Category Archives: Montana
Time to Organize Flies—it’s go-time in Montana
Saw this dude on the screen door a couple days ago and snapped a quick and very amateurish image with my aging phone. Clarity in the photo doesn’t matter as much as the clarity this gave me in my head—time … Continue reading
Fall On Western Montana’s Rock Creek
There aren’t enough September’s in a guy’s life. It’s the best month of the year, by far. Bird seasons are open, archery for elk, too. Big bulls ripping up trees and barking at their cows. Call one in, feel your … Continue reading
TRCP and On X Maps Team Up for Public Lands
Two great Missoula, Montana-based groups are backing this effort, one being the Theadore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership and the other being On X Maps. I’ve encountered this situation—of not being able to get at public land because it’s surrounded by private … Continue reading
Posted in Conservation, Montana, Northern Rockies, Northwest
Tagged OnX Hunting, Public land access, TRCP
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Quick Turnaround at North 40 Outfitters
I’ve been a little delinquent with Tonic over the past year or so, but I’m making a new effort to keep you abreast of my observations in the West and beyond. Part of my new commitment is having the time … Continue reading
Slough Monsters: Spring is Prime For Montana’s Northern Pike
Had some fun putting this video together for Field & Stream and its Facebook page, Hookshots. This vid serves as a reminder that pike fishing is an option while most of our area waters are running high and fast. In
Posted in Montana, Videos
Tagged fly fishing for pike, Montana pike, where to catch pike in Montana
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Western Montana Pike
I was able to sneak out for a few hours the other day, to ply Montana’s rivers for northern pike, which invaded these systems 20 years ago. To catch pike you have to row past a bunch of trout and … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Montana, Northern Rockies
Tagged flyfishing for pike, Western Montana pike
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Hucks and Cutts: July Is Go Time
The old rule of thumb in northern Idaho, western Montana and southeast British Columbia said you can fish just about any cutthroat creek, after the Fourth of July. Showing up earlier meant you might be limited by high water. But … Continue reading
Southwest Montana Spring Brown
You can get great dry fly fishing during spring in southwest Montana, but this time of year always screams streamers and brown trout under snowcapped peaks with brilliant green lining the foothills and river corridors. It really is the prettiest … Continue reading
Posted in Culture, Montana, Northern Rockies
Tagged Big Hole River, Missouri River, Spring fishing
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Montana Wild Filmakers Busted By FWP, NFS
A well-known local film company is in hot water for not following laws in film and fishing while shooting a piece on fly fishing for Montana’s bull trout, which is only legal on a few waters in the state. After … Continue reading
Posted in Conservation, Culture, Montana
Tagged Bull Trout Montana, Fly Fishing For bull trout, Montana Fly Fishing
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Caddis and Baetis Declines on Montana’s Missouri River
None of what you are about to read should arrive as a surprise, as hatches do shift in strength over time. That’s been the case on Idaho’s Silver Creek, ditto on Montana’s Big Horn, and now on the Missouri River. … Continue reading
Posted in Conservation, Flies, Montana, Northern Rockies
Tagged Fly fishing the Missouri River, Missouri River hatches
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