Bill Matthews Outdoor Blog

Breaking Out of My Skwala Slump

Cutthroat on the Skwala! It is spring in Montana and that means chasing the most elusive of all stoneflies…the mighty skwala. This is a...

Skwalas, Dogs, and a New Fishing Partner

I was in Missoula this past weekend to visit my new grandson/ fishing partner. He is too little to take fishing yet, but it won’t be long ti

Montana Fly Fishing Day 3 - Full Circle

This is a special section for Ann, because she did this float with her Dad so many times when she was growing up.

Montana Fly Fishing Day 2 - Upper Clark Fork

No better way to clear up my old foggy brain than to have a fish smack you right in the face. We laughed and both realized that it was goin

Montana Fly Fishing Day 1 Lower Clark Fork River

This stretch of river near Superior is known for big fish, caught on tiny flies. The fish in this stretch are big , strong and smart.

Take a balanced (leach) approach to fly fishing

I saw a reddish green balanced leach that I had purchased from the Reno Fly shop a few months ago and it looked promising so I tied it on

Montana Salmon Fly Hatch Part II

Day two of our Salmon Fly Adventure in Montana - A Father's Day Grand Slam!

Montana Salmon Fly Hatch Part I

It is Salmon Fly season in the Northwest, and that means you have to be willing to move fast when you hear bugs are on the water.

Merrill Lake Hex Hatch

the big Hexagenia Mayflies appeared all around me. The Mayflies were everywhere and the fish were having a field day eating them.

New Beginnings on the Big Hole River

Last October I planned a fly fishing trip to Montana with a couple of young men that are friends of the family. Drew and Mason both go...

Learning about Wild Lahontan Trout & Wild Horse Amber Ale in Reno.

Hanging out at the Reno Fly Shop!

Fishing Crater Lake National Park

Several months ago I was working in southern Oregon and stopped into the world famous Blackbirds Shopping Center in Medford. I met up...

Friends In High Places

It was late October in the Pacific Northwest, and the weather was still mild so I figured now was the time to catch a beautiful brook...

Beaver Creek On The Fly

Beaver Creek Colorado is a beautiful town just east of Vail on I-70. My brother Pat Matthews was scheduled to paint live in front of the...