TRADESHOW TIMEOUT
While we love traveling the country and meeting anglers excited about coming to Montana and Yellowstone to fish, this year, we won’t be attending the winter fly fishing shows across the country.
Since COVID, the attendance at the shows isn’t what it once was, and with our growing ice fishing business, the fact you can fish parts of Yellowstone all year long now, and the desire to stay closer to home, we’ve decided to sit out the 2024-25 shows.
If you’re used to coming by the booth to say hi or book a trip, please give us a call or visit the website to do either or both. Or better yet, come visit us in Montana for some Big Sky winter fun and fishing.
ICE TIME
As the calendar officially turns to winter, we’ve already started our ice fishing season here in Montana. Whether you’ve got some time off and you’re looking for something entertaining to do during Christmas break or want to give your legs a rest from your ski vacation, our guided ice fishing trips are a great way to get outside and change things up.
We recently took out a family of four and a group of three, and everyone caught fish (rainbow and brown trout) and had a blast. Parts of Hegben and Ennis lakes have completely frozen, and more waters will be joining those as temperatures continue to dip.
Our full-day excursions (5-7 hours, plus set up and breakdown time), on each trip, we’ll provide lunch, warming huts, chairs, fishing gear, and ice/snow cleats. You can either fish from inside one of them or use them as a way to stay toasty in between fishing setups. Our half-day trips are 3-4 hours which includes set up and breakdown time and no lunch is provided on half-day trips.
GET SET FOR SPRING AND SUMMER
With ski season just opening at Bridger here in Bozeman, it’s hard to think about summer, but it will be here before you know it. We get calls every day from folks looking to book guided fly fishing trips, so if you want to get your guide of choice, now is the time to call. Along with reserving your guide as soon as possible, you should also lock down a place to stay before everything is taken.
These trips are easy to book online, so they make a great last-minute Christmas gift for that guy or gal who wants to chase fish on the lakes of southwest Montana, the Madison River, Yellowstone River, Missouri River, or the waters of Yellowstone National Park. Add a Trout on The Fly hat, sweatshirt, or Yeti tumbler for a great combo present.
POWDER BREAK
Ice fishing may have started, but that doesn’t mean fly fishing has stopped. We’re still offering guided trips on local rivers. These trips can be a fun change-ups for those who have been hitting the slopes or looking for a special way to immerse themselves in Montana’s winter wonderland.
The trips are only half-day and usually run during the warmest part of the day, from about 11am to 3pm. These are typically walk-n-wade only outings. Don’t worry, you’ll stay plenty warm as we take advantage of the heater in the truck as we move from spot to spot.
Midge nymphs and egg patterns can be really effective this time of year, and on overcast days we can see some great dry fly fishing. If you haven’t caught a fish while the snowflakes fly, this kind of guided trip can be a real treat!
CURRENT SNOWPACK
We have experienced a very slow start to our snowpack this winter. The current snowpack is fair at best. It is too early to make any 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.
Happy holidays and we’ll see you in 2025!
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