Our North 40 Outfitters team attends many trade shows throughout the year. We travel all over the country to go to shows such as; ICAST, GLOBAL PET, and SEMA. The shows can be both exciting and overwhelming in their scope and size. But, for us, the shows are about finding the newest, most innovative, and best products for our customers. The Mid-States Rendezvous show happens twice a year, once in the winter and once in the fall. This year’s fall show featured 1500 vendors and, we thought, it really focused on improved products that provide good solutions to farm and ranch problems. That being said, here are our picks for the newest, most innovative and best overall products for the upcoming year.   Gallagher S200 and S400 All in One Solar Energizers Ideal for multiple power options such as wildlife and livestock applications, thes...

The Balanced Squirrel fly is the bulkier cousin of the balanced leech. It is used for those times when a little extra girth seems to be in favor. Originally designed as an ice out fly, to be fished under an indicator, it works equally well cast and retrieved. Fished as a leech or minnow, it finds favor in stillwaters, rivers, and streams. The biggest surprise is how effective the Balanced Squirrel is on the swing. It has become a favorite small streamer and a go-to fly for trout spey. Fish eat it extremely well and tend to get hooked when they do, more often than not. You’ll want to make sure to use a non-slip mono loop for proper action and balanced orientation. Did you know we feature a new fly every week? Check out last week's.

If you’re like me, then you’ve got a problem neglecting people in your life, but never neglecting the fish. When July hits, I start focusing my fishing efforts on steelhead here in Idaho. The numbers are low, yet you can still get one to eat a fly on the right day. I tend to find steelheaders, new or old, who are curious about what kind of early season set-up I like to fish.  Conversations of different set-ups and ideas of what to use are an everyday occurrence here in the shop.  Here is what I have learned and what I like to use for early season steelhead. Do you have the gear for your set-up? Check out our selection of fly gear. Airflo’s Polyleader These are a great tool to put into your bag that allows you to have awesome performing casts. They are better than a straight monofilament leader due to the diameter of the polylea...

What do you Need? Starting Bees with North 40 This is one of the closest "full-service," starting bees resources you are going to find this year. From the best "bee" areas and brood boxes and supers to suits and smokers- this is it. Well- first you need a clean, well-lighted place to put your bees. Well-lighted is usually an indication of flowering plants necessary for bees who survive on pollen from those flowers. I guess well lighted is not a necessity- many plants and flowers grow in the shade. Your bees just need to have access to flowering plants the TYPES of flowering plants will affect your honey taste/color/bouquet, and that is awesome: fireweed honey, knapweed honey, clover honey- if you are a veteran beekeeper, what are your favorite honey types? Want to know how a bee actually makes honey? We've come across people who use G...

Clark Fork River (ID) Recently, flows out of Cabinet Gorge Dam have been bouncing between 4,000 to 35,000 cubic feet per second. Water clarity is anywhere from 7 to 9-feet. The best time to walk/wade the river is when flows are between 4,000-15,000 cfs. Fishing has been best in the mornings and the evenings. You can still catch fish at midday. The trout just seem to be more sluggish. Caddis, pmds, western yellow mayflies, rusty spinners, hoppers, ants, and beetles are all a part of the trout’s diet. You can match-the-hatch with various flies, and if that doesn’t work, throw stimulators. Flies like a #10 purple chubby chernobyl, a #14 purple rocky mountain mint, a #14 Royal Wulff, and a #10 olive pmx will draw a rise. Plus, swinging streamers like a #8 olive balanced leech and a #6 Montana mini intruder with hook large fish too. Lake ...

Missouri River It’s August coming off of a high-water year.  That means that the river is carrying a little more flow and is a little cooler than in a low water year.  That’s a really good thing!  For August, the fishing is really good.  Mornings rule.  Afternoons are for napping or sipping a beverage while following a hopper. Nymphs Every year, the weed beds form up below the dam and the fish congregate around them and feed prodigiously.  From the dam to the Wolf Creek Bridge, you can find lots of activity. Little stuff like zebra midges and tiny micro mayflies are the primary players, though scuds, sow bugs, and larger nymphs can get some attention too. Dry Flies Trico hatches keep on rolling.  If your game is strong, you can get eats on the little bitty duns and spinners of the #22-#24 variety.  If you prefer a larger targ...

Lochsa River (ID) The flow is 532 cfs at Lowell. Low water has the fish hiding in the cooler parts of the river. Anglers are reporting smaller fish being caught which tends to happen this time of year. Grasshoppers are always fun to fish this time of year too. You might not find the numbers, but a very ambitious fish will give you a good rodeo. And, smaller attractor patterns, size 16-20, can bring fish to hand. North Fork Clearwater River (ID) The flow is 912 cfs at Canyon Ranger Station. Water temperatures are still in the mid to high 60’s. Fishing has been hot for some anglers and not so hot for others. Also, using a Gray Wulff has been a great fly for some local anglers. Elk hair caddis in the colors of black, olive, and tan work well too, especially if you skate them. Clearwater River (ID) It is still blanked out in the shop. This...

Coeur d'Alene River The Coeur d'Alene River is fishing well.  With the cooler weather the last few days, things have perked up a bit.  The hopper fishing is still good and smaller sizes will get more looks than the great big patterns.  Morrish hoppers are fishing great in a size 10-12# followed with a smaller black ant or a beetle.  There are decent pmd hatches mid-morning to midday, and surprisingly, a few fish are eating them up in the midday sun.  The late afternoon fishing will still be the most consistent.  Caddis will be the game and a smaller x-caddis or tried and true elk hair caddis, in a 14-16# followed with a soft hackle in a 16# or smaller, will do the trick just fine.  Swinging the soft hackles in the riffles after the sun has gone off the water will do wonders.  Streamer fishing and nymphing have been ok, running a ...

Rufus Woods (WA) Fishing on Rufus Woods is still producing well for those who know where and what to look for. First off, be on the water before the sun shines above the horizon. First light is going to be your best starting time. In total, you’ll have about five or six hours of prime fishing time. You’ll want to look for any surface feeding activity. Chances are you will find the trout feeding just under the surface on small minnow/fry. They may also be feeding on emerging midges or mayflies. A floating line or an intermediate tip line will fit the bill for both feeding activities. Another event that is happening right now is that some of the crayfish are molting. The rainbows love crayfish in Rufus Woods, and a molting crayfish is a soft-shell treat for them. Once the sun his high overhead, call it a day. The fishing will have slo...