Cast a line with the Bozo Trout Bums

One of the nicknames for Montana State is Trout U™ because of the university’s close proximity to world class angling as well as the opportunities in innovative research regarding fisheries and fishery management. Just recently, the Department of Ecology and the Fish and Wildlife Management Program developed an app to help Montanans identify different fish around the state. “It’s harder than most people think to identify fish correctly,” Tom McMahon, a professor in the Fish and Wildlife Ecology and Management Program within the Department of Ecology, told MSU News Services. “There are a lot of fish that kind of look alike.”

This tool can be utilized by anglers at every level to better understand the rules and regulations of Montana’s waterways. The app, titled “Fishes of Montana” can be downloaded on IOS and Android devices via the app store. 

Gallatin County is also home to the world class fly fishing gear supplier Simms. Simms is headquartered in Four Corners and offers a variety of products for fly fishermen from beginner to expert. You can find Trout U™ gear by Simms at the MSU Bookstore in the SUB or by visiting the bookstore website

To help the school live up to the name, Dalrymple hopes to increase the number of members and get fishermen of all skill levels involved. "We have a bunch of extremely talented anglers who have been here fishing their whole lives, and we are accepting people and giving lessons to people who are just starting this year," Dalrymple said. More first year students are joining every year, and now the club has 30 members. 

Fly fishing can be hard to get into by yourself. There are many skills necessary to be a good fisherman, like knowing where to go, rowing a drift boat, casting and what type of fly to use.  The club introduces beginners to experienced anglers who help teach the necessary skills.

One of the main goals of the club is to maintain the pristine fish habitats that Montanans can access. The majority of people who join are freshmen at MSU, and the club instills respect for the river through sustainable practices. The more experienced fishermen teach members how to handle fish to keep them alive and healthy. “We just want people to get in and learn how to respect the rivers” Dalrymple said. The anglers also participate in river clean-ups to remove trash from the ecosystems. Sponsors like Trout Unlimited, Simms and others encourage these practices by sending their products to members of the club. 

Catching huge fish is not the only thing members are looking for. Dalrymple says the "biggest attraction is it's a community." The club hosts fly tying nights, barbecues, campouts, float fishing trips, casting lessons and more. One of the most exciting events is the Annual Trout Unlimited 5 Rivers Rendezvous fly fishing competition in Colorado. Here, clubs get together and show off a variety of different fly fishing skills. Some of the most popular competitions are the distance cast, where fishermen compete to see who can cast the farthest, and the accuracy test, where participants try to cast their fly into a cup at 40 feet. There is also a competition to see who can catch the most fish on a fly that the angler tied him or herself.

Joining costs $25 and members of the club have access to a drift boat, fly tying equipment, pro deals and many friends to take fishing. The Outdoor Recreation Program (ORP) rents fly rods, drift boats, rafts, waders and special fly fishing boots to give you a better grip on the bottom of the river. For prices of the ORP’s fishing equipment visit http://www.montana.edu/outdoorrecreation/.

To join the Bozo Trout Bums email Bozotroutbums@gmail.come the club on  Instagram @bozotroutbums.