Steve Hollensed – Fly Fishing Montana in April
steve hollensed orvis guide #flyfishing Montana
NEWSLETTER from Steve Hollensed:
Greetings!
If you are planning your 2015 fly fishing year and looking for something a little different…then consider this hosted trip which is really right around the corner. In April 2015 I will be returning for the fifth time to Montana to fish the Skwala hatch on some of Montana’s most fabled trout waters.
On this trip we will be on the hunt for big trout taking big dry flies. And as always, we will be staying, dining, and based out of the Orvis Endorsed Blue Damsel Lodge. The Blue Damsel has established itself as one of the premier fly fishing lodges in the world and always exceeds our expectations.
The Trip:
Trip dates are April 4-8, and April 8-12, 2015, and consists of 4 nights of lodging and 3 days of guided fishing on each trip. This trip is for the serious fly angler who times their trips around major hatches and optimal conditions.
I “discovered” this trip when I began asking a few questions among locals and fellow guides. What I learned is that the Skwala hatch is one of the favorite times for locals and guides for catching big fish on dry flies.
The Fishing:
Trip timing is based on the Skwala hatch, a large stonefly which represents the first major hatch of the year for this area. The trout are hungry, unpressured and looking up for food this time of year. This hatch occurs before runoff so the rivers are low and clear. We will be fishing the best water and hatch conditions of the Bitterroot, the Big Blackfoot, the Clark Fork Rivers, and probably never fishing the same water twice. Famous Rock Creek may be fished as well. All of this works together to make for a unique trip with lots of potential for superb dry fly fishing on famous Montana trout water.
This trip is for the serious angler because of the weather…it is April in Montana and the weather can vary a great deal. The average temperatures for Missoula for this time of year is about 32 for a low and 56 for a high. This trip is for the serious angler for another reason too…big fish on dry flies! So if you can handle and prepare for the elements, this trip can provide the memories of a lifetime.
The Lodge:
Rustic, yet luxurious, everyone who first walks into the lodge is truly impressed. The meals are prepared by professional chefs morning and evening. And the streamside lunches are never forgotten for their quality and surroundings.
The staff is always there to help in any way. The lodge also has a pro shop, fully stocked bar, and my favorite…a casting field for casting lessons! Truly an up-scale fly fishing operation in the middle of the Montana wilderness!
The Details:
The logistics are easy and safe…anglers will just need to fly to Missoula (via a major airline) and from there you will be well taken care of. Four nights lodging, three days of guided fishing, meals, and more is part of the package. The package price is $2750 per person. 50% deposit required. Balance due 45 days out. Very limited availability remains.
Please free to call lodge owner/manager Keith Radabaugh (281.413.7459) or myself (903.546.6237) if you have any questions at all.
As your Host:
As your host I am one more person working hard to ensure that you have a great trip. Before the trip I can help with planning, gear, flights, and anything related to pre-trip planning. Once there, I can help with matching you with the appropriate guides, gear preparation, and skills and anything else that helps you. Almost always someone wants to work on casting and presentation skills and I love to help people with that and it usually always means more succes and a higher sense of enjoyment of the trip. I am there to help you.
Add on a “Missoula Day”
A great option for anyone going on this trip is to arrive in Missoula a day early and enjoy a great, western, fly fishing town. Missoula has plenty of nice motels, fine restaurants, art musuems,and lots of FLY SHOPS. Also the national headquarters for Rocky Mountain ElK Foundation and the Boone & Crockett Club are located in Missoula.
Missoula is literally a town where…”A River Runs Through It”.
Category: Adventure, Destination Fly Fishing, Guides, Montana Fly Fishing
