Part 1: Max & His Mom in Montana

Complete Fly Fisher - The Big Hole River, Montana

Every great story about a road trip needs a playlist. Check out the one I built for this trip HERE.

This story will be a little bit different than our norm. Sure, there will be fish pics and awesome destinations, but this story is really about people and hopefully, the deep connections we form through this sport.

I was born and raised in Wyoming and come from a family of fly anglers. My story isn’t so different from that of many anglers. My father introduced our family to fly fishing, and it has been a central part of my life for as long as I can remember. Where my story differs, however, is that my mother is probably the best angler in our family.

This is my mom. Phyllis Salzburg. She is a stick. She’s also a local celebrity in the small town of Wise River, Montana. She has fished the Big Hole River with her women’s group, the “Quality Chicks,” (named after an egg producer in Iowa) for over 15 straight years. She has fished with the group for over 20. The rivers of Southwest Montana, and especially the Big Hole, are sacred to her.

I was excited to experience the river with her. After a long drive across Wyoming and Montana, passing through Butte, we arrived in Wise River. We had a little time to kill, so we paid a visit to the H Bar J Saloon & Cafe. Owned by longtime Big Hole guide Rudy Ketchum, the H Bar J has become a central community meeting spot.

Shortly after we walked in, Rudy recognized my mom, walked around the bar, and gave her a huge hug. He was genuinely thrilled to see her and launched into several stories about their days on the river over the years. On her birthday a few years back, she caught the legendary “Big Hole Slam” - a rainbow, brown, brook, cutthroat, and grayling all in a single day. That was when I first started to realize just how famous my mom is in Wise River. Rudy mentioned that the local guides always look forward to the "Quality Chicks" arriving each year. After my mom held court and swapped local stories over a few microbrews, we headed over to the lodge.

Life at Complete Fly Fisher

Situated right on the banks of the Big Hole River, Complete Fly Fisher delivers the quintessential Montana lodge experience. Guests stay in comfortable standalone cabins near the water, or in a beautifully renovated barn that’s perfect for groups and gather for meals in the main lodge. The well-kept grounds feature a classic shop filled with vintage lodge signs, retired oars, and rusted tools and old trucks—true "Montana Yard Art." To top it off, an on-site, fully stocked fly shop has everything guests need before hitting the water.

After a warm welcome and brief tour from head guide Max, lodge manager Ro, and marketing manager Nick, we dropped our gear in our cabin and headed to the main lodge for drinks and appetizers.

The main lodge is a comfortable riverside oasis, fully stocked with great beers, fine wines, and top-shelf liquor. While chatting with the staff and other guests, one of the owners, Charlie, introduced himself and his family. They were visiting briefly to meet with Nick and me to discuss the lodge and brainstorm future improvements and projects. Seeing an owner bring his family made us feel instantly at home.

After hanging out for a bit longer, we sat down for a world-class three-course dinner. What really caught my eye were the thoughtful touches throughout the property. Eating dinner next to a wall of windows overlooking the river is hard to beat. Having all your gear completely included out of their fly shop and wader room is a game changer. As a river geek, I was also seriously impressed by their fleet of SOTAR rafts. To top it off, the outdoor fire pits are the perfect spot to kick back after a day on the water.

Charlie and his family were heading into town to check out a local band at the Wise River Club (one of only two bars in town) and invited us along. In moments like this, I’ve learned it’s always best to say yes, no matter how tired I am. We piled into Nick’s car and drove down the street. The band had just wrapped up when we arrived, so we hung around for a bit before heading back over to see Rudy. After more laughs and stories, we drove back to the lodge to turn in for the night.

The next morning, we woke up early for breakfast. One of my favorite features at the lodge is the commercial orange juice machine the staff sets up every morning. It takes a lot of effort to set up and clean every day, but the fresh-pressed OJ is a huge hit with the guests. After a phenomenal cooked-to-order breakfast, it was time to meet our guide.

My Mom Puts on a Clinic on the Big Hole

This is Jeremy Gneiting, though everyone knows him as Slim. Slim might not fit the image of a conventional elite guide, but don’t let appearances fool you. He grew up on a ranch near the Melrose takeout, started working around the lodge as a teenager, and eventually stepped into guiding. He has been guiding this water with Complete Fly Fisher for over 30 years and knows the river's flora, fauna, and geography better than almost anyone in the valley.

At the Divide Bridge put-in, as we were prepping the boat, we noticed another guide getting ready. My mom looked over and asked, "Is that Travis Thompson?" Travis looked up, instantly recognized her, and practically ran up the put-in to give her a hug. Once again, I was struck by how genuinely glad people were to see her. They caught up on her upcoming trip this year with her group and shared how excited they were to have her back.

We put in and began fishing one of the classic stretches of the Big Hole: Divide to Melrose. It didn’t take long before my mom had a fish in the net, and we were off and running. With Slim at the oars, my mom put on an absolute clinic all day. She landed easily a dozen fish, and none of them were small. Four of them were brown trout pushing past the 18-inch mark. She easily out-fished me, sharing stories along the way that reminded me just how deeply she loves this corner of the world.

As we drifted downriver into Maiden Rock Canyon, the ranches and homes faded away, leaving just us and the canyon walls. We netted a few more fish, ate lunch, and eventually floated down to Melrose for the takeout before heading back to the lodge.

That evening brought another fantastic dinner, more rich conversation, and a night of sleep with our fishing cups completely full. The next morning, we said our goodbyes and hit the road for our next adventure.

Coming Up: Don’t miss Part 2 of this report on the Smith River!