Blog

Come one, come all to the 2012 F3T Fly Fishing Film Tour at the Best Western/Heritage Inn on Friday, March 30th in Great Falls, MT, brought to you in part by the Missouri River Flyfishers and Big R Store. Take part in the Guide Olympics, Fly Casting and Fly Tying Competition. You'll have a chance to visit with some of the biggest names in the sport of fly fishing during the trade show. Tickets are $10 for MRF members, $14 for non-members and $16 the day of the event. See you there! Read more

Tis the Season Its gear time; time to update and try something new. Fresh stuff has arrived from Sage, Redington, Scott, Winston, Rio, Scientific Anglers, Lamson/Waterworks, Ross, Hardy, Fish Pond and Simms.  Got lots of flies from MFC, Idylwild, Rainey’s, Yellowstone Fly Goods, and Solitude. More stuff is arriving daily.  Here’s A Tip - Consider a new fly line. Many anglers focus their thoughts and finances on fly rods. Of course a good rod is part of... Read more

Do you ever feel the urge to do something different with your life? Are you unhappy because your hard work and dedication only lead you to inherit a time constricting lifestyle? Did too many river days keep you from graduating college in the amount of time it takes a rainbow trout to go from its alevin stage to its death of old age? (Tell me how old I think a rainbows maximum average age is, and you win this weeks trivia.) Both of these routes lead down paths filled with ups and downs. I... Read more

Yesterday I had a customer come in and start asking about nylon tippet.  I showed him the Trouthunter Tippet 4x / 6.9lb.  We began doing some knot tests on the tippet first tying a standard clinch knot then comparing it to the 16-20.  I was blown away at how strong this tippet is.  So we started doing tests against other brands.  It is stronger than anything else we tested on the shelf.  I challange you guys to try this tippet against any... Read more

For the past few years, I tried relentlessly to catch Mr. Burbot…Lota lota, the Ling, Lingcod, Eelpout, Cusk, Lawyer fish, Gudgeon, Lush, Maria, Mud Blowers…the list goes on and on. Whatever you decide to call this awesome creature, don’t overlook him. With similar resemblance to an eel or snake, the Burbot is often thought of as a fish of low significance…Wrong. After many, many outings, I was finally able to catch one earlier this year. Fishing for Burbot can be... Read more

Yesterday Paul, Fred, and myself found the closest equivalent to Effie Burger in Lewiston, ID that Great Falls, MT has to offer.  The tip came in from Mr. Brian Neilsen, and after our nearly weekly reminder that the Bar S isn't open on Monday's (The Bar S in Great Falls is not open on Mondays!), we decided to try Brian's downtown hot spot.  I have lived in Great Falls for a pretty long time and haven't really heard much about this place but Brian insured us of huge burgers and an... Read more

I was about half way between my house and Home Depot to get some cedar molding to finish up (start) some well put-off house projects with Paul when the phone rang.  It was Brian Neilsen from Finfetchers Outfitting... and he was in the drive-thru lane at McDonalds waiting for a gourmet cheeseburger, and McSoda.  He had his dogs and fishing stuff and headed to one our favortite non-Mo central Montana fly fishing waters.  Paul immediately took him up on the offer and I decided... Read more

The details are in! Here are the items that will be given away in the Grand Prize Raffle drawing at the 30th Annual MRF Banquet at the Best Western Heritage Inn on Saturday, February 25th 2012.  Doors open at 6 p.m.  A total value of $2,160.00! Simms G3 Guide Stockingfoots - Special Edition Waders Korker's Chrome Boot Winston Boron II - MX 9' 6-Weight 4 piece rod Hatch 5 Plus Finatic Reel Scientific Anglers Mastery Textured Titan Taper Fly Line WF-6 F Simms... Read more

This past weekend I traveled west to check out our Ponderay Fly Shop and work with Calvin on some upcoming items and store sets for this Spring fishing season. I had a long seven hour drive west, to think about everything that has been going on in Big R the past two months. The next morning I showed up to the store and Calvin and I walked through the shop, looked at the new Hardy reel display he had just put up. They look pretty... Read more

  I know of something you as a reader of this blog, as well as a lover of fishing, art, conservation, and activism will enjoy.  It’s the MRF banquet dinner.  This dinner ticket and raffle come to hand at the honest price of $35.  Prizes will be raffled out, and believe me, I have seen many which I could only dream about receiving.  Come get your tickets this week to show your support for a great organization standing for a critical... Read more