Montana has been on my mind lately. Honestly, it has never really left my mind. Talking to friends back home just makes it worse. What I wouldn’t give for just a couple breaths of crisp, clean mountain air and being able to look up and see the mountains.
I’ll be back there sooner or later. When I am, I’ve already got a few things planned out. Here’s what I’m going to do:
Kiss the sweet ground. As soon as I cross the state line, I’m pulling over.
Master spey casting. My previous efforts have caused the originator of the spey rod to roll over in his grave, but there is always time to improve.
Hike back to [redacted] Lake. I’ve been thinking about that place since last summer.
Catch a fish every month of the year. Hell, maybe I’ll even shoot for every week of the year…
Explore new water. With the influx of people moving and traveling to Montana, the famous waters get pretty crowded. But there are countless miles of streams and lesser known waters that get little or no pressure.
Build my beer cap mosaic fly tying desk. The idea is to create the image of a trout taking a fly against a background of a river bed strictly out of beer bottle caps. That’s a lot of beer.
Eat the eggs benedict at Main Street Overeasy in downtown Bozeman. The food is damn good and you can’t beat the service.
Float the kitchen sink in Bear Trap Canyon. Thank God catarafts are stable…
Have a sixer of Salmon Fly Honey Rye in the fridge at all times. This is non-negotiable.
Get involved. There will always be issues and threats to rivers, fish, and access. Now is a good time to start giving a damn.
Get the jeep fixed. Faithful readers will remember us talking about “Billie Girl”, the Chi Wulff 1983 CJ7. Currently she is sitting in a storage unit with the tongue of a raft trailer through her windshield. (How that happened is not important) Aside from needing a new windshield, the lights don’t work, the gas tank leaks, the front end is shot, and the top is held together with Shoe Goo.
Montana will always be home for me. No matter where I am or how much it changes, it will always be home.
It really is the last best place.
Tags: Damn!
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We’ll buy the first 12 pack when you arrive Mark…
Mind if I crash the party too, SOL? Headhunters is going to be one of my first stops when I get home.
Invite a new Texas buddy to come up and fish some of that water he’s always hearing about…
…I’m going to cut you into little pieces (Pink Floyd, Meddle reference) Had to do it.
Winston, you have an open invitation. I’ll show you more trout water than you could fish in a lifetime. But, you do realize that it will all pale in comparison to the mighty Guad…
Great list! Love #10. Number 2 ain’t bad either, but it takes a lifetime. The journey is awesome though, as well as where it takes you. Here’s to your success!
Many thanks. Its good I’ve got a lifetime to learn it, because it might take me that long to actually form a decent D-loop. I agree, the journey is what it’s all about.
Jake buddy,
I had a similar case of home sickness when I moved from northern to Southern Maine. I realize my 6 hours is nothing compared to your journey, but the same feeling definitely applied. I fished 5 times this past summer, never even took my canoe out (I logged close to 100 trips the year before) and generally lived a hectic lifestyle that made enjoying the northern wilderness near impossible. I thought the fishless hell would last forever, but eventually found my way home. Here’s to hoping your experience turns out like mine has!
Cheers,
-Ben
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