Pink bend on Gallatin River below Logan, MT

Walking off from the road upstream through the forest leaves most people behind in a hurry.

Photo: Ginny Holt

Name your current. Name your favorite river. Name your perseverance.

"The first two were busts due to weather. Third day we ran 51 miles offshore to the Chandeleur Islands and had many doubles and a couple of close triples on redfish in the 20-to-35 pound range."

Photo: Tim Romano

Just as I was about to toss the whole rig in and go home, the line went limp, which allowed me to strip in from beneath the ice a semi-conscious brown trout with hair like a Siamese cat. 

I learned later that they’d been planted by a rancher who grazed cattle on this BLM turf. While in early spring the land is lush green and inviting, by July it is desiccated, except for the pond, with temperatures well above 110.

Photo: Ginny Holt

James is one of the few people I know who can simultaneously fish, take pictures, and drink Coke.