In Montana, the Trout Rise as Surely as the Sun

“There’s certainly something in angling that tends to produce a serenity of mind.”

Washington Irving may have penned those telling words back east in New York some 200 years ago, but they still very much apply today for anglers on the waters in and around The Resort at Paws Up.

In this fly-fishing mecca, you discover what moves you—what touches your soul—in a pristine natural environment. Is it the unending quest to cleverly imitate nature with man-made flies? The experience of spending time in nature, maybe glimpsing a black bear tearing into a rotting log for her own insect snack? Or maybe, just maybe, it’s simply admiring the stunning beauty of the fish you catch.

Take, for example, a fish like one of western Montana’s lone native trout, the Westslope Cutthroat. With sporting markings on the throat and gill plate like a bright-orange-red bandana, these local residents are beloved for their good looks and feisty fights. And no visitor who’s tussled with one and held it in wet hands before releasing it back into the water goes home with anything less than a story worth repeating many times.

Also lurking in the legendary Blackfoot River are an abundance of silver bullets called rainbows and cutbows, a cutthroat/rainbow hybrid. And, of course, there are their ill-tempered neighbors, the brown trout.

According to Assistant Activities Manager Ben Pepe, the leader of Paws Up’s fishing program, “the Blackfoot, of all these rivers near Missoula, offers the most beautiful setting, with shimmering water running over dappled rocks, Ponderosa pine-lined banks, bald eagles and the occasional river otter—this is River Runs Through It country. It really is the quintessential Rocky Mountain river.”

Guided half-day fly-fishing trips on the Paws Up stretch of the Blackfoot offer guests the advantage of being first on the water, thanks to two private access points. Upstream on the river lies the Box Canyon, another beautiful stretch suitable for full-day, eight-hour trips and trophy fish. Guides can also run longer trips to the brown-trout-laden Bitterroot River or the expansive Clark Fork near Missoula.

It’s not just the fish around here that are big. “The salmon flies—you just don’t see them in other local areas,” Pepe said. “That hatch creates a feeding frenzy, typically in mid- to late June. We like to fish big attractor patterns, some of which mimic stone flies or hoppers.”

Patterns like the Chubby Chernobyl, a favorite of another Paws Up fly-fishing devotee, Executive Assistant Mindy Marcum, who spends much of her off-time on the water. “As it gets later in summer, we’re trying to imitate a grasshopper that’s fallen off a stalk of grass into the water,” she said.

As summer cedes to early fall, Marcum will cohost a Paws Up event, the Wonder Women of Fly-Fishing, September 11–13, with renowned fly-fishing guide Kelly Harrison.

For Mindy Marcum, fly-fishing is all about releasing stress with every cast, as well as “the total relaxation and the togetherness with others.” As she put it most succinctly, “Fly-fishing is my yoga on the water.”

Drunken Beef and Pineapple Brochettes with Guajillo Romesco

 

After searching the West for the highest quality beef and the most tender bison, The Resort at Paws Up settled on a very local source: our own backyard. As the ultimate expression of ranch-to-table cuisine, the Black Angus cattle raised here on the Paws Up Ranch are now part of our beef program, from the open fires of the chuck wagon to our restaurant Pomp’s fine cuisine. Bison, from our herd, are also on the menu.

According to Co-Ranch Manager Leigh Kelley, “We raise peas, oats and barley on properly to fatten some of the beef that now grace the tables here at The Resort. Primarily, all of our beef is grass-fed—the high-quality grass they eat is managed for palatability and nutrition. I think animal feed is much like anything else: the quality you put in is a direct reflection of the quality you get out.”

That principle comes through loud and clear in the form of well-marbled Angus beef products and lean, tasty bison cuts destined for dishes created by Paws Up Executive Chef Sunny Jin.

“The ranch-raised beef really is a source of pride for us. The grass-fed aspect produces flavors that are so pronounced. And we get such depth of flavors from aging the beef, for example, we get a whole porterhouse and dry-age it here for an additional 45 days, after an initial aging,” Jin said. “That’s when it gets that rich, buttery flavor with a great blue-cheese aroma.”

This summer, expect our chefs to turn out a dizzying array of culinary masterpieces, a growing number of which are based on Paws Up Ranch-raised Angus beef and bison. We hope you enjoy this recipe for Memorial Day weekend or anytime this summer.

DRUNKEN BEEF and PINEAPPLE BROCHETTES with GUAJILLO ROMESCO

For the Brochettes

Ingredients:

2 pounds tender beef, such as tenderloin or ribeye, cut into 1-inch cubes

2 red onions, cut into 1-inch pieces

1 ripe pineapple, cut into 1-inch cubes

2 red bell peppers, cut into 1-inch pieces

3 ounces mescal

1 Tbsp brown sugar

Fresh juice of 2 ripe limes

8 skewers (if using wooden skewers be sure to soak in water for at least an hour prior to assembling)

Sea salt

Cracked pepper

DIRECTIONS:

Combine all prepared brochette ingredients into a nonreactive mixing bowl and toss to coat evenly. Marinate for at least 30 minutes and up to 2 hours. Preheat gas or charcoal grill and begin assembling brochettes by placing an even amount of each ingredient on the 8 prepared skewers. Place brochettes directly over the hottest spot of the grill and cook 1–2 minutes on each side. Finish with coarse sea salt and fresh cracked pepper and serve with Guajillo Romesco.

For the Guajillo Romesco

Ingredients:

4 whole dried guajillo peppers, rehydrated in hot water and deseeded

1/2 cup toasted almonds

whole garlic cloves

1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, rehydrated in hot water

2 tsp smoked paprika

2 tsp ground cumin

2 tsp ground coriander

1 red onion, sliced thin and grilled until softened and slightly charred

2 tsp kosher salt

1 cup Spanish olive oil

Sherry or red wine vinegar

DIRECTIONS:

Combine all ingredients except vinegar and oil into a blender or food processor. Blend ingredients and slowly drizzle in the olive oil until the sauce comes together and ingredients are finely ground. Season to your liking with vinegar.

Six Experiences at Paws Up For The Under-Six Crowd

Why does it always seem like all the best rides are for those who meet a height requirement? Here at Paws Up, we don’t limit the fun to those who measure up to a sign. Here are just six examples of how we put the biggest smiles on our smallest guests.

1. PONY RIDES

We would never make you go in circles on some sandy, worn-out path. Instead, our wranglers will show you a true adventure! You’ll say hello to your pony, get a boost up and then ride through beautiful trails. It’s 15 minutes of giggles and photo ops. Parents can tag along, too.

2. GARNET GHOST TOWN

Ever been to a real ghost town? We have one that’s practically in our own backyard! It’s just 20 minutes away, but it’s a step back in time to the early 1900s. Explore the general store, hotel, saloon and homes of this uninhabited town. But wait—you don’t believe in ghosts, do you?

3. THE ISLAND LODGE AT SALMON LAKE

Imagine having a whole island to yourself and your family with boats, fishing poles and a floating trampoline! Cool off with a blackberry lemonade. Or dip your feet into the clear, blue water and let the tiny fishies swim around your toes. At sunset, go for a nice pontoon ride. Ahoy, sailor!

4. CLEARWATER RIVER CANOE TRIP

Head out on the water with a family canoe trip. Relax in the middle while bigger kids or grown-ups paddle down a 3.5-mile stretch of the Clearwater River. Notice the stunning views of the Swan Mountains. See if you can spot an eagle. But make sure you get a turn to try paddling, too!

5. GO-KARTS

The race is on! You’ll go up to 20 miles per hour around a half-­mile track side-by-side with Mom or Dad. Learn to steer around one corner after the next. If you’re under six, trackside bleachers provide the perfect spot to watch your favorite racers power their way to the checkered flag.

6. LITTLE DISCOVERERS AT THE KIDS CORPS OF DISCOVERY

Need to seriously get your wiggles out? Kiss your family goodbye for a few hours and join us at the Kids Corps of Discovery, where you can meet new friends, play games and try tie-dying and searching for sapphires.