If you missed Part 1 read it here; learn more about Tony’s Montana Trout Outfitters team here.
If you can share without breaking any sacred promises or revealing too many secrets, where do you head to fish on a day off?
When I was younger the answer would have been a small creek. I’m not holding out on you, any small creek would do. I always tried to fish a new one. Some had big fish, some had lots of fish, and some were a bust but it was just great to see new water and get out of the boat for a day. Now that I have a 10 year old son my day off fishing adventures include him. The past couple of years it was all about action so the Blackfoot and Rock Creek were at the top of his list, but last year the light bulb finally went off for him about dry fly fishing so I think we will do our share of looking for risers on the Bitterroot and Clark Fork.
We all have our own opinions on the issue – who do you think serves the best breakfast in Bitterroot Country?
The Frontier Cafe in Stevensville, nothing fancy but it will cure what ails you after visiting all the Bitterroot breweries the night before.
We’re seeing a fair amount of evidence the Skwalas are out in reasonable force; how’s it been the last week or so?
The mythical Skwala is out and about. It is still the early stages of the hatch so most of the bugs are in the middle river and I have had good afternoon dry fly fishing all week. The bugs will spread through the whole river system over the next two weeks and with no low elevation snow to bump our flows it could be one of the best Skwala seasons in a few years.
This past winter has been a bit of an unusual one in that April temperatures started showing up in February; what’s your secret to preserving sanity during a typical Montana winter?
I hunt until there is no longer a hunting season open. I particularly like chasing upland birds with my lab which carries me into January. Then I mostly daydream about tropical saltwater destinations, and of course I read ChiWulff daily.
Walking a small creek outside Missoula
If somebody said you’re going to have use just five fly patterns to fish the glorious spring hatches in your neighborhood, what are putting in the box?
Two different Skwala patterns size 10 – one a little bushy and one sleek and low-profile because some days they want a cheeseburger and others just a thin mint.
Royal Stimi size 14 – in addition to Skwalas we also have Neumoras during the spring which is a smaller stonefly. When fish are keyed on them they won’t touch a Skwala extended body March brown size 14 – these bugs hatch in April and provide some of our best days.
Sparkle Minnow size 4 – Sometimes you just have to throw the big junk, either to lure out those big brown trout or just to put down the trout rising to blue-wings because you only let me have 5 flies!
If you could encourage fly fishers to do just one thing in terms of stewardship this next year, what would that be?
There’s a lot of emphasis on stewardship in the fly fishing community and it most generally revolves around our resources which is great. If I were to add to that I would encourage fly fishers to steward their relationships with other anglers. There seems to be a lot of ego and secrets and status in fly fishing these days. What we need is more anglers, and the only way to grow the sport is to foster good relationships with new fly fishers. More anglers equals more dollars and conservation which ultimately leads to what we all want, better fishing.
Thanks again Tony and gang, have a great season over on the West side this year.
Lunch on the Blackfoot
