Monster Montana Brown Trout and What’s Up With Whirling Disease

In typical evasive angler fashion, not many details were revealed regarding where and with what (I think I see a dam and dark. Hmm).

But hey, that all becomes secondary when we simply want to celebrate the success of a young fisherman who experienced a thrill of a lifetime moment, landing an enormous brown trout while fishing some fine Montana waters.

The Montana Outdoor Radio Show recently shared a post from last year from Sawyer Finstad, who reeled in a memorable catch, a 31-inch brown. It was a moment of pure pride, and one that recently resurfaced in an online article. Unfortunately, that same photo was reposted by a fake account under the name “Beatrix Rebekah,” sparking frustration for Sawyer’s family.

Despite attempts to report the impersonation, the fraudulent profile remains active. It’s a reminder of how special outdoor moments deserve to be shared with honesty and respect. And rest assured, the fisherman in the photo is indeed Sawyer Finstad.

WHIRLING DISEASE AND THE MADISON THESE DAYS

In the 1990s, whirling disease devestated Montana’s trout streams, wiping out up to 95% of rainbow trout in the Madison River. Caused by a microscopic parasite, the disease deforms young trouts' spines and brains, making them swim in frantic, uncontrolled circles (whirling). Montana is currently seeing disturbing numbers of deer and other animals suffering from the same malady.

It's now 2025 and reports are that trout are back, in a roundabout way. Numbers have rebounded, but researchers say the fish may have developed resistance at the cost of genetic diversity, raising new questions about the long-term health of one of Montana’s most iconic fisheries.