2 Guys and a River

Late season fly fishing can be challenging for a variety of reasons. One is obviously weather. Another is that the hatches are over with the exception of midges or the ocasional baetis. You’re typically fishing nymphs or streamers. In this episode, we reflect on several trips in late fall and what we learned during this … Continue reading "Episode 225: Late Season Fly Fishing" The post Episode 225: Late Season Fly Fishing appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

All good things must come to an end, and this was the final day of our fly fishing trip in mid-September. Rain was in the forecast, so we hoped upon hope that there might be some baetis hatching on the Madison River at the mouth of Beartrap Canyon. Spoiler alert: There wasn’t a mayfly within … Continue reading "Episode 224: One Fine Rainy Day on the Madison" The post Episode 224: One Fine Rainy Day on the Madison appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

After two terrific days on the Yellowstone River, we changed it up a bit. We headed to the Boulder River, south of Big Timber, Montana. This is the third of four episodes from a recent fly fishing trip to Yellowstone Country in Montana and northern Wyoming. We decided to call this episode One Fine Strange … Continue reading "Episode 223: One Fine Strange Day on the Boulder" The post Episode 223: One Fine Strange Day on the Boulder appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

Our second day on the Yellowstone this fall was even better than the first. This is the second of four episodes from a recent fly fishing trip to Yellowstone Country in Montana and northern Wyoming. After a terrific cloudy day on the Yellowstone, we had One Fine Sunny Day on the Yellowstone. There is nothing … Continue reading "Episode 222: One Fine Sunny Day on the Yellowstone" The post Episode 222: One Fine Sunny Day on the Yellowstone appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

We are not good at quitting. This is the first of four episodes from a recent fly fishing trip to Yellowstone Country in Montana and northern Wyoming. In August, after four wonderful years, we stopped publishing a weekly episode and writing a weekly article. We thought we were done. But then we had One Fine … Continue reading "Episode 221: One Fine Cloudy Day on the Yellowstone" The post Episode 221: One Fine Cloudy Day on the Yellowstone appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

Every day of fly fishing has a beginning. And an end. There’s often a sense of sadness right before, and certainly, after the last run of the day. Not every “last run of the day” is packed with emotion, but we’ve had several experiences when the final moments of the day felt thick with meaning. … Continue reading "S5:E12 The Last Run of the Day" The post S5:E12 The Last Run of the Day appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

Fly fishers gain confidence by fishing for brook trout. Brook trout are forgiving, and there’s nothing like an afternoon of catching 15 brook trout to increase one’s confidence. That’s only one of several strategies that we discuss to help newer fly fishers gain confidence. It’s easy to feel discouraged during a stretch of no fish. … Continue reading "S5:E11 How Fly Fishers Gain Confidence" The post S5:E11 How Fly Fishers Gain Confidence appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

Strange sightings while fly fishing are part of the overall experience of the sport. In this episode, we recount watching a car float by while fishing the Yellowstone, a mink steal a duck from a nest, and a forest fire glow while on our way to fish Hebgen Lake. LISTEN NOW TO “STRANGE SIGHTINGS WHILE … Continue reading "S5:E10 Strange Sightings While Fly Fishing" The post S5:E10 Strange Sightings While Fly Fishing appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

Trout lies are places in the river or stream where trout hang out. One of the most well-known lies is called the “feeding lie,” where trout sit in the current or pockets of water and grab insects or larger chunks of calories as they drift by. Often, a fly fisher can spot the feeding lie … Continue reading "S5:E9 The Truth about Trout Lies" The post S5:E9 The Truth about Trout Lies appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

Hopper season is upon us. And from now until some time in early to mid-September, trout will be attacking grasshoppers that fall or are blown into the river. In this episode, we offer up an introductory conversation on fishing during hopper season, what to expect, and how to make the most of this most wonderful … Continue reading "S5:E8 Fishing Hopper Season" The post S5:E8 Fishing Hopper Season appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

Animal encounters are a fact of life in the outdoors. We’ve discussed at length the precautions to take when fishing in grizzly country, but there are other types of encounters to avoid or at least to prepare for. In this episode, we discuss insects, birds, and even domestic cows. Animal encounters (and other kinds of … Continue reading "S5:E7 Surviving Animal Encounters in the Outdoors" The post S5:E7 Surviving Animal Encounters in the Outdoors appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

Fly fishing trips are not easy to plan well, especially if you are heading to a new place. Two factors unravel the best laid plans: weather and whether there is a bite on. Through the years, we’ve had to fight against the tyranny of Steve’s hyper-planning and the chaos of Dave’s “Let’s just see what … Continue reading "S5:E6 Fly Fishing Trips – Planning vs. Flexibility" The post S5:E6 Fly Fishing Trips – Planning vs. Flexibility appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

Fishing Rocky Mountain National Park is a different experience than is fishing the national parks in Montana for several reasons. One is that there are no grizzlies. Another is elevation: Fishing Rocky Mountain National Park is more demanding physically, simply because the lowest elevation to start hiking is around 7,800 feet. In this episode, we … Continue reading "S5:E5 Fishing Rocky Mountain National Park" The post S5:E5 Fishing Rocky Mountain National Park appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

Lefty Kreh was actually both a lefty and a righty. One of the most beloved and popular American fly fishers, Lefty cast right handed, because he felt it was easier for the majority of folks (who were right handed) to watch him and learn. Lefty was an original. He was a World War 2 veteran … Continue reading "S5:E4 Legends of Fly Fishing: Lefty Kreh" The post S5:E4 Legends of Fly Fishing: Lefty Kreh appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

Trout eat pretty much anything put in front of them, including their young. Much of fly fishing is focused on the insects, such mayflies, caddisflies, and stoneflies. But often trout are looking to consume a bigger chunk of calories. In this episode, we regale each other with stories of things we’ve heard trout eat. One … Continue reading "S5:E3 Surprising Things Trout Eat" The post S5:E3 Surprising Things Trout Eat appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.