at the end of January! It was great catching up with return guests and talking with potential new guests.
Mark Your Calendar!
We will be at The Fly Fishing Show in Pleasanton, CA, on February 23, 24 & 25, 2024.
In the booth: Owner/Outfitter Nate Stevane, TOTF Adventure Director Chris Kirkwood, and longtime client Richard Flansburg.
Booth #E13 – see the map below.
The Fly Fishing Show – Pleasanton, CA
Dates:
February 23, 24 & 25, 2024
Time
Friday: 10am – 6pm
Saturday: 9am – 5:30pm
Sunday: 9am – 4:30pm
Location:
Alameda County Fairgrounds
2005 Valley Avenue
Pleasanton, CA 94588
ADULT
One-Day Pass: $20
Two-Day Pass: $30
Three-Day Pass: $45
CHILDREN
5 & Under: Free
6-12: $5
MILITARY/SCOUTS
Scouts under 16 in uniform: free
Military with ID: $10
To purchase advance tickets, click HERE
Fishing Report
February fishing on our waters can be challenging but rewarding for anglers willing to brave the winter conditions. While hatches are less frequent than other times of the year, midges may still be active on overcast days. Nymphing with small patterns such as zebra midges, pheasant tails, san juan worms, and egg patterns can be productive in slower-moving pools and tailouts. We recommend fishing during the warmest part of the day from 11 am to 2 pm on a half-day trip with us.
Overall, February fishing on our waters offers a unique opportunity to experience the beauty and solitude of winter fishing while pursuing trout in a scenic and renowned fishery. With the right gear, preparation, and patience, anglers can enjoy success and memorable experiences on the river during the winter months.
Ice Fishing Report
by Matt Hoff
With the holidays behind us, January brought some abnormally warm weather. Parts of
Montana was seeing the daily highs in the 60s! For us ice fishermen, this was bad news. This was just another unwelcome guest after
a very late start to the season. Some reservoirs became
unsafe/inaccessible due to multiple different factors. Thin ice and weak pressure ridges
are the main players in the game.
Good news this week, though! Nighttime lows are getting back into the single digits and low
teens. Daytime highs are holding steady in the low – mid-30s in southwest Montana, with cloudy
days bringing light snow.
We’re finding trout all over the water column, looking for that 5-20 feet of water. Small orange
tungsten jig heads tipped with maggots have been very reliable. Only dropping it about 24-36
inches under the ice on a jaw jacker is a great place to start, then moving down in the water
column until you’ve found that sweet spot.
I’ve been dropping different color spoons tipped with half a nightcrawler on the bottom and
getting good success. Most of the bites have not been hard, so just “Let ’em have it” to ensure you get a hook in them.
Keep it moving! If you are not having success, start drilling more holes and move either
shallower or deeper.
Book an Ice Fishing Trip with us!
Time to Renew Your Montana Fishing License
Because it is a leap year, you will get one extra day to fish on your 2023 season fishing license on February 29th. Starting on March 1st, you will be able to purchase your 2024 Montana Fishing License.
BASE LICENSE REQUIREMENTS & AIS PREVENTION PASS
Current Snowpack
Since our last newsletter, we have received more snow to add to our winter percentage, going from 62% of normal up to 75% of normal in the Madison drainage. This is great news, but we need more! Again, it is too early to make assumptions about summer water conditions. The spring months of March-May can bring high moisture snowfall and bump our numbers. We will keep you posted on our snowpack. For more current and up-to-date information, follow us on our social media feeds, such as Instagram and Facebook.
Thank you for staying connected with us on current conditions, reports, and news!