The Bankside

Trout and Water Temperature: To Fish or Not to Fish

IMPORTANT: Many rivers and streams across the country are experiencing temporary closures as a result of high temperatures. Please inquire locally at a fly shop or at your state's online regulation resource.  As hot summer conditions across the West become the norm, it is important to be aware of the effects of water temperature on [...]

Summer is a Good Season for Smallmouth Bass Fly Fishing

Smallmouth bass—aka smallies, bronzebacks, brownies, and brown bass—are gaining traction as a favorite of fly fishers. If you've never caught a smallie on a fly, now is the time for summer fly fishing for smallmouth bass. As water temperatures rise in many trout rivers, it is nice to know other options may exist.  Fishing a [...]

Media and Influencers Gather at Inaugural Confluence

We recently hosted the first-ever Confluence. At the event, media and influencers gathered to discuss fly fishing challenges and opportunities. The event was co-hosted by the Madison Valley Ranch (2021 Orvis-Endorsed Fly-Fishing Lodge of the Year) in Ennis, Montana and featured a diverse cross-section of media and influencers who met to discuss technology and the [...]

SIMMS at the Rivers Edge to host Women Are Fly this weekend

Make sure your weekend plans include the Women Are Fly event at SIMMS at the Rivers Edge. The Friday-Saturday event will have education stations, casting instruction, and keynote speakers from across the fly fishing community. Friday, May 13th from 4-7pm - Keynote Speaker Alice Owsley, Simms Fashion Show, Social Hour and Networking Saturday, May 14th from [...]

Seven fly patterns for spring trout fishing

Fly selection for spring trout fishing is essential to angling success – without the correct fly you’re not imitating the available food source. In no particular order, here are six favorite patterns – well, technically seven due to a tie – for the next several weeks on any local trout water. Carry these fly patterns [...]

onWater launches their industry-leading fishing app

onWater Fly Fishing, an Outdoor Recreation technology provider, announces the launch of the onWater App for anglers and the fly fishing community. This new app and platform is now available with iOS and Android for mobile devices and tablets, and for desktop via onwaterapp.com. This innovative platform delivers highly detailed, GPS-enabled angling maps along with [...]

Snowpack sees slight improvement in some areas, drop in others

A moderately strong storm system moved through the northern Rockies last week, giving a slight bump to the region's snowpack. For anglers living in southcentral Montana, northern Wyoming, and along Colorado's front range the 7-day change in snowpack was positive. Even with the recent storm, snowpack across the US West is lagging compared to long-term [...]

The onWater team is on the water

  Note: This post was previously published in 2021.   On a classic May day in Montana—partly sunny skies, temperatures in the low 60's degrees F, and the potential for prolific hatches of caddis—members of the onWater team spent a day on the Madison River near Ennis, Montana. Plenty of laughs were had, some fish [...]

Western US Snowpack: Hanging in There

What a difference a month makes in our Western US snowpack map! Although current snowpack across the West isn't bad, it isn't great either. Akin to getting a participation ribbon instead of a first place ribbon, the snowpack across the West has "lots of opportunities for growth." So, keep hanging in there for the good [...]

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