We have some new material in the fly shop from The Buffalo Wool CO. available for your consumption. After some experimental tying, I am a fan. Buffalo Dubbing offers a few things other natural dubbing on the market does not. One thing I have heard in the fly shop throughout the summer, whether it be from Rick, the Saturday morning crew, or other Missouri River anglers, is the effectiveness of emergers and nymphs having an air pocket in the thorax, or an "emergence bubble". Now, by no means am I an entomologist, however, one thing I do know is some hatching aquatic insects, primarily mayflies and caddis, emerge to the surface via gas release. The Buffalo Wool Co. states "Ultra light, and naturally water repellent, bison down holds bubbles better than almost any natural fiber." Its true, especially when dressed with a generous amount of L...

When people ask me what I do, they rarely get my true profession as a first response. Instead, I joke about a being a part time pumpkin farmer, a dad to the coolest kid around, a dusty grain truck driver for my father in July, or an absent minded fiancé to my bride to be. What I never joke about is being a hunter: I'm a hunter. For nearly six months out of the year, you can probably find me perched high on a ridgeline, stalking deep in the timber or laying stealthy in a stubble field. What do I do the other six months? Naturally, I'm preparing for the first six months just mentioned. Some seasons are more bountiful than others and despite this fluctuation in success, I always find myself grateful. Grateful, not only for the hunt, but for all the things I get to do. Where else can one be a dad, a farmer, an almost-husband, a hunte...

Met up with the Mills boys for a day of arctic angling on the Snake River this past weekend. Temperatures were subzero as we cruised Washington Highway 195 towards Lewiston, ID. Stepped into the river by 9 a.m. Temperature had increased into the single digits/low teens as we made our first pass through the lower river.   We fought frozen guides, reels, and dirty water all day but the scenery was amazing per usual. The Grande Ronde was pushing mud, hurting clarity on the lower river. The combination of cold, sun, and dirty water made for slow fishing. Nature was out in full force despite the cold, as were the gear boats. We managed a full day on the water and even hit a buzzer beater on the last run of the day. This little hatchery fish made for delicious dinner fare just a few hours later.   Visit Josh Mills’ blog fo...

This Friday at the Your Local 40 in Trent, we are having a special guest appearance Santa will be joining us courtesy of a shiny red helicopter. The landing is scheduled for 1 PM be sure to be there with the little ones early so you don't miss out! It's great fun and there will be pictures for the whole family with Santa this Friday until 3 PM. Come into your local 40 and enjoy the great Friday at the 40 Sale and see Santa at the same time!

Trout unlimited launched a new initiative to help protect and restore wild steelhead throughout their natural range and at the heart of the initiate will be a group called Wild Steelheaders United. This group will focus on the "Hs" of steelhead; Habitat, Hatcheries, and Harvest. Wild Steelheaders United is open to anybody. Whether you fly fish, gear fish, or just like the thought of native steelhead in your local rivers. This initiative will support habitat protection and restoration for wild steelhead. Be sure to check out tu.org and check out the article on "Be Steelheaded." This is truly monumental move in the right direction for wild, native steelhead. If you like steelhead, be sure to give this initiative a look.

We just got in an order from flyvines. Flyvines creates accessories made from recycled fly line. Its a pretty cool concept. If you've got an old fly line ready for replacement, come on by and we will add it our recycle box. Then you can check out the Flyvine lanyards, dog collars, bracelets and eye wear retainers we've got. Your old fly line can find new life and chances are, you need a fresh line anyway. It just so happens we've got some great sales on new SA, Rio and Airflo fly lines going on right now. If you want to check out Flyvines right now, visit http://flyvines.com/. You can also find Flyvines on Facebook and follow them @Flyvines. Out with the old and in with the recycled and the new!

When it comes to laying out the perfect (safe) field for your livestock or animals, there is an easy way (eyeball it and guess) and there is better way. In this article we will give you the tools you need to make an informed buying decision when looking to set up a wire fence around your property. Let's start with unit of measurements when it comes to "talking fence," when you go into your local farm and ranch store. What is a "Rod" Measurement in Fencing? On the American prairie where fences were constructed of posts and wire, farmers would place fence posts a "rod" (16.5 feet) apart. In addition to being about the right distance to support a wire fence, this helped early farmers and ranchers quickly estimate the number of posts needed (80 rods is a quarter mile). Using a "rod" layout and unit of measurement was also useful when plowing...

After you've figured out the towing capacity of your trailer, you will need to select the right tires for your trailer. Tires are critical for any type of trailer. Whether you are hauling cattle, horses, cars or boats, you need to be sure your tires are up to the job if you want to get the most out of your haul. With the right tires, you and your cargo will be safer on the road. There are many accessories you need when you start thinking tires, and you can find a selection of those items here. If you overload your tires, your trailer becomes a dangerous liability. At any point, the tires could blow out, or the load could sway so much that it actually flips over. It is paramount that you select the appropriate tires for your trailer. 1. Key Terms when Looking at Trailer Tires Let's get started with a few definitions you'll need to become ...

Being able to determine the grade of bolts you purchase can be the difference between a solid, durable joining of two materials, or the failure of that bolt. Below we will help you to first identify the difference in bolt grades on visual inspection. After this article, you'll be able to walk in to your local hardware store, pick up a bolt (as long as it is one of these common types), and be able to tell what type it is, and the basic working loads you can expect from each bolt. How to Visually Determine Bolt Grades Bolt grades are easy to determine and important to recognize for the right application. This is a list and description of the most common bolt grades. Grade 2 Bolts Grade 2 bolts are the most common grade of bolts and are also the least expensive. Grade 2 bolts are found mostly in household fasteners like carriage bolts, and ...