That’s a question some would-be home buyers might be asking after the town of Pray, Montana just went up for sale for $1.4 million. Pray, as many of you might know, sits in the center of Paradise Valley, which is located between the trout-addicted towns of Livingston and Gardiner, Montana, right on a main route into Yellowstone National Park.

The valley is home to two fly-fishing landmarks, the Yellowstone River and Chico Hot Springs. The Yellowstone, of course, is one of the country’s greatest fly-fishing treasures offering big brown and rainbow trout, plus wonderful hatches to match. The scenery surrounding the valley—the Absaroka Mountains to the east and the Gallatin Range to the west—is stunning and wildlife is abundant with sightings of moose, grizzlies, elk, mule and whitetail deer, black beer and antelope, relatively common.

Chico Hot Sprins is an old, classic hotel, restaurant and bar with the added bonus of a great hot springs pool. Generations of anglers have soaked here and sucked down suds after great days on the water.

So what’s the deal? Well, after 59 years of family ownership, the town is up for sale. For that price a buyer would own five acres of land, an old store, a new post office, a new commercial building and several outbuildings. Think of the possibilities—fly shop, general store, tent sites, home. Want some more details? Got a group of buddies with fly-fishing and business vision? READ FULL STORY

The first time I was asked that question I didn’t know what to say. Too many options. Too many great places. Too many awesome hatches. Too many great towns to visit. But I knew it would come up again. So I gave it some serious thought.

I would be tempted to say that a steelhead stream in Alaska, or the Dean River in British Columbia are my favorites, with the Dean probably winning a head-to-head competition, but those aren’t very accessible for very many people, let alone myself, now that I’m taking care of kids all the time.

So I looked a little closer to home and went down the list of streams that I’ve spent a lot of time on and enjoy for various reasons. I really like Idaho’s Silver Creek for the technical nature of the fishing. And I really like Idaho’s Clearwater for variety and backpacking options. I also like southeast British Columbia and some bull trout and cutthroat streams there. But, I think my favorite, the one I would fish if it were the last day of my life and I could throw just about anywhere, would be the Big Hole River in southwest Montana.

That river can be temperamental, true, but it is a freestone stream, hosts large trout—rainbows and browns—and it offers the bonus of brook trout and grayling, and it flows through some of the most diverse and beautiful landscape in the West. In addition it has some great towns along its banks, including Wise River, Dewey, Divide, Melrose and Twin Bridges. And it has a signature drink: the Moscow Mule.

A nice one from the lower Big Hole near Melrose.

Best of all, the river is accessible to wade and float anglers. On the floating side, there are a variety of awesome drifts to choose from. Wade options are limited during runoff times, but early spring, summer and fall offer prime conditions. When fishing the river from a raft, driftboat, or on foot, anglers get to match a bunch of bugs, including pale morning duns, baetis, Tricos, hoppers, green drakes, salmonflies, golden stoneflies, ants, etc. Almost any day of the year, excluding the dead of winter of course, you’ll find bugs on the Big Hole.

Another thing I like about the Big Hole is that every cast could bring a monster. Some giant browns and rainbows, fish weighing over 10 pounds, swim in the river. They aren’t easy to come by but they do exist. That adds a level to the fishing that you can’t find on a stocked trout pond or someplace where the trout are all cookie-cutter 15-inchers.

Beat that for a pretty fly fishing scene.

And, finally, the Big Hole is really where I began to fish, with an introduction to the river by Ed and Joy Skubitz of Butte, Montana. I owe a lot to them, for their generosity and taking the time to float me down the river when I was in high school, and to sink a passion into me. It turned into a career that began at that point. So, for me, it’s a combination of things that makes the Big Hole my favorite—good trout, scenery, lively towns, and personal history with family and friends.

Where’s your favorite place to fish and why? Starting a discussion here.

Grayling, upper river near Wise River and Wisdom.

I know what a cooking fire is and I know what a good blaze is and I always opt for the latter. In fact, camping and fishing without a good fire just wouldn’t be camping and fishing to me. I’ve stood for five hours in a sopping rain just south of the Canada border near Eureka, Montana, stoking a fire with wet alder—just to look into those flames. And I’ve practically stood in a fire for several hours with the temperature near zero, when I could have been tucked into a minus-twenty down bag, eyes closed, fast asleep. But a good fire brings out antics that you don’t want to miss, situations and scenes that are at least as memorable as the fishing. Here are few images to dictate that. If you have any sweet fire shots send them my way. We’ll get them posted.

That's not a serious blaze but it is a godsend when it's this cold. Seeing this again tells me that mountain goats are safe from me. This was the Madison Range in early October.

The last time someone said to me, "Hey Thomas, this is how you build a fire," they caught a friends new 4-Runner on fire and evacuated a campground. This was more controlled, but still an impressive way to get the fire ready f to thaw those frozen waders.

The judges offered a ten on this one. Hatchet in hand, brew in towe, nice spread eagle, and the spirt is undeniable.

Dude has no hops. Blames lame fire leap on brother holding him down with hatches. Says, "If I'd jumped higher I would have been scalped." Fellow anglers chime, "Dude, you're already scalped. That's what bald means." Angler blames hatchet on burnt shoelaces, too.

Skinny dude shows hops. Moose says, "That 'aint nothing.

Anglers use headlamp to demonstrate their preference in brew.

Anglers bet other anglers he can't run through fire. Angler proves other anglers very, very wrong.

Rookie grabs lighter. Rookie grabs bottle of moonshine. Makes like he's an entertainer in Amsterdam. Hand catches on fire. Lucky throat did not.

When they look at glossy travel brochures and see a blue ribbon winding through a mostly pristine valley in the middle of nowhere they may expect some solitude. And if they buy a house on the river they may not want anglers fishing the water in front of their places. These issues, and host of other problems, are up for debate tonight in Bozeman when Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks offers a public meeting to gather more input on its Madison River management plan.

According to FWP the direct complaints include, congestion on the river and at access sites; conflicts between user groups; trespass on private property; and littering.

A similar meeting was held in Ennis yesterday and two more meetings, one in West Yellowstone and one in Whitehall, are scheduled for later this month.

If you want in on the action and to make your voice heard head to the Bozeman Comfort Inn at 6 p.m. tonight. Take some verbal ammo, no matter which side you support.

If you would rather make your voice heard through written comment, click HERE and fill out the online survey. Want to know the questions on the survey? Read on.

What do you like the MOST about recreating on the Madison River (please list your TOP 3)? Please tell us what aspects of recreation are working well and what you would like to see stay the same on the Madison River.

What do you like the LEAST about recreating on the Madison River (please list your TOP 3)? Please tell us what is NOT working well and the aspects of recreation you would like to see changed on the Madison River.

What are the TOP 3 Recreation Management Changes you think FWP should make to address any concerns you have about recreation on the Madison River?

On the Madison River, have you ever (check all that apply):

On the Madison River, have you ever (check all that apply):  Bank/Wade fished Float fished Recreationally floated the river (non-angling) Camped overnight along the river Visited a day-use access site for non-angling

Do you (or a close family member) own property adjacent to the Madison River?

Do you (or a close family member) own property adjacent to the Madison River?  Yes No

Do you own or work at a business that serves Madison River visitors and tourists?

Do you own or work at a business that serves Madison River visitors and tourists?  Yes

Or maybe I’m not being fair; I actually think Galloup values all fish and the reason I say that is because I watched he and my daughters land a few 16 inchers a couple years ago that put a sincere smile on his face. But the fish that get him cranked up are trout ranging between 24 and 30-plus inches in length. And I’ve seen enough of images of him hoisting those giants to know that he gets them as often as anyone else.

That doesn’t happen randomly. Instead, he ties flies, such as the Galloup’s Sex Dungeon, Galloup’s Swimmin’ Jimmy, Galloup’s Zoo Cougar, and Galloup’s Butt Monkey, and fishes them in particular situations and conditions, to give him the best chance for success. And he fishes where big fish live—on the Missouri, on the South Fork Snake, on the Henry’s Fork, on the Yellowstone, on the Big Hole, on the upper Madison, etc.

Of the dedicated trout heads I know, Galloup is as successful as any and he shared this recent picture of a hog rainbow, taken on the Missouri River, somewhere, Galloup says, bewteen Craig, Montana and the Dakotas. For you stats guys, that ‘bow measures 32 inches long and has a girth of 23 inches. Galloup took it on a black Sex Dungeon. Want to buy that fly? Click here.

Here’s the shot of the fish, plus a couple other must-sees that will make you laugh:

Kelly Galloup hoisting a monster Missouri River rainbow on a balmy day. Skinny jeans dudes need not apply.

The man in action.

Galloup in the glory years.

You don't freak me out weather.

Why bother? Because the Smith River provides the most unique float-fishing option in the Lower Forty-Eight, giving anglers 65 miles of gorgeous river to fish between two access points, the Camp Baker put-in and the Eden Bridge take-out. Between those points there is no public access and very little private access. There are gorgeous, trout saturated miles of river that flow between towering and colorful limestone cliffs. In that water are brown trout, and some rainbows, that range between 12 and 24 inches with a solid average being 14 to 16 inches. Managers limit traffic on the river to nine float trips a day. Anglers stay at designated camping sites that are as unique as the river.

Below, I’ve provided you with a visual treat from a float I took down the Smith two or three years ago. Here’s a link for details on the application process: http://stateparks.mt.gov/parks/permits/smithRiver.html

Best float in the lower forty-eight in my opinion. Unrivaled scenery and great trout fishing, provided water conditions are solid when you launch.

Robert Eddins, owner of Ro Drift Boats in Bozeman, Mont., and a hero of mine is seen here chillin' on a five day trip down the Smith.

I hear you Silver Creek and I do agree with you—but the masses typically name the ‘fork as the best, and if you hit it at the right time, during green drakes or brown drakes, it would be tough to argue against those voices. Especially if you were fishing with Harrop. I’ve peeked into his fly boxes and seen the classic creations he’s tied over the years, rows and rows of emergers, adults, and spinners. Caddis? Got them. Mayflies? Check. Ants? Beetles and hoppers? Oh yea, in precisely tied imitations that slay. Nothing too fancy with materials. Old standby classics and some super modern ties that still fool trout, not meant to dupe the newbie at the fly bin with some exotic flash of colors.

Harrop's caddis box.

Harrop puts those bugs to the test on the Ranch, downstream from Osborne Bridge, too, and even further downstream near St. Anthony, Idaho. I’ve fished with him in those places and known I was watching a master. That’s why I put so much credence in his opinion, which I’m about to share here. This comes straight from TroutHunter on the Henry’s Fork, which is co-owned by Harrop. I’ll point my rig toward Island Park and Last Chance this summer and it sounds like you should, too. Should be some great times, old fashioned Henry’s Fork experiences, to be had in 2012. See you on the water.

Note: threw some pics in here for you, too. Classic H-Fork experiences.

2011 In Review
By: Rene’ Harrop
Images: Bonnie Harrop

No year-end summary would ever be complete without describing how water, in its various forms, affected the fishing during a season that has just ended. On the Henry’s Fork it begins with the snow pack which combines with water carried over in the Island Park Reservoir to determine winter flows. These levels dictate the survival of young trout while influencing the overall health of the river. For more than a decade it has seldom been possible to report more than adequate winter flows, but that has changed in recent years.

2011 marked the third consecutive year of reasonably good carryover in the reservoir and a snow pack roughly equal to the historic average. With flows of 300 cfs through the harvest portion of the year, the continued momentum of a rebounding fishery seemed a certainty. In the local community optimism ran high as hatches of Baetis and Midges began to appear in March and early April. But as May approached snow continued to accumulate in the high country, and the weather stayed cold even on the lower river near St. Anthony. Precipitation in the form of snow is not uncommon at this time of the season, but last year it became the rule. Mother’s Day caddis and March Brown mayflies are seldom hampered by a spring rain which can often stimulate the action, but sustained freezing temperatures and snow fall are a different story. With dry fly fishing largely curtailed and our annual move back to Last Chance delayed until nearly Memorial Day, all bets were off with regard to the Salmon Fly hatch. But even early June would not see a significant change in a weather pattern that continued to build the snow pack to a near record level. Read More

Never know who you might meet on the 'fork during an old fashioned western rain delay. Good times are spontaneous.

Hanging with Whitfish Ed, sequins in the hood.

1) Deep sea angler fish: “Losing yourself in love”

Male anglerfish bite their mates and permanently fuse to their bodies.  Over time, the male’s brain, eyes and organs dissolve until he turns into a small lump, releasing sperm whenever the female is ready to lay eggs.  Scientists first thought the lumps were fins before discovering they were the males.

2) Prairie Chickens: “Strut Your Stuff”

Male prairie chickens attract females with loud “booming” noises that can be heard miles away. They also perform an elaborate dance — lowering their heads, erecting their neck feathers, inflating orange air sacks, dropping their wings and pointing their tails, all while frantically stamping their feet.

3) Burying Beetle: “Family Oriented”

Burying beetles not only mate for life but also raise their children together. Expectant parents bury dead birds or mice and lay eggs nearby. The parents lie on their backs and use their legs like a conveyor belt to move carcasses up to 200 times their own weight. Once hatched, larvae feed on the carcass or the parents rub their wings together to call the larvae and regurgitate meat into their mouths.

4) Freshwater mussels: “The bait and switch”

Male mussels release sperm into the water, which females capture downstream. Larvae hatch inside the females’ shells but must then attach to a fish to grow. To lure fish, mother mussels wave appendages that look like worms, crayfish or other bait. Some emit a smell of rotting flesh to attract scavenger fish. When fish approach, the mussels shoot the larvae onto the fish.

5) Prairie Vole: “Born to be Faithful”

Unlike most rodents, prairie voles are monogamous. Scientists have discovered that prairie vole faithfulness is caused by hormone receptors located in their brain’s reward centers, giving them the sense of pleasure from monogamy.

6) Bower birds: “Bachelor Pads”

Male bowers of Australia and New Guinea build large and elaborate bachelor pads on forest floors, decorated with flowers, leaves, shells and even stolen coins – anything they think will attract a mate. Some paint the walls with chewed berries, others build lawns of moss. Drab males build the flashiest pads to compensate for their dull colors.

7) Lions:  “One Track Mind”

When lions mate, the coupling usually lasts only about 20 seconds. But the pair will repeat the act every 20 minutes or so – sometimes up to 40 times a day. This will continue for three to seven days straight, with the male and female neglecting to hunt or eat during the entire time.

Tree crickets: “Smooth talker”

Male crickets bite holes in leafs to amplifier their love songs and attract females. Once they mate, however, male sperm packets don’t fit inside the females’ bodies so a portion hangs out. The ever-ravenous females try to eat the packet before fertilization can occur. To distract her, the male sings and secretes a tasty goo from his back, feeding her until the eggs are fertilized.

9) Day Octopus: “Keep Your Distance”

Female day octopi are known to eat their partners after mating, so the males keep their distance. When a male finds a female, he extends one arm and waves. If she responds, he uses his arm to place a sperm packet under the female’s body covering. The octopi stay at an arm’s length – appearing as though they are holding hands.

10) Little Brown Bats: “Waiting for the Right Time”

Because these bats mate in the autumn — but hibernate during winter – females store sperm for seven months to delay pregnancy until springtime. While bats normally hang upside down, females stand upright to give birth and catch their babies in a membrane between their legs. Newborns cling to their mothers even during nighttime flights as they search for food.

Well, Brad Watkins of Missoula recognized the area where I stashed that cache by seeing McCauley Butte and Mount Sentinal in the background. He swapped a 9 for a zero in the coordinates and, shazam, he found the cache. And that’s cool because Watkins hadn’t geocached previously and he says he enjoyed the experience.

Ok, so where do we go from here? I’m hoping that some of you will comment and let me know if you searched for the cache so I can judge your interest in this kind of contest. I think this is a great game to play and I am thinking about caching some new waders next time. Maybe  a Tonic T-shirt, too. And maybe a Hatch T-shirt, too. And I’m sure Myka and Tate will make a contribution so you may end up with a kazoo or something. Put it to good use, freak with the neighbors, ok.

That’s the report. Congrats to Watkins. I’ll place the next cache during the day so my pen works and the girls will be warm and you won’t be cursing your GPS. Sorry for that glitch. Back at you soon with another contest.

A new report, created for Simplot by Formation Environmental out of Boulder, Colorado, says there are all kinds of strange things going on in the water, including the Salt River, something that Simplot, of course, says they weren’t aware of. But the photos don’t lie and you can see one them right here, straight out of the report.

Here’s more on the subject from the Jackson Hole News:

Less than a week after J.R. Simplot Company officials denied knowledge of two-headed trout pictures taken near their Smoky Canyon Mine in eastern Idaho, a report confirmed the deformities.

A 694-page draft report, prepared for Simplot by Formation Environmental, of Boulder, Colo., and HabiTech,  of Laramie, contains pictures of the trout. The August 2010 report is titled “Interpretive Findings for Field and Laboratory Studies and Literature Review in Support of a Site-Specific Selenium Criterion, Smoky Canyon Mine.”

The Smoky Canyon Mine is located in Idaho on the Caribou-Targhee National Forest about 10 miles west of Afton. Creeks polluted by the mine drain into the Salt River,  which drains into Palisades Reservoir on the Snake River.

Last week, Simplot spokesman David Cuoio said his company didn’t know about READ MORE