Small streams, Fall Fishing and Randolph Scott It is cool this morning, more September than August. I am watching the 1958 movie, Buchanan Rides Alone sta rring Randolph Scott, where the bad guys will all eat a .44 before the movie ends. My idea of summer time bliss: a Randolph Scott move in the morning and hopper fishing […]
Continue reading "Fly Fishing in Southwest Montana" »Category: Equipment List
Healing Waters Lodge
FLY FISHING EQUIPMENT LIST
Many aspiring adventurers find that planning a trip is the hardest part. At Healing Waters Lodge, we’ll gladly take care of all the details of your Montana fly fishing day.
The following are items you should bring to Montana regardless of the season:
- Polar Fleece hat, wool cap and a wide-brimmed hat.
- Polarized sunglasses.
- Gloves or mittens.
- Good rain gear.
- A warm jacket even in July.
- A pair of long underwear. These are essential in spring and fall
- Socks. My feet are always cold. Polar fleece socks, wool socks, silk socks what ever it takes for warm feet.
- Shorts or a swim suit.
Fly Fishing Gear*
- Fishing rod and reel
- Flies
- Extra line
- Wading boots
- Chest waders. Chest waders with a raincoat will keep you completely dry.
- Bring a camera, binoculars, sun screen and insect repellent.
SMITH RIVER: If you are coming on the Smith River with us add the following items
- Two long and two short sleeved shirts.
- Polar fleece sweat shirt or sweater.
- Dry shoes for around camp.
- Warm sleeping bag.
- Bring a small pillow and towels.
- A soft bag or duffel bag up to 15″ around or loosely packed so that it can be stuffed into our dry bags.
- Day pack for gear you might need on the river while fishing with your guide.
- Fishing gear. The most versatile rod you can in Montana is a 9 foot six weight fast action rod. If you’d like to bring more rods no problem.
- Spirits (we supply beer and wine, but not liquor.)
- Small flashlight, extra batteries.
- 2 heavy trash bags for wet clothes.
Why This Fly Fishing Equipment Is Necessary:
You might ask, “Why would I need a warm jacket in July?” While it’s true that July days are hot, the nights can be very cool. Here are a few reasons why we recommend the above equipment.
- Staying Safe: It’s our job to make sure you stay as safe as possible during your fly fishing trip. The above items will help you stay warm and dry and help protect you from sun damage and insect bites.
- Maximizing Success: The better prepared you are, the greater chance you’ll have of catching fish. We’ll bring along a few spare items, but you’re better off packing all the necessary gear yourself.
- Having Fun: You should never forget to have fun during our outings—you’re on vacation, after all. The above gear will help you stay as comfortable as possible so you can focus on enjoying the beautiful Montana experience.
Preparation and safety are key to having a successful fly fishing trip. If you have any questions about fly fishing gear or fly fishing in general, feel free to call Healing Waters Lodge of Twin Bridges, Montana at (406) 684-5960.
*Loaner equipment available through Healing Waters Lodge-Lewis & Clark Expeditions. Please contact us prior to your trip to make your needs known.
Fly Fishing in Southwest Montana – Smith River Float Trips
Healing Waters Lodge is an Orvis endorsed fly fishing lodge with a stellar reputation and we are also the largest fly fishing outfitter on Montana’s coveted, Smith River. Mike Geary continues to successfully own and operate, Lewis & Clark Expeditions, for over 25 years. Our Smith River fly fishing float trip is 59 river miles […]
Continue reading "Fly Fishing in Southwest Montana – Smith River Float Trips" »Fly Fishing in Southwest Montana
So it begins high in the Beaverhead Mountains, the Big Hole River flows for 153 miles through a fly fishing wonderland filled with Brook, Rainbow, Brown and Cutthroat trout. The Big Hole is the last remaining habitat for fluvial Arctic Grayling in the contiguous United States. Along the Big Hole corridor are fishing access sites […]
Continue reading "Fly Fishing in Southwest Montana" »Fishing, Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, and More Fishing
At Healing Waters Lodge we are intimately involved with Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, Inc., a non-profit organization founded by Retired Navy Captain Ed Nicholson. Below are testimonials from two friends of ours who assisted us last summer at the lodge working with disabled veterans. They also represent the quality and character of the […]
Continue reading "Fishing, Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing, and More Fishing" »Fly Fishing the Big Hole River with Healing Waters Lodge in Southwest Montana
Big Hole River Description So it begins high in the Beaverhead Mountains, the Big Hole River flows for 153 miles through a fly fishing wonderland filled with Brook, Rainbow, Brown and Cutthroat trout. The Big Hole is the last remaining habitat for fluvial Arctic Grayling in the contiguous United States. Along the Big Hole corridor […]
Continue reading "Fly Fishing the Big Hole River with Healing Waters Lodge in Southwest Montana" »Fishing Over the Immortal Nakedness of Montana
Fishing Over the Immortal Nakedness of Montana “The sea, autumn mildness, islands bathed in light, fine rain spreading a diaphanous veil over the immortal nakedness of Greece. Happy is the man, I thought, who, before dying, has the good fortune to sail the Aegean Sea.” A passage from the novel, Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis. […]
Continue reading "Fishing Over the Immortal Nakedness of Montana" »Fly Fishing the Beaverhead River
Over 200 years ago, Lewis and Clark discovered the Beaverhead River hoping to find a Northwest Passage. William Clark was overheard saying, “Oops” when they realized their portage over the Rockies was going to be an extra 250 miles. So it goes…. Today, the Beaverhead River flows out of Clark Canyon Reservoir Dam creating one […]
Continue reading "Fly Fishing the Beaverhead River" »Montana Snow Pack Survey = Fly Fishing and more
Healing Waters Lodge and Lewis & Clark Expeditions Smith River fly fishing trips depend on water, of course. Online, we follow the abundance of information posted on the Montana Natural Resource Conservation Services Snow Survey site. The information is gathered by the NRCS National Water and Climate Center and other monitoring organizations and placed on this site […]
Continue reading "Montana Snow Pack Survey = Fly Fishing and more" »Fish Like a Guide, But, Live Like a Client – Fly Fishing Schools
Fly Fishing Schools: April 14-19 and April 23-29 Healing Waters Lodge offers “Fish Like a Guide, But, Live Like a Client” fly fishing schools, typically during the shoulder season in April. After breakfast, our guides will conduct a brief classroom instruction followed by guided fly fishing on local waters such as the Beaverhead, Big Hole, Jefferson, Madison, […]
Continue reading "Fish Like a Guide, But, Live Like a Client – Fly Fishing Schools" »Sponsors Needed for Disabled Active/Retired Military Service Men and Women Fly Fishing in Southwest Montana
Over the past 14 years, it has been our pleasure to recruit folks, that feel the same way we do about our military service members, to assist us in taking wounded military service members on 5-day float trips down the Smith River and fly fishing with Healing Waters Lodge in southwest Montana. We, our friends and clients, competitors and […]
Continue reading "Sponsors Needed for Disabled Active/Retired Military Service Men and Women Fly Fishing in Southwest Montana" »