MONTANA STATE FISH AND GAME COMMISSION 



17 



FLY FISHING IN MONTANA 



By E. W. Wilson 



Member Motitdiui State Fi.^h and Game C(>mmi.'<.^io)i 



M 



E. W. Wilson 



ONTANA offers better trout fishing than any other 

 state in the Union, particularly wet and dry fly fish- 

 ing. With its miles of trout waters beginning with 

 the Yellowstone and its tributaries just west of Billings and 

 extending through to the western boundary, north to the 

 Canadian line, including the Madison paradise, Montana's 

 streams are world famous for their rainbow, natives, grayling 

 and brook trout. Then there are the Big Hole and its tribu- 

 taries, the Beaverhead and its tributaries, Flathead lake and 

 river, as well as the Clark's Fork of the Columbia, to say 

 nothing of the Big and Little Blackfoot and miles of smaller 

 streams where sportsmen have their favored sheltered spots. 

 And, in these smaller brooks, many sportsmen find greater 

 pleasure than in larger streams, since lighter tackle may be 

 used and their skill tested to the utmost. 



Montana possesses many lakes which supply a variety of 



trout fishing, including silver salmon. 



This state is exceptionally fortunate in that it has two of the four or five 



native grayling streams of the continent, the Madison and Smith rivers. To the 



true angler the catching of grayling affords delight since their strike is very 



light and great care is required to bring them safely to the landing net. 



To the ardent angler fly fishing appeals much stronger than bait fishing or 

 the use of other lures. To the still more ardent success with the smaller flies it 

 affords the greatest kick. 



Personally, I think catching trout up stream affords a greater thrill than 

 down stream; this, of course, is not successful on the larger waters, al- 

 though I have, on hard days, used this method with more or less success 

 on the Yellowstone. It is laborious and I would hesitate to say gen- 

 erally successful. Since fish head up sti'eam, on down stream fishing 

 they have an opportunity to give your flies the once over several times, 

 whereas up stream affords^ them one opportunity only. Conse- 

 quently I feel on the off days this method may be resorted to 

 with a measure of success even on the larger waters. 



To meet the constantly increasing demand of the fly fisher- 

 man who insists on whipping brooks, streams and lakes for the 

 wary trout and the grayling which have made Montana's waters 

 famous, the state commission is accomplishing remarkable re- 

 sults in restocking. 



The state is now operating 14 hatcheries and, in 

 keeping with the f oresighted policy of the department, 

 the streams that are most popular are constantly . ., ^ 



being restocked with fingerlings to replace the catch 

 of each season. From these hatcheries come the na- 



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