CALVIN FULLER North 40 Ponderay Fly Shop Manager Family, Fishing and Physics I was born into a fishing family. My father loved to fish and would often leave for days at a time chasing trout with a fly rod. I was destined to become a fisherman myself. My first memories of fishing are on a small inlet off the Snake River fishing for panfish with a bobber and worm. He always told me to pick up my slack line. I started fly fishing when I was five years old on the Touchet River in Eastern Washington. Growing up, we would go on camping trips, and I would always bring my fishing stuff. I never lost interest in fishing and preferred fly fishing through my teenage years. For my senior graduation gift my father took me fishing in Alaska at Alaska Sportsman's Lodge. It was an awesome gift that became the initiation into my fly fishing career. After...

This trailer/teaser is from the upcoming Fly Fishing Film Tour. The Kodiak Project: Fly Fishing in the Land of Giants by LDR Media is an intense look into the Karluk River, which has been deemed as a river that is a bit like a unicorn. It is a river that everyone has heard about, but nobody has had a chance to see or fish, which has finally recovered from 10 canneries who devastated and dramatically reduced the salmon population by commercial fishing in the late 1800s. It used to be considered the best salmon run in the world. After years and years and steady recovery, the Karluk has come full circle and produces the second largest steelhead run in Alaska at over 11,000 per year along with a healthy run of 5 species of Salmon. Do the math and this makes up for extremely good chances of catching double digit steelhead and multiples species...

For 2018 Mathews introduced the Triax, labeling it as “Stealth is Leathal.” This bows features a 28” axle-to-axle, a 6” brace height, has an IBO rating of 343 FPS, and weighs 4.4 pounds. The short axle-to-axle makes the bow great of packing in, hiking through brush, and hunting from a tree stand or ground blind. The Triax also features Mathews’ Crosscentric Cam helping this bow achieve and unbelievably smooth draw and shot when compared to other bows. We put this bow to the test and compared it to the Halon 32. The Triax came out on top as one of our top picks from the 2018 ATA show in Indianapolis. The price of this bow is around $1,099.00. This bow is one of 5 bows we picked for best bows of ATA 2018. Check out our top bows from the 2018 ATA show here. Mark Hanes from Mathews Archery: This bow is the result of an extremely ...

I'm just about to go to bed and am feeling fired up to fish in the morning. My car is ready to hit the road early, head back to Great Falls, and then trek to Bozeman, where it will remain for the weekend. The wind is howling, like it always does, but I still want to fish. I have not passed up on an opportunity to fish for a long time. Working at 10:30 gives me plenty of time to spend $15 bucks on gas, $5 bucks on a pair of breakfast burrito's at Quigleys while there's still moonlight and a shot at the big one, which will probably just spit the hook. I think she is the reason for me fiending my instant return the river in the first place. Working with Fred, Cornfeed, Shane, and Matt this week has sparked many fishing related conversations ranging from Ling to snot rockets. Lots of customers passing through say fishing has been great for t...

Good morning to all you 'wake up early the day after Christmas and check Missouri River fishing blogs to see what you missed out on yesterday' hardcore anglers. For me, this Christmas was very different than any I had ever had the pleasure of living through thus far. It was the first year I didn't make the long drive or short flight back to the land of cheeses and packaged meats (chalk up another pack attack.) When working the week before and week following Christmas Day, this is where I fortunately had to spend my Christmas. Yes, I missed Mom, Dad, Sisters, Nephews, Aunts,Uncles, Grandma, and the fluff balls, but I didn't miss out on stroking feisty rainbows and browns just south of town. They all say the tug is the drug, and it was on Christmas day. I met with 'Party' Paul Constandine, and long time Mo. River guide, and hell of a good ...

For the average guy there are 2 ways to trick trout with both hands on the rod. One is on the swing, and the other nymphing. There are plenty of opinions out there on using two handed rods to nymph with an indicator, and if it’s not your thing, it’s not your thing. Two Handing in the Winter: Fly Rod Choices I would personally rather swing, but if my buddy is bent consistently for hours, and I’m coming up empty I will admit I like to catch fish, especially when it’s cold (when it’s warm you can say you are "just enjoying the weather," or you are "experimenting" with new fly patterns, in the winter... you start to think you should have just stayed home). However, nymphing for trout with a two-hand rod on the Missouri is extremely effective due to high winds and big water, and if you are a wade fisherman, then the two-hand rod may...

We've had a pretty mild fall so far in Great Falls which has led to more December fishing than usual. Streamers and nymphs have been the methods of mayhem on the Missouri this fall/winter. Today it was 45 degrees at 8am, so we will be on the water. The Good: Here is the alternative to pink or firebead selection (pictured left to right). Soft Hackle Dead Ray: Ray Charles with a turn of soft hackle, and a hint of orange or pink in the body. Agee's Natural Sow: Good standard sow bug pattern with a good Missouri River guide's name on it. Rainbow Warrior: Invented by Lance Egan from Utah, this has become a staple pattern since Hareline's invention of Rainbow Scud Dubbing. Spring Creek Scud: Smaller sized scud pattern, with the right amount of color and more sparse than most commercially tied scuds. Tung Teaser: Zebra Midge with a tail and tho...

It was cold, damp, and wintry in Livingston today. It is deep winter in the Rockies. The river is jammed up with ice, and the only open water that can be found is capped with films of slush ice. I broke out the sticks and ran some drifts in nice and close, started with the indicator after that thinking that I could pursue more fish, trying to keep the spook to a minimum. This produced one flimsy little whitey. Ice closed the gap within my guides every five to seven casts. Combinations of four letter words slipped from my mouth on numerous occasions. I thought about calling it early, but recalled what Jamie at the Yellowstone Angler told me earlier. I started to swing fat headed creatures with heavy tips, only so I could penetrate the slush and mini ice islands. This worked. Polarized was key today. Many fish would follow up the swung out...

Sharptail Media's new teaser on the Missouri River hit the net this week, and has already created some exciting buzz among Missouri lovers.The teaser will be featured on next year's Fly Fishing Film Tour (North 40 will be hosting in Great Falls at the Heritage Inn on March 30th and in Sandpoint, ID at the Panidaon April 20th). Simon Perkins who is behind Sharptail Media and the new ''Sipping Dry" trailer lives in Helena, Montana and is an avid fly fisherman and bird hunter in the area, and has guided birds and fisherman in the region for a number of years. I can't wait to see the movie at F3T this year, as I imagine the trailer represents the final product with dry flies, the Missouri, some of the best local fishermen, skiff boats, and choosy Missouri trout which will make this a great show. Is it almost April? "Sipping Dry" trailer - by...