Coondogg

“Coon Dogg” with a solid winter slab!

I can’t think of a better cure for cabin fever than deep powder turns and large trout. Lucky for us here in Northwest Montana, we have both, right out our back door. The Flathead and Swan give up a few slobs through-out winter, helping to keep our angling skills sharp and our spirits high. Deep days on the mountain lift us above the grey and keep the body in motion. After all, tying flies isn’t exactly going to help shed those lbs we collected over the long summer of sitting in a drift boat eating sub sandwiches, cookies and cheese puffs.

Our first trip of 2016 was a couple days ago. The river was a little milky from recent rains but we still managed to catch quite a few. The fishing was much more productive before the moisture but that’s the way it goes… All and all, the river is fishing great. All you have to do is find the fish, once you do there’s usually a bunch. The deep slow wintery type inside bends and slow seams are where it’s at. Slow swinging streamers with a little twitchiness has been working well if you don’t feel good about a pink thing under a bobber.

Our trips start ramping up in mid March and before we know it we’ll wish we had tied more skwalas and March brown cripples. For now we’re taking advantage of the fantastic snow conditions and winter fishing opportunities.

wfski

Blue bird powder day on the Big Mtn.

Jason Lanier
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