December 2025

MADISON VALLEY DECEMBER 2025 “HAPPENINGS” → What’s happened in Ennis, the Basecamp of the Madison Valley? → MSU Extension presented a Caregiver Respite Retreat at the Madison Valley Library → There was no snow for the Ennis Christmas Stroll. → But there was Live music at Willie’s Distillery, Gravel Bar & Silver Dollar Saloon and Trivia Night at the Gravel Bar, plus Bingo at the Sportsman’s Lodge. → The Longbranch hosted Sip & Paint. → The Elling House Arts & Humanities Center in Virginia City hosted their annual Splendid Feast. → There was a Christmas Cookie Exchange at Trinity Episcopal Church. → Happy Hour Yoga at Willie’s Distillery! → Shedhorn Sports hosted a Ladies’ Night. → Lucky kids got to Skate with Santa at the Virginia City Ice Skating Rink. → The Museum of the Rockies opened a new exhibition, Becoming Jane: The Evolution of Dr. Jane Goodall. → Some lifts opened at Big Sky Resort. → A brown Christmas in Ennis, but a white Christmas down at Raynolds Pass! → New Year’s Eve celebration at the Silver Dollar Saloon with live music. → New Year’s Eve Wine Dinner at the Tavern 287. → New Year’s Eve Bash at the Pony Bar. 

MADISON VALLEY JANUARY 2026 “HAPPENINGS” → New Year’s Day Dinner at the Longbranch → Big Sky Resort officially opened, https://www.bigskyresort.com/current-conditions. → Come to Comedy Night at Willie’s Distillery on the 15th at 6 PM. → Wildlife Tracking on Snowshoes at Jack Creek Preserve, on the 24th, https://www.jackcreekpreserve.org/events/2026/wintertracking-fg9ck. → The Museum of the Rockies is still running their new exhibit, Becoming Jane: The Evolution of Dr. Jane Goodall. https://museumoftherockies.org/exhibitions/jane through January 2026. → Don’t forget – Sunday Bingo at Sportsman’s Lodge at 2 PM; Trivia Night on Thursdays at 7 at the Gravel Bar. → And, you can go fishing, disc golfing, play pickleball, go skiing, exploring, bowling, visit the library, sit on the Mark Twain bench; do yoga or Pilates, go to the gym, take exercise classes, have a facial & a massage, see a movie, or eat, drink, stroll through Ennis, and go shopping!  JUST DO IT ALL! 

FUTURE 2026 “HAPPENINGS” → Plan your ski season at https://www.bigskyresort.com/. →   Big Sky Resort hosting their 8th Annual Skijoring – Best in the West Showdown on Feb. 7th. → Join the crowd at the Ennis Polar Plunge, for Special Olympics, at the Lake Shore Lodge at 1 PM on Feb 14. https://p2p.onecause.com/2025ennispolarplunge → Sign up your 12-16 year-olds for the Winter Outdoor Skills Camps, Feb. 27 – Mar. https://www.jackcreekpreserve.org/winter-outdoor-skills-camps. → Rancher Roundtable program, “How Well Do You Know Your Grasses?,” at the Ennis Library on Feb. 26, 12-1. → There will be 6 new pickleball courts in Ennis by Spring 2026! See: https://www.ennispickleball.com/ → And so much more to come…

MONTANA NEWS. → Montana Department of Commerce began cancelling lease contracts for concessionaires in Virginia City. The new contracts offered raise rents to 15% of gross revenue, causing major disruption in VC. https://www.madisoniannews.com/news/department-commerce-begins-canceling-contracts-virginia-city. → Big Sky Resort named #1 Ski Resort in the West by Ski Magazine! https://www.bigskyresort.com/press-releases/ski-magazine-number-1-ski-resort-in-the-west-2026. → A decades-long push to give Montana a new, modernized state history museum in Helena finally happened on December 23rd, with an official ribbon cutting at the new $107,000,000 facility. https://montanafreepress.org/2025/12/03/5-montana-treasures-to-see-at-the-states-new-history-museum/. → On Dec. 4, the Montana FWP Commission set the Montana hunting regulations for 2026 and 2027. In doing so, it made a variety of changes to address concerns about nonresident hunting pressure and mule deer numbers. https://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/what-are-the-changes-to-montana-hunting-regulations-for-2026-2027-here-are-details/article_58bb70b7-3600-524b-a5a9-5cc79ae6640f.html. 

• FISHING REPORT → Happy New Year everyone! This is the time of year when we unpack last year and bring in hope and plans for a great new year. While some take this time to make resolutions on things they want to improve, others just party like it is 1999. I really do neither. I realized a long time ago that discipline and consistency beat resolutions. One of the most remarkable things about my job is the dichotomy in the seasons. For part of the year, it is run as fast as you can with your hair on fire, and the other half is slower, with planning and review. During this time of year, our days are punctuated with daily workouts at CrossFit, which is necessary to survive the other season, and constant upgrades to inventory, staffing and services. I love both for what they bring to my life. 

We have been experiencing some darn nice early winter weather. While this is great for sustaining the wood pile, it brings concerns about summer flows. Right now, I ask everyone to pray for snow. Everything east of Billings is getting epic snowy winter weather while we bask in the banana belt. All we really need is a slight shift in the jet stream about 100 miles west. Then the powerful atmospheric rivers and polar vortex would combine right over our heads. So, let’s all put some music on and do our best snow dance! I know I am busting a move right now! 

If you are around Ennis and want to fish, there are lots of options. The warmer and drier weather means the entire river is open and available. Zero gorge, as of yet. The fish are hungry and will take standard winter fare. Think eggs, worms, midge stuff, and stone fly nymphs. They will be stacked up in the deeper water. When you find one, you’ll find a bunch. Nymph these on a stout leader of 2X and about 6 feet from the indicator. If you are still not getting them, add some split shot. They want it down in their face. While nice, let’s all hope this window of warm-winter fishing does not last long. 

We hope you had a great Christmas and are looking forward to an incredibly Happy New Year. On a positive note, we are now gaining daylight every day. I can feel it. Also, Salmon flies are only 6 months away! If we can help in any way, please let us know. If you are thinking about a guided adventure for the upcoming summer, now is the time to plan and book it. We already have more bookings for summer than any time in the past. It is looking to be busy one. Good Fishing and God Bless, John Way, The Tackle Shop, Ennis, MT, the CULTURAL EPICENTER OF TROUT, 406-682-4263, Cell: 406-370-5206, www.thetackleshop.com, Lodging – www.montanaway.com. 

If people concentrated on the REALLY important things in life,  there would be a shortage of fishing poles!

Watch “The Rocky Mountain Fly Highway” on Amazon Prime

Check out other fishing reports at:

• Madison River Fishing Company at: https://www.mrfc.com/
• Dan Delekta at: https://www.beartoothflyfishing.com/
• The Madison Valley Ranch at: https://www.madisonvalleyranch.com/
• Joe Dilschneider’s Montana Trout Stalkers at http://www.montanatrout.com/
• Yellowstone Fly Fishing at http://www.yellowstoneflyfishing.com/madisonreport.htm.

WEATHER → This December was one to remember! We prayed for a white Christmas, but it never came to Ennis! The Madison Valley, north of Cameron, stayed dry except for the foothills, but the Upper Madison did have snow cover. This was the warmest, dryest December in recent memory, but weather is cyclical so we know there will be epic winters again. The December daytime high was 60° with a daytime low of 26°. The nighttime high was 49° and the nighttime low was 0°. We wonder what January will bring??   

• REAL ESTATE TIP:  Why Rural Homes Face Higher Fire Safety Risks?  Rural homes face unique fire safety hazards that folks in more urban or suburban areas often don’t have to worry about. These are the main risk factors to be aware of—and plan ahead for—if you live in a rural community. 

• • Limited Water Access – If your home relies on a well, you might not be able to use that water source in the event a fire occurs. That’s because the extreme heat will likely cause a power outage, which means no electricity to pump water out of the well. Even if your well does keep running, chances are, it won’t meet the water pressure demands of a fire sprinkler system.
  • Longer Response Times – Think about how close (or far away) the nearest fire department is to your home. If a fire sparks, can first responders arrive on the scene within 5–10 minutes? Or will it take them much longer? Slower response times mean a higher risk of the flames roaring out of control.

• Combustible Surroundings -As beautiful and peaceful as rural landscapes are, they can also be flammable. Grasslands, forests, dense trees and shrubs, or dry vegetation can cause fire embers to spread quickly across rural areas—especially at the height of wildfire season. 

A traditional fire sprinkler installation process can be hard to execute in rural homes due to some of the following barriers: Low Water Pressure: Most fire sprinkler systems require a reliable source of highly pressurized water.  Water Supply Limitations: Wells and water tanks might not be able to provide the necessary volume for fire suppression.  Upfront Costs: Concerns about installation costs might deter rural homeowners from exploring fire safety options. Fortunately, there are a few effective workarounds to protect your rural home from the threat of an uncontrolled fire emergency. 

Here are 3 Innovative Fire Sprinkler Options for Homes in Rural Communities: 

Pump-and-Tank Systems – This system stores water in a large tank, then uses a high-powered water pump to deliver adequate pressure in the event of a fire. Some tanks can be buried underground to lower the risk of freezing, too. A buried tank can also be more aesthetic if you want the equipment out of sight. Consider a pump-and-tank configuration if you’re in an area with minimal external water sources. As long as your pump is functional, the entire system will operate.

Optimized Designs for Efficient Coverage – Three-dimensional design software can help tailor the fire sprinkler installation to just about any structure. This will provide adequate area coverage of your home while minimizing excess water waste. Not all fire sprinkler technicians use 3-D design software tools, so look for a reputable installer that knows how to utilize the latest technology to facilitate a customized system. This is one of the most effective ways to mitigate the unique fire sprinkler installation challenges for homes in remote locations. 

Gravity-Fed Sprinkler Systems – These systems can harness the natural pressure created by elevation. They function by placing a water tank uphill or on an elevated platform. When the sprinklers activate in a fire, gravity will create the right amount of the pressure necessary to keep the water flowing. Gravity-fed systems also don’t rely on an external pump, which means they can be affordable to install, and often require less rigorous maintenance checks.

One example of a local company offering several approaches to Complete Wildfire Defense Solutions:  https://bigskyfiredefense.com/.

HOME FOR YOUR SOUL. FEATURED PROPERTY OF THE MONTH → 20.720 ACRES on US HWY 287N in CAMERON! This lot offers spectacular views, allows for commercial use, has power at the corner and access to the Madison River! In a great location, just 15 miles south of Ennis, approximately 1½ hours to Bozeman airport and the same to Yellowstone National Park. Lot 11 is the site of a “reclaimed” gravel pit. Sphinx Mountain Subdivision, Lot 11, $200,000, MLS# 402619. GoogleEarth Coordinates: Lat. 45.172905°, Lon. -111.680473°, Elevation: 5,445’. Lot-11 Sphinx Mountain Subdivision, Cameron MT 59720 #402619.   The adjoining Lot 12, with 21.53 acres, is also available for $250,000, MLS #402623. GoogleEarth Coordinates: 45.172803, -111.684238, Elevation: 5,446’. Lot-12 Sphinx Mountain Subdivision, Cameron MT 59720 #402623   

• NATIONAL REAL ESTATE NEWS – WASHINGTON (December 19, 2025) – Existing-home sales increased by 0.5% in November, according to the National Association of REALTORS®. Month-over-month sales increased in the Northeast and South, showed no change in the West, and fell in the Midwest. Year-over-year sales showed no change in the Northeast and South and decreased in the Midwest and West.  

“Existing-home sales increased for the third straight month due to lower mortgage rates this autumn,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. “However, inventory growth is beginning to stall. With distressed property sales at historic lows and housing wealth at an all-time high, homeowners are in no rush to list their properties during the winter months.”

“Wage growth is outpacing home price gains, which improves housing affordability. Still, future affordability could be hampered if housing supply fails to keep pace with demand,” Yun added. “As has been the case throughout the year, single-family home sales outperformed condominium sales in November. The typical price of a sold condo was 13.5% lower than the typical price of a single-family home. However, the purchase price does not include the condominium association fees, which are rising and making these purchases more expensive.”

Pending Home Sales in October increased by 1.9% from the prior month and fell 0.4% year over year. Month-over-month pending home sales rose in the Northeast, Midwest, and South, and declined in the West. Year-over-year pending home sales increased in the Midwest and South and decreased in the Northeast and West. 

The Midwest shined above other regions due to better affordability, while contract signings retreated in the more expensive West region,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. “Days on the market typically lengthen from November through February, providing better negotiating power to buyers during the holiday season. “Job gains in September, following the data blackout, are reassuring and suggest the economy is not slipping into a recession,” Yun added. “This may boost confidence in future homebuying.”

Mortgage Rates:  6.15%: The average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage in December, according to Freddie Mac, down from 6.18% a week ago and 6.91% from one year ago.  5.44% for 15-year fixed-rate mortgage.

The National Association of Realtors® is America’s largest trade association, representing more than 1.5 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries. The term Realtor® is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of Realtors® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.

• LOCAL REAL ESTATE MARKET STATISTICS: January – April is usually fairly quiet, however, the world is changing, and so is Montana. According to the Jaken Finance Group, “Montana’s vast landscapes and growing economic diversification are setting the stage for a remarkable housing market transformation in 2026. As we analyze the Montana real estate forecast 2026, it’s clear that Big Sky Country is experiencing unprecedented growth that savvy investors cannot afford to overlook.”  https://www.jakenfinancegroup.com/big-sky-country-mts-housing-market-evolution-in-2026. Ever since Covid, the Madison Valley has felt this impact as Bozeman continues to grow. And as we know, “The only certainty is change.”  Big Sky Country Multiple Listing statistics for the Madison Valley area (including Ennis, Cameron, McAllister, Norris, Virginia City, Nevada City, Harrison, Pony), for the month of December were as follows:

• RESIDENTIAL: 60↓ listings ($325,000 to $12,900,000); 9↓ pending sales ($355,000 to $3,600,000); and 85 homes sold in 2025 ($165,000 to $3,725,000), totaling $62,775,440, 97% ↑ of list price.
• MULTI-FAMILY: 3 listings ($950,000 to $1,789,000); 0 pending sales; 1 sold in 2025 ($764,000), 89.9% of list price. (multi-family units are not great investments in this area.)
• VACANT LAND: 116↓ listings ($7,102 to $7,900,000); 11↓ pending sales ($115,000 to $495,000); and 88 lots sold in 2025 ($16,000 to $825,000), totaling $18,311,350, 93.7%↓ of list price.
• LAND w/STRUCTURES: 4↓ listings ($250,000 – $2,500,000); 2↑ pending sales ($495,000-$1,799,000); 6 lots w/structures sold in 2025 ($150,000 to $725,000), totaling $2,347,500, 88.4%↓ of list price.
• COMMERCIAL: 8↓ listings ($465,000 to $1,950,000), 1↑ pending sale ($380,000); and 1 commercial property sold in 2025 (I sold the old Camper Corner!), ($1,195,000) 92.6% of list price. 

• RANCHES: 3↓ listings ($2,750,000 to $23,500,000), 0 pending sales, 0 ranches sold in 2025. 

“The best investment on Earth is earth.” Louis J. Glickman, real estate mogul/philanthropist

MONTANA TRIVIA…   Did you know that there are approximately 24,000 immigrants living in Montana? The U.S. Census Bureau reports the total population in Montana, as of July 1, 2024, at 1,137,233. The 24,000 immigrants represent approximately 2.1% of the population, or about 1 in 47 residents in Montana. Immigrants are defined as foreign-born residents, which includes people who became US citizens, are authorized to come to the US (e.g., on work visas, student visas), or are undocumented residents.  The number of foreign-born residents in Montana stayed around 24,000 from 2014 to 2024. This occurred alongside changes in the native-born population due to births, deaths, and people moving. In Montana, the foreign-born share of the population was 2.1% in 2024, lower than the US overall at 14.8%, and down from 2.3% in the state since 2014. The United States is home to the world’s largest foreign-born population, with more than 47.8 million people as of 2023, according to the most recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau. From 2019 to 2023, the metro areas in the US with the highest and lowest foreign-born population share were: the Miami, FL area at 41.9% foreign-born (highest) and the Parkersburg, WV area at 0.98% foreign-born (lowest). The foreign-born share of the population in Montana metro areas: Missoula with 2.8%; Great Falls with 1.9% and Billings with 1.8%. 

A wise old timer from the area once told me,

“Don’t try to change the Madison Valley…let the valley change you!”