Page 107 - North 40 Outfitters

Stealthily cruising around big open weedy flats, constantly thinking of what may be lurking below... cast after cast, strip after strip. Watching the cloud of a brightly colored erratic streamer dance its way back to the boat, when suddenly it disappears. You feel something trying to rip the line out of your hands. You strip set the hook into the apex predator's "trap jaw" and wait for the unexpected! There is no doubt about it, Northern Pike are the wolves of freshwater. These primitive creatures have a special way of bringing back that "first fish on a fly rod" feeling, for those who have spent years delicately casting to sipping trout. Hooking into these submarines is more complex than you think. Having the right gear can make or break your Northern Pike experience. The Best Fly Rod for Catching Pike Using the right rod is what makes ...

Back in October, I wrote an article for our eMag titled "How Not To Break Your Fly Rod". After watching our friend, Ben, break his fly rod on New Year’s Day, I realized I failed to mention the problems fly rods face in the winter. When winter fly fishing in sub-freezing temperatures, there are some elements that may damage the integrity of your fly rod. An Icy Problem for your Fly Rod Contrary to popular belief, your fly rod is not more brittle in slightly sub-freezing temperatures.  Similar graphite and resins used in fly rod construction are also used on military aircraft like the Stealth Bomber. That sucker cruises at 628 MPH at 50,000 feet. That’s -121 F without factoring wind chill. Those conditions are a bit colder than fly fishers are likely to wave their rods in, so if you break your fly rod in the winter, don’t blame it ...

I've been going through steelhead withdrawals lately after seeing all the chrome fish that some of my friends have been catching on the Olympic Peninsula. The only known remedy for someone trapped hundreds of miles inland is to swing some streamers for trout, which is exactly what I did for a couple hours on Monday. The Spokane River is in absolutely perfect shape right now with flows holding steady at 2,800 cfs. The only exception is if you're going to be fishing below the confluence of Latah Creek, you'll want to focus your efforts on the north side of the river due to runoff. Curious how the river is doing right now? Check out the most current river flows here My typical plan of attack when I fish the Spokane River is to swing through a run first with streamers and follow that up with a heavy dose of nymphing if I don't get many grabs...

Looking to get away from the vise? Rocky Ford is always a popular destination for fly fishermen looking to get away from their vise or television during the winter months. My friends Patrick and Erik made the trip to Ephrata, WA without me on Sunday, but at least I was there in spirit in the form of the flies I gave them. Foul weather has been keeping crowds to a minimum thus far and according to Patrick they were all by their lonesome on Sunday morning until 11:00. Fishing was steady all day, with most of their fish being caught on size 14 olive scuds. Need flies of your own? Check out our selection here. Scuds and subsurface midge patterns fished under an indicator is typically the most productive technique on the Ford. Try attaching your flies with a loop knot to give your bugs more action in the water while using an indicator. You'll...

This past weekend was wintry, but fishable. I know a number of folks got out on the Missouri River on Saturday, while I was tying flies on Facebook. The Sunday Report I also heard reports from up and down the river on Sunday. So I headed down to Giant Springs on my lunch break. I met up with Ben, who was trying out a new Commando Head. He wanted me to show him how to cast it. I showed him how I single hand it and managed to hook a spunky little bow in the process. "What fly you got on here, Ben?" "The Mini Montana Intruder you tied on Facebook yesterday," he replied. After the quick casting lesson, I bounced over to Cutter's crew. He was surrounded by dogs and kids with Nerf guns, while trying to load up the grill. After I arrived, the dog and kid show found a porcupine. If you see a porky down at Giant Springs bristling with Nerf darts...

Do you have some cowboy boots that could use a face lift? Well, this project is for you- The DIY Boho Cowboy Boots project allows you to spruce up your favorite pair of boots with your own unique style. Whether its an old pair from the back of the closet or a new pair fresh off the shelf, you can easily design your own fun pair of cowboy boots. Materials Needed for Building your Own Boho Cowboy Boots Cowboy Boots: new or old Belts: New or old Leather punch Rivet Gun Rivets: 1/8" 3mm x ½" 12mm Washers - 1/8" Scissors Utility Knife Cutting board If you have any other ideas to add to your boots, take a look at our craft supplies selection Before You Start: You're going to have to find the right cowboy boots. I definitely recommend using all leather cowboy boots, but you can use ones with softer top like what I used, since all leather is...

As simple as approaching a trout sounds, there's a strategic technique that should be followed when attempting to get close and personal. Take A Breath: Slow Down Obviously you want to be breathing before you approach a trout, but that isn't what I mean by take a breath. It is very important to watch that trout rise two or three times. Those extra couple rises will tell you how timely the trout rises, where his "home" is, whether he is eating dries, nymphs or emergers. But don't only watch the trout! Take a quick glance at your surroundings. There may be a 6 foot log or a "friendly" jet boat that is going to pass right over your target. If that is the case, adjust accordingly. Tie on your heaviest streamer, and launch a cast at that boat. (Actions not advised) Instead, you should just take a breath, absorb everything that is occurr...

By Bryan Tollbom I've been heading over to Montana for the past few weeks in search of open waters as well as trying to get the most out of that pricey Out of State license before it expires. However, I finally decided it was time to buy my Idaho license and start poking around my home waters. So, we geared up and headed to the Clark Fork River in search of some slower moving back waters and hungry trout. Want to know how the river is doing? Check out the current river flows here The weather had warmed up quite a bit, all the way to 23 degrees. Once on the water, I reached straight into my streamer box. I was no more then a few casts into the day before I was hooked up onto my first fish and things did not slow down after that. In the next two hours, I hooked into 7 fish and got 4 of them to hand. A pretty amazing day of streamer fishi...

For N40 Coops 2.0, we asked you to show us your best coops and you answered the call. Courage takes action and you didn't disappoint. In this journey, we learned the stories behind each coop and discovered why every coop is truly special and unique. We met inspiring people and came to understand the bond that comes with owning your own animals. And, we were deeply encouraged by the people who are becoming inspired to learn more about the origins of their food. Don't know what N40 Coops 2.0 is all about? Check this out. Entries came pouring in from all over Montana, Idaho, and Washington (over a hundred plus) -but we could only choose six. The winners have been chosen. They will be revealed at our N40 Coops 2.0 Video Premiere Event and you're invited. Missed last year's N40 Coops winners? Read this. Here's what you need to know- What N40...

What Is IF4? IF4 is the abbreviated form of the International Fly Fishing Film Festival. The International Fly Fishing Film Festival® consists of short and feature length films produced by professional filmmakers from all corners of the globe, showcasing the passion, lifestyle and culture of fly fishing. The films at this popular event are capturing the attention of anglers around the world. IF4â„¢ contains exclusive content and is a must see experience coming to a theater near you! I’ve had a chance to preview the films. They had me at giant Icelandic brown trout, but after a feast of 100 lb Costa Rican Tarpon, a big helping of huge Redfish eats and a buffet of Amazonian Jungle fish, the Legend of Neckbeard eased me back to the Rockies. And that was just the first half. Where To Go? The Missouri River Fly Fishers are hosting the...

Through the Ice into the Frying Pan... Fishing the Panhandle Looking at a map of the Idaho Panhandle reveals a land dominated by water, an angler's paradise. The big waters of Pend Oreillle, Coeur d'Alene, and Priest Lakes garner much of the angler's attention in the warmer month but the region is sprinkled with dozens of smaller shallower lakes. These smaller lakes teem with a cornucopia of panfish species including Yellow Perch, Bluegill, Crappie, and many are frequently stocked with trout including Rainbow, Brook, and Cutthroat. Shallow, quick to cool, and first to freeze in winter these little lakes form the frosty backbone of the region's ice fisheries. Read about best places and species to target ice fishing in Montana.  What's Ice Fishing Season look like? Once a solid 3 to 4" of ice forms on these lakes anglers eager to deploy ...

With our new line-up of fly tying vises slowly trickling into the shop, my days are filled with excited ohhhs and ahhhs. Since we are in the midst of fly tying season, I can't help but demo every vise on the shelf. Two vises that have gained a lot of attention in Sandpoint are the Atlas Vise by Wolff Indiana and the Traveler 2200 by Renzetti. Two reliable vises with a similar "tying on the go" look. After tying a couple dozen flies on each vise, I have noticed a few pros and cons I feel the common tier should be aware of. First, let's look at the simple facts. Wolff Indiana Atlas Vise - $159.99 Lifetime Warranty Full Rotary 7/0-32 hook range Comes with base and clamp Made in USA Renzetti Traveler 2200 - $189.99 Lifetime Warranty Full Rotary 4/0-28 hook range Comes with base or clamp Comes with bobbin cradle Made in USA Here are 5 ca...