Fourth of July Ants on the Bighorn River, MT

"I'm seriously considering an ant." I said to Alina as I contemplated the choices before me. She looked at me doubtfully and shrugged her shoulders. '9500 cfs is awfully high for ants', I decided before rigging up a double worm nymph rig just like she had done. We left the 3-mile parking lot on the Bighorn river coated in sun-screen and carrying 4 liters of water, ready to get into some fish.

By the time we walked about a half-mile upstream to our favorite starting spot, it was inching up towards 90 degrees and there was yet to be a single cloud in the sky. We waded out through a flooded grove of Russian olive trees and out into the somewhat murky water. 100 yards below us, a group of anglers were running nymphs through the bottom part of the run. Alina and I spread out, adjusted our indicators to 8-9 feet above the first fly, and started working the edge of the seam. Not even 10 minutes later, things were already looking up as I released my first Bighorn brown trout of the day which had taken interest in my orange wire worm.

Rising Brookie Net - The Perfect Wading Net

As a catch-and-release fly-fisherman, I find a solid, fish-friendly net to be nearly as important as my rod and reel. So after breaking my first net ( a small and simple wooden frame) I knew that I wanted to upgrade to something durable and versatile with the all-important rubber netting. Given my criteria it didn't take long to find Rising Fly Fishing, a small, but growing company out of Utah specializing in american-made, aluminum nets.

At first, I was a little thrown off by the price on Rising's main wading net - The Brookie - as my first net cost me about $30.00 on Amazon. However, after half a year with the Brookie I've yet to feel even the slightest hint of buyer's remorse, and frankly can't imagine fishing without it. Here's why:

Spring Caddis on the Stillwater River, Montana

I've fallen for the unknown. I feel it every time I find myself driving down a dirt road as the sun is rising over a mist-shrouded river. In that moment we don't always remember that the whole day is a blank canvass, and Mother Nature is the painter. Anything can happen out there, and that's what keeps me coming back over and over again.

When Alina and I pulled into the Swinging Bridge access site on the Stillwater River on a bright, 70-degree afternoon I had no idea what was in store for us. The parking lot was full of fishermen, so we quickly wadered up and set off downstream. We hadn't even gone 100 yards through the trees when I happened to glance to the side of the trail! There, not even ten feet away, was an awesome 4-point shed. I may or may not have shouted a four-letter word before picking it up and strapping it to my Vedavoo TL Beast Sling. I hadn't even got my feet wet and the day was already off to a great start.

Spring on the Bighorn

With the cold, dark days of winter seemingly gone, long summer days on the water are moving closer and closer to reality. Somewhere in the midst of winter, Alina and I moved to Billings, MT to further my dreams of getting into PA school. While it may not be the trout capital of Montana, Billings is relatively close to some great fly fishing, namely one of the most renowned tailwaters in the US - The Bighorn River. Now, I've never been a huge fan of fishing big water, so I was a little hesitant when I saw the flows on the Bighorn running at a steady 11,000 cfs. However, even with the increased flows every fishing report had nothing but high praise to offer on the state of fishing on the 'Horn', so we figured why not give it a shot?

Alina and I pulled into the 3-Mile access around 10 AM on a slightly overcast, but warm Monday. From the boat launch it was clear to see that the Horn was ripping, but clear. Obviously, wading anywhere beyond a few feet off the bank would be sketchy. We rigged up at the car with San Juan Worms and(8-12), Zebra Midges (16), and Scuds (18) - distance from indicator to bottom fly: About 7 ft. with a couple pieces of split shot above the first nymph.

Vedavoo TL Beast Sling Pack Review

This summer, as I accumulated countless more flies,  boxes, and gear, it became increasingly clear that I had outgrown my trusty Orvis sling pack. The search for a suitable upgrade eventually led me to Vedavoo, a small US-based company specializing in custom, handmade packs. After browsing their selection I quickly identified the TL Beast Sling as an ideal candidate. The Beast boasts a simplistic, yet appealing design that is focused on comfort, size, and ergonomics, all the whilst making the wearer look like a complete badass on the river! So what did I do? Well, of course I ordered one right away.

Before You Continue.....
I should add that this review is comprised only of my own thoughts and opinions. What you read is not in any way influenced by or incentivized by Vedavoo or any other companies. These are my thoughts, and mine alone. 

First Impressions:

The beast arrived in a surprisingly small postal service parcel, and both Alina and I were amazed at how small this pack can be once empty. Aesthetically speaking, it really is a beautiful piece of equipment, but it isn't over the top. Trying it on, I loved the fit and feel on my back. It hugs tight without any extra straps to get in the way, and swings to the front with ease. By the time I tracked down all the pockets and compartments I knew that I had made the right choice from a storage perspective. The only thing that was left now was to fill er' up and hit the water.

October Baetis on the Beaverhead

Depending on the season, the Beaverhead might as well be two different rivers. In the late Spring and Summer the flows are up around 950 cfs to accommodate irrigation demands around Dillon, MT. During this time, most of the fishing is done from rafts and drift boats, and wading is only possible on side channels with extreme caution. However, starting October 1 the flows drop to 125 cfs, the crowds disappear, and big spawners move into the upper stretches of the river. Conveniently, the early Fall is also a great time to catch prolific BWO hatches on this amazing tailwater fishery. Honestly, the 'Beave' turns into one of the best kept secrets in Southwestern Montana.

Searching for Spawners on the Upper Madison River

I've come to realize that one of the greatest events of the fly fishing calendar is the annual brown trout spawn in the Fall. As the leaves are turning yellow and red, the really big fish come out of their secret lairs to play. Of course, its never easy to catch 20+ inch fish, but things certainly get easier in the weeks and days leading up to the spawn. With these trophy browns in mind, Alina and I caught wind of a great spot on the Madison River above Hebgen Lake just within the Western Boundary of Yellowstone National Park. Needless to say, we didn't need much convincing to load up the car and head for the Madison.

Much to our dismay, we arrived to the sight of a full parking area not far from the town of West Yellowstone. As much as I hate fishing crowded water, the popularity of the spot affirmed the validity of our source - We were in for a treat! The Madison here is slow and meandering, similar in many ways to a spring creek. In many areas the Madison runs up along steep, rocky cliffs where I keep looking up half-expecting to see a curious black bear. The river bottom and bank is rocky and sandy providing great habitat for the fish to spawn out of the lake.