Page 131 - North 40 Outfitters

When I moved to Spokane in 2010, I didn’t know anyone in the fly fishing community and knew very little about the local water. After a quick Google search, I discovered the Spokane Fly Fishers Club (SFF), went to one of their monthly meetings, and was immediately adopted by the club. Since then, I've had the opportunity to teach classes, go on outings, and partake in community events sponsored by the SFF. Meetings are held the second Wednesday of the month, September through April, at the St. Francis School located at 1104 W Heroy Avenue. Monthly meetings feature guest speakers like Kelly Galloup, Phil Rowley, and local experts. May is dedicated to the annual awards picnic, which is typically held offsite. SFF holds two major fundraisers every year to support club activities and conservation projects throughout the region. The annual fl...

The inaugural Montana Trout Spey Clave on the Missouri River is almost here and we couldn’t be more excited. We’ve drawn together a group of fishy characters and industry leading brands. Our cast includes premier guides, fly rod engineers, line designers and sales reps from G Loomis, Winston, Beulah, Echo, Loop, OPST, Simms, Costa, and our own North 40 Fly Shop staff. We will be showcasing the best tackle currently available for the activity we like to call *Trout Spey. The Montana Trout Spey Clave is a FREE event and will be held at the Mid Canon FAS (Fishing Access Site). Access is from I-15 via Exit 240. Friday April 15, from 3-5 pm, we will provide a free Spey casting clinic. This is a great chance to tune up your Spey casting with a true professional or get introduced to Spey casting techniques for the first time. We are asking ...

This year we are getting together with North 40 employee, Ardythe Bessette and Dr. Newman of Associated Veterinary Services to follow Berneice as she gets on the Zoetis' yearlong plan. When I asked Ardythe how long she had horses, it elicited the familiar pause, "Well since I can remember." When you've been around horses like Ardythe, myself or a whole host of people here in the Northwest, you usually have a horse about the same time you can walk. And it's usually a Shetland. When asked about her horse Berneice, this year's guinea pig for our Year of Zoetis (check out Round #1: "How to deworm a horse" right here), Ardythe only had positive things to say. There are no back health issues that could impact adversely the next year of equine care we have in the works other than last year, "Berneice was bit in the neck by another horse. We s...

So in this episode of AskNorth40, we get into sheep pens with Shane- besides being really, really good looking, Shane breaks down some properties you want in a sheep pen. These properties are durability, portability and functionality. We are going to break these down further in the following blog, and then get into some more options on housing and caring for your flock. Building a Sheep Pen: Durability Most equipment for sheep is homemade. Like Shane suggests in his video, the pens need to be rugged enough to stand up to the wear they will see during shearing, lambing, weaning and everything else that comes with a flock but that ruggedness cannot sacrifice the flexibility needed for the many different pen formations you will typically see when managing a good-sized flock. Shane also writes about backpacking on a budget, right here. Sha...

Anyone whose own a down jacket knows what to expect. It's warm, lightweight and comfortable- until it gets wet. There are probably a number of stories where someone goes out on a camping trip, skiing or something else with a nice warm jacket and comes back with a heavy, wet one. Though, that is to be expected. The plumes that down jackets are made of, while incredibly efficient in maintaining warmth, are incapable of resisting moisture from soaking in, no matter the quality. And when it gets wet, that superior ability to maintain warmth goes out the window. It's a bit of a letdown when the material makes for such a nice, warm jacket otherwise. Of course, that was before Mountain Hardwear changed that little fact. Mountain Hardwear knows from experience that down is a great material to have on skiing or expedition trips for warmth, but al...

Of all the rivers I have fished in my life, the one I consider to be my home is none other than the famous Blue Ribbon water known as the Madison River. It is where I spent almost every evening dry fly fishing in the summer, and it's where I started my fly fishing life. I have fished the Madison for about 15 years from where the Firehole River and Gibbon River collide in Yellowstone all the way down to Ennis, Montana. The three main fish species are rainbow, brown trout and whitefish. However, every year or so I hear of someone who catches a cutthroat or grayling, so there are other fish present. The river averages between 1500-2000 fish per mile, and is home to brown trout over 10 pounds. You can find our selection of streamers online here. Having said that, I have spent many fish-less days getting my butt kicked by those beautiful, un...

Why Did We Change our Name from Big R to North 40 Outfitters? Over three years ago, the owners and the team at North 40 Outfitters revealed their new name to the Northwest. After 17 years doing business as Big R Stores, it was time to differentiate ourselves from other stores around the US that shared the Big R name. By changing our name to North 40 Outfitters, we were able to alleviate confusion and say with confidence to all of our loyal customers online and on the ground, "This is our brand. This is who we are. Expect the best customer service and the extensive farm and ranch selection you deserve." What Does North 40 Mean? The term "North 40" is a phrase that takes its root from agriculture and dates back to the Homestead Act. Language of the time differentiated the Homesteader's land by 40 acre parcels coincidin...

So, we got another live text report from Missouri river from Fred today. Makes me wonder if I should have taken a job at the shop instead of the office... Oh well, here's what Fred's got to say about the MO today. "Really glad to be swinging the MO right now. Water 40 plus degrees. Wind calm. 3550 cfs. Overcast. Did I say I'm really glad to be here?" "Kevin is crushing with a #14 fire bead soft hackle sow. I'm swinging a Predacious Fox. We and the fish are loving it." "A few more, and it will be time for IF4. Hope to see you there." Short, simple and makes me wish I was out on the water instead of in the office.

By Paul Beel, from Frankenfly.com I want to begin by saying that I am excited to be writing a column for North 40 Fly Shop! With my primary focus being fly tying, I have known for years what a great and knowledgeable staff they have and how they keep their fingers on the pulse of the fly tying world. New Materials Announcements for Streamer Junkies With that said, I thought I would mention a few materials and a fly that have been on fire in popularity lately. If you're a streamer junkie, this is a good time to be alive! Two new threads have recently been released, both in the size of 140 Denier: Danville 140 and Veevus Power Thread being the two offerings. I've tied with both and they are, indisputably, quality threads. Previously, I have consistently used UTC 140 and I was accustomed to the stretch it featured. Neither the Danville or V...

In the last couple years, gluten free and grain free diets have grown in popularity within the general public. These new diets originated for those with celiac disease, intolerance to glutens in general, or allergies to wheat. Somewhere down the line, it made its way into mainstream dieting and has remained popular. With this trend has come with a similar diet plan for man's best friend. Some might not be aware of it yet, but there is now grain free dog food available. Those who have seen the now available pet diet may ask themselves if it is right for their furry friend. Depending on the source, you may be inclined to believe that your dog should be on a grain free diet, perhaps mirroring your own choice to go grain or gluten free yourself. Just because you are on or need to be on a grain free diet doesn't mean your dog should be. Those...

March 1st is a date many Washington anglers circle on their calendar because it marks the start of fishing season on numerous lakes east of the Cascade Range. The first week of this season hasn’t disappointed with several good reports coming from our customers. Even I have been fortunate enough to get out with some friends and enjoy some early season success. If you’re a seasoned lake angler, you probably already know where to go. If not, grab your current fishing regs and look for those March 1st openers. Some personal favorites of mine include Amber, Medical, Lenice/Nunnally, and Lenore. Chironomids, damselfly nymphs, micro buggers, water boatmen, and streamers should be part of your arsenal this month. Don’t forget the dries either, because you never know when that first big hatch will come off. Water temps are hovering in the l...

Overview: The Clearwater River holds many of its spring spawning fish all winter long, making fishing opportunities available during good weather. Luckily, Lewiston, ID, is warmer that most of the rest of Idaho during the winter months. Warm winds blow out of the south west called Chinooks. These winds rip up through the Columbia Basin and push into Lewiston during the winter. During these times, even a slight raise in water temperature and flow move fish into new water. These are the key times to focus on fishing the Clearwater during the winter and early spring. If the weather remains cold, the fish tend to get a little stale resting in the same water for long periods of time. As winter turns into spring, there are a lot of fish that push up the snake and into the Clearwater. While these fish aren’t fresh from the ocean, they are sti...