Page 157 - North 40 Outfitters

As the days get longer and the cold snaps get shorter, our pulses begin to quicken.  It’s ice out time again.  Lakes often hold larger trout than streams and rivers do.  Whether you spend much time in stillwaters or not, it’s hard to pass up the spring time urge to tangle with some large hungry trout.  As the ice breaks up, oxygen pumps into the water and the shallows quickly warm a few degrees.  Fish metabolism quickly spikes along with their need to eat. What are you going to give them?  Think about it.  Big hungry fish.  Little to no insect activity.  Did I say big hungry fish?  Give them something big enough to chew on.  Feed them a lake leech. What is a Lake Leech?  Logic would indicate that lake leeches are leeches living in the lakes.  There are leeches in most lakes.  While trout will certainly eat them, leeches...

When it comes to livestock handling equipment, producers have come to trust Powder River products. The classic American made green panels, gates, and livestock equipment has demonstrated its commitment to the cattle industry over the years. Powder River can also help you design a system tailored to your operation's needs with a program called Powder River Ranch Calls. The Powder River "Ranch Calls" program was created for livestock producers who need to get the most out of their equipment investment. Our local store managers will work closely with Powder River representatives and visit your ranch in helping you design a system that best works for your needs. You can browse our selection of livestock equipment and accessories online here. What Does the Powder River Ranch Calls Program look like? When Rocking R Cattle Company was ready to ...

Recently, I helped Matt Wilhelm of the Yellowstone Fly Fishing School, with some fly tying classes at the North Middle School in Great Falls.  Matt was introducing the kids in Andrew Nagengast’s 8th grade art class to the art of fly tying.  Teaching kids the art of fly tying is a great way to promote interest in the pursuit of fly fishing.  While fly tying is a wonderful activity in itself, it is our hope that fly tying will become a catalyst to spark a desire in young people to learn and discover more about fly fishing.  The activity of fly fishing leads to an understanding of habitats, the importance of clean water and the values of protecting them. Some of the kids were very interested in building on what Matt was teaching them.  I collected their flies and drew one for the chance to win a complete fly tying kit provided by Nort...

  Going into spring with temperatures varying, it can sometimes be difficult to find a sock that fits my needs. As someone with sensitive skin, I was skeptical about that dreaded "wool" word, especially for $20. However, the Margarita sock was so soft and comfortable it was hard to believe it was 71% merino wool, combined with nylon and elastane. I noticed almost immediately how cool my feet felt, the merino wool is great at regulating body temp and absorbing any moisture.  These socks can hold about 1/3 its weight in water and still keep its warmth in cold weather and breathability in warmer conditions. They are lightweight and thin enough to wear with any dress shoe, western boot, or just plain ol' sneaker.  Perfect for everyday wear, whether you're hitting the slopes, trekking back country trails or simply going to work, these ...

  Sheep River Shiner Early in the season, trout are hungry and insect volume is minimal.  Most trout waters have a variety of minnows including shiners.  Many of the minnows are small.  Some species never grow over 3".  Many never make it beyond 2", because they are often eaten.  A two inch minnow/baitfish fly fits the scheme for what trout are often eating.  You can sell them a #22 midge or a #8 Sheep River Shiner.  You decide.  

As graphite fly rod tapers and construction have continued to get faster, lighter and more expensive, glass fly rods are making a resurgence.  We’ve been carrying the Echo Glass single hand fly rods for the past year and they are getting more and more popular.  This year, we’ve added Echo Glass in both switch and spey models for 2-handed rod fanatics looking to slow things down. Why glass?  Why not listen to Tim Rajeff tell us-     So the single hand rods are pretty cool. Now check out the Spey Rods-     There is no reason to throw away your graphite fly rods yet. For many of the conditions we face, contemporary graphite rods are the best performance choice. Glass is not the ticket for big water, strong winds and long distance needs. Glass simply offers another medium to have fun doing what we love. When the c...

With the warmer weather we have been experiencing these last few weeks, the rivers have taken a upswing in flow levels from what they normally run. With that, I'm happy to report that our rivers are starting to come down. Okanogan River is running at 3600cfs and is dirty with poor visibility. I would honestly say that it is not fishable in its current condition. Methow River has dropped to under 1390cfs and continues to drop. Water visibility differs depending on what area of the river you are at. From Beaver creek south, there is between 2 & 1/3 to 3 feet of visibility. Up river of that the river is pretty clear. We are getting into that time when the steelhead are becoming more aggressive. Swung flies are working very well. Keep them sparse with colors of blue and black as the primary colors. Other flies such as the Hobo and MOAL ...

In Sandpoint, Idaho, a diner on Cedar Street stands to contrast a world full of superfood filled smoothies and organic breakfast burritos- Bienvenidos a Connie's Cafe. We showed up in Sandpoint late the night before, after embarrassing Google Maps' estimated arrival time by flying up the road from our Mead, Washington store. We "closed it down" at the store with the management team, then headed downtown to Eichardt's Pub and Grill to immerse ourselves as much as we had time for in the local culture of Sandpoint a town we are lucky enough to do business in. Looking for more things to do in Sandpoint? Look no further. When we went to bed, it was to Eichardt's anthem, "No crap on tap," served up by our waiter. One of our great friends from Sandpoint, Calvin Fuller, recommended we meet early, 7 am for breakfast so we could get an early start...

Recently I have been forced to do a little repair on some old leaky waders.  I normally use Aquaseal, but this time I was on a time crunch so I decided to try out Aquaseal UV. I have to admit, I was very impressed with how well this product actually worked.  It's fast and easy to use and comes in a small, easy to carry tube. Application is super easy and it actually works! Aquaseal UV is made for quick repair stream side or in the field.  It cures in seconds under a UV light or natural sunlight to make a waterproof durable seal on any type of gear.  Aquaseal UV repairs minor pinholes, tears, and seam separation in waders and other waterproof gear.  It works on waterproof breathable fabric and neoprene. Another cool feature about this product is the ability to use it to coat fly line knots allowing for smooth transitions through yo...

Does The Fly Line Matter? While choosing a fly rod is important, it is the fly line that delivers the fly.  The most expensive premium fly rods will perform poorly with mismatched lines.  Even suitable lines eventually wear out and function poorly.  In short, your fly rod needs a properly matched fly line in good condition.  Without one, your fly fishing time will not be nearly as much fun or productive. How long does a fly line last?  It depends on how much you use it.  I have some sinking lines that only get used occasionally during a season.  They are good for many years.  My floating lines get changed out more frequently and sometimes more than once.  If you only fish a hand full of times, you are probably good for several seasons if your line is cared for. How Do You Take Care Of A Fly Line? How do you care for a fly line?Â...

If you take a look into the bins at your local fly shop, you will easily find some examples of hot spotting. I will venture to say that in the near future, you will see even more patterns featuring hot spots. So what is hot spotting? Simply put, hot spotting is adding a bit of bright color to a fly, thus creating a visible hot spot. It can be as simple as using fluorescent thread to tie off a pattern. In this example, the hot spot is the thread head. All our Stimulator dry flies are tied with fluorescent orange thread-Hmmm. A fluorescent orange bead can be a hot spot. We call them fire beads. We’ve got over two dozen flies with fire beads in our bins. They are among our leading sellers. Another way to add a hot spot is with the new Bug Collars from Bozeman Fly Goods. Bug Collars can be used in conjunction with standard beads. Not onl...

Eggs. From baking to breakfast, we use eggs in just about everything. Three years ago, I bought some baby chicks and decided to see why this whole "Urban Chicken" industry was growing so fast. I started out with fourteen baby chicks, brought them home, and set up our brooder kit that had the walls and post for a brooder heat lamp. I first set it up in my garage worried the little buggers needed to be inside rather than just in the barn outside. Here's a brooder kit we sell online that can help keep you in getting your new chicks established. I also realized that they eat and drink a lot  and keeping electrolytes in the water and keeping it clean was a bit tough. Once they started developing their feathers, they became almost self-sufficient. Meat & Layer Birds: Differences to Learn As I did some research, I found that meat bird...