Last Friday our Firearms Dept. Lead in Sandpoint, Tanner Van Pelt, held a customer appreciation day in the form of a long range shoot.  The shoot was invite only and took place in Clark Fork Idaho, on the Ruen Ranch, with targets out to 1050 yards and shooting out to 1350 yards. We had steel targets at 100, 200, 500, 700, 820, 900, 950, & 1050 yards. 15-20 people showed up for our first ever shoot and there was lots of excitement to get underway.  There were a few shooters shooting .45-90 sharps out to 900 yards with peep sights and several guys showed up with .338 Lapuas testing their skill at the furthest targets. The shoot turned out to be a huge success and everyone had a great time. Thank you Tanner and Ruen Drilling for hosting such a great event.

Bully Tools  "For many years I would buy a rake, hoe, shovel, or some such tool. Many times I would return to the store the following spring to show them the rake with the handle that pulled out from the head, the broken shovel, or the bent hoe. I admit that I am a bit tough on tools but, jeez, they should be tougher than that. I got so exasperated. When I got the opportunity to sell Bully Tools I was excited because I AM a tool user and I could see that these tools are built DIFFERENTLY than others. Hold any American Made Bully Tool up against any foreigner (just about all other brands are made in China, Mexico, etc.) and you see and feel the difference. Use a Bully Tool and you won't be back next year to replace it! Check out our selection of Bully Tools online here. Attached are some pics from the (unfinished) project I built with a ...

Waters are warming up. Browns are waking up. How’s your streamer box shaping up? If you need to load it quickly, we’ve got you covered. Get your Sparkle Minnows, Skiddish Smolts, Polar Minnows, Kreelex, Galloup’s, Home Invader’s, Buggers and a Game Changer to complete your arsenal. If you want to tie them up, we’ve got the goods. Marabou, Schlappen, Strung Saddles, Deer Hair, Bucktails, Bunny Zonkers, Pine Squirrel Zonkers, Craft Fur, Arctic Fox, Finn Raccoon, Cashmere Goat, Flashabou, Krystal Flash, Angel Hair, Senyo’s Laser Dub, chenille, Polar Chenille, Estaz, beads, cone heads, dumb bell eyes, Real Eyes, Living Eyes, Fish Skulls, Sculpin Helmets, Fish-Masks, Articulated Fish Spines, Senyo’s Intruder Wire, Senyo’s Articulated Shanks, Umpqua Shanks and Hooks from Gamakatsu, Diichi, Dai-Riki and Umpqua. If fishing is y...

We only had a few minutes on the way back from visiting Coeur d'Alene and Sandpoint Idaho locations this week for breakfast. After an early morning watching the sun come up over Pend O'reille Lake and a coffee on the porch of the Edgewater by City Beach, we cruised east, back to Montana.  BUT we were hungry, and Yelp provided our answer at exit 15 near Coeur d'Alene, ID. Here's another local restaurant you guys should check out if you are in the area. I'm not into finding the quickest and easiest chain to stop and eat at; we've been after the local eats that have big props and respect from locals for a long time now. That's what we strive for in our retail business, and so I find it really interesting to find out more about the culture and immerse myself in it as much as possible in all our markets.  I like the people, the geography, b...

Yesterday I held a free Spey Class in Sandpoint. I had three new spey casters that all have fishing experience, especially fly fishing experience. Two of them are former Alaska fishing guides. Whenever I bring new people into the realm of spey casting, I almost always notice a trend that holds true among different groups of people. Here are a few things to expect if you are thinking of picking up a spey rod. Normally, the better fly caster you are, the harder it is going to be for you to pick up spey casting... initially. Most new casters over power the rod throughout the entire cast. Practicing the proper set up helps casters much quicker than going through the entire cast. If they can get the set up correct, the rest is a piece of cake. All new spey casters set the hook on fish, resulting in fish that are never landed. All new cast...

The Tailwater Sow Bug is an extremely effective nymph for the Missouri River that produces year round. I have been tinkering with TW Sow variations and my favorite variation has become an unweighted version with a red thread base. When I started tying these bugs, I struggled with getting them to look like they belong in a shop fly bin. I could never get the wings full, always having gaps in the dubbing. Below are some tips to help you perfect the Tailwater Sow Bug. 1: PREP YOUR DUBBING Prior to putting the dubbing into the loop, select a small bit (light shade rainbow scud dub in this case) and draw the fibers away from each other by pulling at either end, and restacking. Continue this step until you are left with a neat bit of dubbing with most of the fibers parallel to each other. Give the dubbing clean edges with your best pair of ...

In appreciation for National Ag Day, we are proud to highlight our involvement with two great programs that foster the future of agriculture, 4-H and FFA. "My time in 4-H was invaluable. I have always had horses and been active in many types of equestrian sports endurance racing, roping, and trail. I was on a cattle drive with my dad, I must have been about nine at the time, when I found my first calf. He had been stepped on in the herd and had a broken leg the trail boss gave him to me of course, but my dad only allowed me to keep if I promised to go through the local 4-H livestock program. I named him Norman and went through the program. I learned valuable lessons about beef cattle and best-practices for animal husbandry. I am happy to have the opportunity to announce that North 40 Outfitters will be continuing to offer a discount to...

When I came into work today, I wondered what I could possibly post related to St. Patrick’s Day and fly fishing.  Then I remembered a particular fish who fit the profile perfectly.  Meet the Irish Lord. My buddy Stacy and I were enjoying a crystal clear June afternoon off the mouth of a coastal Alaskan stream.  We were hopeful the incoming tide would eventually deliver a pulse of fresh King Salmon.  Not one to waste valuable fishing time, I began to probe the tideline for whatever might be lurking off the mouth. I tried several baitfish patterns to no avail.  Then I deployed a blue and chartreuse Reverse Marabou Spey Tube fly tied by my friend Tom Larimer. That’s when I stumbled on an Irish Lord feeding frenzy.  King Salmon were soon forgotten.  The water began to froth with the maws of giant Irish Lord’s. I don’t think To...

With today’s river level, I'm sorry to say it looks like the steelhead season may be over. I looked at the river this morning, and it's high and dirty. Normal river level for this time of the year should be around 450cfs. As of this morning: 2700cfs. So unless it drops fast in the next few days, I'm afraid we won’t make much difference about the March 31st closing date. This year has been one with a lot of ups and downs for water quality on the Methow. Let’s hope the new seasons brings a new beginning with it. Keith