As winter begins to loosen its grip in the northwest, the faint sounds of springs are steadily increasing at all North 40 Outfitters locations. Spring sounds indoors? Yes, spring arrives with the welcoming sounds of baby chicks as we get them settled into their temporary homes. Here's the selection of Nutrena NatureWise feeds we carry online. The peep, peep, peeps will gradually increase over the next few weeks as we reach the peak of Chick Days intermingled with laughter from kids and adults alike. It's a great way to welcome the new growing season, and one that we strive to work hard at, keeping our feathered friends at their best health so they can ultimately make it home to be successful egg layers and meat birds. Chickens have always been part of our culture for as long as I can remember (which is about 20 years). Taking care of c...

The Balanced Blood Leech is designed to fish under an indicator. It is a great early season "Ice Out" fly choice in a popular Stillwater color scheme. Suspend the Balanced Blood Leech at the depth fish are traveling, often 3’ to 5’ deep. Find a traveling lane where fish are moving and cast upwind. If it is windy, just let your leech travel/swim/drift along downwind. In calmer weather, retrieve slowly with frequent pauses. Let the fly do the work. It will call them in.

As I step back and look at my flies that I have been creating over the last few months, a trend begins to emerge. The large, intruder style, streamers that I have been tying, all have one thing in common. Most of the material and parts that go into them have the name "Senyo" attached to the packaging. Senyo's Laser Dub Senyo's Articulated Shank Senyo's Intruder Trailer Hook Wire I have been extremely pleased with the performance of these products that Greg Senyo has decided to stamp his name on. Recently I have been adding Senyo's Laser Dub to the head of my flies and it really helps out with the profile when swimming. It also adds a little subtle flash that seems to grab the fish's attention. You can buy the Laser Dub per individual pack, or grab the dispenser that has 12 different colors in it. Good luck fishing out there! Bring...

While the Midwest and East are still held tight in the clutches of yet another record winter, we here in North Central Washington have been given a reprieve.  It seems that spring has come and is here to stay.  With the river flows being less ideal for all chasing steelhead; it’s the time to shake off a little cold and hit the trail. Generally, most lake fisheries in Washington don’t open until April, but there are a few Gems’ that get an early start. Dusty Lake outside of Quincy, Washington is just such an opportunity.  It could be considered a portion of what some call the "Quincy Lakes," but is a little more removed with walk/bike/ride in access only.  The ride in access is what drew my attention to this unique opportunity.  The west access to Dusty lake is about a 4.5 mile is a mostly flat trail meandering through high des...

After a quick visit to our store in Omak, we headed east to the small town of Twisp. As we drove further into the Methow Valley towards the Cascades, the Okanogan landscape progressively changed from sagebrush laden ground to what resembled East Glacier to a native Montanan. Learn about things to do in Moses Lake, Washington. Shortly after we encountered a bobcat, we arrived in Twisp at dusk in search of our hotel. We were given classic, small town directions (like turn right at the Dairy Queen, left at the pool) and told our hotel was located right behind the local pub. As we neared the end of town, we began questioning whether or not we should flip on the GPS just as the pub sign came into sight. We parked outside the Twisp River Suites and sorted through the waves of gear falling out of the trunk like an over stuffed cupboard. Beh...

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 ...