Join for a rare evening with legendary anglers and authors Yvon Chouinard and Craig Mathews as they unveil their new book, Pheasant Tail Simplicity: Recipes and Techniques for Successful Fly Fishing. The event takes place at 7pm on Wednesday, October 8th in Norm Asbjornson Hall Room 165 on the Montana State University campus.
The event is co-hosted by the MSU Library and Patagonia and is a chance to hear adventure stories from decades on the water, guided by two voices who continue to bring fly fishing back to its essence – where skill, knowledge and technique matter far more than gear.
The book’s premise is radically simple: while the industry attempts to convince you that you need 10,000 fly patterns, Yvon and Craig have proven you can catch fish anywhere in the world with variations of just one. Yvon spent an entire year fishing globally – from Montana rivers to Patagonian streams – using only pheasant tail patterns. The experiment proved remarkably successful.
Pheasant Tail Simplicity isn’t about buying more gear or carrying hundreds of flies. It’s about understanding why more knowledge and carefully selected, efficient tools consistently outperforms the latest trends.
So, grab a Patagonia Provisions beer and the Pheasant Tail Simplicity book – Yvon and Craig will be signing. Connect with non-profits The Salmonfly Project, Upper Missouri Waterkeeper, and Cottonwood Environmental Law, and mingle with your local fly-fishing community, for a special evening at Montana State University.
Yvon Chouinard is the founder of Patagonia and a lifelong conservationist. He is a noted fly fisher and was named Angler of the Year by Fly Rod & Reel in 2009. He co-founded, with Craig Mathews, 1% for the Planet, a group of businesses giving back to the environment. He lives in Ventura, California.
Craig Mathews is a Montana-based author and conservationist and co-founder, with Yvon Chouinard, of 1% for the Planet. He and his wife, Jackie, founded Blue Ribbon Flies, a fly shop and outfitter in West Yellowstone. Craig has authored and co-authored nine books on fly fishing in the western United States and Yellowstone National Park. He was chosen by Fly Rod & Reel as Angler of the Year in 2005. He and Jackie live in the Madison River Valley of Montana.
Seating is limited with RSVPs encouraged. Visit pheasanttailmsu.splashthat.com to secure a seat and to learn more. •
