The Second Annual Great Gallatin Guide-Off was wildly successful this year! John Sniscak, representing East Slope Outdoors, and his client were the big winners. The spruce moths were popping on the Gallatin, and the fish were rising like crazy to gobble up the lepidopteras.
Women anglers get “wild & scenic” on the Gallatin with this winning shot from Lindsay Koening.
Lindsay Koenig, freshman guide from Gallatin River Guides, took first place with her Wild & Scenic photo of the two women she took fishing on Sunday morning. It is wonderful to see women involved and being successful in the sport of fly fishing!
Adam Skaggs, representing Grizzly Outfitters, pulled in second place overall, and crushed the competition with his winning bid at the Hooked on the Gallatin Banquet & Auctions.
Colin Henry, also a freshman guide from Lone Mountain Ranch, brought in lots of rainbows during the spruce moth hatch on Sunday morning, and had a great live-action shot of his angler casting a line into the Gallatin.
Adam and Colin enjoying tight lines during the Great Gallatin Guide-Off.
Thank you to everyone who participated and supported the Task Force during the Fly Fishing Festival! The Festival mission is to connect the community to the rivers, fish, and riparian habitats that are vital to the sport of fly fishing. The proceeds raised from the Gallatin River Fly Fishing Festival support conservation and restoration efforts by the Gallatin River Task Force within the Upper Gallatin River Watershed.
The Task Force raised over $23,000 during the Festival and will invest the funds into a healthy Gallatin River for future generations.
Thank you to all who made success on the river and at the festival possible.
Thank you to all those who made the 2016 Gallatin River Fly Fishing Festival possible:
Fly Fishing Festival Committee: Andrea Saari, Stephanie Lynn, Emily Casey, Ron Bowlin, Kristin Gardner, Ennion Williams, Dave Alvin, Joshua Berry, Shane Stalling, Wes Hoecker, and Amy Wiezalis
Winner of the Great Gallatin Guide-Off: John Sniscak
Great Gallatin Guide-Off Participants: John Sniscak, Adam Skaggs, Colin Henry, and Lindsay Koenig
Protector of the Blue Ribbon Sponsors: Gallatin River Guides, Yellowstone Club Community Foundation, Lone Mountain Ranch, and RO Drift Boats
Cutthroat Trout Sponsors: East Slope Outdoors, Lone Mountain Land Company, Grizzly Outfitters, Natalie’s Estate Winery, Continental Construction, Cache Creek Outfitters, Boundary Expeditions, and Spanish Peaks Community Foundation
Rainbow Trout Sponsors: Bill Lerch Fly Fishing, Big Sky Trout, Montana Living: Big Sky Real Estate, Big Sky Vacation Rentals, First Security Bank, and Two Pines Properties
Brown Trout Sponsors: Yellow Dog Fly Fishing, Wildwood Nursery, Haas Builders, and American Rivers
Brook Trout Sponsors: Dr. Slick, Ace Hardware, Blue Ribbon Nets, and Michael Thomas, Realtor with PureWest Christies
Festival Volunteers: Adam Merkwan, Adam Skaggs, Andrea Saari, Becky Murdock, Ben Almy, Bethany Flikkema, Brian Van Eps, Colin Henry, Emily Casey, Ian Chesser, John Sniscak, Katie Mumford, Jeremy Harder, Kristin Gardner, Lindsay Koenig, Lucinda Morris, Mike Richter, Jodi Richter, Nick Franz, and Stephanie Lynn