West Yellowstone to Old Faithful, Part 1 from Montana Office of Tourism on Vimeo.

Tower-Roosevelt to Cooke City, Part 6 from Montana Office of Tourism on Vimeo.

Local artist and world renowned fly fisher, Jennifer Holyer has just launched a great web site where she is showcasing and selling her art. Check it out. Tell her how awesome it is. And, buy some art. http://jenholyer.wordpress.com/

Just in time to fill the stockings of fishing nuts everywhere, our good friend Jamie Howard has released his much anticipated feature length film Bass.

So rush over to Howard Films mas pronto, and get one for everybody on your holiday shopping list.

A lot of days I think it would be cool to be a trout. Swimming contently on an inside seam, watching confidently as my world rushed by. Occasionally slipping my nose and tail out into the clear fresh air to intercept a drake or a stonefly.

Then there are mornings like this when I look out at thirty degrees below zero, and I'm glad I walk upright and have use of opposable thumbs.

Over the last months, the situation of Florida's gamefish status for Permit has gotten widespread coverage. Unbelievably, Permit are not considered gamefish in the waters off Florida and commercial fishing is still allowed. To give some perspective to the issue, Belize, whose culture and economy are intricately tied to commercial fishing, had the foresight to ban commercial fishing for Permit in their waters nearly ten years ago.

The Florida Wildlife Commission commenced a staff review of the issue. Comments were gathered. Public meetings were held. And, in the end the staff review recommended (in a statement last week) going backwards on protections for permit, allowing spearing of the fish for the first time and ignoring the rising voice of anglers who want to see the fish achieve gamefish status.

Below is a letter form bad ass Florida Captain John O'Hearn:

Concerned anglers,
 
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission (FWC) is currently planning to rework the laws governing permit (Trachinotus falcatus).  Many of you might be unaware that permit are still fished commercially in the state of Florida. While the limit for mature permit (over 20") is only two per day, the is NO harvest limits for fish under 20". Equally alarming, permit are still pursued with spearfishing tackle in federal water (just offshore).  Since there are no federal laws concerning the harvest of permit, it is literally open season out there.  
 
This is a great chance to protect the future of this species forever.  The Key West and Lower Keys Fishing Guides Association supports the following law changes.  We want the FWC to list permit as a gamefish, thus ending all commercial sale of the species.  We also support mandating the permit fishery as catch and release only, with some provision (a stamp or tag system) for the harvest of one fish per day for those pursuing world records. Lastly, we want to see state regulations extended into federal waters to ensure the success of these law changes.
 
A few minutes or your time could help protect these fish. Any comment in support of these law changes will go a long way. Seriously, public comment plays a very large role in the decision making/law making process.  Please, cut&paste and email the comment below to marine@myfwc.com  or for those preferring more old fashioned methods, download/print and mail/fax the attachment to:
 
Division of Marine Fisheries Management
2590 Executive Ctr Circle E  #201
Tallahassee, FL  32301
fax:  850 487-4847

Thank you very much for your time and please forward this to anyone you feel might be concerned,
 
Capt John O'Hearn
President 
Key West & Lower Keys Fishing Guides Assc
jpohearn@hotmail.com 
 
Cut and paste, write your name, enter "permit law changes" in the subject box.
 
FWC Commissioners,

In light of the proposed law changes for Permit (Trachinotus falcatus), I would like to voice my opinion.  I support listing Permit as a gamefish, thus ending all commercial sale of the species. 
 
I support the creation of a catch and release fishery for the species, with some provision (stamp or tag) for possessing one a day.  
 
Lastly, I support the extension of State regulations into federal water to insure complete protection of the species.  Thank you for your time.

 Sincerely,
 
 Your Name Here

Call for Papers, Posters, and Award Nominations

Wild Trout X

Holiday Inn, West Yellowstone, MT
September 28-30, 2010
"Conserving Wild Trout"

The Wild Trout Symposium brings together a broad and diverse audience of governmental entities, non-profit conservation groups, media representatives, educators, anglers, fishing guides, and business interests associated with trout fisheries to exchange technical information and viewpoints on wild trout management and related public policy. Held every 3 years, each symposium has led to innovative wild trout management approaches.

Wild Trout X offers a unique forum for professionals and anglers to interact, and where participants will to be exposed to the latest wild trout science, technology and philosophies. This conference will equip participants to better manage, preserve, and restore these significant but declining resources. The symposium will focus on the needs of working-level wild trout professionals, conservationists, and trout anglers.

Learn more at http://www.wildtroutsymposium.com/

Fly Fishing the Missouri River - Montana from Headhunters Fly Shop on Vimeo.

Check out John and Mark's shop the next time you're in Craig, MT. Or, visit them online at headhuntersflyshop.com.

It's impossible to believe, but the Yellowstone Park fishing season has come and gone in a flash. The calendar might say November, and daylight savings may have it feeling like late-fall, but the thermometer says otherwise. Highs here in West reached the upper-50's yesterday, and they're already climbing into the 40's today. Real winter weather is on the way, no doubt. But, there's been some great conditions lately, and fishing has held up nicely.  Outside the park on the Madison and lower-Gallatin fish are still looking for streamers, and I've seen a few fish take a stray baetis on the surface. 

Elk hunting weather is in the forecast this weekend, but it looks like it just might warm up one more time and give us another shot at topping Jamie's big fish from last week. Stay Tuned.

As October quickly winds to an end we've been chasing big brown trout from the Madison to the Missouri and the Yellowstone to the Jefferson. Big trout aficionado, Jamie Greene stuck this huge brown yesterday. It went 27" long, and had the girth of an Atlantic Salmon.

Elk season also opened yesterday, and with fresh snow on the ground this morning and more in the forecast it's time to creep around in the mountains for a few days.

But, a big trout like this will keep us fishing as long as the weather holds out. Stay Tuned.

It's been cold and rainy in southwest Montana for a few days now - Perfect fall fishing weather. Justin, Joe, and the boys had a great trip up to the Missouri. P-Man and I just returned from bird-hunting in central Montana. We're heading back out at the end of the week to chase browns and baetis on the Jefferson, Madison, and Yellowstone. Elk season opens next week. It's a stellar time of year, probably my favorite.

But, looking out at the thermometer behind the house this morning at a frosty twenty-something degrees, I can't help but wish I was knee-deep in an eighty-degree bonefish flat.

Fall has arrived in Yellowstone Country in all of its snowy, cold splendor. Lows have been in the teens for the last few mornings, and snow showers have dusted everything low and coated everything high with our first real taste of the white stuff this season.

This change in weather is exactly what we've been waiting for to jumpstart our late season fishing. Scuzzy weather brought good emergences of baetis to the Madison, H-fork, Missouri, and Firehole. The scuzz has also fired up some good streamer fishing as browns finally have a break from the sun, and are active for more of the day.

The forecast calls for more scuzz this week, and we've got some fun fishing planned, like more of Oarsmen Expeditions' Fall Road Trips. Stay Tuned.

We're officially a week into the fall season, and October is coming up fast. It's been one of the most idyllic Septembers I've seen. Each day has been stunning. It's the kind of weather that makes you want to just sit on a hillside for an afternoon and soak it all up.

Our first, and only, wild fire of the season flared up this week in Yellowstone. The Arnica Creek Fire is burning in a large area of old growth forest on the west side of Yellowstone Lake near Bridge Bay. For the first time all summer, we've had some smoke to deal with, but by the looks of the forecast, it won't last long.

We're well over due for the first shot of winter weather, and it looks like it's on the way. Snow is in the forecast from Wednesday to Thursday, and again on Saturday. We've been so spoiled with beautiful weather this month that it's hard to complain. Skuzzy weather should put the hold on our prolonged hopper season, and jumpstart our fall fishing with baetis and streamers.

I spent a few days guiding my good friend Gene Pawlick recently, and he sent these shots from his trip. We had a nice mix of some out-of-the-way cutthroat fishing, and gulpers on Hebgen. Thanks for an awesome trip, Gene. I'll look forward to some saltwater fishing this spring.

There's something about fishing guides and bird dogs. Lab, springer, setter, pointer, we all seem to have one. They're a loyal reminder of the crisp, golden days of fall. They're cheap therapy after a hard day on the river. And, they give purpose to long walks through awesome country with shotguns.

Bird season opens on September 1st here in Montana, and my pointer, Goose knows it. Every time I leave the house without him he looks at me scornfullyand sighs. As I gather my gear each day to head to the river he sits next to the gun case. When I return from fishing he sits next to his kenel. If it weren't for the whole opposable thumb thing, I think he'd put the kenel in the truck himself and get in it.

As September turns into October, and the rivers slow down it's time to give Goose his time to shine. Weekly outings turn to daily outings and trips to eastern Montana. And the anxious dog sitting next to the gun case is replaced by an exhausted dog curled up on his bed. It's an awesome way to end the season, and it's almost here.

Slam by WorldANGLING fly fishing South Florida for Permit, Bonefish, Tarpon, Snook, and Redfish from WorldANGLING on Vimeo.

Once again, the team at World Angling stole "Best Fishing Video" at the 2009 Drake Magazine Video Awards. If this five minute clip doesn't make you want to immediately get on a flats boat, you might consider selling all your gear on ebay and taking up knitting.