Come to THE WRETCHED MESS FEST - Sep. 5 & 6, 2025 - West Yellowstone, MT

Hello Friends,

Save the date for the wonderful festival that celebrates all things ART, MUSIC and FLY FISHING in the historic town of West Yellowstone, Montana!

I am honored to have done this original art as promotion for the historic event!

I will be there with my art booth and some special original trout/steelhead orignals on pine and a few new Yellowstone landscapes in soft pastel.

FRIDAY SEP 5, 2 PM - 7 PM

SATURDAY SEP 6, 10 AM - 7 PM

UNION PACIFIC DINING HALL and BOB JACKLIN CASTING POND

WEST YELLOWSTONE, MT

ART

Browse and shop from 20+ local and traveling artists displaying art inspired by the great outdoors and greater Yellowstone area.

MUSIC

Join us for two nights of live music by the Zach Nytomt Band, and North Fork Crossing.

FLY FISHING

Cast demo rods, speak with brand reps, and check out some of the coolest new gear in the fishing industry.

Friday 2pm-7pm & Saturday 10am-7pm

FLY TYING

Watch some of the regions (and possibly the world) best fly tyers show off their craft at the Union Pacific Dining Hall in the Mammoth Room. Come watch Kelly Galloup, Arrick Swanson, Bob Jacklin, Cheech Pierce, Bucky McCormick, Kris Keller, Jake Chutz, Josh Almond, Craig Mathews, Chris Daniel and Rick Wollum!

FLY CASTING

Open Festival Hours Friday & Saturday

Join John Hudgens and his team from the Anglers Academy for the first annual Wretched Mess Casting Competition on Friday and Saturday Sept 5th and 6th, 2025.

Day 1, September 5th- Junior Class (12 and under), Amateur Class (Anyone older than 12 years of age that is not considered a professional)

Day 2, September 6: Pro Class (Includes everyone in the fly fishing industry. Shop employees, shop owners, outfitters, guides, fishing reps, casting instructors)

Equipment: A Scientific Angler 5 wt line (distance taper) loaded on a reel with a nine foot leader will be provided. We will have 2 reels loaded and ready to go. One for the person casting and the other for the person next in line. Five weight, nine foot rods will be available for use. Rods can be nine foot or shorter. Rods longer than nine feet are not allowed. Contestants are welcome to use their own rod or borrow a rod, but must use the SA line and leader provided.

Layout: There are three accuracy targets set at 20, 30, and 40 feet. There’s a 25 foot wide lane for distance casting. Rules: Each participant will have 2 casts at each target, and will have 3 long distance casts, taking the best of three long shots. When the fly (yarn) touches the ground it will be counted as a cast or shot.

Points: 20 foot target - 10 points each (20 points) 30 foot target - 20 points each (40 points) 40 foot target - 30 points each (60 points) Distance Cast - 1 point per foot There’s a max level of 120 points for the accuracy casts, and it’s possible that a caster could make a 120 foot distance cast, making the contest a 50 / 50 split between accuracy and distance.

Judges: There will be a judge for accuracy and another judge for the distance cast. John Hudgens will be working with the contestants explaining the rules, handing them the reel and checking leader and fly. There will be a score keeper. We will have 2 reels loaded and ready to go. One for the person casting and the other for the person next in line.

There will be First Place prizes for three divisions (Junior, Amateur, and Pro) and a ceremony 30 minutes after the contest each day.

It was wonderful to have the 100-year-old Union Pacific Dining Hall as an inspiration. The famous fireplace was built with rhyolite rock.