Northwest Reel Life July 2024 Volume 3 Issue 9 - Flipbook - Page 20
I looked back and his rod
was doubled over with
the weight of a solid fish,
which revealed itself with a
series of impressive jumps,
clearing the surface a good
three feet. A chrome bright,
wild (that’s the only kind
of trout in the Madison)
rainbow was giving Matt
a good battle. He skillfully
took his time and brought
the glistening 18-inch
fish to the net. Scooping
him up, Hunter let out an
excited “skunks out of the
boat” and it was the start of
a memorable day on one of
Montana’s most amazing
and wild rivers.
We had arrived the previous
day at the invitation of
Ed and Jeanne Williams,
owners of Rainbow Valley
Lodge. Ed and Jeanne had
moved from California to
Ennis, Montana over 35
years ago and taken over
the lodge, growing it over
the years into a destination
for the rich and famous,
and the average person.
The two of them radiated
an aura of enthusiasm and
hometown friendliness that
I have come to treasure
over the past two years of
living in Montana. We felt
as if we had new friends we
could return to year after
year, and indeed, many
of their guests expressed
the same feelings to us.
Not the largest lodge in
Ennis, but certainly the
most homey and one
you’d want to return to
year after year. Heated
pool, rustic pine wood
interiors, and beautiful
flowers everywhere give
you that “western feel”
you are looking for when
traveling to Montana’s
fishing destinations. The
impressive collection of
fishing memorabilia in
the lobby could keep an
angler’s attention alone,
not to mention their wellstocked O’Dell Spring Creek
Fly Shop.
The evenings are a
gathering of guides and
guests, chatting about the
day’s fishing adventures