Fishing in Montana? Rent a Retriever for the Trip

Montana may be the Mecca of fly fishing, but there’s a new way to enhance your time on the river: You can now rent a Labrador retriever to fish with. And no, not some emotional support animal, a fishing fanatic as big as you are.

This gem came from the folks at Montana Angler, who are promoting guided fly fishing trips with the option of adding a professionally trained Lab to the experience. And these dogs are not in it simply for the jerky leftovers? They’re well-behaved, boat-trained, and they know how to sit still while you throw a dry fly into that foam line.

It's the most Montana thing I have heard in a while. Fly fishing with a good-lookin’ Lab posted up beside you, watching the trout rise. It's like something out of a postcard.

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I am a person who has spent many early mornings waterfowl hunting. I gotta be honest… I’m a fan of this idea. If they ever want to branch into duck retrieval rentals, I’ll be first in line. In the field or on the river, there’s just something about a well-trained Lab that rounds it all out. You don’t even have to own a dog to appreciate the best part of having one.

It’s a great program for solo anglers, family visitors, or dog lovers who left their pup at home. Just a fair warning: these Labs are so nice that you may just spend more time hanging out with your fishing partner than actually fishing.