Fly Fishing Montana. Brian Grossenbacher
Acknowledgments
Although Jenny and I have fished all over the state, our home waters lie in southwest Montana. For many MfaJ of the rivers outside of our region we drew upon the expertise of local guides, outfitters, fly shop owners and managers who spend their lives fishing on those waters. Very special thanks go out to Evan Phillippe from the Grizzly Hackle for his assistance of the vast and productive fisheries in and around the Missoula area. We would also like to thank Tim and Joanne Linehan of Linehan Outfitting Company for their help on the Kootenai River and other Northwestern Montana waters. Thanks also go out to Jason Wise, a veteran Bighorn guide turned urban professional who drew upon his many days on the Bighorn to help us out. We cannot offer enough thanks to our guide staff who have helped build our business into what it is today through their commitment to the sport of fly fishing and by investing one hundred percent of their efforts into the success of our business. Special thanks should also be given to all clients, fishing buddies, and guides who repeatedly allowed us to photograph them for this book:
| Cale VanVelkinburgh | Don Anderson | Doug Nail |
| Casey Dudley | Jeff Spahr | Jerry Fitzsimmons |
| Charles Johnson | Chip and Julia Kern | Jimmy Kloote |
| Chuck Borg | John Walker | Liz and Jim Morgan |
| Craig Boyd | Tom Fournie | Tom Stover |
| Ty Elliot |
And to anyone else who we photographed, but whose picture ended up on the editing room floor.
We would also like to thank Steve, Dan and the crew at the River's Edge Fly Shop in Bozeman for welcoming our clients for more than a decade.
Finally, we would like to thank our publisher, Howard Fisher for selecting us to do this project and to Morenci Clark and Pete Chadwell for their work in the design and layout of this book.
Mid-summer on the Yellowstone.Photo by Brian Grossenbacher.
The Big Hole Valley and surrounding tributaries provide some of the most remarkable landscapes in Montana.Photo by Brian Grossenbacher
Etiquette, Access,and Conservation
There is no shortage of water to fish in Montana, which may not seem to be the case when you arrive at a boat ramp early and there is a line of trucks, boats and trailers waiting to get into the water. The solution is simple—spread out. If you pull into a crowded boat ramp or access point, continue on up or downstream until you find a less crowded one. Doing so reduces the pressure and crowding, greatly enhancing your fishing experience. Spreading out doesn't have to mean leaving your favorite water altogether, but rather spreading out on the clock by putting in early in the morning or later in the afternoon. It could mean planning a mid-week trip on popular waters rather than a weekend excursion. It could mean planning your trips during the shoulder seasons—March, April, October, or November. In fact, our best fish of the year are frequently caught during these months as the fish are either bulking up after a long cold winter or preparing for the upcoming one. It could mean hiking in a few miles rather than fishing within sight of an access site. You would be surprised how many people drive or fly hundreds—even thousands of miles—to get to Montana then never get out of sight of the first bridge that gives them access to the water. The journey doesn't end when you hit the water—it has only just begun. Explore the smaller streams that feed the major rivers. Get off the beaten path and hike into a mountain lake. Be the first to discover the next secret fishing hole.
Wade Fishing
Interaction with other anglers is a way of life on popular waters. Communicate with fellow anglers to let them know your intentions and to find out theirs. Give them a wide berth on the streams—your presence should never negatively affect their fishing or experience. If you are rigging up at the same time on a small stream, plot a game plan—one person goes upstream and the other goes down. If you see an angler fishing a favorite hole of yours, don't sit and wait him out. Instead, move on to find new water. Likewise, do not stay in one spot and monopolize the good fishing. Catch a few and move on. When approaching other anglers, use care not to spook fish they may be casting to. Avoid crossing immediately upstream of other anglers, or walking too close to an overhanging bank they may be fishing. There are really no cut and dried answers to how close is too close. The general rule is the fewer the people, the more you should spread out. Respect others and enjoy the serenity the sport offers.
Fishing From a Boat or Personal Water Craft
If you float Montana waters bear in mind a few simple rules:
At the ramp:
• Wait your turn before approaching the boat ramp.
• Do not block the boat ramp by rigging your craft while on the ramp. Have your boat and gear ready to go before you approach the ramp. Launch your boat quickly and clear the ramp for other users.
• Anchor your boat in a secure location clear of the ramp while you park your vehicle.
• At the end of the day prepare your boat for trailering before you back down the ramp. Once you back down the ramp, load your boat quickly onto the trailer and clear the ramp. Do not strap down or unload your boat until you clear the ramp area. All boat ramps have substantial parking areas where you can secure your boat and gear without blocking the ramp.
On the water:
• Always look upstream before you pull anchor and head into the current. Moving boats have the right of way (do not pull out in front of approaching craft). Remember, the fewer the people on the water, the more you should spread out.
• Wading anglers have the right of way. Give them plenty of room, and avoid the water they are fishing. If in doubt, communicate. There may be instances where the wading angler should yield to floaters if there is no other channel for the floater to navigate.
• If you overtake another boat, give them plenty of room before you pull back into their lane.
• Treat anchored boats the same as wading anglers. Even if they are not fishing, they may be spotting rising fish—give them plenty of room, and respect their space.
• Never drag an anchor to control or slow your floating craft. Pull to the side of the river out of the current and then drop anchor to stop the craft completely.
Catch and release fishing can enhance the experience of fishing for generations to come. Photo by Brian Grossenbacher.
Most fishing access sites require you to pack in and pack out garbage. Please do not discard garbage in the outhouses.
Conservation
With more fly fishermen entering the sport each season we should take great care to preserve our fisheries and aquatic ecosystems every step of the way. Catch and release fishermen should always use barbless hooks, and play and release fish quickly. Wet your hands before handling fish to eliminate damage to their protective slime layer or better yet release the fish without touching them. Use forceps or another releasing tool instead, such as the Ketchum Release (available at most fly shops). With practice you will wonder how you ever released fish without one. See www.waterworks-lamson.com/ketchum.html.