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...

If you like fly fishing in open water, you are going to be happy with the current weather. I love a good January thaw. After an icy cold December and early January, the Chinook winds and warming temperatures are a welcome change. The snow will evaporate. The upper river will be free of slush and the shelves of ice will gradually break and drift away. And the fish- they will be hungry. I’m the sort who prefers to be outside whenever I can. After the sustained cold period, I was getting pretty pent up. Nothing was going to keep me from sampling the goods yesterday. It was not the warmest day and it was quite windy, but it was the day I had to go, so I went. Apparently, a few other folks had the holiday off as well. Curious how the river is doing? Check out the current river flows here As I was pulling off my waders after a great afterno...

Strategies for planning a successful out of state hunt begin with... 1.) Ask yourself, what do you want to hunt? The first thing you need to decide if you are applying for an out of state permit, is why you are doing it?  Maybe you are looking for a trophy animal, maybe you are hunting for another tasty critter for the freezer, or maybe you just want another hunt with friends and family.  I've found that Wyoming Antelope hunts are great introductory hunts as tags are plentiful, and the goats are easy to find. Need more ideas of what to hunt? Check out the latest North40 eMag hunting issue here. Some states are world renowned for trophy quality animals of certain species, for instance Arizona is known for large bull elk.  If you are looking for a trophy of a specific species, use online tools such as the Boone and Crockett club to see...

As every angler sits inside during the winter organizing their tackle and making a wish list for Christmas they are starting to get cabin fever. Like every other angler, I was getting a little antsy to get out on the water! Wednesday 12/21 I finally got all my warm gear on and went out. I launched out of Ellisport Bay with my kayak and a determination to catch some bass. I thought this would give me the chance to find bass easier... The rod setups consisted of a 6'6" Medium action Abu Garcia Veritas bait casting rod with the black max reel, a 6' medium action spinning rod with a Pflueger President Limited Edition, and a 6'6" light powered rod with an Abu Garcia Cardinal spinning reel. More bass bonaza articles online here. For my adventure I tried trolling most of the time, because I don't have a fish finder for my kayak yet. I thought t...

When fly fishing, Fred Telleen’s motto is, "any fish, anytime, on the fly." Fred is a veteran fly fisherman. He has been fishing fly rods for almost 40 years, and has guided fly fishing trips for 27 years. Since Fred is one of our resident experts, we asked him, how do you choose a fly rod? Fred suggests that there a few factors anglers need to consider when choosing a fly rod. To begin, anglers should choose the fly rod that best matches the conditions they are fishing in. Anglers need to ask themselves the following questions... Where will you be fishing? You need to ask yourself what type of water you will be fishing on. Will you be fishing small streams and ponds, a large river or lakes? For example, if you are casting on a small stream, you may want choose a slow action rod that is flexible and easy to cast. Action refers to the f...