Flyfisher's Guide to Montana (New Full Color Edition)

New Edition; 8 1/2 x 11; Full color; 253 pages; all major Montana Trout rivers, lakes and reservoirs, as well as dozens off the beaten path waters, over 40 full color maps/GPS coordinates showing public land, public access sites, river miles, boat ramps, campgrounds and other major features. 

Hot off the Press: Lots of color photos, lots of new, updated and/or revised text. Forty-plus, full page, full color maps/GPS coordinates showing public land/access sites, river miles, boat ramps, campgrounds and other major features. Featuring detailed descriptions and advice for fly fishing and access to dozens of rivers, creeks, lakes and reservoirs. Montana fly chart, full color fly pattern photos, angling tactics, suggested gear, rigs, trip planning and more. Mostly about trout but other species such as carp are covered as well. Thinking of doing the Smith River? Be sure to check out what Mike Geary, Lewis and Clark Expeditions (largest outfitter on the river) has to say on what truly is one of the most unique float trips in the lower 48. For each region I've added trip planning suggestions for Easy Access, Weekend Getaways, Week-Long Vacations and Area Fly-Shops and Outfitters. 253 pages/$29.95; Wilderness Adventures Press.

Fly Fishing Tip #4 (Part 1)

The most important tool in a trout angler's kit

Poll question of the day: What is the most important tool in a trout angler's kit? If you answered “stream thermometer” quit reading and go fishing.

Based based on countless conversations with fellow anglers, how water temperatures affect trout be-havior and thus our fishing success is the least understood piece of the fly fishing puzzle. In an effort to solve the puzzle, I set a course to learn as much as possible and so what follows is the result of decades spent talking to biologists, reading everything I could get my hands on, combined with decades of steadfast stream thermometer use and studious observation. As with most investigations some of the stuff I uncovered seemed spot on and, of course, some of it didn’t quite fit my personal observations.

Anyway, here ya go:

• The ideal water temperature for brown trout is about 60°F; for rainbow and brook trout a cou-ple degrees less.

• Trout are most active at their individual ideal water temperature. In general trout (aquatic food chain) engines are firing on all cylinders in water ranging from 55-65°F.

• Oxygen plays a major roll. Oxygen levels rise and fall more or less in direct relationship to both water temperature and flow rate. Fast water always contains more oxygen.

• On the high end, once temperatures reach about 70-72°F metabolisms slow down and trout begin to migrate to cooler, more oxygenated water—deep pools, riffles, runs and in extreme situations, often abandon completely long stretches of the main stem, migrate long distances to spring holes and/or mouths of cold tributaries.

• On the low end, once water temperatures fall to the low 50s metabolisms slow down.  But, de-spite the higher oxygen levels in fast water, trout migrate to deep, slow pools to conserve energy.

• The good news is once the trout become conditioned to lower water temperatures they still must eat. As a rule of thumb fish low and slow. Even in dead of winter trout often gang up in eddies and backwaters to gorge on hatching midges.

• Two words I’ve learned to never utter in a fishing discussion are “always and never.”  So yes, some trout become conditioned to higher and lower water temperatures and thus fall outside the above parameters. The Firehole is a good example on the high end and the San Juan, below Navajo Dam, where the water enters at a chilly 39°F year around, is a prime example on the low end.

• Because of depleted oxygen levels at both ends, anglers need to bring trout to hand quickly, get the hook out and back in the water pronto—or kill it—your call. But trust me any trout mishandled even a little bit, in 70°F+ water is in serious jeopardy.  At the low end not so much but still the quicker the ordeal the better.

• The faster the water temperature is rising above or falling from the ideal the slower the fishing.

Fly Fishing Tip #3: Fish Close

Terry Throckmorton knows...Do you?

 As a young man I was fortunate to land in central Pennsylvania,  a fly fishing hot-bed and the calving ground for what might be the largest mob of world class fly anglers ever. Best thing, I got to know, befriend and fish often with a bunch of them. It seemed every day I learned something new, or maybe more to the point, everyday was a challenge just trying my damnedest to look at least semi-competent.

Now all these guys were great casters, several could toss an entire fly line with no rod at all. Of course this was just show-off stuff. When the chips were down, game-on, time to catch fish, every single one reeled-up and essentially opened the same playbook.

Act 1; Scene 1:

Look before you leap and when you leap start with little baby steps. In other words take a look around: Are bugs hatching, trout swirling the surface? If not what are the obvious targets? Plan your attack. And most urgent, start CLOSEl and THEN gradually work UP and across toward that fishy run against on the far bank. Ask any guide and he will tell you the best way to evaluate angler experience is where that first cast of the day is aimed. Experienced fish close. The rest charge right in, flail away, line every trout within range, time to take a deep breath, start anew.

”O-o-okay lets move on up maybe plan our attack a bit better, eh?”

How close? If riffles, runs, etc. start literally right at your feet—no kidding. If possible keep the sun at your back but avoid casting shadows—yourself, rod, line—over the target area. Stalk as close as possible to the target. Cover the close water first then carefully stalk into position to cover the next and so on.

There are many things to like about short casts. The many conflicting currents between you and that fish rising way out yonder make controlling the drift difficult to impossible the more of those currents your line falls upon. Short casts often allow you to raise the rod and lift the line over squirrely currents and even obstacles which tend to kill drag free drifts—in most cases the difference between knockin’ em dead and so-so. Within reason, accuracy decreases in direct proportion to length of line.

Anyway as a wise man once noted, you won’t know if ya don’t give it a go.