That's cute. Fly fishing "purists" valiantly defending the Bighorn.
The only people that do that here are 1) fishing guides on the BH, 2)
out-of-staters and/or tourists, or 3) disabled people who may have fewer
options. Notice how 1 and 2 are closely related, a 3 is
understandable.

Does the term "like fishing in a barrel" mean anything to some of you?

On any given day on the Bighorn, you may catch 15 or 20 "trophy" sized
monsters. But after the 3rd or 4th catch, most people take notice of
how easy they come, how unnatural and artificial it feels. Why?
Because it IS unnatural. It's an artificial fishery created within the
last 40 years as much to part the tourist-type fisherman from his money
as any sort of crop irrigation. Fishing in a barrel. Whether you call
yourself a tourist or not, it's a tourist-style fishery that most
serious fisherman leave to the tourist-style fisherman.

If that's for you, fine. But after reading some of George Cleveland's
fantastic fishing reports, I would figure more of you would be
visiting/fishing Montana George Cleveland style.

If you came to Montana to, say, see a grizzly, would you go to a zoo?
Would you go to Egypt and NOT see the pyramids? Do you ever order a
hamburger at a fine steakhouse?

This long-winded blather was not intended for all of you. I apologize
if any real fishermen were offended.

Wait. I don't know why I care about the wanna-bes anyway. It keeps
you off my fishing waters. Goddamn me. Good-bye.