Looking at the weather reports for the Montana area, I would say your winter, perhaps, is a little early?  It looks like that particular storm runs from Denver up thru Billings...

 

 

 

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif

Well Pete I tell ya, we live in Great Falls, and you can see the Big Belt Mts from my backyard.  The Belts are like the "foothills" so to speak to the Rockies.  We got some decent snow, bout 4 - 5 inches here at the house.  Sounds like alot, but all the snow will be gone by Tuesday, that is just how it is, with the Chinook winds.  They say the weather here is just like a person's mind.  Give it a few minutes, and it can change.  I figure I probably have 3 or 4 more decent days left to do some good fishing.  I am gonna hit the lake again on Tuesday, regardless of the weather.  Then I will start doing some bird hunting, Ducks and Geese, Pheasant, and Grouse.  End of the Month, I will hit the rifle for Deer and Elk, then back to water foul.  So most likely, Mid November will mean ice fishing for me until spring.  I like being retired.  I feel like I am making up for lost time.  And I plan on making it count.  Guess that is why I feel strongly about the club.  I just don't want the members to miss out, and it seems that they are in alot of ways.  Anyhow, I hope to hear from you again soon.  Hopefully I will be able to go to Wisconsin in 09.  Maybe we can have a chat, and do some fishin.  I will bring the pie.  Just let me know what kind, and I will make sure you got one.
Any day on the water or in the woods is solitude itself.

You will have a blast and make many new friends at the LaCrosse Meet!  This is a common theme for member meets.  You are correct when you say that the membership misses out on much...And the state of the economy does not help much.  But as Erabbit put it, as long as two members can get together you will have a meet!

I lived several years in Colorado and I am aware of the climate swings!  But Montana, Idaho, Washinton and several other states in the north west, I have never been to.  This year davesett2000 and myself were to fish our way from Washington to the Lacrosse Meet, about a month to do this.  But job changes and fuel costs and other misshaps kind of put that trip on hold.  Rest assurred that this trip will be made in the future.  As far as the LaCrosse meet goes for me, I will not be there.  I usually do that trip every other year.  It is expensive (3 thousand miles round trip).  Do yourself a favor and read through the entire 2008 LaCrosse meet thread, including my journal.  That should answer a lot of questions for you.  I have provided a link for you to check out nonresident license fees.  https://www.wildlifelicense.com/

 

If I was going again next year I would go for a minimum of a week (not counting travel time).  But anyhoo, I look forward to hearing from you again and I do enjoy your posts on this site.

 

 

 

LM since 2005 Bushwacker Deputy Sherif