Freestone Fly Shop 701 South 1st Street, Hamilton, MT 59840

"Chuck Stranahan is a modest living legend in the fly fishing world."

"I had heard great things about this fly shop and was recommended to check them out. My friend and I were visiting Montana last week and went. We know tourists aren't always well recieved, so we are always sure to be respectful and polite, and we were excited to shop here, until we actually went in. The man working gave a very brief and dismissive greeting, and ignored us the entire time we were there, in favor of chatting up his friend in the shop. I quietly waited for a good time to ask a question or two, to which I recieved some very generic and again dismissive answers. He then proceeded to make some backhanded remarks regarding my questions and then condescendingly made fun of some customers he had earlier that fished where we mentioned we were heading. Turns out that river was in particularly bad shape, but he failed to mention that, instead saying it's average even though he's never fished there. The shop itself has a generic selection. You can get the fishing things you need at least, but the rest of the shop is the same Simms apparel you'd find anywhere else. All in all, we left freestone feeling very disappointed with our experience."

"I have been fly fishing for about 50 years, both domestically and internationally. During that time I also owned Cutthroat Anglers in Silverthorne, Colorado for about 10 years. I offer that background only as a means to suggest that I have had the chance to fish with a lot of different guides. Some great, most good and a few that were quite poor. I am fortunate to have fished with Lane Blackwood from Freestone. Lane is the complete package: very competent, a gentleman, a great teacher, personable and patient. There are only a handful of guides who I genuinely look forward to fishing with. Make your day with Lane. You’ll have great memories,"

"First time I visited Hamilton and wanted advice on where to go DIY fishing. Jim and Mike were more than welcoming with their recommendations. Doesn't sound like they made you feel obligated in any way but but I bought flies for where they told me to go. Great place to shoot the breeze if you have the time!"