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Thirteen Hundred Miles To Montana: An LCO Road Trip

Words & Photos by David Dines

By Lost Coast Outfitters

July 21^st, 2018

Leg one: sf to Fall River, california. 283 miles.

Thirteen Hundred Miles To Montana: An LCO Road Trip

Shortly after we pull up the dirt driveway to his Fall River home, the first stop on the second annual July 4th 'freedom and fly fishing' road trip, Val Atkinson gives me the tour. Photographs from four decades and as many continents hang on the walls. If this were an exhibition, it could be called 'Jesus Val, Where Haven't You Been?'. But Val's not one to look at his past work and pat himself on the back – he's busy putting together a trip to the Yucatan and just wrapped a photo workshop on his home waters.

Val's images have inspired a generation of fly fishermen and photographers to chase fish around the world. Over the years his magazine covers and full page spreads have exposed many, myself included, to the essential role that wilderness photography plays in shaping how we think about the planet. His contributions to the sport are hard to quantify. His title as the father of fly fishing photography is unquestionable.

Below are snapshots from the first leg of our journey, a weekend of epic spring creek fishing and late nights around the bonfire. It's here, hanging by the fire, that Val is at his best, sharing stories and beers with guides from nearby Clearwater Lodge. A one-night stopover turns into two, and if it weren't for George's wife and my girlfriend waiting at the end of the road, we'd have stayed longer.

The man, the myth, the legend. Val Atkinson.

Leg two: FALL RIVER TO THE OWYHEE RIVER, OREGON. 394 MILES.

Despite our best efforts to drag Val along, George and I make moves towards Montana with just Diesel Dog in the backseat. Next stop, the Owyhee. The drive is long, pitting only to caffeinate and restock our supply of gas station jerky and seeds. We arrive in the evening and work our way up the canyon past kids on four-wheelers and RVs on holiday, stopping to watch a stranger land a big brown down below.

At dusk, the canyon transforms into one of Val's magazine covers, like a painting of a canyon with the occasional angler dropped in for scale. Diesel follows George down to the river and I follow D – that's the program out here. We bushwhack and wet wade through mosquitos and poison ivy. After I've fulfilled my photographic duties for the day, it's my turn to fish. I tie on a #22 midge and hook one on my second drift.

A few minutes into the fight, George grabs my camera and immortalizes my introduction into the 20/20 club. Nothing gets the blood pumping quite like the flash of a too-big brown on a tiny fly. And nothing makes for a good night's sleep like scrolling through the days images to find that you, and your buddy, got the shot.

Leg three: the OWYHEE to ennis, montana. 394 MILES.

The last long leg of the trip takes us through Idaho where we make a quick detour to pick up a drift boat at our buddy's cabin. A hawk screeches overhead while we load up and I get a few good raptor shots with my telephoto.

In Ennis, we meet up with Keith Brauneis, a fellow Leland Fly Fishing alum and recent Montana transplant. Also, the best damn boss I've had to date (cheers, KB!). We do a quick float down the lower section of the Madison. Skunked but happy to be in Montana, we wrap up the road trip in Bozeman for the evening and make our way to Virginia City in the morning.

lost coast does the ennis rodeo

There's no better place to celebrate America's birthday than small-town Montana. Specifically, Ennis and Virginia City, both outside Bozeman. Lots of flags and fireworks. It's a hell of a time. If you want to see America at its best, go to the Ennis rodeo or the July 4th parade down main street. And make sure to break in the boots you bought at the Bozeman airport before you show up to a place like this.

We don't do a ton of fishing in Montana, but we do spend time hunting for arrowheads, hanging at the Gravel Bar, and catching up with friends. There are BBQs and bluegrass bands, beers and bull riding. It's been a good trip.

July 4th parade in ennis montana

Our second annual 'Fish Across America' tour spanned four states, a half-dozen soft serve spots, and four rivers. The only real hiccup was a dead car battery, but at 225k miles without any major maintenance issues, I'd say the LCO mobile is doing just fine.

Footnotes

Big thanks to George for driving, Val Atkinson for paving the way for the rest of us, and the Millers for one hell of a BBQ. David Dines is an SF-based photographer and designer: www.dines.co

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FootNotes

Big thanks to George for driving, Val Atkinson for paving the way for the rest of us, and the Millers for one hell of a BBQ. David Dines is an SF-based photographer and designer: www.dines.co

LCO x Suskeena Lodge 2025 Trip Recap

Thirteen Hundred Miles To Montana: An LCO Road Trip

Words & Photos by David Dines

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FootNotes

Flying High in the Great White North

Come with us, as we return to the steelhead paradise

What do you want to catch today?

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Huge permit and tarpon for days, a week at No Name Lodge in Puerto Rico

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