A Part Timer's Paean

Musings on fishing from an outside perspective. 

It seems that there are three kinds of folks here in Montana, not including those with the privilege of being born here. You’re either a tourist, a part-timer, or a full-timer.

For over 20 years, I languished in the lowly tourist class, with annual fly-fishing trips to the Big Sky State. In 2018, my wife and I made the quantum leap to the next citizen level with the completion of our house in Ennis. (We have the good fortune and sense to follow the annual goose migration to warmer and sunnier climes, and to return in the spring.) Although a rung up the ladder, the part-timer label still comes with the implied, “He can’t know a lot about fly fishing, patterns, or waters, as he only lives here part-time.”

For my part, it’s been fun to have an open mind and not be limited to certain attitudes: “Well, that’s how we’ve always done it.” Or, “That’s the only fly we fish in this [insert specific water body].” In my career as a research scientist, I learned to remain open to new ideas, concepts, and theories. My approach has always been to examine current information and follow it with extensive experimentation. Thus, I have experimented—that is, fished—and spent countless hours on the water in both good and bad weather. After all, experiments must continue! Additionally, I have reviewed a wealth of written and video information. Additionally, my science background has given me a strong B.S. meter, allowing me to quickly parse out fashionable techniques and patterns, eliminating those that won’t actually help my fishing.

Over time, I’ve developed a few “hacks.” One of my favorites is finding a fly pattern developed in some far-off place and seeing if it would work on my home water. Last year, while looking at a popular United Kingdom streamer, I thought, “Hmmm,” this might work really well here. I’d never seen it in a fly shop in Montana, so I tied a few and went to work. A few “experiments” later, it turned out to be a rousing success. One of my fishing buddies—a full-timer and excellent fly fisherman—couldn’t figure out why I caught fish while he was getting nowhere. I told him I was fishing a sinking line. He objected that the water is only a few feet deep. Research strikes again! He finally relented and switched to a sinking line and one of my “secret” streamers, and he immediately started hooking fish. However, he was still way behind my success. I asked what kind of leader he was using. “A nine-foot tapered leader, of course,” was his response. I suggested that a sinking line needs a short leader (thanks, Kelly Galloup). I gave him one of my short streamer leaders; it was game on.

I am truly blessed to be able to live, even part-time, in this wonderful place, and I love to share the results of my research with friends, although sometimes it takes a while to gain their confidence. What is that silly old expression? I may not be here for a long time, but I’m here for a good time. I don’t have a social-media account, I’m not a Tik-Tokker, but I guess in some strange way, I’m an influencer; I’m a part-timer.