PONTOON FLOAT TUBES

A different type of float tube was created to remedy the problems of the traditional float tube, using a pair of air chambers called pontoons that sit on the water on either side of the angler resembling a pontoon boat. By having the two v-shaped pontoons make the pontoon float tube much easier to move in the water and offers much less resistance and drag compared to the traditional float tube. Sitting higher the angler can cast much easier and in cool weather he can stay warmer. Pontoon type float tubes have a higher weight capacity for gear and equipment, although the pontoon tube, with all the advantages, are heavier and are much more expensive.

In the long run, the choice you make will depended on what you can afford and what features you want.
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FLY FISHING FLOAT TUBES

If you are like me, and have wanted a boat for fly fishing, but the expense and up-keep is more than you can afford or want to spend, try a float tube. A float tube is nothing more than an inner-tube with a seat. float tubes have been refined over years, and most very affordable, some costing less than $100. These "one man" boats are fairly easy to maneuver. While sitting in the tube, you simply kick your feet that have swim fins on them. Waders can be worn in colder water. Float tubes are well suited for ponds and lakes, but should not be used in rivers. Always wear personal flotation devices when on the water.

There is a wide variety of sizes and colors many with features to help keep fly fishing gear organized, such as pockets, rod holder and fly holding pads.

traditional float tubes are generally round, which makes it a great fly fishing platform, the shape creates more water resistance although, and this does make it a little slower in maneuvering which will have to be overcome
and will be tiring over course of a day.

Another shape out there is the u shaped tube. this also can be difficult to maneuver.

FLY FISHING REELS

Although the fly fishing reel is some what over looked and kind of boring, it is a very important part of your fly fishing system. This realization will become evident if the reel fails while trying to land that trophy fish.
There are several things to consider when buying a fly fishing reel;

 1. Cheap reels generally break down quickly and have an uneven drag.
 2. If salt water fishing, a multiplying retrieve or automatic retrieve will work well while for fresh water fishing get a single action reel, which is the most common.
 3. Although a click and pawl are nice they are rarely needed anymore. A good disc-drag fly reel is a good choice for all around use.
 4. Since fly reels get wet, insure the reel you purchase is rust proof.
 5. When purchasing a fly reel, it is important to match the weight of the fly reel to the fly line. Match 5wt. fly line with a 5 wt. reel.
 6. Buy an extra spool when purchasing a fly reel, switching from a floating to sinking line can be done quickly and easily, not to mention that if you decide not to get an extra spool, they are usually not available when you do decide to get one.

There are two types of drag systems and three types of retrieval systems.
The original drag system is the spring-and-pawl, and is a very good drag system. With the use of gears inside the fly reel, this allows the fly line to exit the fly reel at a uniform and steady rate. Making it a good drag system for smaller fish and trout. Although the spring and pawl is a very good drag system, it is rapidly being replaced by disc-drag, where a pad inside the fly reel can be adjusted to put more or less tension on the fly line. Using a disc-drag, the tension can be adjusted to almost infinite levels.
For the new or inexperienced angler, the disc-drag system would be the best choice, because the spring-and-pawl are difficult to find and a disc-drag fly reel is equal to or better than the most hideously priced spring-and-pawl model available.
  The SINGLE ACTION reel retrieves the fly line back at a 1:1 ratio. That is one turn of the spool is equal to one turn of the handle. This type of retrieve is the most common, most reliable and the simplest to use.
  A MULTIPLYING FLY REEL with it's confusing network of gears enables the fly line to be retrieved back onto the fly reel significantly faster. One turn of the fly reel handle can equal two or more turns of the spool. At first this speed may seem nice, but these reels can be a bit of a pain when fishing in rivers. Multiplying reels have earned the reputation of being temper mental and awkward to use at times, and make it needlessly difficult to change spools from floating fly line to sinking line.
  The third type of retrieve is the AUTOMATIC fly reel. The fly line is retrieved with a touch of a trigger rather than turning a handle. An automatic reel isn't needed or even wanted when fly fishing in fresh water such as rivers, however it can have uses when fly fishing in salt water or large lakes

FLY FISHING COMFORT

Fly fishing gear is designed for success as well as comfort. Some of this gear includes sunglasses, wading shoes or boots, waders and vests. SUNGLASSES; A pair of inexpensive sunglasses, for the beginner or for dry fly fishing on flat water will work fine. However, sunglasses that will be used for fly fishing moving water, using nymphs or fly fishing in the ocean require a higher quality of of sunglasses. Polarized sunglasses are able to cut through the glare of the reflected sunlight on the water. Cutting through the glare will greatly assist the fly fisherman in locating their dry fly, nymph or sub surface features in the river bottom. Polarized sunglasses with the many tints that are available will increase your visual acuity as well as protect your eyes from those irritating gnats and flies, blowing sand, high wind and other stream-side hazards. After buying an expensive ply fishing rod one piece of gear that is over looked or the least amount spent on is the FLY FISHING VEST. A fly fishing vest is a piece of gear that you will use constantly and wear for extended periods of time, and is a very important piece of fly fishing gear. A number of problems can arise with a fly fishing vest that performs poorly or that poorly organizes your gear, you do not want to wear an uncomfortable vest or waste time rummaging through the vest, the vest should make items handy. A vest of high quality may cost much more than a cheap fly fishing vest, but will last much longer and will perform much better. If you plan to fly fish in streams, rivers or wade out into a shallow lake, a very important piece of equipment is WADERS. When wading in cold water, even on very warm days, exposed skin can become numb, an uncomfortable fly fishing experience can be the end result. There are a variety of waders on the market today, each with it's own benefits and drawbacks. In addition to waders there are wading boots or shoes. The very real risk of twisting an ankle, taking a fall which not only will result in "taking a bath", blowing out a knee for much worse, can be greatly reduced by wearing a quality wading boot. With a pair of polarized sunglasses, good vest and waders or wading boot or shoe, your fly fishing experience will become a bit more relaxing and safer

Fly Fishing

Fly fishing in Montana finds anglers from all over the country doing their best to out smart the fish. Using many varieties of hand tied flies that, for the most part,imitate an insect either flying or swimming.  Some can be made to look like a bait fish or crustaceans, there are others that are known to attract the fish although they do not look like anything in nature.
Flies can be made to float or sink, they range in size from a few millimeters to 30 cm long, most are from 1 to 5 cm.  Flies are tied using colors and patterns that simulate local terrestrial aquatic insects, bait fish or other prey attractive to the target species, usually Trout.
There are many knots used to attach the attach the fly to the leader such as, blood knot, nail knot,surgeons knot, just to name a few.
The leader is then attached to the fly line which is threaded through the eyes on the pole coming to the reel.

Whether you are tying flies, or using them, wading by your self or with a guide, backpacking to your favorite mountain stream or just floating in your tube in a local park, fly fishing in Montana is a great way to relax by yourself or with family and friends, for the day or a week

FLY FISHING CLOTHES

On those blue bird warm days an angler will grab what ever is handy out of the closet and hat rack and head to a favorite fly fishing spot. All too often, as the day wares on, clouds start rolling in and the temperature starts to drop, it starts to rain. On those warm summer days what clothes you wear isn't really that important other than waders and wading boots. When the weather turns cold or it starts to rain or a combination of both, wearing normal street clothes can turn an otherwise nice day of fly fishing into a disaster. Having good quality fly fishing clothes can be the difference in being able to stay out on the river or lake for long periods of time or staying warm in your vehicle wishing you were on the water. So, if these is a possibility of cold weather or rain do yourself a favor and get some quality fly fishing clothes that will keep you warm and dry on those days that are not "warm and dry"

FLY TYING KIT

Introducing a beginner to the hobby of fly tying can be accomplished easily with the purchase of a cost effective fly tying kit.
Most kits generally include all the tools you need to get started tying flies, at least a couple of patterns, a book or two about how to tie flies as well as fur, feathers and other materials that are needed to successfully tie flies.
At first glance, many of these kits look the same, unfortunately not all fly tying kits are created equal. Big differences can be found from one kit to the next. Top quality and use ability of the tools that are included with the fly tying kit, especially the fly tying vise is by far the most important.
Especially true of cheap fly tying vise, poor quality fly tying tools are difficult to use and can be very limiting. The lack of options and ease of use of these fly tying vise can make learning to tie flies much more difficult then it needs to be. When first learning to tie flies with an inexpensive fly tying vise, beginners are frequently frustrated by the extremely limited types of flies that can be tied easily and effectively.
Various fly tying kits that are on the market differ with the amount and quality of the fly tying material found in the kit, so, the more material and tools that are in the fly tying kit, the more expensive the kit will be. With the added materials the beginner will be able to experiment in tying a verity of different types of flies, he/she may even create a brand new fly pattern.