Orvis Down the Hatch Fly Fishing Festival - Missoula 2017

Orvis Down the Hatch Festival in Missoula this Saturday

It's going to be a very busy day this Saturday in Missoula, Montana!  First, get up early and head out to Rock Creek for some food, fun, music, and volunteering (see the last post).  After, head down to Caras Park for the 2015 Orvis Down the Hatch Fishing Festival.  There is a bunch of fun stuff and lots of beer.  You may also run into some  cool folks.  Last year I ran into Cameron Mortenson from the Fiberglass Manifesto, Jess McGlothlin from the Chi Wulff family and the Firegirl Photography Blog, Sara and the crew from Headhunters and many more!

At 7pm, the party moves up to the Wilma Theater for the Orvis Film Fest.

All proceeds from the festival benefits TU's Wild Steelheaders United.  Check out my post from last year's event.

Sharptail Media's "Damsels in Distress"

Damsel season is upon us.  The east shore and no-motor bays of Georgetown Lake will finally open to fishing this week.  You can see what these guys went all the way to Australia for, right here in good old Montana.  This video never gets old!

Highlights From Down the Hatch 2014

Orvis' 2014 Down the Hatch Fly Fishing Festival in Missoula, MT was a great way to spend a Saturday  afternoon and benefit Montana Trout Unlimited.  If you didn't get the chance to attend, here are a bunch of pics.

Rope throw into Yeti coolers

Rod rigging contest

And this happened...

Then, we all went inside for tons of giveaways, Hank Patterson, and great films.

They gave away all the stuff on the stage and more!

Hank Patterson Fly Fishing Guide Extraordinaire 

First float of 2014 today with an old crush friend.  Stay tuned for pics from the river!

Fly Casting Phenom Stuns Crowd at Orvis Down the Hatch Festival

A complete report on the festival is in the making but this story needed to be separated out.

One of the events held at the 2014 Down the Hatch Festival was a target casting competition.  The target used was really cool. It is called the CasTarget. It is made out of that soft Velcro material.  The flies are colorful and made out of the sticky Velcro material.  The target is the official one used for the Fishing in Schools Program and was being showcased in the competition.

The contestants were all adults and they were all competent fly casters.  The first guy took a minute to figure out the right distance and then started to rack up points.  The second guy did better, and the third about the same.  They may have collectively scored 2 or 3 bull's eyes during constant casting over the allotted time.

When the competition ended, the announcer put in another plug for the target system and then said, "if there are any kids that want to try it out..."  Before he could even finish, this little boy and girl came running up.  The announcer handed over the $800 rod/reel combo to the anxious little boy without even the slightest hesitation.

While I, and everyone around me were still mentally digesting the developing situation and starting to form words...

      

He nails it on the second try!! Then, after letting another little boy and girl try...

He hit the bull's eye on the first cast and the crowd went nuts!!

What do you do when every fly fisher in America comes to your town and all the rivers are packed?

You go to the local borrow pit and chase steelhead sized, retired brood stock.

This huge bastard was well over 30" long.  I saw one other person all day.

Tune back in for a report from Orvis' Down the Hatch Fly Fishing Festival with celebrity pics, goings-on, and a look into springtime in Missoula.

Orvis' Down the Hatch Fly Fishing Festival, one day left!

One day left!  Word on the river is, Hog Island Boatworks is going to drop a drift boat full of swag from a crane 30' tall!  I don't know whether I should plan on jumping in and throwing some cheap elbows for some strike indicators or if i'll just stand back and get some good pics for the blog.  Probably both.

100% of the proceeds are going to Montana Trout Unlimited.

Orvis' Down the Hatch Festival in Missoula Staturday, April 5

This is a great outdoor party at Caras Park in Missoula.  Last year, I ran into the Headhunters gang, my friends from Trout Unlimited, and seemingly every cookie cutter fly fisher in Western Montana (Simms coat, trucker hat, sunglasses).  I'll see you there!!