My first week living in Montana

By Justin Bolduc

It took me 3 days driving a run down Budget moving truck but I’m here in Montana living in Bozeman with my wife and working in Livingston at the Yellowstone Angler with George, James and Robert.

What a fantastic first week of fishing I’ve had here in Montana thanks to unseasonably warm weather and great advise from my coworkers here at the Yellowstone Angler.

I arrived in Bozeman on Saturday October 29th and got the truck unpacked and snuck off to fish the East Gallatin below the Milesnick Ranch and had excellent success fishing small nymphs, a size 18 shop vac with a size 20 zebra dropper seemed to be the most productive rig.  I had a few nice swipes on streamers although no hook-ups.

Sunday the 31st I fished Armstrong Spring Creek with James, it’s a nice feeling to have your new boss offer to take you fishing the day before you start work and I’d gander to say James is happy we went.  The fishing was excellent once we threw in the towel on the Baetis hatch and started throwing streamers.  We both landed multiple fish and it was an invaluable opportunity for me to learn the water from someone like James who’s been fishing it his entire life.

I started work on Monday the 1st and had a great day of work and even better lunch hour when I was able to stick a nice brown on a home invader only a couple miles from the shop.  The home invader has quickly become on of my favorite streamers. I think it’s the combination of weight from the lead eyes and it’s long thin profile when wet that makes this fly so enticing.

Wednesday was my 1st day off and James and Robert suggested I fish one of many nice private lakes we have access to.  The lake was pristine and the view over the meadows to the Crazy Mountains was incredible.  The fishing was good. I had a crowd of hundreds of spectators watching me most of the day, a herd of cattle that were intent on watching every cast. I mostly sight fished the shallow flats of the lake throwing woolly buggurs and leaches out in front of cruising rainbows and big brook trout.  It reminded me of sight fishing to cruising bonefish in Mexico, a good cast out in front of the cruiser gets you fish, bad cast gets what you deserve, spooked fish. Around 1 pm a few fish started tailing and feeding on emergers and I took a few on a calabaetis sparkle dun and a few on a calabetis nymph trailed behind the dun. 

Thursday was back to work but I found time again at lunch to do some quick wade fishing at Mallard Rest on the Yellowstone I managed a few rainbows and couple whitefish on a Pat’s Rubber Legs with a smaller PT dropper.

Friday was a no fishing day but I did manage to slip out into the lawn with Robert and cast a few different 7 weights.  It’s windy here and throwing home invaders with my 5wt Z-Axis wasn’t quite cutting it.  I need a new 7wt as all of my 7wt and 8 wt rods are 9’6” or 10’ for steelheading.  I decide on the Sage Xi3, for me it had by far the most power and accuracy plus it’s a smooth looking rod.  It’s marketed as a saltwater/bonefish rod, but I think it will make the perfect streamer rod and next time I get the chance to bonefish I’ll have the right rod.  If you haven’t cast the Xi3 do yourself a favor and cast it - It’s one heck of a powerful rod!

It’s been a great first week In Montana and while I’ve had a few moments of “oh crap I really left my job and life in Ohio and moved to Montana” on the rides home from work, I couldn’t be happier I actually did it!

I look forward to seeing all of you in the shop and if I can be off assistance in any way don’t hesitate to give me a call….

Justin

406-222-7130