A cool place to stay in Butte

The next time you find yourself in Butte, America after a long day of chasing the area's huge trout, do yourself a favor and stay at the historic Finlen Hotel.

Finlen Hotel Ballroom

I had some family in town and we went to Butte.  We stayed at the Finlen and it was pretty freaking awesome.  For the same room price as the chain motels in the area, you can stay in this really cool, super kept-up, beautiful old hotel on the hill in uptown butte.

Hotel Finlen Lobby

I should have took this picture at night when the lobby was all lit up by those chandeliers.

1/2 of the two room "double bed"

The rooms were clean and pretty fancy.  When you get 2 beds, you get two rooms, each with there own desk and TV.

The Butte area has great fly fishing.

Blacktail Creek:
You may not guess by looking at it but Blacktail Creek, which runs out of the Highlands and right through town, is full of nice brook trout.  There is a trail along most of the urban stretches with all the access you could want.  I've walked the length of that stream from the mouth all the way up to the top in the Highlands, and I can tell you that there is 5-12" brook trout with the occasional cutthroat in every hole, even under Harrison Ave.

Figure It Out Yourself Creek:
You wouldn't believe me if I told you anyway and I'm not going to be responsible for letting the word out. Spend some time talking to locals or ask around at the local fly shop.  There is a very unassuming creek right under your nose with some unbelievable fishing.  Literally, sniff out the smell of urinal.  That's all the clues I'm giving.

Warm Springs Creek:
This small stream, like the rest, has gone through hell and somehow is still an amazing fishery.  This stream is hard to get on but a day spent exploring this creek can be fun.

Warm Springs Settling Ponds:
These large man made ponds were built to allow metals from Silver Bow Creek to settle out before it is released from the outlet as the Clark Fork.  The ponds grow gigantic freaking fish in this nutrient rich environment.  The fishing here can be epic at times.

The Upper Clark Fork:
This is one of my favorite places to fish.  From the outlet of the settling ponds all the way down to Jens will keep you busy for years.  There is so much to explore.  Brown trout rule supreme in the upper Clark Fork and there are miles and miles of undercut banks and deep holes to mine for copper and gold (all puns intended).  There are also some great tributaries to the Clark Fork up here which can make for good day trips.  Racetrack Cr. and the Little Blackfoot are great options.

The Big Hole:
The Big Hole River is amazing.  From the brook trout and grayling in headwaters in the Big Hole Valley all the way down to the hallowed brown trout water of the lower river, the Big Hole is a must for anyone who's ever dreamed of the Montana experience.

The Beaverhead:
This is a bit down the road, but in Montana, it's not really that far.  The Beav is a small, high elevation tailwater stream.  It is another one of my favorite places to fish.  It's very similar to fishing the upper Clark Fork but with more trout per mile.  There's also more people per trout per mile.  That's a ratio which should always be considered.