Our guests become part of our extended family. Here are a few notes we have received.

Dear John, John, John, Bob & Pat,

Talking about our just finished trip on the way home to the Seattle area, my son Greg and I agreed that after sharing hunting and fishing trips for the last fifteen years here in the West and Midwest, this was the best one ever. The guides, facilities, waters, food and good-natured bantering could not be surpassed. Catching an 18 inch Rainbow on a dry and 6X tippet sure takes the hurt out of falling in and the resultant ribbing around the breakfast table! One suggestion, add an item on your list of things to bring, treats or toys for the dog. You will have a faithful greeter each morning as you open the door.
We will be back,
Gary Hendrickson

John and Pat,

Thanks for a great two day fishing break. Ed and I both had a great time and appreciated all that you did to make our weekend. Hope that your plumbing problem did not turn out to be too significant. Have checked the 'scrapbook' for the digital pictures but have not seen anything related to our trip yet. I will keep checking. If the pictures have been loaded and I cannot locate them, let me know.

Thanks again…. Hubert

Dear John and Pat,

Back in the Netherlands, I think of the wonderful trip we made last week. It was a wonderful time. Pat, your cooking was great. John thanks for a perfect week fishing in Stevensville, Montana, the best fly-fishing place on earth. Lets go Dutch… it was not 'zwaar kloote'.

I am sure we will meet again. Thank you for everything.

Ruud Duppen, The Netherlands

 

I just wanted to let you know how much Don and I enjoyed our stay! John, before your patient instruction I wasn't sure I would ever get the hang of flyfishing and catching my first fish was a thrill I will never forget. Pat, your cooking was great and your company even better. I can't wait until our trip next June. I know Don really wants to do the Clark Fork next year but I will always love the incredible beauty of the Blackfoot River especially since that is where I caught 'my fish'. Thanks again for the best vacation of my life.
Delores

 

Dear John & Pat:
Please excuse this delay in getting this note to you, but
we have been rather busy since we have returned to the real world. Just
want you to know again how much we all enjoyed the fishing trip of a few
weeks ago. My son Kyle wants to make it an annual event and the Edwards'
and Bob Wilson would all like to return very soon. The fishing was great,
the food was delicious, and all we needed to do was catch the 20" fish to
make it perfect. We'll get it next time I am sure. Tell Pat the grits were
just right and she cooked them like a she grew up in the South, and had been
cooking them all her life. Also, tell Cody hello from all of us. We did
see the pictures in the Scrapbook section on your Web page. Look great.
Thanks again.
Kyle & Kyle

 

Dear John, Pat and Cody,
About the first thing that Max did upon returning from Montana was to turn
on the computer; about the third thing he did was to "dial up" your website
and check out the photos. Then he printed them up. Pretty
spiffy!!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks tons for not cutting off the boys' heads the way
their mother must have done when she took her turn with your camera. I'll
have to practice next summer. We had a really wonderful time with you and
"little" John on and off the river. Cody's running commentary on the final
fish "war" day added a special touch. The boys are not eating any fish
these days. Why would they? It's all farmed trout, and they are not keen
on any other species.

Pat-would you be kind enough to send me your chicken marinade recipe, and
the recipe for your killer brownies? It's not urgent; God knows you
already have more than enough to do every day. But, if you have a moment,
I would love those recipes. Max never, NEVER eats more than one piece of
chicken, but on the river float down the West Fork, he ate TWO pieces of
your chicken. I was stunned, and I'd love to see him do that in
California. I don't know if I can barbeque as well as "little" John can,
but I am going to do my best.
Hug Braun for all of us except Jared. Keep well this summer, all of you
(including "little" John), and may any fire go elsewhere.
Warmest regards,
Marie and the guys.

Hey John, Thanks again. We all enjoyed ourselves. Regarding next year, how
many persons can be booked at your location? thanks,

Mike....

 

Hi John,

Just wanted to let you know we all enjoyed fishing with you and Ken last Monday.The pictures you took for me turned out great!

Thanks for your help.Hate to wish my life away,but I'm already looking forward to next year.

Curtiss Christian

 

John,

Thanks again for the wonderful trip. Bill and I had such a memorable time. I really appreciated the way that you really worked with me and the fact that you really cared about the trip being enjoyable. Again I loved being up there and hope to come back. Thanks again for all your help, maybe now I might be able to actually to fish on my own and be sucessful! Dont stress about the pictures, Bill and I both know how busy things are for you right now. Thank you!!!

-Ryan

 

 

Just a note to say how much we enjoyed your hospitality. The trip home was long (1635 miles). Pat, I left 2 beers in the refrigerator freezer in our room.
See you next October.

tight lines and loose pants
Chuck

 

Hello to All,

My vacation this year in March, was truly a memorable one. Thanks John for having the patience to show me a few new things. I am practicing the double haul', and plan on perfecting it by the time I see you again!!! Thanks to Pat for the remarkable food. By the way, the breakfast casserole was a success back here in Missouri. Lastly, I must thank that 'maid' who always knew the wood supply was running short.

Christina Beaman

 

John,

Thanks for being a part of our great fishing trip last September. We hope to do it again in a year or two. Enclosed are some pictures which I had promised to send. Thank for your patience and your helpfulness in teaching us new skills!

Sincerely, Ed Reitter

 

Hi John,

Eric and I sure had a great time. Thank you so much for the stellar day! Sorry the pictures are not the best quality. Now that I know the situation, I'll bring my good camera to get some prize photos. I'll be calling this week to set up another trip soon.

Your friend, Bob McCurdy

 

Dear John,

Thank you so much for your generous donation to our conservation banquet. With your support we had our best banquet ever. Then monies generated from the float trip and accomodations will go a long way towards this years youth program. Thanks again on behalf of myself and the KVCTV.

Sincerely, Barney Naylor

 

John, Pat and Ken

Thanks again for the great trip. It was nice to get into some fish (some really damn big fish), but even better to spend a wonderful week with you. Everything about your operation is first-class, and I consider it a rare pleasure to come out to Montana and be your guests. The fishing, the food, accomodations, fellowship, and scenery are all spectacular and we all look forward to spending many more pleasurable days and evenings in Big Sky Country with Backdoor Outfitters. I have enclosed some pictures from the trip that I took on my camera and the rest of the crew will be forwarding your their photographs as well.

Your friend, Frank D. Howell

 

Dear John,

Please see the enclosed check. I thank you again for being flexible and letting me send you a check. I just didn't think to bring a checkbook with me. I also gotta tell that I had a heck of a good time. Everything was wonderful; the accomodations, the food, the fishing, the company, the scenery, even the dog. Everything clicked because that was the best three nights of sleep I have had in a long time. I also appreciate yours, Pat's, and Ken's attention to detail. You made all of us feel right at home and comfortable with everything that we did. I can thank Pat for getting me to my all-time high weight of 192. My wife wasn't nearly as amused as I was.

Sincerely, Kenner Patton

 

John, Pat and Ken,

Well, I've been back from the valley for over a week now, but my mind is definitely still at your place. I want to thank all of you for making my first foray to Montana such a memorable experience. Cannot wait to do it again! Pat, I always thought the south had the market cornered on hospitality, but your kindness and attention will give my Southern Grandmother a run for her money! Thank you. John, your advice and patience were exceptional. When I was stubborn, so were you, and that is exactly the kind of treatment I need sometimes. You did a great job of putting us on the fish, and the value you offer gives my poor heart ease. Ken, your are a great counterpart with John. Your soft approach helped me get a fly to the fish many times during our stay. I look forward to fishing with you again soon.

Again, thank you all.

Best wishes, Bill Botsford

 

Dear John and Patricia,

Well, hello!! Just a couple of quick lines to say hi and basically to touch bases. Wish I were there. Coming home really sucked. I want to thank you both for an all around great time. Everything from breakfast, lunches, lodging, fishing, instruction, boats, my first bass on a fly, and even a great dog. It was all more than I could have even hoped for, so thanks again. You guys have a really cool operation.

Wishing I was fishing, Brad Raymond