It’s been a few weeks since we’ve posted an interview in our People of Fly Fishing series; here’s one we’re very pleased to share.
We chatted with Steve Galletta, one of the principles at Montana Trout Anglers (source of the image to the right) and blogging about the Bighorn here, way back in May during what the start of the flooding runoff this year.
He and his team have been busy as hell working the remainder of the summer season and he’s recently taken a little time out to answer some questions for us about his guide service and the Bighorn.
Steve has a good guide team working with him and he has an interesting perspective on things outdoors given his educational foray into environmental policy in college.
Montana’s runoff this spring and into early summer was mind-boggling. How did it affect things on the Bighorn this year?
It ultimately changed the way we fish the river. The Bighorn is one of the best wade fishing rivers in the world and the high water this year made us spend more time in the boat. It also set our hatches back almost 4 weeks. We had great midge hatches in May which typically are in full swing during early April. Also the PMD’s and Sallies came late as well. The amazing thing about the Bighorn is that the fish are so keyed into the emergences they came to the surface readily for the PMD’s and Sallies in July when the water was at 11,000 cfs. The fish found calm water below what used to be islands and on what used to be grassy banks. It was incredible to see and the fishing was great.
How’d you get started in the business? Would you do it again?
I’ve been fly fishing since the age of nine and I have always spent as much time as I could on the water. It was a natural progression for me to start guiding during my summer breaks in college. After I got my degree I just stayed with it. I would definitely do it again, the nice thing is once you learn how to guide you can almost do it anywhere and it allows you to see some incredible places thru your work. The game has definitely become harder to get into, but still worth doing.
What do you really love about the Bighorn and the area?
The Bighorn offers an angler the widest range of fishing diversity in one location. Nymph, dry fly or streamer fisherman can have an incredible experience on this river.
The thing that I love most about the river is the “match the hatch” dry fly fishing. The numbers of fish eating dry flies at times is mind boggling. The other thing that I enjoy almost just as much as the fishing is the area. When you are on the Bighorn and in Fort Smith your mind is on one thing and that’s fishing. It provides anglers with a true escape from everything.
If you had to pick just one fly for each season on the Bighorn, what would be in your box?
There is so much happening during each season it is hard to give you one; so here’s a few.
In the spring I would carry a Black Zebra Midge, BWO Wonder Nymph and a cdc bwo Sparkle Dun.
In the summer it would be a PMD sparkle dun, Morrish Hopper, Grey Ray and a Silverman’s Para Sally.
During the fall I would carry a Trico Spinner, size 22 Para Adams with a black post, Coffey’s Sparkle Minnow and whatever your favorite streamer is.
How about your personal favorite time to fish the Bighorn?
My favorite time to fish the Bighorn is during March and April. The river is almost void of anglers during the week, the midge and baetis fishing can be incredible and it’s nice to be on the water after a long winter.
Montana’s highly revered stream access law survived a serious challenge from some in the Montana legislature this past year. What’s your spin on the stream access issue and do you think it’s all said and done at this point?
Stream access is the most important issue we face, it’s not whether anglers should have felt on their boots or not. The stream access law will continue to be challenged at least every few years in Montana. The water in this state is owned by the people and meant to be shared by the people. Our ability to access our state waters is a true indicator of our democracy in this country. If anglers, non-profits and politicians maintain their alliance to protect our stream access law, we will be fine.
Living amidst some of the most incredible water in the world, where do you head to fish when you’re ‘getting away from work’?
Since I spend most of my time guiding a tailwater river, I spend my time off on freestone rivers such as the Bitterroot, Blackfoot and Big Hole Rivers. My time to get away is March, April and October and there is no better time to experience fly fishing in Montana.
What’s an ideal ‘day at the office’ for you?
My ideal day is spent with open minded anglers who are willing to learn and adapt to the fishing conditions we face on the river that day. There are always new techniques to learn and I find that catching fish using a new technique is very rewarding for clients. I see it all the time when we fish streamers. I also love introducing anglers to the lower Bighorn, especially when they have only ever fished the stretch below Afterbay Dam.
If you could inspire fly fishers to do just one thing from a conservation standpoint in 2011, what would it be?
Stream access is by far is the most important issue we face as anglers. Non- resident anglers need to become just as aware of the issue as residents and let their voice be heard.
If you weren’t guiding and outfitting, what line of work would you be in?
My degree is in environmental policy so possibly working for a non-profit protecting the angling opportunities we all enjoy.
Tags: People of Fly Fishing
