Friday, September 5th 2025 @ 7PM

Formed in 2019 Last Chance, Idaho on the banks of the Henry’s Fork River in Last Chance, Idaho- the Zach Nytomt Band was born. The Zach Nytomt Band play music for their love of energy and enthusiasm they create around them. Their original songs span a decade of song writing and their covers will get you dancing. Their roots include Texas roadhouse psychedelia, steeped in storytelling and Montana hustle–where are all welcome to rock-n-roll. For the past few years, they bounced between Last Chance and West Yellowstone playing bars and private parties honing their skills. In the summer of 2023, they began touring around Idaho and Montana playing venues across the northern Rockies. In Late July 2023 they opened up for their buddies, CAAMP, at Red Rocks in Colorado where they received a standing ovation from a sold-out crowd. During the winter months, Zach tours on his own as a solo act throughout the great state of Texas.

Saturday, September 6th 2025 @ 7PM

Founded in 2021, North Fork Crossing has quickly made its presence known all around Montana, most notably in the beautiful Gallatin Valley where they live. The quintet — Cade Slayden (guitar), Ryan Kelly (mandolin), Rabi Phelan (upright bass), Silas Rea (fiddle), and Matt Hickey (banjo) — are drawn to having Bluegrass reach a younger generation, priding themselves on their unique sound as the evolution of string band music.By playing many shows in Montana as well as touring across Idaho, Utah, and Colorado, they have been able to grow their audience to a wide range of listeners — consisting of Traditional Bluegrass lovers to die-hard Jam Band enthusiasts. They reside somewhere in a strange untapped realm between these genres as well as Psychedelic Rock, Americana, and Folk. 

Open Festival Hours Friday & Saturday

Open Festival Hours Friday & Saturday

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

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

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

Equipment: Scientific Angler's Mastery Expert Distance 5 weight line loaded on a reel with a nine-foot leader will be provided. If you own that line, you're welcome to use it on your own reel. We will have multiple reels loaded with the SA 5 wt line and ready to go. Five weight, nine-foot rods will be available for use from the rod company reps. Rods can be nine feet 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 9 ft. leader provided. Contestants are allowed to use one rod for accuracy and a different rod for long distance. Just as long as the rods are 9 ft. or shorter and paired with the SA 5 wt. line.

Layout: For the Amateur and Junior division (s) there are four (4) accuracy targets set at 20, 25, 30, and 35 feet. Each participant in the Amateur and Junior Division will have three (3) casts at each target, and will have three (3) long distance casts, taking the best of three long shots.

For the Pro Division, there are four (4) accuracy targets set at 20, 30, 35, and 40 feet plus an optional bonus target at 50 feet.  Each caster will have three (3) shots at the accuracy targets.  Two out of three long distance casts will be measured and scored.  

Rules:  When the fly (yarn) touches the water, it will be counted as a cast or shot. Participates will have (60) seconds to warm up on the course before scoring.  There will also be targets around the pond to practice on before casting in the competition.  Rods must be 9 ft. or shorter and must be paired with SA's Mastery Expert Distance 5 wt. Line.  There is a casting box that participates must stand in during casting.  If using two rods (one for accuracy and another for distance), both rods must be strung and ready to go when stepping up to cast.  

Points: Each target will have three rings and are scored 10, 15, and 20 points (ex. 20-foot target has a large ring worth 10 points, medium ring worth 15 points and small "bulls-eye" ring for 20 points). There are four (4) sets of rings and participates will cast 3 times at each. For the distance cast, the best two of three casts will be scored at 1 point per foot for Pro's and the best of three for Amateurs and Juniors. In the Pro Division, there is an optional 50-foot bonus target that is worth a plus 30 points or negative 30 points.

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 and the top 10 casters will be published on websites and social media along with the rod they used.

There are prizes for three divisions (Junior, Amateur, and Pro) along with a ceremony announcing the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners! The longest cast will also be rewarded.

The Wretched Mess Fest will host presentations both on the Bob Jacklin Casting Pond, as well as inside the Mammoth Room of the Union Pacific Dining Hall. A presentation schedule will be posted closer to the event date and will be shared via social media.

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

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!

Open Friday and Saturday during festival hours