2 Guys and a River

Fly fishing the Yellowstone River late in the fall is a risk. If the weather suddenly turns right before your fly fishing trip, the roads in the Park may close. Or perhaps if the weather has been too balmy, the trout may not be rising. And since the main hatches and the hoppers have been … Continue reading "Episode 262: Three Magical Days Fly Fishing the Yellowstone River" The post Episode 262: Three Magical Days Fly Fishing the Yellowstone River appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

Pickle Ball is not in our future. We continue to fly fish for a variety of reasons, including the sheer delight of spending a few hours on the river trying to convince trout that what we’re presenting is real. This is our first episode in a while, and we’re excited to back in the publishing … Continue reading "Episode 261: Why We Continue to Fly Fish" The post Episode 261: Why We Continue to Fly Fish appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

The Yellowstone Flood of 2022 is not yet over, and already it is the most catastrophic flooding event of the Yellowstone River in recorded history. Major flooding on the Yellowstone River and its tributaries wiped out stretches of highway in Yellowstone National Park and in Paradise Valley to the north. Three inches of rain which … Continue reading "Episode 260: Dave Kumlien on the Yellowstone Flooding and Its Effect on Fishing" The post Episode 260: Dave Kumlien on the Yellowstone Flooding and Its Effect on Fishing appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

Fly fishing with lighter rods makes sense only if the conditions are right. In recent years, each of us has purchased a lighter rod for smaller creeks. In this episode, we relay pluses and minuses of Fly Fishing with Lighter Rods LISTEN NOW TO “FLY FISHING WITH LIGHTER RODS” Great Stuff from Our Listeners Is … Continue reading "Episode 259: Fly Fishing with Lighter Rods" The post Episode 259: Fly Fishing with Lighter Rods appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

Our fall fly fishing trip to Montana was one of the best on record. The previous year was a bust. In fact, we wondered if we should even return to Montana in the fall, whether our honey holes and favorite rivers were only memories. In Lessons from Our Fall Fly Fishing Trip to Montana, we … Continue reading "Episode 258: Lessons from Our Fall Fly Fishing Trip to Montana" The post Episode 258: Lessons from Our Fall Fly Fishing Trip to Montana appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

John Maclean’s Home Waters is a memoir of his father, Norman Maclean, the author of “A River Runs Through It.” In this memoir, John reflects on his growing up as the grandson and son of two characters in the novella and movie. In Home Waters, we discuss what resonated with us about John’s unique perspective … Continue reading "Episode 257: Reflections on John Maclean’s Home Waters" The post Episode 257: Reflections on John Maclean’s Home Waters appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

The East Gallatin River flows in a northwesterly direction through the Gallatin valley in Montana, north of Bozeman. From the perspective of a drone a couple thousand feet up, the river, which is more like a large creek, might look like ribbon candy. It winds in large S curves on the Montana flatland, with almost … Continue reading "Episode 256: One Fine Day on the East Gallatin River" The post Episode 256: One Fine Day on the East Gallatin River appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

It’s September, and often during this month we find a way for our annual Montana fly fishing trip. It was fitting that in a year like 2020, there were some strange moments. In this episode, we discuss a series of “rapid fire” topics from our Montana fly fishing trip in a not-so-rapid-fire manner. One odd … Continue reading "255: Reflections on a Montana Fly Fishing Trip" The post 255: Reflections on a Montana Fly Fishing Trip appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

Fishing the transition of the season starts with a different set of expectations. The prolific summer hatches are mostly over. And the fall runners have yet to make their way up the river. In this episode, we discuss how to think about fishing the seasonal transition, which is September. And ways to make your days … Continue reading "254: Fishing the Transition of the Season" The post 254: Fishing the Transition of the Season appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

Hopefully, your next fly fishing trip is sooner rather than later. It has been a year of kicking the proverbial can of what we love to do down the road. The pandemic has delayed or postponed indefinitely a lot of plans. This next week, however, we plan to hit our favorite rivers in Montana. In … Continue reading "253: Not-So-Obvious Questions for Your Next Fly Fishing Trip" The post 253: Not-So-Obvious Questions for Your Next Fly Fishing Trip appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

The fly fishing etiquette mindset is a way of thinking that should permeate the actions of every fly fisher. In this episode, we read a thread from Trout Unlimited’s online forum about a fly fisher who was, in our opinion, quasi-bullied out of fishing on the Madison by four fishers. With the influx of new … Continue reading "252: The Fly Fishing Etiquette Mindset" The post 252: The Fly Fishing Etiquette Mindset appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

Fly fishing success is not just about your amazing chops: precision casting, reading the river, and overall fly fishing genius. There are factors out of your control that affect whether you catch fish. In this episode, we identify seven factors that may affect your day on the river. One factor is barometric pressure. Another is … Continue reading "251: Key Factors in Your Fly Fishing Success" The post 251: Key Factors in Your Fly Fishing Success appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

Fishing the film begins with a different mindset. We often think first about fishing on top of the surface or at the bottom of the river. In this episode, we discuss the “film” mindset” and offer four strategies for greater fly fishing success. One strategy is simply to let your soggy dry fly drift submerged … Continue reading "250: Strategies for Fishing the Film" The post 250: Strategies for Fishing the Film appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

Fish pics are ubiquitous. Instagram has every angle of fish pic you can imagine. But there’s more to shoot when you’re on the river than just pictures of your big brown trout. In this episode, we offer up twelve tips to photograph your entire fly fishing experience. We begin the episode with what is perhaps … Continue reading "249: Photographing Your Entire Fly Fishing Experience" The post 249: Photographing Your Entire Fly Fishing Experience appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

If you’ve never felt the violent strike of a brown trout on a streamer, you haven’t really lived. In this guide to fly fishing with streamers, we interview Dave Kumlien, Montana outfitter and former fly shop owner, on a wide ranging topics related to fishing streamers. This truly is the complete guide to fly fishing … Continue reading "248: The Complete Guide to Fly Fishing with Streamers – with Dave Kumlien" The post 248: The Complete Guide to Fly Fishing with Streamers – with Dave Kumlien appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

Salmo trutta tend to dominate wherever they live. Also known as brown trout, salmo trutta often push out brook trout – or at least push them upstream. Brown trout thrive in warmer waters. In this episode we regale each other with stories of catching large brown trout (our love relationship) and also discuss the downsides … Continue reading "247: Our Love-Hate Relationship with Salmo Trutta" The post 247: Our Love-Hate Relationship with Salmo Trutta appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

“Duh! How did I not know this after all these years?” There are so many aspects of fly fishing that simply escaped us during the first few years of fly fishing. Frankly, we’re still learning new hacks or tips that seem obvious in retrospect. In this episode we offer up the first seven hacks or … Continue reading "246: 7 Under Explained Aspects of Fly Fishing, Part 1" The post 246: 7 Under Explained Aspects of Fly Fishing, Part 1 appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

Fly fishing comfort in summer simply requires a few basic items of clothing. Certainly dry-fit clothing is at the top of the list. So is a water-resistant cap or hat. In this episode, we offer up our short list of basic summer wear. And we also reveal our deep disappointment that we may never be … Continue reading "245: Summer Wearables for Fly Fishing Comfort" The post 245: Summer Wearables for Fly Fishing Comfort appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

Small creeks in Montana are plentiful and full of trout. While the big rivers get all the press, it’s the smaller freestone creeks where some of the best fishing is. We love to fly fish the small creeks of Montana. In this episode, we recount how we first fell in love with small creek fly … Continue reading "244: Fly Fishing the Small Creeks of Montana" The post 244: Fly Fishing the Small Creeks of Montana appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

Midsummer fly fishing tips include taking a siesta in the middle of the day and trying your hand at catching trout with a size #22 Trico imitation. In this episode, we discuss a few of the changes that come when fishing in the dog days of summer. Be sure to add your midsummer fly fishing … Continue reading "243: 7 Midsummer Fly Fishing Tips" The post 243: 7 Midsummer Fly Fishing Tips appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

Parents, both mothers and fathers, play an inordinate role in the belief systems and destiny of their children. This weekend is Father’s Day Weekend, and so we wanted to share the lessons from our fathers while hunting and fishing in the great outdoors. In this episode, we select three lessons each (six total) that our … Continue reading "242: Outdoors Lessons from Our Fathers" The post 242: Outdoors Lessons from Our Fathers appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

Dry fly fishing is one of the great joys of the sport. One key element of success is where you cast your dry fly. It’s both art and skill. In this episode, we identify the eight places where you should cast your dry fly. None of this is new, but the episode is a good … Continue reading "241: 8 Places to Cast Your Dry Fly" The post 241: 8 Places to Cast Your Dry Fly appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

Like all of life, fly fishing has become increasingly complex: Just try to sort through the dizzying array of fly fishing rods before you purchase your next one. In this episode, we discuss our aspirations to simplify our fly fishing experience. What might that look like for you? LISTEN NOW TO “SIMPLIFYING YOUR FLY FISHING … Continue reading "240: Simplifying Your Fly Fishing Experience" The post 240: Simplifying Your Fly Fishing Experience appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

Fishing a new creek or river for the first time is exciting. But there’s also an intrigue of fly fishing a familiar place, a stretch that you’ve fished for years. In this episode, we recount a recent fly fishing trip to a spring creek that we’ve fished many, many times. There’s an intrigue of fly … Continue reading "239: The Intrigue of Fly Fishing a Familiar River" The post 239: The Intrigue of Fly Fishing a Familiar River appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

The best all around fly rod is up for debate. The answer is, of course, it depends. Many fly fishers have more than one rod, but if you had to choose, which would be the best all around fly rod? In this episode, we make a case for the nine-foot, five-weight or nine-foot six-weight rod … Continue reading "238: Best All Around Fly Rod for Normal Folk" The post 238: Best All Around Fly Rod for Normal Folk appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

Fly fishing success means different things to different people. For many of us, just a day on the river is success. In this episode, we identify six lists from our book “The Fly Fisher’s Book of Lists” and discuss their merits. One list that we discuss is “8 Adjustments to Make When Fishing Spring Creeks.” … Continue reading "237: 6 Lists for Fly Fishing Success" The post 237: 6 Lists for Fly Fishing Success appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

Stalking trout is a basic concept of fly fishing, but yet it’s often not part of the curriculum of new fly fishers. In this episode we identify six practices for stalking trout and tell a few stories when we found success for our efforts. Stalking trout is especially important on smaller freestone rivers and spring … Continue reading "236: 6 Practices for Stalking Trout" The post 236: 6 Practices for Stalking Trout appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

Flies that work anytime and anywhere are essential to your fly box. Yes, there may be some specialty flies that work only during specific hatches, but more often than not, the basics are pretty much all you need (most or at least much of the time). In this episode we discuss two dry flies, two … Continue reading "235: Flies that Work Anytime and Anywhere" The post 235: Flies that Work Anytime and Anywhere appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

Your next fly fishing trip may seem like years away in this moment in history, but soon enough, it will be time to plan. In this episode we discuss four questions to help winnow your options to make the best decision about time of year for your next fly fishing trip. We also discuss our … Continue reading "234: 4 Questions for Your Next Fly Fishing Trip" The post 234: 4 Questions for Your Next Fly Fishing Trip appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

Landing bigger fish is impossible if you simply try to rip in the fish like you would if you were spin fishing. In this episode we identify several tips that have helped us increase our catch rate when Moby Dick hits our streamer or nymph. One tip is a different mindset, which comes only after … Continue reading "233: Tips for Landing Bigger Fish" The post 233: Tips for Landing Bigger Fish appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

Fishing emergers during a hatch is as fundamental as it gets. And yet, most new fly fishers rarely hear about this approach early on. In this episode, we start off with a couple great stories from recent trips when the stars were aligned, and we hit a hatch perfectly. But the fish were not hitting … Continue reading "232: Fishing Emergers during a Hatch" The post 232: Fishing Emergers during a Hatch appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

Soft river bottoms pose a unique risk to wade fishers. In this episode, Dave recounts a winter fly fishing experience in which he got stuck in the mud while trying to wade to a run. It was 31 degrees. Dave had no cell coverage. He had gotten wet. And his fly fishing partner was about … Continue reading "231: The Wading Risk of Soft River Bottoms" The post 231: The Wading Risk of Soft River Bottoms appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

Safe wading is rarely the first thought on a fly fisher’s mind as he or she plans for a day on the river. It should be. In this episode, we interview Dave Kumlien, a Montana outfitter for 40 years, former fly shop owner, and coordinator of Trout Unlimited’s Veteran Service Partnership. We start out this … Continue reading "230: Montana Outfitter Dave Kumlien on Safe Wading" The post 230: Montana Outfitter Dave Kumlien on Safe Wading appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

The hope of fly fishing is a day in the not too distant future when our fears have been suspended and we make our way upstream with only the next run on our mind. In this episode, we focus not on the present moment but days gone by when we endured hardship while also making … Continue reading "229: The Hope of Fly Fishing in the Waiting" The post 229: The Hope of Fly Fishing in the Waiting appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

Friendship makes the outdoors better. At least that’s our perspective, given that our outdoors friendship has lasted four decades. In this episode, we discuss the makings of friendship and how certain kinds of competitiveness can prevent friendship from forming. We also discuss how “idle” friendships can be reinvigorated or restarted again. The old advertising line, … Continue reading "228: The Makings of an Outdoors Friendship" The post 228: The Makings of an Outdoors Friendship appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

Yellowstone runners are the big brown and rainbow trout that move up from Hebgen Lake into Yellowstone National Park’s Madison River each fall. In this episode, we discuss Chester Allen’s delightful book, Yellowstone Runners: Chasing a dream fish in Yellowstone National Park during the Madison River’s Famous Fall Run. Allen is a terrific storyteller while … Continue reading "227: A Conversation about Yellowstone Runners" The post 227: A Conversation about Yellowstone Runners appeared first on 2 Guys and A River.

Every day on the river is the chance to grow in your understanding of how to fish. Every item of gear that you purchase gives you some information about what to buy (or not buy) the next time around. In this end-of-the-year episode, we offer up our top 10 fly fishing lessons from a year … Continue reading "Episode 226: Top 10 Fly Fishing Lessons of the Year" The post Episode 226: Top 10 Fly Fishing Lessons of the Year appeared first on 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.