The first Monsoon of fall has come roaring through.  Lots of people complaining about the weather.  The ones not complaining were out fishing.  Hopefully, they were wearing Gore-Tex.  It really makes a difference.  I’ve spent countless days under torrential down pours.  The kind of days where you have to bail the boat multiple times.  Many of those days have been memorable for the quality of fishing experienced. The fish are already wet, so they don’t mind rain one bit. We are fortunate that a company right here in Montana makes the very best Gore-Tex outerwear for anglers.  I’ve relied on Simms waders and jackets to keep me fishing in the worst weather for many, many years.  Over time, many of my Alaska clients saw my comfort level in the elements and outfitted with Simms.  Simms is the business and pleasure suit of choic...

You did it. Spent hard earn money on a nice pair of Justin's or Tony Lama's. Then it happened: rain, mud, gumbo, pasture land flat tires... or kids, or maybe all that at once. When you want to get your boots back in action and ready for a night out, you need to do it the right way. Below you'll find a North 40 guide to getting your boots shined up like new. Step by Step Instructions 1. Use a damp cloth to remove any mud or residue (you can also use a dry eraser or brush to remove any scuff marks) 2. If your boots become wet or saturated, the first thing you need to do is remove the insole 3. Use an absorbent tissue paper such as a paper towel and dry the boot thoroughly 4. Remember to never put your boots in direct heat as it causes cracking 5. Once your boots are thoroughly dry, use a leather conditioner on the boots with a dry cloth or ...

Early mornings, longer nights, sleeping in a truck, consistent suspense, good friends, and better memories is what the past three days were for Drew and me when we visited Lewiston, Idaho in hopes of hooking into a big steelhead. I’ve always wanted to chase steelhead because it has such a passionate and devoted following. I figured it was time to begin the lifelong process of learning every aspect about their habits and tactics and really get into the- lifestyle- I almost said sport, but it’s more than that. It’s truly a lifestyle. First Impressions When Learning to Swing Flies My first experience? Addicting. If it wasn't for the knowledgeable employees in the fly fishing and fishing department at Lewiston's North 40 store, we would have left without a single grab. We fished everything from swinging colorful flies through gorgeous ...

Above average temperatures with very little precipitation will be the trend through the first half of October. Summer rods, dry lines, and unweighted flies still seem to be the weapons of choice. The Clearwater continues to run just under 2500cfs. I've heard mixed reports of productivity. Some have gone over a week without a pull, others get one here and there. Fish every bit of water. Fish the short cast. You might get a surprise grab. These smaller A-run fish account for the majority of the fish population and are much more trout like by nature. The B run fish arrival is on the horizon and should happen within the next couple of weeks. The Snake is still very warm, running between 63-66 degrees over the last few days. Much warmer than the Clearwater, but also a lot more water. I have yet to make it to the Grande Ronde, but it sounds l...

In trying to find the origination of the Montana Wonder Bug, the internet yielded patterns for other wonder bugs. However, I found that a number of the old school crowd fished the fly with their Dads in the late 1940s... and their Dads probably fished it in the 20s and 30s with the rubber tail coming from rubber bands or appropriated from the girdle of a female they knew. The fly was fished wet or in the film mostly in the winter and early when the "snow flies" (midges) were hatching. Materials: Hook: 12 -16 Tail: small round rubber legs Body: black or brown dubbing Hackle: grizzly rooster neck to size   -- OLD MO ANGLER

Every year we head down to Lewiston and fish the Clearwater River for steelhead and salmon.  Each year our intent is to swing flies during the day and pull plugs at night. Night fishing on the Clearwater River and Snake River can be very fun if the conditions are right.  My plug of choice is the Brad's Lighted Wiggler in various colors.  I usually like to run a few different colors to see what they are wanting to eat.  Brad's Magnum Lighted Wiggler also works well. The Clearwater requires barbless hooks, so I prep my plugs before heading out fishing.  I first remove the front treble hook and split ring.  Then I remove the rear treble hook and add a #7 crane swivel to the split ring.  On the back of the crane swivel I add another split ring, a size 4 works fine.  Then I add a Gamakatsu Octopus hook to the split ring.  Having the...

Leaves are turning. Days are getting shorter. It’s time to wear waders again. Waters are cooling and that is a good thing for cold water critters like trout. Cooling waters are also going to bring about a menu change. For those of you struggling with the Trico and the Pseudo, it’s a good change. Get ready for fall Baetis and October Caddis. Baetis may be small, but they are easier to fish than the trico/pseudo fare. Remember those flies that worked so well in May? They are back on the menu. October Caddis are big and they can provide some crashing takes on the drift and the skate. This is a bug worthy of fishing on that little 2 handed trout spey for added fun. If you took a break during the hot summer weather, break time is over. Fall is a wonderful time to be on the waters. Stop in to replenish your fall fly selections and maybe c...

As you round the bend on Montana 41 South and enter the town of Twin Bridges, the splendor of the community is easy to appreciate. "Twin" is a quiet town whose primary inhabitants are ranchers and fly fishermen. It doesn’t boast a huge affluence and economic luster, but Twin isn’t impoverished and rundown. Twin is a living example of practicality and simple sophistication surrounded by pure decadence. Well, at least for those who appreciate western heritage and good fly fishing. The town banner embodies this spirit better than any other town crest I have ever witnessed. The bronc rider wielding what appears to be a Winston rod tethered to a trout in buckskin and blue exemplifies the essence of this strong community. Welcome To Winston Winston Rod Company epitomizes this same essence. At first sight, the small building on the way out ...

A simple streamer with a couple unique ingredients. The body is tied with a Zip Strip. Zip Strips are rabbit strips that have been twisted. The hide is thinned down, rolled and cured somehow, so that it maintains the twist. The result is a zonker strip that looks more like a dubbing brush. I really wish I would have had zip strips for the past 20 years or so. It makes for a great looking tail and bodies can be palmered just like with a zonker strip. The Dead Head employs the U506 Hook from Umpqua. It has a 60 degree bend and functions like a jig when dumbbell eyes are added below the bend. One could certainly tie this fly with a traditional down or straight eye streamer hook but the 60 degree bend adds some character. The bend provides a keeling effect as well as an enticing wobble. Life is about rhythm- You’ll be grateful for the "Touc...