Brown Trout in Montana: Chasing the One

A good friend told me once that, as anglers, we are constantly chasing the “one fish” that makes us look back on the year and smile. For many of us that enjoy fly fishing in Montana, it’s landing that elusive, two-foot brown trout. Brown trout are one of the top predators in our river systems that can be fooled on a number of tactics, but honing in on several characteristics will increase your chances of landing that record-breaking fish. An…

3 Alternatives For Spring Runoff in Montana

Our 3 Alternatives for Spring Runoff in Montana It’s that time of year when the weather warms up and starts to melt mountain snow, causing spring runoff. The rivers swell up with snowmelt and get big and muddy. It’s when anglers in the Missoula, Montana area, and all over the mountain west have to forego fishing their favorite freestone rivers and find something to do during spring runoff. The Missoula area has hit the start of runoff and we have…

Best Trout Fishing in Montana: Missoula, MT

Looking for the best trout fishing in Montana? Missoula, MT sits at the convergence of 3 of Montana’s famous trout rivers and that’s why we call it the Trout Mecca! The Clark Fork River flows right through town and heads west to Idaho. It drains Montana, west of the divide, and is home to some of the best trout fishing in Montana — featuring hard fighting, dry fly eating rainbows, cut bows, and Westslope Cutthroat. Just east of town the…

Fly Fishing In Missoula – 2019 River Conditions Report

  It’s that time of year when we start making predictions on what our local river conditions will be like during the 2019 Missoula fly fishing season!  It’s similar to looking into a crystal ball, which just means we’re speculating based on winter snowpack, spring water conditions, and future weather predictions.  It’s something we do in the fishing industry, especially in the west, every year.  Are we always correct?  No.  Are we sometimes correct?  Yes.  If you plan on fly…

3 Tips For Fall Fly Fishing In Missoula

Fall fly fishing in Missoula, Montana provides anglers spectacular opportunities. If you ask any Missoula fly fishing guide or local when their favorite time to fish is, 10 out of 10 are going to say spring or fall. In the spring, we have our first dry fly fishing of the year and big fish are starting to look up. Fall fly fishing in Missoula is dry fly nirvana. Multiple mayfly species are hatching and the fish are looking up to chow…

13th Annual Customer Appreciation Day at Grizzly Hackle

The first Saturday of March is something that we have looked forward to every year for the last 13 years.  This year is no different with our 13th annual Customer Appreciation Day on March 4th from 10 am – 4 pm.  This year will be the biggest event that we’ve ever had.  Patagonia, Simms, Winston, Fly Vines, Scientific Anglers and Dirty Water Fly Company will all be here to help us celebrate the best customers in the industry!  There will be…