Montana Casting Co. Fly Fishing Blog
Fly Fishing Tips and Tricks
Five Ways to Give a Fly Rod
Use misdirection. If you want to keep your loved ones guessing about what’s under the tree this year, there’s nothing like a bit of good old-fashioned misdirection. When it comes...
How to Fly Fish the Missouri in the Off Season
by Kevin Lyons Winter months are typically fly-tying months for me. From late November through early March, I try to fill my boxes with all the flies I think my...
A Brief History of Fishing Regulations
The Debate Around Fishing Regulations Regulations. In Montana, we’re all familiar with those floppy, pulp-paper manuals—the ones with the bright yellow logo of Fish, Wildlife & Parks and “FISHING” or...
Fly Fishing the Missouri in October
Kevin Lyons is a fly fisherman and entomologist who’s been observing Montana’s Missouri River and its ecosystem for years. In today’s blog, he shares his field notes on the bugs...
How to Fly Fish with Terrestrials
What are terrestrials and when should you fish them? When we fly fishermen say terrestrials, we’re referring to all those non-aquatic insects and arachnids that occasionally (to their detriment) end...
How to Fish the Missouri River in September
Guest blogger and fly fishing entomologist Kevin Lyons returns to share his observations of the best flies and techniques to use based on his years of fishing Montana’s upper Missouri...
The Ancient Origins of Fly Fishing
In this article, we’ll focus on the evolution of ancient fishing rods and techniques into what we know of as modern Western fly fishing. That said, the origins of fly...
Fly Fishing Strategies for the Missouri in August
Notes from a Fly Fishing Entomologist: August on the Upper Missouri Our guest blogger Kevin Lyons is back with his field notes on fly fishing the Missouri in August: Caddisflies...
What Are Hoot Owl Restrictions (and Do They Work)?
Fly fishermen who live or frequent the northwest have likely had to reckon with Hoot Owl restrictions in some way, shape, or form. The term originates from the early 1900s...
Flies & Techniques for Fishing the Missouri in July
By: Kevin Lyons July Caddisfly Hatches, Behaviors, and Patterns The White Miller Caddis from June are still present for the first couple of weeks. A light colored #18 caddis (iris,...
How to Fly Fish the National Parks
Fly fishing amidst the drama of towering peaks, crystal-clear rivers, or seashores untouched by civilization is the sort of vacation we daydream about almost constantly. The National Park Service (NPS)...
Flies to fish on the Missouri River in June
We love fly fishing the Missouri River. Sure, we’re probably biased. Based in Helena, it’s no great challenge to head over to Canyon Ferry or the Wolf Creek Bridge after...
Wilderness First Aid for Fly Fishermen
Fly rod, vest, fly box, and… First aid kit? When we spend our days in the office, it’s hard not to start daydreaming about fly fishing. Where we’ll head to...
Fly Fishing the Mother’s Day Caddis Hatch
What is a caddisfly? There’s something oddly hypnotic in watching a swarm of caddisflies hover over the water’s surface as sunset paints the horizon orange. The sheer number of insects...
Should I take my kids fly fishing?
Our answer? Of course. If you have a passion for fly fishing, there are few things more impactful than sharing your love for the sport with your kids. Whether or...
Fly Fishing Knots: How to Tie a Davy Knot
Why Use a Davy Knot? The Davy Knot gets its name from Davy Wotton, a famous British fly fisherman, who brought this small knot to prominence back in the 1950s....
Fishing Regulations "Protect the Resource"
Grab Your Fly Rod… And a Copy of Your State’s Fishing Regulations. You’re heading out the door, fly rod in hand. Your fishing vest is fully stocked with everything you...
2-Piece and 4-Piece Fly Rods: Which is Best?
A quick Google search of 2- versus 4-piece fly rods summons a laundry list of fly fishing forums where individual fly fishermen shout their opinions into the void. There aren’t...
Understanding Stoneflies
Believe it or not, spring fly fishing is right around the corner. We know, we know—grabbing your fly rod and hitting the river might seem like a grim prospect to...
Fly Fishing 101: Safety On and Off the River
Fly rod in hand. A light breeze twisting through the willows. Sunlight sparking off lazy river bends and time-smoothed stones. Part of the allure of fly fishing is losing oneself...
Fly Fishing 101: Catching the Fall BWO Hatch
Fly Fishing the Blue-Winged Olive Hatch: The term “Blue-Winged Olive” (or BWO) refers to a ubiquitous group of small mayflies, rather famous for two important hatching periods that bookend the summer...
Our Kit Series: Fall Streamer Fishing
Fly Fishing for Big Fish Fall streamer fishing: possibly the three best words of the year. They’re the words that summon visions of wide-open rivers, morning fog, and massive browns...
Fly Fishing 101: How (and Why) to Use a Seine Net
The Patterns of Fly Fishing As fly fishermen, we’re constantly tuning into the patterns of nature. We watch the surface of the water for rising fish. We use the pattern...
Fly Fishing 101: River Etiquette
Respecting Your Fellow Fly Fishermen Thirty percent of Montana’s considerable landmass falls under the label of “public land”. This includes millions of acres of National Forest, National Park, BLM, and...
Fly Fishing Knots: How to Tie a Perfection Loop
Why use a perfection loop? A classic fly fishing knot, the perfection loop has numerous applications on the water. Most commonly you’ll use it to connect backing to your fly...
Fly Fishing Knots: How to Tie a Nail Knot
What’s a nail knot and when is it used? Many modern fly lines are designed with welded loops, allowing for leader to be attached quickly loop-to-loop. Prior to the invention...
Our Kit Series: Fly Fishing Mountain Lakes
Fly Fishing Adventure in the High Country Nothing says summer like hiking to a high mountain lake with your fly rod strapped to your backpack! From day hikes to backpacking...
Fly Fishing Knots: Surgeon's Loops and Knots
NOTE: If you're looking for the "Our Kit Series" blog, please click here: Fly Fishing Mountain Lakes. Otherwise, read on to learn about the two different Surgeon's knots: Surgeon’s Loop and...
Our Kit Series: Fly Fishing the Upper Madison
The Madison River begins at the confluence of the Gibbon and Firehole Rivers in Yellowstone and flows through approximately 183 miles of mountain-framed vistas before arriving at Three Forks—a meeting...
Our Kit Series: Montana's Upper Missouri River
Fly Fishing in Four Seasons The Missouri is open to fishing year-round in Montana, so you have four very distinct seasons to enjoy. We tend to frequent the section of...
Fly Fishing Knots: How to Tie a Blood Knot
Blood knots—complicated or simple? Whether you’re grabbing your 4 wt fly rod for a weekend in the mountains or preparing for a trip to the salt flats, the blood knot...
Fly Fishing on the Cutthroat Diet
Fly Fishing on the Cutthroat Diet Though it’s not necessarily known for being the wiliest fish on the river, the cutthroat trout is hauntingly beautiful. Luminous scales of warm gold,...
Fly Fish Much? What to do if you “Get Hooked Up”
If you spend much time around sharp objects, sooner or later, you’re bound to experience a mishap.
Fancy Fly Rods, Reels, and Flies Only Get You So Far
Doesn’t matter if you’ve been fly fishing for years—practicing your casting techniques, knot tying, and studying entomology... there will be days when the fish refuse to bite. It might be...