Fly fishing in Montana

I may currently live in Spokane, Washington, but my roots are in Columbia Falls, Montana. I’m not sure if it’s typical for a person to believe the place they grew up is one of the all-time greatest but I know that’s true for me. Northwestern Montana has sunk deep into my soul. It’s a place that I’ll always love and be drawn back to.

Montana is where I learned to hunt, fish, camp, backpack and, yes, take photos. These mountains, streams, trees, and lakes are my Disneyland (aka The Happiest Place on Earth). Any chance I can get to come home is one I will take. The last two summers I’ve decided that my mediocre fishing skills were in need of an even greater challenge, so I’ve been trying my hand at fly fishing.

The sport of fly fishing is incredibly challenging but equally rewarding. After struggling with no success for the first year, I humbled myself and reached out to my younger brother, who is still a Montana resident and a much better outdoorsman than I could ever hope to be. He took me to his favorite lake, set me up with flies he tied himself, and proceeded to teach me how to actually catch a fish.

I feel strongly that there are few sensations in life as thrilling as catching a fish. You add in the late fall weather and the incredible scenery of Montana and you have the recipe for an epic experience. These cutthroat trout are as beautiful as the lake they call home.

Sometimes the experience is more important than the photos. This was one of those times. Spending time with family in one of my favorite places doing one of my favorite activities—life doesn’t get much better than this.