Grizzly Hackle, Missoula, Montana
03/09/2012This outfitter has a great tackle store right in the heart of downtown Missoula and on the day I visited, Dan Shepherd the owner arranged for me to have a three hour raft-fishing guided drift trip down the Clark Fork River which winds itself through the heart of downtown Missoula. The sun was out but an upstream breeze made it feel colder than it was. There really wasn’t many fish rising so Darren rigged up the fly rod with a ‘Hopper Dropper,’ a dry fly named ‘Chubby Chernobyl’ on the surface and a ‘Rats Rubber Legs’ nymph tied on a leader below the water. My first hit was on the dry fly and it was a fine 17-18 inch specimen that threw the hook as the net was under its belly! It was a great way to experience Missoula and as a bonus watch a Golden eagle searching the river for lunch . . . oh and yes he seemed to be doing better than me in the fishing contest.
Grizzly Hackle in Missoula, Montana offer fly tackle and accessories and offer guided trips on the Clark Fork River, Bitterroot River and Blackfoot River. Go to: www.grizzlyhackle.com