"There are four lines which twist and turn their way through this part of the country mirroring each other along the way. From this little spot in the world, one can see all four at the same time." - E. Tips on Howard Creek Ranch An old friend of mine...
HB 309…barely alive….”kicking”
The boys in Craig at Headhunters have the latest on HB 309.......check it out.......defeated the Dark Side will be. ‘Liner . . . as noted, HB309 is still kicking, sort of. Tuesday, March 22, the Senate Ag committee held a hearing on SB405 (Sen. Anders Blewitt) to ban...
Whitefish & the Madison River
Over the past several years, anglers and biologist alike, have noticed a decline in Rocky Mountain Whitefish on the Madison River. Some anglers believe that Whitefish are a plague to the Rocky Mountains and when this resentment comes aboard my vessel, I kick it...
Ditch Bill Update – HB 309
Recieved this today from FOAM: House Bill 309, the 'ditch' bill, was tabled in the Senate Ag committee this afternoon. Amendments were offered to strip the bill of any mention of redefining what is a ditch and related access issues and to update the Stream Access law...
Fly Fishing Poetry
After reading In the Back Eddy, I began to think about some of my own fly fishing poetry, written a few years back. Somewhere in my corner of the cabin, lies a book where I began to compile a few things I wrote before I had a computer....... I like the way...
A piece of art…. for your belly.
We have a friend in Big Sky who is a metalsmith, it is her trade and this is one way she pays the bills. I find the origin of the word "smith" facinating. It basically boils down to mean someone who has a specialized trade working with metal, using a forge. ...
Snowpack update
The Skinny..... Smith River: 118% Upper Yellowstone River: 110% Jefferson River: 101% Madison River: 104%.....West Yellowstone: 107% or 46 inches on the level. Gallatin River: 109% Missouri Main Stem: 118% The snow continues to pile up all over the state...
Patagonia’s Digital Fly Fishing Catalog……
Having been a Patagonia Pro for 13 years and running, it is hard to find another company as diversital as these guys. Their gear is top shelf and flat out works in all situations. I use it for everything outdoors. Patagonia just released their Spring 2011...
Dreaming….or is it too much oxycodone?
Now that the winter snow coaching season is officially over for me, I have been sequestered to our couch because of ACL/meniscus surgery. Bad timing you ask?.......is there ever a good time for this? NO, there isn't. This gets in the way of EVERYTHING, no matter...
Salty Water
My buddy Capt. Brett Greco, the owner of Greco's on the Fly, sent me this photo a few days ago. This permit was caught in Biscayne Bay and from the reports Brett has been sending out, the angling in Florida is on. If you are looking for a solid saltwater guide, who...
A Ditch Bill Update…HB 309
I received this email update, as did every other FOAM Member, from Robin Cunningham. This pretty much lays it out there as far what you should do to help out. Read below and get on it. All of you.......Tuesday March 8th is the hearing. Sadly, I will be going...
The Sleeper Months
I thought about this post for several days and almost didn't write it. Fact is, there are times of the year which have always been for the anglers who live and work in Montana. There are even anglers who don't fish in the summer as the solitude of winter and spring...
The Ditch Bill….
Robin Cunningham, the ED of the Fishing Outfitters Association of Montana has attended every session in Helena as our ear to the grindstone for almost 2 decades. Two weeks ago he informed those of us attending the Board of Directors Meeting in Bozeman about HB 309. ...
Bison Bison
Bison herds throughout Yellowstone National Park are having a tough time this winter. So it goes. Mother Nature has dealt them a hard hand and this winter is the worst since 1996-97. The layer of ice above the grass is making it extremely difficult for all...
Think summer!
While still deep into the winter months, we are closer to fishing season than ever before. In 3 months the General Fishing Season in Montana will be open. 90 days..... 2,160 hours.......12,960 mintues.....7,776,000 seconds. I like 3 months. The Madison is still...
WOW……
This morning it is 52 BELOW ZERO......yes, I'm not bullshiting. This photo is from my front porch - Mercury doesn't lie. Luckily, there is no wind. February is normally our warmer month, but so far this one has been damn cold. Not quite sure what to think about...
Yellowstone National Park
Lots of long days around here so far this year and the next 5 weeks are lined up with more of the same. Thankfully, my days are spent within the confines of Yellowstone National Park. 2.2 Million acres of wildness. Bison are so close at times, I can see the...
it got colder…..
I woke up at 3:00 am to stoke the fire, and let the dogs out. Stella ran right out, but Huck went out the door, tucked his tail and tried to run back in. I had already shut the door only to here his paw tapping at it right away. Upon letting him back in, he gave me...
Black Sand Basin
Black Sand Basin is one of my favorite places to hike through during the winter season. Hardly ever do we see another person, thus giving the feeling that this is truely our park. Iron Spring Creek splits this geyser basin and adds to the beauty. Bison are almost...
Rambling on…..
Trying to come up with orginal topics these days is a real pain the butt. The internet spreads things around much like sick clients from the city spreading their version of the common cold to those of us in the sticks. It goes viral....quickly. Much of my writing...