We drove up to Missoula area this weekend in search of a Skwala hatch, however, extremely low snowpack has left the area with low and warm water which has made the Skwala's hatch much earlier this year. On the Bitterroot the heavy part of the hatch was already near Darby. With more boats on the water than Skwala's, we decided against a longer drive/boat traffic. On the way up we stopped briefly on the Blackfoot. The water looks good, saw a few fish rising in the evening. However, didn't see any stoneflies around but we were only stopped very briefly. Stopped in at a local fly shop for a shuttle and we got three numbers, 1 of which didn't work, 1 was disconnected, and the last one the person doesn't do shuttles... so uh... yea. Lower Clark Fork had been fishing well, lots of March Browns around but didn't have time for that long of a float...

"How far can you cast?" The question from my guide left me with a queasy/nervous feeling in my gut because I knew my casting ability was about to be put on trial. In fly fishing circles, it’s a pretty important question. I had cast an entire 90'² line before, but that was during a casting contest with a buddy, after a few beers, not nearly the same pressure-cooker situation I found myself in at the moment. I thought about saying something cool like, "As far as I need to," but quickly realized how stupid that would look when I followed it up by slapping a ball of spaghetti out there. So I aimed on the safe side and said, "Oh, probably 70 or 80 feet, not sure it’s been awhile since I threw a twelve weight." Instantly started kicking myself, it’s been awhile? Like since that one time in a different life? I had never touched a twelve...

While twitters, facebook messages, emails, and blog posts have been hinting the Skwala hatch on the Bitterroot starting to heat up, we went the other direction. Too much traffic there so we headed to the cold windy tundra on the lower Big Hole. On my lunch our on Friday I called the Sportman's hotel in Melrose for rooms for the next couple nights, and Roxanne got us winter rates in Melrose for $45 at night, staying 30 seconds from the Salmonfly boat launch and 15 seconds from the Hitchin' Post Bar and Restaurant. Christie and I left Friday after work about 7pm and made it down by about 10pm where we set up the vise in the room and got thing ready for the next day... 19 degrees. Woke up about 9am and tied a number of stonefly nymphs after hearing no Skwalas have been flying yet...too cold. After coffee in the room, went to the Hitchin' P...

By Sam Wike When it gets close to Saint Pattie's Day, I'm always reminded of one of my favorite streamer fly combos... a little something I like to call "corned beef and cabbage." This is a two part setup which requires the use of a construction grade hardhat and a rod with enough backbone to handle two large streamers. When the water is murky, which we approach around spring, I have had some absolutely great days using this deadly combo. Now pay close attention. The Super Technical Double-Streamer Setup First tie a short, stout leader straight to your sink tip (nothing less than 2x and no longer than 5 feet). Next tie a white streamer of your choice, any pattern works here as long as it’s white and has some flash in it. Now, tie on a natural color streamer trailing about 18" behind it. For me, my go to patterns are a white muddler i...

Kris Keller's Goodnight is a BWO nymph/emerger he designed to be a cross between the lightning bug and more traditional style BWO patterns. The dun colored CDC wing gives the nymph a pre-emergent look and the flashy color makes this a great nymph when baetis are hatching, even in off color water.

While Saturday was windy, rainy, and cold we had a great upper float by the dam and caught a number of fish. However, on Sunday with 60 degree weather, sunny, and no wind- we had our 'rookie day.’ How come no one ever knows (err how come I never know) when daylight saving time comes? So we plan to leave at 10:30- unknowingly, it’s 11:30. After gas stop/food stop/coffee stop in Ulm because Craig restaurants are still under construction we make it to Craig boat ramp by 1pm. Midges are all over the water- no fish eating them (there was a couple actually but it was crazy). Float the first two bends with girl in front of the boat using a nymph rig- guy in back of the boat throwing a streamer to clean up- no fish. Drift boat floats by waves and smiles and yells -’great fishing today’- ooo yeah- heart sinks. However perfect weather and ...

Like 'em or Love 'em... or even if you don't like them at all orange hot head flies have been the talk of nymphing on the Missouri. Whether it be a 'hot head sow bug'... 'hot head ray charles' - or Solitude's new 'sunkist'.. they work. It is pretty obvious what fish are eating these flies for this time of year and when the water begins to rise, we believe it also adds some visibility in off colored water. Last year this style of nymph exploded with popularity on the Missouri. We got the beads and a large selection of the patterns at the shop. Come check them out.. they are fish catch

This video is a little strange and pretty cool at the same time. Anyways, the video work is really cool, and it's got some pretty young spirit behind it.

I just broke through the clouds in one of the prop planes that fly from Great Falls, Montana to Seattle. I've only had 2 cups of coffee at this point, pre-8am, and thinking about fly rods keeps prop plane turbulence out of mind. Picked up a couple of publications with the latest fly rod reviews, read &lsquo'em, in my opinion they were terribly biased. So here is mine, yes they are biased, but not because I got payed to say anything particular about any rod or company. They are biased because of who I know is behind the rods, what I know about the companies, and because I have fished them all. I'm not going to comment on a rod I haven't fished against a comparable rod in this review, and I will say negative things about a rod that I don't think is up to par, regardless of the company behind it or the marketing that has been spent to ma...