Montana

The western Montana hot stove fly tying league

Published

2 years ago

January 24, 2024

The meetings are probably coming to order – in some sort or another, all over western Montana.

For about 16 years on Tuesday afternoons we held a meeting that would qualify for the hot stove fly tying league in my shop. A typical session might go like this:

The guys would start rolling in about two in the afternoon and we’d exchanged greetings. They’d get settled into their customary places around the fly tying table, plug in their lamps, set up their vises and fuss with their other tools.

“What are we tying today, Chuck?” one of them would ask.

“Let’s tie some Caddis Variants,” I might say – or I’d name another pattern.

What we did weren’t really fly tying classes; they could be called seminars, maybe, or in another sense, club meetings. There was a sense of fraternity among us. They were there to learn and I was there to teach. Sometimes the teacher learned from the students.

We called our meeting sessions. Seminar sounded too formal, meeting sounded too formal, and class sounded too bookish, too lifeless.

Sometimes when I visit friends during the winter I bring some fly tying tools and materials. Sitting and tying flies, sharing secrets, fly recipes, materials and stories in just about any warm setting on a cold winter afternoon would qualify as a hot stove fly tying league meeting.

This league, insofar as it exists at all, is loose and far-flung. When a couple of buddies get together to tie flies at one of their houses, though, we know we’re connected to something bigger.

It’s not ethereal or transcendent; it’s more like simply knowing you’re not the only ones.

A fly tying hot stove league meeting can be those couple of guys getting together once, or it can be a tradition that’s older than the one held forth at my shop until it closed.

One of the oldest is the Fly Tying Roundtable that the late Doug Persico and his wife Carolyn started at the Rock Creek Fishermen’s Merc in Clinton. I was surprised and pleased to learn that Doug and Carolyn’s grandson John is keeping up the tradition when I read the following announcement:

It’s that time of year again to fire up the fly tying vises and create some new buggy goodness! The first Fly Tyer’s Roundtable of the season begins this Saturday (1/6/24) starting at 11AM here at the Mercantile!

We will be hosting Roundtables every Saturday through the winter. For more information, please contact us or check out our webpage in the link below. Happy New Year and happy tying, anglers! https://rcmerc.com/fly-tyers-roundtable/

The Roundtables at the Merc weren’t classes per se and probably still aren’t. Basically you’d come, set up, and watch somebody tie and learn from them.

If Carolyn and John don’t mind, when the roads clear a bit I might devote a Saturday to joining them.

Until then I’ll fuss here at home, and maybe have some friends over to tie. Eventually I’d like to re-start the sessions I held at my shop on Tuesday afternoons. There are logistics to deal with but I’m working on it.

There’s a certain pull, an attraction to the notion of spending cold winter afternoons where it’s warm, hopefully where it’s heated with wood, to tie flies. We inevitably tell stories. We show each other the new materials we’ve discovered and maybe share them.

There are so many new materials on today’s market that keeping up with all of them, even if you own a fly shop, seems nonsensical. You can’t do it. But hearing from your buddies what works and what doesn’t is a short-cut to knowledge that could drive you insane if you tried to discover it all by yourself.

Back to that Caddis Variant we were going to tie at a Tuesday afternoon session. We’d devote several sessions every year to that fly. Why? It’s deceptively simple – and easy to get wrong. When I announce that it’s Caddis Variants again, I might hear:

“Caddis Variants again, Chuck? Will you show us how to flare the wing this time?”

“He showed you how last time,” somebody answers. “You just weren’t paying attention.”

“Yes I was – I just got stuck on getting the dubbing right.”

We all laugh and eventually we practice flaring the wings. It takes time and practice to learn – and the camaraderie is a catalyst to the learning and the reason why we’re there.

Source link

Montana

Montana FWP seeking water rights for Rock Creek near Red Lodge

Published

4 hours ago

January 12, 2026

Press Room

Montana FWP seeking water rights for Rock Creek near Red Lodge

CARBON COUNTY — Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks is working to acquire two senior water rights along the West Fork of Rock Creek near Red Lodge to address critically low water levels that are threatening the fish population.

The creek, which flows around the Red Lodge community, may appear full to casual observers, but wildlife officials say the flow is dangerously low for fish survival.

Watch FWP discuss the need for these water rights for Rock Creek:

Montana FWP seeking water rights for Rock Creek

“To have these water levels, it can have an impact on the fishery over there,” Chrissy Webb with Fish, Wildlife and Parks said. “Over the past few years, we’ve been seeing really low water levels for these trout, which is obviously a huge issue. Fish, of course, need water.”

The proposed solution involves purchasing two senior water rights that were previously used for irrigation and transferring them to remain in the stream for fishery protection.

“This would be water that was once diverted for irrigation. Those water rights would transfer to remain in the stream for the protection of this fishery,” Webb said.

Acquiring water rights is a complex process, but Webb emphasized the urgency of the situation. Without intervention, the fish population could decline quickly.

“We need water levels to be at a certain level for fish to survive. And we need water temperatures to be low enough for these trout to survive. And then, like I said, some places in Rock Creek have even experienced total dewatering of the stream bed,” Webb said.

FWP plans to purchase the water rights for $330,000. The process involves the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation

“They’re working with the owner of those water rights to transfer their purpose from irrigation to being in stream flows,” Webb said.

The DNRC will ultimately decide whether FWP has the authority to purchase the water rights. The access to water would come from Giant Springs in Great Falls.

Michael Downey with the DNRC said mid to low elevation areas are particularly lacking adequate stream levels, but is confident they will rise as the year continues.

“If you look at where snowpack is right now, even those places that are below normal, certainly that Rock Creek drainage is probably the one in the area that looks worse than most,” Downey said.

On Feb. 12, the DNRC will decide if the FWP has the authority to purchase those water rights.

Source link

Montana

Indiana lands commitment from Montana State transfer cornerback Carson Williams

Published

17 hours ago

January 11, 2026

Press Room

Indiana lands commitment from Montana State transfer cornerback Carson Williams

Indiana football continued its reload in the secondary on Sunday with the commitment of Montana State transfer cornerback Carson Williams.

Standing at 6-foot-1 and 165 pounds, Williams made his commitment to head coach Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers after a weekend visit to Indiana. Williams has three years of eligibility remaining.

MORE: Transfer Portal Thread | Indiana football transfer portal tracker | Indiana football’s transfer portal wish list: A position-by-position breakdown of 2026 needs

Williams, who hails from Houston, Texas, amassed 46 total tackles, eight pass breakups and 2.5 tackles for loss in 2025 with the Bobcats. He also forced and recovered a fumble this past season.

The 2025 season was Williams’ second at the college level after he redshirted in 2024 as a true freshman.

Entering this portal cycle, cornerback was a large question mark for the Hoosiers. D’Angelo Ponds could potentially leave early for the NFL Draft and depth corner Amariyun Knighten has already entered the portal, but outside of those two, Indiana returns everyone else at cornerback.

Williams now joins a 2026 cornerback room that features returners Jamari Sharpe, Ryland Gandy and Jaylen Bell, while Ponds’ decision on his future is expected to come following Indiana’s run in the College Football Playoff.

Williams is rated as the No. 795 overall transfer and the No. 91-ranked cornerback in the portal.

Not yet a member of TheHoosier? Join our community for 50% off your first year and get a complimentary year of The Athletic included with your membership. Join here!

Make sure to follow and subscribe to all TheHoosier social media platforms so you never miss any of our content including X, Facebook, YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Pocket Casts.

Source link

Montana

Montana Lottery Powerball, Lucky For Life results for Jan. 10, 2026

Published

1 day ago

January 11, 2026

Press Room

The Montana Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big. Here’s a look at Jan. 10, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from Jan. 10 drawing

05-19-21-28-64, Powerball: 14, Power Play: 3

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Jan. 10 drawing

17-24-36-38-43, Lucky Ball: 17

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from Jan. 10 drawing

06-15-20-22-25, Star Ball: 10, ASB: 02

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Big Sky Bonus numbers from Jan. 10 drawing

03-07-20-23, Bonus: 13

Check Big Sky Bonus payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Powerball Double Play numbers from Jan. 10 drawing

10-19-39-47-67, Powerball: 18

Check Powerball Double Play payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Montana Cash numbers from Jan. 10 drawing

06-12-17-18-25

Check Montana Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the Montana Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
Lucky For Life: 8:38 p.m. MT daily.
Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Big Sky Bonus: 7:30 p.m. MT daily.
Powerball Double Play: 8:59 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
Montana Cash: 8 p.m. MT on Wednesday and Saturday.

Missed a draw? Peek at the past week’s winning numbers.

Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.

Where can you buy lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Great Falls Tribune editor. You can send feedback using this form.

Source link