The Montana Wild Story, The Gospel Truth and Irony

by Mark McGlothlin on February 22, 2016

in Inquiring Minds Want to Know

Many of you have probably heard by the now something about the Missoula filmmakers at Montana Wild, Zack and Travis Boughton, having recently plea bargained to pay almost $6,000 in fines after being tagged with more than four dozen federal and state citations, many of which focused about their activities related to bull trout.

Commentary via social media and various news outlets has been spirited to say the least; my email has been flooded with varied analysis and interpretation on the matter, some of it quite witty as noted below.

The Allegations Focus Around Bull Trout Mishandling

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks posted a press release on the 18th detailing the lengthy investigation into and charges levied against the Montana Wild team.

Articles have popped up on a number of media outlets, though the Missoulian’s Missoula filmmakers, 3rd angler fined nearly $6,000 for bull trout violations has probably drawn some of the most colorful comments of any.

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From the article –

Authorities say brothers Zack and Travis Boughton of Missoula, owners of Montana Wild, made more than 2,200 videos from a 2013 fishing trip into the Bob Marshall Wilderness and South Fork of the Flathead, plus more while they were intentionally fishing for bull trout on the Spotted Bear River and North Fork Blackfoot River.

“Numerous videos showed the Boughtons and Anthony Von Ruden (also of Missoula) intentionally fishing for bull trout in tributaries such as Youngs Creek, White River, Big Salmon and Little Salmon Creeks” according to Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks spokesman John Fraley.

All are closed to fishing for bull trout, which is listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act.

FWP criminal investigator Brian Sommers said video evidence shows bull trout caught during the commercial filming were also over-handled, some for up to 12 minutes or longer after being netted.

In one case, according to Sommers, a bull trout was caught, netted, handled, and released with the hook and line still attached so the Boughtons could film the fish under water and being reeled in, netted, handled and released again…

Montana Wild’s Response (Finally)

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Montana Wild released a statement laying out their side of the story on the 20th – it’s certainly worth a read if this saga has intrigued you, though we agree that “The Drake” defense probably won’t stand up well.

The Gospel Truth

An astute friend in the fly fishing industry, who also happens to be an attorney, pointed out that, from the documents referenced above, in particular the issues related to handling (mis-handling) of bull trout, there’s a Grand Canyon sized gap between the charges levied and Montana Wild’s version of the story.

Said friend noted that given the plea bargain agreement the public at large will probably never be allowed to view the evidence in question, though he suggested the truth often has a way of getting out there one way or another.

An Ironic Twist

Three different guide friends and a bevy of others have either called and spoken or emailed the same comment regarding an interesting irony at play here.

A prominent fly fishing site has been aggressively thumping Montana Wild on social media and their main site; they certainly have every right to do so and the boys in Missoula set themselves up to be cannon fodder with this round of events.

Guide friend MR perhaps said it best in his email –

“…these self-righteous bastards have probably been more responsible for prompting and promoting shitty fish handling over the past decade with their Slab of the Month contest than the Montana Wild guys ever thought of….”

Life can indeed be damned ironic.