Spring greens - Find out what’s new, improved at western Montana links
The grass is green, and so are the greens, all around western Montana these days.

Ranch Club to host tourneys
Two golf tournaments to raise money for groups that benefit people with cancer are scheduled at the Ranch Club in the next several weeks.

Dock that floated away provides laborious lesson
There is always time to learn something the hard way.

General fishing season starts Saturday
The general fishing season opens Saturday across Montana, even though as an angler you would have been hard pressed to not find a place to fish in one of the many lakes that are open year-round in the state.

OUtdoors Briefs
Thursday, May 14, 2009

4 seconds of free fall - Stevensville kayaker takes record plunge over 186-foot Palouse Falls
STEVENSVILLE - Three seconds into the free fall, Tyler Bradt figured it was probably about time to hit the water.

Here’s to mothers, who share world’s beauty with kids
I saw my niece Jenny this morning at her usual spot in a corner at Break Espresso, where she was hunkered over her laptop working away on one of her consulting projects. One morning a week, she steals a bit of time away from the kids to get a bunch of work done that would take much longer to accomplish at home, where she would be constantly attending to the various needs and demands of her children, Will and Iris. On this day, the baby sitter had canceled so Dad was staying home with the kids to accommodate Jenny’s need for some focused work time.

Outdoors Briefs
Thursday, May 7, 2009

Glacier raft center offers river safety courses
WEST GLACIER - Rivers are rising and river rats are itching to float their boats, but before this season’s launch the Glacier Raft and Outdoor Center is offering a whole host of new water-wise instructional courses for professionals and novices alike.

High-stakes security - Options abound for backcountry, front-country bear-proofing
The research crew at the Living With Wildlife Foundation is getting hungry.

Travel tips to stay safe in bear country
As you plan for your adventures afield this spring and summer, keep in mind these bear-aware backcountry travel tips from the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service:

Advocate for Mineral County history will be missed
The first time I met Chuck Mead was at a meeting down in Superior at the Mineral County Courthouse. He was a big, square-jawed hunk of a man who seemed to command the attention of others when he spoke. What I noticed most about him from the start were the two big meat hooks that extended from the sleeves of his shirt where most people have hands.

Perch aren’t jumping into boat on Flathead
When will the big perch bite start on Flathead Lake? That question has been asked a lot lately by local anglers.

Bill would expand summer offerings at ski areas
WASHINGTON - Congress is stepping into a dispute between environmentalists and the ski industry over whether ski areas should be able to expand their summertime recreation, a move critics say could allow them to build amusement parks.

Outdoors Briefs
Thursday, April 30, 2009

Montana’s oldest structure open to public
POST CREEK - For the first time in 63 years, the public can poke around one of the Mission Valley’s most important historic sites.

DIRTY FINGERNAILS - When to spray apple trees depends on the pest
Q: Should I be spraying my apple trees now? They have had good apples but we have had more problems in the last couple of years with apple maggots.

Fly cast - Florence man, Washington woman co-host fishing program
FLORENCE - Jed Fiebelkorn sits on a bench, threading a fly rod while Nicole Darland packs her backpack for a day of fishing.

Weather’s great - unless you’re fishing
Mow your lawn, pull some weeds, maybe take your vise out into the sunshine and tie a few flies.

Out of winter and onto the river at last
I don’t know if it is just because I am getting older that winter seemed to be longer this year. It wasn’t a big, brawling, snarling kind of winter that dares you to face up to it and rewards you when you do. In fact, I can barely remember really needing to do much snow shoveling. From my vantage point, the grungy, gray, dripping days punctuated with snow squalls, sleet and nasty little chill winds went on far too long.

Missed tiger muskie record provides stamp reminder
A week ago, an angler in eastern Montana apparently was successful in landing a new state record muskie. The fish was caught out of Deadman’s Basin north of Ryegate by Steven Salazar of Harlowton.

'Elkalope’ roams
HELENA - The locals call her the “elkalope,” but maybe the “anti-lope” is more appropriate.

Outdoors Briefs
Thursday, April 23, 2009

Yellowstone has cell, Wi-Fi plan
CHEYENNE, Wyo. - As the host of more than 24,000 visitors on busy summer days, Yellowstone National Park has adopted a wireless communications plan that seeks to balance safety and convenience with its mission of preserving the park’s natural condition.

A new chapter - Seeley woman pens books on herons and more for kids
Donna Love wrote her first book as a third-grader.

Camps opening in Glacier Park
WEST GLACIER - Glacier National Park slowly is shedding its winter coat of white, with ranger crews plowing and planning and preparing for a busy tourist season.

Stream bill a job well done
Perhaps you hadn’t had the opportunity to visit your secret fishing hole for a few years. What a surprise, then, when you pulled off at that wide spot in the road near a bridge and discover a brand-new “No Trespassing” sign glaring at you from the fence post where you’ve always carefully stepped through the wire to get to the stream. Then again, maybe it’s never happened to you. But it has happened to many Montana anglers.

Lake fishing starting to pick up
Fishing reports are starting to come in from area lakes as ice is off or about off on most bodies of water.

Outdoors Briefs
Thursday, April 16, 2009

Program to look at glacial melt
“NOW” on PBS will examine glaciers and climate change in “On Thin Ice,” on Friday and Sunday, May 3.