Blog

Here is a short video from the Carp Classic in Idaho.

So you thought winter was over?? Well welcome to Central Montana. The weather service is calling for up to 5 inches of snow in the Great Falls area. We still have dedicated fly fishermen coming into the Big R Fly Shop buying flys and heading out to fish the MO.

How do you explore new spots?  What if you google a spot you are going to for "fly-fishing" and nothing comes up... like nobody's guiding it, there is nothing written, there are no blogs about it?  Sweet, that makes me excited, and there aren't too many places anymore where you can't get good information off the internet.  One good tool that I have used a lot is Google Earth.  The basic package is free to download and it shows water depths pretty clear and easy to manuveur. 

I'm leaving Friday for Puerto Rico for mostly a family trip but I've had people asking me left and right if I am bringing fly rods and gear, and I sort of just look at them like...duh.  Do you really have to ask me that...YES! of course I'm bringing my stuff.  Here's a small bit of the R&D for Puerto that one of our buddies sent me... and I have furthured my studies since then to figure out how I can get a boat and some other things.  However, the point is that just because nothing is written on area or information is hard to get doesn't mean "don't fish there, it's no good"... it means that no one has figured it out yet or the people that have are "Good Ol' Boys" and "they ain't tellin."





























 

Big R Fly Shop is hosting a women's fly fishing workshop this May 2010.  Starting on May 6th Molly Semenik from the Yellowstone School of Fly fishing in Livingston Montana will be coming to the FWP building across from Giant Spring for a free public meeting at 7:30 about Women and fly fishing.  This event is hosted by the Missouri River Fly fishers.  Then starting on May7th we will have women's fly casting classes all day. Sign up at the Big R Fly Shop.  That evening, open to all women fly fishers or women wanting to learn more, Big R will be hosting a women's gear night starting at 6pm.  Everyone that attends will be issued a fly fishing gift from Big R, there will be a gear sale, appetizers, and Molly will be present to help fit gear tailored to the woman.  May 8th Molly will be hosting an all day women's fly fishing emersion class.  Sign ups at the Big R Fly Shop.





 

We are calling out the Urban Mo.  It's right here, runs through town, huge runs and lots of water.  Do people fly fish here?  Some do.  Who?  They would never tell you.  Where at?  Haha...why do you think we never hear about it.  What hatches?  Hex's, drakes, baetis...hmmm... I have never tied a Hex.

This is important.  Where do kids fly fish after school?  Do they even realize the opportunity is there?  Who are the sticks in Great Falls that land more trout here in town that up stream from Craig, and still have a seat for a Prime Rib at the Bar S by 7? 

I grew up just outside of Milwaukee, WI.  Not traditional fly fishing country.  About the only knowledge or resource I had was the Cortland VCR cassette that came with my starter fly rod combo.  With way less opportunity by 3rd and 4th grade we were like hawks scanning the Milwaukee river, stopping in baitshops, park ponds and creeks searching for information on what we could fool on a fly.  We found trout in the stream at Regner Park (we decided they are impossible to catch and quit trying, those 8 inch trout must not eat poppers like the bass do..huh?) , we landed Pike in the Milwaukee, we landed smallmouth, and carp. 

So the Urban Mo?  Here is something to challenge you.  Anyone can land fish in a blue ribbon trout stream, even people out for their first time.  Very few, land fish on the Urban Mo. Let us know what you find, or don't (we understand and respect that, at least let us see a photo so we know what we are casting to).

(above trout was landed last night at location: unsaid by angler: anonymous... 5 minutes from work in Great Falls)

Here is a short video of fishing the beaches at Grand Caymen for Jacks and Bones. 

Jacks 'n' Bones in GCM from Davin Ebanks on Vimeo.

Here is a video on how to tie Silverman's Eggs N Bacon "over easy"... same effect but not as complicated or as pretty.  Do the fish know the difference?  There is no way to answer that corrrectly.  Visit the tying page for more information on the fly developed by Joel Silverman.  The WORM!

 The Craig Caddis Festival and Annual BBQ Cook-off is to raise money for the craig fire dept.  All of us here in Great Falls know that Craig is one of our famous trout towns and they need our support.  Besides that, it'll be fun.  The event will be held Saturday May 15th in the streets and alleys of Craig (if you have been to Craig you understand the event will be hard to miss).  Events get started at high noon on Saturday.

 Here is a short video of a lady using a canoe to gather support for wild salmon, and show awareness to the effects of salmon farms.  She is traveling 500K in hopes to gain support along the way for the cause.

The Migration Begins! - The "Get Out for Wild Salmon" Video from Twyla Roscovich on Vimeo.