Shopping for the Fly Fishing Beginner
It’s never been easier to take up the sport of fly fishing. Affordable rod packages combined with free instructional videos and content on the internet makes it simple to get up and running. Outside of the rod packages, new anglers will need a few basic accessories, flies and a means of carrying everything. At Frontier Anglers, we have it all and can help put together custom fly packages based on your region. Start with the Rod, Reel & Line The essential rod, reel and line was once a bit of an issue for new anglers. Matching the correct sizes and getting setup at a reasonable cost was difficult. That is not the case now and we have excellent package options at great prices. Orvis and Echo both have great kit options, especially for general trout fishing. A 5-weight or 6-weight package is perfect for new anglers. Kits come with a weight forward floating line, leader and a high quality reel. It’s all spooled and ready to use right out of the box. The Echo Traverse is a favorite kit and the Orvis Clearwater is also excellent. Must Have Fly Fishing Accessories After the rod is rigged and ready, a few other accessories come into play. Tippet and Leaders – Trout anglers will need 4x and 5x tippet and tapered leaders to cover most situations. Including 3x and 6x will ensure they can fish tiny dry flies and streamers as well. Floatant – Dry flies quickly become waterlogged and will lose performance. A simple bottle of floatant only costs a few bucks and it will keep flies floating for much longer. Nippers – Cutting line is necessary throughout the day and a high quality pair of nippers should always be available. Forceps – Pinching barbs and unhooking fish requires forceps. It’s always nice to have a backup set in the truck as well so consider getting a few pairs. Net – Landing fish is possible by hand but a quality rubber net makes a huge difference. Get a good net that clips to a pack or vest. Fly boxes – Flies accumulate quickly and it’s good to have a few boxes for various sizes and styles of flies. Fly Fishing Pack Options All of this stuff needs a place to live and numerous pack styles are available. A vest or hip pack is ideal when getting started. Fishpond, Simms, Orvis and a few other brands have excellent options available. The Fishpond sling and waist packs are fantastic with great features to keep everything organized. They also seem to last forever. Every Angler Needs Flies The last and most obvious need is the little thing that actually catches fish. Flies are important and they will be fished hard and lost on occasion so it pays to stock up. Start with the foam attractor style dry flies like the Chubby Chernobyl then move to more specific dry flies like the parachute adams and elk hair caddis. Throw in some nymphs like the pheasant tail and prince nymph then add a few streamers like wooly buggers and muddler minnows. These basics will cover a wide range of trout fishing situations and the angler will add many more patterns as they learn and evolve.
Make the Most of Your Guided Montana Fishing Trip
Taking a guided fly fishing trip is one of the best outdoor experiences around. You spend the day walking or floating a great river with an expert who can help sort out the details, untangle lines and tie knots with the best flies around. You even get a great lunch and local knowledge about the ecosystem and culture. While your guide manages a good portion of the trip, there are a few ways to really make the most of each day on the water while increasing your odds of landing more fish. Practice Casting Learning to cast on a guided trip is just fine but it really helps to have basic skills developed in advance. If you spend the first hour or two of a guided trip in a casting lesson, it means other boats are passing you and that precious time is not being spent with flies in the water. This isn’t a huge issue, especially on multiple day trips but it pays to practice in advance. Take a lesson near your home or order a rod and reel kit and start casting in the yard to get a feel for things. There are plenty of free online videos teaching the basics and you can video yourself to spot errors and missteps. Spend some time developing casting skills and your guided trip will be more productive. Take Advantage of Your Guide Guides have intimate knowledge of their regions and they have special skills to share.On many guided trips however, the anglers are busy fishing and don’t really ask the guides to instruct beyond the basics of casting and presentation in the immediate moment. If you want to learn new knots, techniques and anything specific, ask for help. Guides can teach new casting styles, how to fish streamers, how to tie better knots and even how to untangle lines. They can discuss the insects and reasoning behind different fly choices and strategies at any given time as well. Get Tips for Your Unguided Days Many anglers spend a day or two on guided trips then head out to explore on their own. The mix and match style makes for a great trip with different perspectives. Ask your guide for advice about different rivers and places to explore. While many guide trips take place on the popular mainstem rivers, you might discover information about potential tributaries and streams or lakes to fish where the crowds are small and the fish are abundant. Communicate Your Needs Guided fly fishing trips are all about having fun and every angler is different. Many guides are intense and they work hard all day to put you on fish. Sometimes however, taking a break to relax and enjoy the surroundings is needed. If you want to fish harder or slow the pace down, make it known. Every trip should be customized to the angler’s preference and your guide will make adjustments. Communicate your needs to make the day fit your speed.
Why You Should Consider a Spring Big Hole River Fly Fishing Trip
Many Big Hole River fly fishing trips are centered around the salmonfly hatch and prime summer season dates but chasing fish in the early season is often very productive. Early season dates have less fishing pressure and often more opportunity for the bigger browns on the river. Here’s what you can expect on a spring or early summer trip. Changing Weather You just never know what will happen next because the weather changes by the minute. You might be fishing through a blizzard one minute and stripping down to a t-shirt the next. As a general rule, we prepare for the coldest scenarios and peel off layers when the sun shines. April is a good month to fish here, especially if you are willing to brave the weather in hopes of turning a monster brown trout. The weather is more forgiving in May and the river is still productive. River Flows and Strategies The flows rise and fall with snowmelt but the river doesn’t really blow out. It turns tea colored from tannins but never turns to mud. Fishing higher flows is just fine and there is typically a decent range of visibility. Spring often means dead drifting rubberlegs and san juan worms so the flies will be plenty visible. If the water temps jump a bit, blue wing olive and midge hatches will get the fish moving. Using large streamers is also a great way to search for those bigger fish. You will find fish hugging banks and sitting in the backwaters. The bigger runs with classic bends and seams are also great. Hit the slow stuff and work the tailors thoroughly. As May heats up a bit, mother’s day caddis hatches turn on and many fish move into the riffle type water. Spring Culture The pace is a little slower during April and May. Water temperatures are cold and the mornings aren’t a big rush to beat the traffic and hot sun. Fewer boats and even fewer cars on the road makes it nice for enjoying things without a crowd. Wildlife sightings are more common as elk and deer are still hanging out at lower elevations. The hills are turning green and everything is coming to life during the spring. The Entire River is Productive You can fish from Wisdom to the confluence and there is opportunity everywhere. The upper river is fun with higher flows and it has more brook trout and plenty of exciting sloughs and runs that can produce bigger than average brown trout. Moving past Divide, the canyon sections see less sun but remain a great option. After Melrose, the river spreads out into channels and agricultural lands enroute to the confluence. Go explore on foot or jump in a boat to take advantage of the great spring fly fishing on the Big Hole River.
Do You Need Waders for Fishing Montana
Guided fly fishing trips run throughout the year and knowing when to bring along waders for fishing Montana is important. You can find rental programs but having your waders is ideal. There are times when they aren’t necessary and others when they are essential. Types of Fishing Waders You don’t always need chest high waders, especially when fishing from the boat but they are convenient for cold weather and wader trips. Even in summer, you might be wading deeper than expected to land a big fish in ice cold, spring fed water. Most anglers opt for chest waders because they cover pretty much everything. Go for stockingfoot models and buy boots separately. Bootfoots are great in very cold weather but stockingfoot waders offer more flexibility and comfort for walking and wading most of the year. If you plan to wade shallow and spend the majority of your time in a drift boat or raft, chest waders are not entirely necessary. Your feet and ankles might touch water entering and exiting the boat and you will wade occasionally when landing big fish or stopping to hit a great run. In this instance, waist high or even hip waders are a good move, especially during summer when it’s hot outside but the water is still very cold. Another option involves not wearing waders at all. The downside to skipping waders is the loss of water protection. You can bring along lightweight rain gear to compensate when the weather turns to rain, sleet and snow. A good pair of Muck Boots will still help for getting in the boat and tromping around when you don’t want waders. Spring and Fall Trips Waders for fishing Montana are recommended on most spring and fall trips. Even from the boat, the weather protection and insulation factors make them extremely valuable. You can always roll down the top when it’s warm or strip off a few layers to compensate. When the rain and snow hits, you’ll be glad to have them. Storms often only last an hour or two but getting wet can ruin a day. Quality waders and a wading jacket make it possible to fish through the worst weather while staying surprisingly comfortable. Do You Need Waders in Summer? Spring and fall trips are easy, dress warm and wear your waders in Montana. Summer is a bit trickier however. Wet wading is always nice but some rivers are very cold. Wet wading the Beaverhead below the dam is often uncomfortable, even during the heat of summer. If you’re fishing from a boat, sandals or shoes are just fine but anyone wanting to hop out should consider a light set of waders for summer trips. It really depends on your cold tolerance and how much time you plan to spend in the water. It never hurts to pack a pair in the truck and have them ready just in case. Check out our store to find fishing waders in stock.