Big Sky Anglers Weekly Fishing Report – July 18, 2019
Welcome to the Big Sky Angler’s Weekly Fishing Report. On this week’s edition of Drift Boat Time Machine we’re taking a trip back to 1996. The remnants of a huge winter snowpack have left area fisheries flush with water. Salmonflies and Golden Stones are still active...
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Rods, Reels, and Lines for Euro Nymphing
Many of the most common questions that I am asked about Euro Nymphing here at Big Sky Anglers have to do with rods, reels, and lines. In this post, I hope to explain my own preferences, and hopefully simplify the process of gearing up for those interested in getting...
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Hatch Profile – Damselflies
While most of the insect species that fly anglers find relevant exist in relative obscurity outside of our odd band of brothers and sisters, the damselfly is well known to nearly anyone who has spent time near water. Their adult forms are fairly large, with...
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Big Sky Anglers Weekly Fishing Report – July 11, 2019
Despite wetter and cooler than average weather fishing and hatches have finally started to really crank here in Big Sky Country. We saw another week of Gore-Tex weather. Afternoon and evening storms have been the norm, and temps continue to run below average....
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Hatch Profile – Brown Drakes: Three Geeky Bug Facts That Will Help You Catch More Fish
Brown Drakes (Ephemera simulans) are to fly fishers what the New Kids on the Block were to teenage girls in 1990. If they made mayfly posters, you would definitely have one of a Brown Drake on the wall in your bedroom. You would do anything in your power to go see...
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Big Sky Anglers Weekly Fishing Report – July 4, 2019
Happy Fourth of July from Big Sky Country! The Summer season is in full swing here in West Yellowstone, though cool, wet weather still has it feeling like springtime. Daytime temps have been consistently below average, and you can count on one hand the number of days...
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Big Sky Anglers Featured Fly – Jojo’s Para Shuck Flav
Originator: Joe Moore, BSA Co-owner Hook: MFC 7000, Barbless MFC 7000KBL, or equivalent. Size 14 Thread: Danville 6/0 Rusty Brown or your choice Tail/Trailing Shuck: Sparkle Emerger Yarn - Brown Abdomen: Superfine Dry Fly Dubbing, Olive Thorax: Olive Goose Biot,...
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Big Sky Anglers Weekly Fishing Report – June 27, 2019
This is an exciting week in Big Sky Country. Drakes are rolling on the Railroad Ranch. Salmonflies are beginning on the Madison. And, our 3rd Annual Grand Opening Party is this Saturday. We haven’t had a single day without some sort of moisture since our last report,...
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Hatch Profile – Gray Drakes: Four Geeky Bug Facts That Will Help You Catch More Fish
If you fish in Big Sky Country, or anywhere else trout live, you undoubtedly know about Drakes. If you don’t, you should. They are the kings of all mayflies. Their size (#10-12) commands respect, and demands attention from fish and fishermen alike. The most famous of...
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Finding the Rhythm in the Motherland of Steelhead
I hadn’t caught a steelhead since 2001. Maybe 2002. While the memories of the fish are still vivid and clear, what year it was doesn’t really matter anymore. At the time, I was fishing a two-piece, single hand, Winston IM6 eight weight, swinging flies in Idaho with...
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Big Sky Anglers 3rd Annual Grand Opening Celebration
Third time is a charm, we guess. Big Sky Anglers THIRD ANNUAL Grand Opening Celebration - a celebration of summer, friends, family, and fly fishing. Please save the date and join us on Saturday, June 29th, 2018 from 11 am to 10 pm. We are super excited to see...
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Big Sky Anglers Weekly Fishing Report – June 20, 2019
According to the calendar tomorrow is the first day of summer. The longest day of the year. According to the forecast tomorrow is looking more like early spring. After two days of scorching winds a cold front is passing over the area bringing with it significantly...
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Big Sky Anglers Featured Fly – Olive Jig Bugger
Originator: Fulling Mill Hook: Tactical barbless 60 deg jig hook, #12 Thread: 8/0 Olive Bead: 1/8” Brass or Tungsten (Black Nickel) Tail: Olive Chickabou Legs: Olive dyed partridge or hen soft hackle Body: Olive hares ear or hares ear blend Rib: Ultra Wire, Brassie,...
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Big Sky Anglers Weekly Fishing Report – June 13, 2019
It’s mid-June, and we are rolling right along into our summer season here in Big Sky Country. We saw scuzzy weather this past week as a strong “spring” storm rolled through the region bringing cold temps, and even a bit of snow. That put the breaks on runoff, and...
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Big Sky Anglers Featured Fly – Brown Rubber Legs
Originator: Legends vary on the exact origins of this pattern, but modern literature attributes it to Pat Bennett, of Hyde Outfitters, Island Park, ID Hook: 3x long Nymph Hook. Size 4 – 12. Weight: This can be tied either weighted with lead or non-lead wire, or...
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Big Sky Anglers Weekly Fishing Report – June 6, 2019
Welcome the to the Big Sky Anglers’ Weekly Fishing Report. It’s been a gorgeous, early-summer week here in Yellowstone Country. Bright green hillsides filled with wildflowers are backed by snow capped peaks. The skies have been blue, and the sun has been warm. Fishing...
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Salmonfly Graduation
It’s graduation season! All across the country high school seniors are preparing for that long awaited moment when they can walk across the stage, grab their diploma, and head out into the world. For four long years they have worked and grown on their way to becoming...
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Big Sky Anglers Weekly Fishing Report – May 30, 2019
Hi everyone. Welcome to the Big Sky Anglers Newsletter and Fishing Report. We’re one week into our official season, Memorial Day Weekend has come and gone, and there’s already a lot of changes to talk about. Cool conditions kept run off at bay through the holiday...
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Big Sky Anglers Featured Fly – BH Soft Hackle Pheasant Tail
Originator: The original PT Nymph is credited to Englishman, Frank Sawyer, and was tied from a single bunch of pheasant tail fibers and copper wire (no thread). Fly tiers are notorious tinkerers, and over the past 100 or so years, more than a few variations of the...
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Limay River Giants – Hunting for “El Uno” in the Heart of Patagonia
Everything about the Rio Limay is big. It is born at the outlet of the massive (Surface Area = 205 sq. miles; Max Depth = 1,522 ft), glacially carved Lago Nahuel Huapi at the base of the Andes, emerging crystal clear and powerful, and regularly flowing between 3,000...
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