We have a yearning to travell. Montana, anyone been? any suggestions for some quality accomodation, ranch style, maybe a bit of riding too?

Having never travelled to the States fishing before, any adice on what kind of weight rods etc, to take?

The other thing I find curious is why no airlines seem to fly direct to Bozeman.BZN. I dont really fancy 3 changes of flight.

I have researched this place...........
www.madisonvalleyranch.com/


It looks fantastic has anyone been?

Regards
Jas.

The photo of the 3 blokes in a hot tub is very very scary

Yer I know, looks a bit 'iffy' to me, but apart from the other couple of 'large' fellas it all looks fairly O.K.

I just wonder if anyone actually has been there, or could offer any alternatives?

Jas

I've been to Montana many times, but the luxo fly fishing lodge / dude ranch thing isn't really my bag.

For more of the type of ranch you see to be looking for, I'd say have a look at the travel listings section of Gray's Sporting Journal.

I would caution you, however, the fishing in Montana is good and it can be very good, but IMO it is NOT easy unless you're fishing in the stocked pond that most lodges keep. For wild fish on real rivers, best plan on bringing your A-game and even then the learning curve can still be steep. I think a lot of people expect because there are a lot of trout, there will be a lot of easy trout fishing and this is not often the case especially on the more famous rivers.

For rods recommendations everything depends on where you're going. Montana is a big state, about twice the size of the UK. Anything from a 3-4 weight for spring creeks up to an 8 weight for chuck/duck or bunker bombing action on the big, wind-prone rivers like the Bighorn. Your best source for this info will be the guides at your lodge once you decide on a place.

Re flying direct to Bozeman from the UK, well, when you get to Bozeman you'll understand why they don't see too much trans-ocean jumbo jet traffic, especially in the summer. You will almost always be making at least one change when flying from London to the western states like MT. If possible, avoid Chicago which is highly delay prone, I'd say go via Denver, Salt Lake, or Minneapolis/St. Paul if you have a choice.

But you're right, Montana and the American west is fantastic. The thing that strikes me and alway has is the sense of vastness and emptiness, it boarders on an eerie kind of beauty. In the backcountry, I'd often catch myself looking over my shoulder to see if anyone was watching or approaching on the bank, even though we'd been fishing for 3 days without seeing another soul.

Grouse

Thanks Grouse..............there's FAR too much choice!

Jas

Never been to Montana but have been to New England a few times as we have friends near Boston. Absolutely love it, although have never had chance to indulge in much fishing apart from a bit of fly fishing for bass, bluegill and yellow perch on a local lake. There's loads of fishing to choose from though, including some great sea fishing. I went to the Orvis HQ in Manchester, Vermont - next to the museum of fly fishing on the banks of the Battenkill river - although the river looked dead on a hot august day! The Orvis HQ even has a trout stream running through the shop!

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In New England in August you fish the lakes or you fish real early in the morning, late in the evening or, depending on the State, at night. The Battenkill is fine but in Vermont you want to fish the Lamoille for the Steelhead and Salmon from Lake Champlain and the Dog or Mad rivers for large Browns. You're allowed to fish the last two at night and a number of ten pound browns have been taken out of both. Now imagine a ten pound brown on the end of your line at night!!!

Thanks for the replies gents, HOWEVER, true to form this is getting silly!

We now fancy Zambia, and the famous Tiger Fish!

It just looks too good to resist, the English weather is currently pants, and at the Chiawa Camp in September it promises to be good!

Had a good conversation with Peter from Aardvark McCleod, and its sounds great.

The only potential downfall, is Sara's hatered of flappy things, and the nasty ****** Tsetsy Fly, with its promise of a slow agonising death of sleeping disease has scared the c$%P out of her at the moment!

I googled the health risks in Zambia last night, and its like a who's who , of potential death....................Doing the same for Montana, brought up the biggest risk as being beaten by your wife following too much alcohol

Or words to that effect!

Anyone been Tiger Fishing????
Anyone had Sleeping Sickness????
Anyone had a spinal tap...........needed to cure it????

Ducks down and waits for the inevitable barrage of P**S taking!

Jas

Yeah, Montana / Zambia, they're pretty much the same anyway. I mean, except for the weather, the tropical diseases, poisions crawly things, foodborne illness, and so forth. But hey, what fun is a holiday without a little adventure?

Grouse

Let's not forget the dangers of having to drink American beer! Could do horrible damage to the kidneys as I'm not sure how much microbewery beer you're going to find in Montana and you may be forced to get by on Bud. or even worst Coors! That alone would definitively tip my decision towards the creepy crawlies, crocodiles, parasites and various others forms of painful, lingering death.