We can feel the excitement when customers come into our shop because they know we’re on the cusp of another great fishing season in the northwest. Five layers of clothing will give way to a single base layer and fleece crew. Midges will soon take the backseat to March Browns and Skwalas on the river buffet lines. I can almost feel the sunshine as I’m typing! We’re here at 7:00 AM Monday: Saturday and 9:00 AM on Sunday, which means we can get you caffeinated (free coffee), up-to-date fishing reports, and supplies for a fun day on the river long before the hatch comes off.

Winter for most of us here in the Northwest is spent buried under snow those of us who compete are on the offseason, and the hunting and pack season is over. The sliders are off, the borium is off and it's time to take a little break and enjoy the hard work of the previous year. There really isn't any reason to keep full shoes on your animal if your paddock or turnout isn't too rocky or exposed to rocky areas. Some owner's might prefer half shoes in areas where the turnout has varied terrain, or their horses are still used for trail rides or off season trainings. However, those of us lucky enough to have a decent turnout should take full advantage of the offseason to let our horses go barefoot and schedule regular trims. Good diet and regular hoof care is the best way to keep your horse's feet healthy. Tips for Spring and schedule your ...

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...