Distinctly Montana Magazine

THE PERFECT BIG SKY FISHING CAMP I TIME PASSES SLOWLY UP HERE IN THE MOUNTAINS n Montana, fishing and camping pair like a medi- um-rare bison tenderloin and glass of rich Cab- ernet Sauvignon at the picnic table. Now, there's nothing wrong with luxuriating at a comfy water-front lodge and setting forth in the morning under a guide's expert tutelage. Thousands of visitors do, have the time of their lives, and help keep the Big Sky economy humming. But for many anglers, camping is an integral part of their fishing experience, whether they're wielding a cutting- edge, $700-dollar Sage fly rod, spinning gear, or a rebar- like bait-casting stick. Over the years I've been fortunate enough to pretty much experience it all: employing a micro-RV to trans- form a perfect water-front spot into a temporary home; road-tripping tent sojourns along prime streams; back- packing to remote creeks and lakes, sleeping under star- splattered galaxies; and floating Montana's most beautiful rivers, camping hobo-like on islands and stream banks. So what makes the perfect Montana angling campsite? Obviously, close proximity to fish is the first criterion. In Montana, that won't be a problem, with hundreds of waterfront federal, state, local, and private camping areas. Secondly, the site has to meet your unique needs. For maximum comfort, pick a more developed state or national park (or private campground) that offers the wid- est range of utilities and facilities. At an intermediate level, a multitude of Forest Service, state park, and fishing access sites afford basics. If you're roughing it, a level, open piece of DISTINCTLY MONTANA | DIGITAL 14 public land for erecting a tent or unfurling a sleeping bag suffices. In all cases, the intangible is this: After taking ad- vantage of good maps, hot tips, and diminished mid-week or off-season crowds, employ Zen-like intuition to find a place to make your own. LIVING IN STYLE: NATIONAL AND STATE PARKS Does your 14-year-old daughter equate camping with being able to wash her hair in a hot shower daily? And your 10-year-old son is convinced that electrical access to recharge his new iPad is one of camping's great necessi- ties? Don't worry: At many national park campgrounds— as well as some state and privately-owned facilities—those needs can be satisfied. In Glacier National Park, well-developed campgrounds at places like Many Glacier and Two Medicine offer abundant angling options with sufficient ancillary activi- ties to put grins on everyone's face. Yellowstone is similar: At Mammoth, for example, visitors can camp near the park headquarters, close to a classy restaurant, bar, hotel, general store, and interpretive center. Fishermen can hike down the hillside from the campground to fish the Gar- diner River, while non-anglers take a warm, soothing dip in the magical Boiling River, or tour the iconic travertine terraces above. Watch the trout rise in the Beartooths, go to... Some of the more developed state parks cover a wide range of interests too. At Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park, for example, anglers can test their luck in the Jefferson River while the rest of the family goes for a hike or cave tour. Simi- www.distinctlymontana.com/fishingcamp123 DISTINCTLY MONTANA • SUMMER 2012

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