Hi everyone,

I am day-dreaming about my next trip to Montana. I am wondering, if you could take only 2 rods to Montana, which ones would you choose?
Last time I took my Lami Honey 7'6" 5wt and a Scott GS 884. Not so sure about the next one, probably not this year anyway (due to the COVID situation). Anyway thinking about Montana makes me happier...

“Montana “ encompasses a lot. When? Where? What kind of fishing do you like? I enjoy walking a cutthroat meadow in hopper season. And smaller forested water. Spring creeks. A couple of larger rivers, including some floating. Hoppers and wind, I usually want a 6. Smaller waters usually get a 4 (took a 3 once).

I’ve taken three rods on each of my trips (usually a 6, a 5, and a 4. Agenda driven by the above considerations pretty much determines which rods. But my Lami honey 7’6” 4 wt is often there (same blank as your 5 wt?)

@Upstream Mostly in and around the YNP, normally have time end of June or early July. I have no intention fishing from a boat, the rest is fair game, with slight preference for 'smaller' streams like the Lamar, Gallatin, Slough Creek etc. And my Lami Honey is the 6p version, excellent portabulity and really likable rod.

I have never traveled with two rods, but in the choice of the one rod I would take, the unknown waters and variable conditions require an all purpose rig- 7'5-8' & 6-8 wt. with the ability to roll cast and backbone to hoist one out of the roots. Of what I have currently that would be toss up between the 7'6'' Denco and an FF80. I would carry lines in 5,6,7,& 8 weights on spare spools. If taking a second rod just because, it would be a 9' #5 graphite and I would carry the same lines and reels.

Fenwick FF84 and FF86

I'd flip the line weights and do a glass 7'6" 4wt and an 8'6"-9' 5wt glass or moderate graphite. Just for kicks you could go all Montana made and do a Winston Stalker 4wt and a Winston IM6 5wt. A Fisher 8'6" 5/6wt glass would be a good option as well, if you didn't go full homegrown.

Afternoon Wind....I love it.

Seriously. I might change my login name to Afternoon Wind.

Most excellent idea! What a great place to test drive them!

I’ve usually been later in the summer. But that time, probably wouldn’t expect too much in the way of hoppers, and might leave the 6 wt behind. I like the idea of Montana-made and it makes me feel better about noting that a BIIx 8’5” 5wt has proven versatile there, and it’s fished all those streams you mentioned. It and the 7’6” 4wt Lami would make a decent pair for air travel, but if I kept it to glass, might scratch the BIIx in favor of a Kenney 8055 prototype blank that turned out as a 6. If I was going to have much time on a spring creek, probably take a Diamondglass 8’6” 4wt, in which case the Kenney would be a good match, since the wind will show up.

Two rods? To cover Montana with just two rods is a challenge. But that said an 8.5' or 9' 5/6wt. and a 7.5 or 8' 3/4wt. will cover 90% of your needs. Remember wind can always be a factor here.

That is a truly outstanding idea!!!

A 6-weight and 4-weight makes the most sense in terms of covering water, and you will be able to do just about anything pretty well or better with those options. But the rod weight I fish the most out here is a 5-weight. And if I skipped that line weight, I'd be leaving some of my favorite rods at home.

For the water you mentioned in YNP, you seem to want to focus on smallish- to medium-sized streams, primarily walking and wading. For those, if only limited to two from my quiver, I'd bring two Livingstons, an 8'6" 4-weight and a 8'9" 5-weight.

If you changed your mind and went for medium-sized to large streams, with a mixing of wading and floating, I would bring a ********* 8'0" 5-weight and an Epic 8'6" 6-weight.

Those are my favorites based on what I own and have fished on those waters, so swap out respected rodmakers and tapers as necessary.

If I had to fly there I'd buy a local rod and leave it there when I left. But, then I probably wouldn't go at all if flight was the only option, too many restrictions on air travel.