2012 Streamer Fishing Clinics • 2012 Spey Clinics
Women's Fishing Clinic • 2012 BBQ • MSU Classes
Fly Tying Classes • Weekends With the Legends • Suds Bugs & BS

Beginner Fly Tying Classes Available - January Classes Start the 24th and 25th!


Beginner Tying Classes: Classes are held here at Montana Troutfitters from 6:30pm to 8:30pm every Tuesday or Wednesday for 5 weeks. The cost of the class is $75 or $65 for MSU Students and Faculty. Our beginner classes are the most well attended in the valley and are based off of the timeless teachings of Al Troth. Classes are limited to 6 students to ensure a hands on experience. Instruction will focus on all of the foundations of tying. These are the best classes in the valley as is evidenced by the fact they are full every go around. So if you're interested make sure you get signed up early - call us at the shop for more information or to get signed up for the Winter Classes.

Advanced Tying Classes: WON'T START UNTIL March of 2012 Classes are held here at Montana Troutfitters from 6:30pm to 8:30pm every Wednesday for 4 weeks. The cost of the class is $75 or $65 for MSU Students and Faculty. Advanced classes will focus on working with difficult materials, tying extended body flies, jointed streamers, and other advanced tying techniques. Prior tying experience is recommended as the class will not be going over basics but rather focusing on advanced streamer techniques and extended bodies as well as some other "secrets" of the trade.

Weekends With the Legends Will Back Again for 2012! Tiers all set up

What a great year or tiers in here at Montana Troutfitters! We were graced by the likes of Chris Smith, Doug McKnight, Tim Tollet, Bobby Jacklin and a lot of other very talented tiers and friendly faces. We're starting up January 21st again!

Weekends With the Legends is FREE and open to the public and is offered on Saturdays from 12pm to 3pm and features some of the most talented tiers in the area and country! Seating is not a problem as our tiers are featured on our 37" HI DEF TV.

2012's Schedule of Tiers at Montana Troutfitters

January 21st - Chris Smith - Due to a shoulder injury Mike Lawson is unable to join us, however we've found an apt replacement - our friend and talented tier Chris Smith. Chris grew up fishing in California and studied under Andy Puyans amongst others. A contract tier for Solitude, Chris has some fantastic patterns that he'll be sharing with us to open this years tying seminars!

January 28th - Doug McKnight - A contract tier for Umpqua Flies and an excellent fisherman in his own right, Doug joins us to share some of his renowned streamer patterns and techniques for fishing around the greater Montana area. If you haven't seen the Home Invader series, check them out!

February 4th - Andrew Puls - Just a good guy that likes to fish and tie flies, Andrew is a local that has published tying articles in various industry magazines. He enjoys sharing his talents with others and we're looking forward to what he's been cooking up at the vise this winter.

February 11th - Tim Tollet - A man that has seen more days on the Beaverhead river than most any other in the state. Tim is the owner of Frontier Anglers in Dillon and he joins us again in 2012 to share some of his latest patterns for the Beaverhead and Big Hole river drainages.

February 18th - Eric Beebe - The owner of Bighron Flies a custom fly tying company located in Billings, Eric joins us to share some of his "secrets" for catching bigger fish on the Bighorn. Definitely not one to miss, Eric has landed some massive fish on the Bighorn and he'll be happy to show you how.

February 25th - Walter Wiese - Joining us for another winter is our good friend Walter head guide of Park's Fly Shop in Gardiner, Montana. Walter spends his summers in and around Yellowstone Park and spins up some imaginative patterns for prospecting the waters in the area.

March 3rd - Bob Jacklin - Long time outfitter, author of many books, and owner of Jacklin's Fly Shop in West Yellowstone. Bob is a good friend and an excellent tier with an intimate knowledge of the history of fly tying as well as an entertaining storyteller. Join us as we wrap up WWTL for 2012!

Streamer Fishing Clinic - Spring Dates to Be Set for April!

For those of you who want to learn to toss around the big flies a little better and read the holding water for the big fish that you want to eat that streamer, this is the class for you. We've been running these classes now for 5 years and they've grown with popularity and are always sold out. Come find out what you've been missing in those deep holes with nymph rigs... Classes will be held from 9:30AM to 6PM and will meet at the shop at 9:15AM and then depart for the river after the classroom portion of the classes. Cost is $150 for the class and includes lunch and beverages and a short float trip. Our Fall Classes filled up again this year. If you're interested you can sign up to be notified when we set our Spring Dates!

Spey Clinic Dates for 2012 TBA

This is another one of our popular clinics that we've been running for now 5 years and it was a great success again in the Fall of 2011! Every class participant will be entered into a drawing for an Echo Two Handed Rod of their choice! Every Spey class that we've ran since we started into the two hand market back in 2006 has been a great success and we've been building on that success which has allowed us to have Larry Aiuppy teach our classes every fall and spring sharing his wealth of knowledge. This fall we'll be running a one day spey class with Larry again. If you've been thinking of getting into or fine tuning your spey casting, then this is your class. NOBODY, and we mean NOBODY, does the classes better than Larry.

What Some Past Partipants Had to Say About Our Classes With Larry:

"All the basics to get started, and the casts to get started fishing - and useful practice techniques like the broom handle!"

" . . . your workshop not only taught me tremendous new techniques, but also served to inspire, enlighten and challenge me . . ."

"The critique sessions are excellent. Your one-on-one help was extremely valuable."

"The class was extremely helpful. I was at a point in my spey casting where I didn't feel I was making any progress. After taking your class you provided me with ideas and instruction that enabled me to move on to a whole new level of casting."

"I thoroughly enjoyed the class. It was great to see everything come together on the different types of casts."

"I have received instruction at spey clave(s), however I have learned more from you, Larry, in a shorter period of time. Your ability to instruct makes it fun & also learn at the same time. Keep up the good work!!"

"Absolutely would recommend your class to anyone regardless of their casting abilities. You seem to have a balance of information/instruction that is easy to understand."

This Fall's class will be nearly identical to the previous classes, except that we're running it as a Beginner/Intermediate Class - The cost of the class will be $150, the focus will be on the basics, consisting of some classroom work and then a lot of time on the water. We will meet @ Montana Troutfitters @ 9am and will last till roughly 6pm or so. On the water will be held on a location TBD. Equipment is available for those who don't have their own. Lunch and beverages are included, call today to reserve your spot as the clinic will be limited to 6 anglers. 

Troutfitters 5th Annual BBQ Was a Huge Success

For the past 4 years we've grilled, drank, and talked fishing with a lot of friends and a lot of new faces and it's been a lot of fun. Giveaways, new gear, raffle prizes and lots of good food, that's what the BBQ is all about and we're looking forward to another BBQ in 2011! This year we'll have a casting competition as well as some other fun activities like the first annual nastiest Troutfitters Hat Contest!

For those of you who have helped make this a great event over the past few years, thank you!

For those of you who weren't able to make it, put this on your CALENDAR for 2011 - Thursday June 16th @ 5:30PM, that will be the date for this years BBQ with the MOOSE!!!

Womens Fly Fishing Classes - Now Scheduling for Spring 2012

With high water, colder than normal weather and unfishable conditions until nearly July we had to postpone this year's women's fly fishing class, but we'll be putting one together for 2012, so fear not! Just keep your fingers crossed for a little nicer weather next year.

We hear from female anglers quite often that they would like to learn to fish, but don't want to be yelled at or grouped with a bunch of testosterone driven males ... So we decided to offer our first WOMEN'S ONLY CLASS since Dave Kumlien was running the store and it was a big success. The class will consist of two days of instruction, with the first day focusing on knots, learning about the equipment, bug identification, and finally working on a basic cast. The second day will be on the water with instruction that focuses on reading water, putting the cast together on the water, and doing a little bit of fishing. Classes are held at Montana Troutfitters with both days lasting from 9am to 3pm. Lunch and beverages are included for both days, the cost of the class is $150 and $40 of the class fee is applicable towards a rod and reel purchase.

Here's what some of the ladies had to say about the classes:

"Loved learning to cast, practicing it and getting to try it on water. Liked learning a few knots too! I wanted to keep playing on the water…but maybe that would make it a 3 day class!"

"it was great and over too quickly, just like fishing I couldn't get enough!"

"I've felt intimidated by the "Man" atmosphere of some fishing related activities I've been to, this was much different, Gayle and Dave made me feel comfortable and it was an excellent class!"

"I wanted to share my first fish photo...since Montana Troutfitters was my introduction to fly fishing...I took your Ladies fly fishing class this spring! I went to Alaska-took a float plane trip with 3 other women to Limestone Creek near Juneau. We caught a lot of Dolly Varden Gar and fished with 3 Alaskan brown bears! I'm hooked! My best - Kris Carpenter"

MSU Classes and Clinics

We are strong supporters of the MSU Community at Montana Troutfitters and from time to time we offer free clinics and casting lessons and fishing demonstrations for students, including at Catapalooza every year as well as in the spring and fall with Resedential Services on campus. We also offer student discounts on our classes, so if you're an MSU Student and are interested in one of our tying classes or something else let us know that you'd like the student discount!

There's a new campus organization Gallatin Flycasters and they are offering some great fishing information and free classes for students. For more information on whats available on campus or to request for a student group lesson call Kris @ 587-4707.

Suds Bugs & BS - Up and Running for 2012!

If you like to tie flies with friends and enjoy a night out of the house, this is for you! We will be going strong every Thursday night until March. A great way to enjoy the hospitality of some good tiers, get some tips on your tying and relax and listen to tunes and watch some fishing movies. Bring your own materials and vise and we'll supply the BS and tying space. It will be going strong into it's 5th winter now, so get here early (like around 6-6:30pm) so you can get a place at the table! Every Thursday night is Suds Bugs & BS at Montana Troutfitters. It's a BYO Stuff affair, so make sure and have your own tying stuff and some refreshments. Join us every Thursday through March!