Montana Angler Fly Fishing Blog

When we are first learning to fly fish the concept of the dead drift is constantly reinforced. It almost seems as if beginners are taught that trout won’t eat a fly unless it has zero drag on it and it’s drifting along perfectly with the current. Fortunately, not all insects just “dead drifting”...

Tips for fly fishing Montana's small streams As the snow flies during the winter months here in Montana it is easy for the mind to wander to warmer days spent exploring the intimate water that we fly anglers hold near and dear to our hearts. Perhaps a sense of exploration pulls us toward fly fishing...

Montana Fly of the Month: February 2018 The Juju Emerger tied by Charlie Craven Winter fly fishing conditions reign supreme during February and a staple of the midwinter Montana angler’s fly selection has got to be a variety of tiny midges and small nymph patterns. The majority of insects that are...

Do you like fishing huge dry flies? Chile is the perfect place! The Chilean Cantaria beetle is a unique food source that makes for some incredibly exciting fishing opportunities on our Chilean fishing trips. Most flies that we use to imitate this giant food source tend to be tied on size 1-4 hooks...

VIAGGIO Steelhead Explorer Trip Report – Bill Buchbauer April 26th – May 8th 2017 Petersburg, Alaska Each Spring I am drawn back to SE Alaska in search of steelhead and adventure. In April and May thousands of wild steelhead make their spawning runs into the pristine streams and rivers of the...

Although June is the height of run-off here in the Northern Rockies, fishing options in Yellowstone National Park abound. In fact, fishing the park during June is one of the premier ways to beat run-off. The fishing season in YNP opens Memorial Day weekend so the fish will not have faced much...

How can you fish more without going fishing more? The simple answer is to make your time on the water more efficient by avoiding knots and tangles. Let’s face the facts: knots happen and are part of the game of fly fishing, If you can’t stomach a few tangles on the water, then you shouldn't be...

Patagonia Baker Lodge trip report for March 13th - 17th 2017 Arrival / Baker Having heard and read about the mighty Baker River in southern Chile for years, it finally fell into the crosshairs for myself to host a trip with 3 great fishing buddies. As we walked through the doors of the Patagonia...

Belize is home to some of the world’s best flats fishing on a fly rod. The small country is protected by one of the longest barrier reefs in the world (second only to Australia’s Great Barrier Reef). The barrier reef system that runs the length of the country protects a vast interior network of...

Fly Fishing for your first permit Fly Fishing for permit often becomes a lifelong endeavor. But before anglers become consumed with hunting, stalking, casting, and hopefully hooking, you'll need to catch your first permit. Like so many other things in life, not angling related things, the first time...