Well the groundhog says six more weeks of winter.
We’re not going to argue but I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t growing weary of winter weather.
Don’t get me wrong, we’re happy to have the snow (which is still only 70-80 % of average throughout much of western Montana) and the cold is keeping it here but we are anxious for warmer days.
I haven’t fished much this winter, only getting out twice in January, and I haven’t floated the river since November. We had a brief respite from the cold earlier this week and I enjoyed a couple of hours out there on Monday, closing out January with a few fish to hand.
February rolled in on Tuesday with more snow and cold and it’s been back to sub arctic conditions for most of the week.
There is a warm up coming this weekend with highs reaching 30 tomorrow and Sunday looks to be a nice day (for a Super bowl) with partly sunny skies and highs breaking the 40 mark before plummeting again on Monday back into the teens for the first part of next week.
I’ll believe it when I see it but at this point it looks like we may start to see some warmer days towards the end of next week with average highs in that 40 degree range again for next weekend.
Ideally we’ll start to see some sustained periods of warmer weather here on the MO while the high country continues to get that much-needed precipitation. We’re all anxious to get out on the water again and while we’ve kept busy with lodging all winter with the ice fishing crowd we’re definitely ready to see some more traffic in the shop. Spring shipments are starting to arrive so expect some great deals on winter gear in the not to0 distant future.
Stop in and see us this weekend for shuttles and bugs and anything else you might need for your day on the water. Pink flies aplenty and bins full of streamers you can’t get ANYWHERE else. Take a look at that long-term and pick a day to come take advantage of the best deal on the Missouri. Two night’s lodging and a full day guide trip for one or two anglers with the best guides on the river for just $500 with NO CANCELLATION FEES. Don’t need the lodging? $350 for a day on the water. The perfect cure for your Cabin Fever and those Winter Time Blues!
I live about 50 miles from Punxsy, and although Phil got plenty of media coverage about his prediction, we are still patiently waiting for winter to put its mark on us. I am sure I am jinking myself by saying that, but we could use it! Gobbler’s Knob turns into a big party that lasts an entire weekend, and then that town goes back to sleep for the rest of the year. Glad to hear the Rocky Mountain West is getting snow, and hopefully not too much of a good thing right now!