Spring Fishing only weeks away

When you hear the term "spring fishing" in most places out west it means it's finally warm enough to dunk nymphs or dredge streamers, without spending the majority of your fishing time chipping ice out of the guides. This is not the case in the Missoula area. This means Big Fat dry flies and the biggest fish in the river on the hunt for them. I have seen 2 ft. + browns absolutely crush a skwala dry. I am in the business of selling fly fishing trips, but I can honestly say if you want huge trout on dry flies there may be no better time than mid March to May 1st. It must be the fish waking up after just hanging on all winter. In most places its a Bwo hatch and we get that too. Here its a different critter, a big protein packed stonefly, and the fish go absolutely ape shit for them. Throw in March browns, grey drakes and bwo's and what you have is a buffet they simply can't turn down. When the fish Gods are smiling I have heard its "Stupid" "Sick" "Ridiculous" and a thousand other adjectives. I have always liked "epic." That my friends says it all...................

Booking

This is the time of year when the phone starts to ring again. It always turns my thoughts to the upcoming season. Its hard to believe that were only 6 wks out from pushing dries again! There is something truly special about spring fishing around missoula. Big fish on big dries while the rest of the rockies are still in the grips of winter. It doesnt get much better than that... We still have spring dates open so give us a call. Once you experience a true skwala day you won't forget it.................

Change

Fall is here in a big way. The temps dropped 40 degrees in two days, there is rumor of snow and some of the most fantastic fishing of the entire year. I was on the MO yesterday the baetis are back along with the fish in a big way. Some of our biggest fish are caught this time of year. I can't help but get a little sentimental this time of year. So many awesome people my guides and I have fished with over the season...........After a while you become friends and it's one of my favorite things about this lifestyle. It's far from over yet though, so think about a delicate rise to a well presented BWO, and winter still seems so far away. See you on the water, Brandon

Your either on the bus or your not..........

Its true some people live to fish.... We call it passion. In a recent round of guide talk I heard some people complain "oh well you can do that" "you can guide on the Yellowstone one day and the upper Bitterroot the next because you arent married, don't have kids etc...... It's time to call Bullshit. I do what I do because I love it. I run midnight missions halfway across the state simply because I find nothing more satisfying than hooked jaws and wide smiles.... For me its not about money, or bragging rights it's because I can't do anything else. I live to fish and fish to live and it's just the way its supposed to be. You won't find me or any of my guides sleeping in on our days off. We will be on the water perfecting our craft, for your sake and our sanity........tight lines Brandon p.s. There are people who love the game and dedicate lives to this awesome lifestyle and those who fish for profit...........It shows in the way you spend your days off........

on it goes

Just got done fishing with a great group of guys from pittsburgh. We made the trek to the MO because we have it wired........Why leave big fish to find big fish? Its all about the quality. Pound for pound the hardest fighting rainbows on earth. We'll leave the bighorn and the green for those less fortunate;) Brandon

September on the MO

I have been guiding on the Missouri as of late. Huge fish, no crowds and happy clients. The hoppers are still going and nymphing is productive as well. We landed 27 fish wed. and every one was over 18 inches............where do we go from here? tight lines, Brandon

up and running

tricos hoppers beetles ants what more can i say. If you know the right places this is the best hopper year in a decade! Use your rifle in the am and break out the shotgun in the afternoon......does it get better i think not. www.fivevalleysfishing.com