How AI Helped Me Crack the Code on the Boulder River

During a recent vacation in Montana, I found myself on one of my favorite stretches of water: the Boulder River, just outside Big Timber. I’ve fished this area before, but on this particular day, I hit a wall. Fish were feeding, but no matter what dry flies I cast, I couldn’t get a single strike. Frustration was setting in.

That’s when I turned to something new: ChatGPT.

I pulled out my phone and entered details like the river, time of day, water temperature, and weather conditions into the AI. In seconds, ChatGPT offered several dry fly patterns and presentation tips I hadn’t tried. It recommended smaller dries and subtle presentation adjustments, which made sense—but I wasn’t entirely confident in choosing the right fly.

I had recently purchased a new fly box filled with various dries, many of which I didn’t recognize. So I took a photo of the box and uploaded it to ChatGPT. Amazingly, it identified the specific flies in the compartments and told me exactly which one to use.

Taking that advice, I tied on a small dry fly and stacked it behind a larger, more visible fly for better tracking. I then started to work a promising run.

The results were immediate. Within a few casts, I was landing fish; more than a few, in fact.

It was an eye-opener. While I usually stick to nymphing, this experience boosted my confidence with dry flies. Even more, it showed how AI can be a valuable tool on the river, especially when traditional tactics fall short.

Here’s the fly box photo that helped turn my day around:

Next time you’re out fishing and feel stumped, consider using a bit of tech. You might be surprised what a virtual fishing buddy can help you catch.

Technology doesn’t just solve office problems

At Hogan, we help clients use smart tools to work better—whether it’s on the river or in the server room. If your tech isn’t keeping up, we can help.