He’s already gone and he hasn’t even left yet! He becomes giddier than a school girl as this day draws near. He’s in search of anadromous trout in the WILD. It’s an annual pilgrimage that takes him so far north of Montana he’s only 100 miles off the coast of the Pacific. And, it’s the end of October! Continue reading
Tag Archives: Trout Bum
On Becoming a Trout Bum
Shop Rat and Guide Taylor Todd with a Missouri River Brown Trout in Craig, Montana
Yes, you have become a Trout Bum. CrossCurrents’ lead shop staffer, Taylor Todd, has written an eloquent piece for the Montana Fly Fishing Magazine (page 75): The Becoming of a Trout Bum. Thank you, Taylor.
Taylor has been a tremendous blessing to CrossCurrents Fly Shop. We look forward to Taylor’s return this season, and many more. Although he will once again be a shop rat, Taylor is going to try his patience putting Continue reading
Fly Shop Experience
When it’s 27 BELOW Zero outside -with no chance of fly fishing unless you jump on an airplane and head to lower latitudes -it’s fun to read about the life I live. As I was reading this, I was recalling how it fit perfectly with so many of my customers and I could actually see faces in my mind as Chief Rocka described all the characters you’ll find in a Fly Shop. So, I hope you enjoy the read on this arctic day.
PS- I hope to see some of you tonight at my talk at Montana Wild in Helena. I’ll be blabbering about BC Steelhead and have some fun photos and videos to ogle over. It starts at 6:30pm. Thanks, -Strainer
I love fly shops, I could live in a fly shop. Often times shops have an abundance of just about everything I need to survive (beef jerky, cheap beer, and fly gear). I spend a lot of time in the shop, which about 15% of that time is spent looking at gear/flies, 20% is remembering what the hell I came into the shop for in the first place, and the remaining balance is spent standing around chatting and listening in on conversations. I find the conversations that can be heard and/or witnessed by a casual observer in the fly shop setting to be fascinating and highly entertaining.
- 1 out of every 4 times in a shop you will run into someone with a pattern so incredibly productive that they will show you, but it has to be in complete and total secrecy. Sometimes it is a shop employee, a…
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The Jimmy B. Blues
If you have been to Craig in the last decade then you have probably seen Jimmy B. He has been on the staff at CrossCurrents, fished Trico’s all morning long, chased risers eating Caddis after dark, and once he caught bobberitis when someone snuck a nymph rig into his boat. The inventor of the Jimmy’s Bugger, an Orvis Zero Gravity rod tester, and soft hackle swinging king one could say this man has done it all.
Thirsty Thursday: Top 10 Craig Beers
Totally random post here but what is a man to do on a hot August day when fishing is a bit slower….Dream of Beer and maybe partake in a few, after work of course.
Here it is then, the top 10 Craig Montana Beers:
1. PBR – The designated beer of trout bums World wide. It pairs well with the seasoned pro as well as the CEO trying to bum on a 2 week vacation. This go to beer in the fly fishing community has graced more pages of fly fishing magazines and advertisements than any angler.
2. Rainier – A close cousin to PBR. This more localized bum beer in Craig will be found in more fisherman’s hands than fly rods. It pairs well with Outfitters, Guides and Fly Shop Staff.
3. Trout Slayer – A very good Big Sky Brewery beer, the Trout Slayer seems to pair well with the tourist fly fisher person. However you will find a local trout bum drinking it…if it is free.
4. Bud Heavy -Budweiser seems to pair well with a drift boat owner. It is in a can, it’s cheap, it’s everywhere and you see it being tossed between boats in the Orvis catalog.
5. Blackfoot IPA – A favorite of the appetizer eating, bar only setting and none dinning room goers of Izaack’s Restaurant. It’s a pairing made in Heaven, if you have a couple it is going to cost more than your wings though.
6. Stella Artois – This “Fancy” beer pairs well with the fly fisher folk from the Bozone area. Not hating on the Bozeman crowd here, it’s just a shame they only come see us during high water. You are always welcome in Craig, try a PBR.
7. Banquet Beer – Coors – Coors is that beer that snuck into the list because sometimes it’s the only one in a 18 pack at the Canyon Store.
8. The Champagne of Beers – High Life – You can find the High Life in many of Yeti coolers. It pairs well with a buff wearing, streamer tossin college kid feeling the high life that only college can create.
9. Tumbleweed IPA – A favorite of the trout bum that some how just recieved a pay check. It pairs well with a pay day and steak on the grill.
10. Twisted Tea – Two words, Recreational Floaters. Enough said.
We have a big Holiday weekend ahead of us here in Craig and beyond, be careful out there and enjoy a few of your 10 favorite responsibly.
The Current Seam 