Howes Fishing

When it comes to fishing, touring and exploring Montana’s Glacier Country, we offer 10 boats to serve you, from world famous Flathead Lake to the small local lakes and river sloughs that offer some of the best fishing this side of the Mississippi. We also offer guided trips on the east side of the state, specializing in the giant fish of Fort Peck Reservoir and Hebgen Lake.

During the winter months, the team are no strangers to fishing on the ice. Big Sky Fishing Charters has ice houses that can accommodate anywhere between 1 person all the way to 30 people! You never need to worry about being cold when housed by these during your trips as each shelter is heated.

If you are interested in Flathead Lake fishing or our other lakes in Flathead Valley, river fishing for pike, guided ice fishing, Wild Horse Island tours and Flathead Lake tours, Chris and April Mischke and the crew at Big Sky Fishing Charters stand ready to serve you in a manner that you will want to experience again and again. See you on the water!

A Able Fishing Charters and Tours was started by George “Shorty” Goggins in 1987.  Back then, there were several outfitters on the lake, most of which have come and gone, but A Able Fishing Charters and Tours lives on.

Originally called A-1 Charters, the name changed sometime in the early 90’s.  Back when it was important to be the first “name” in the phone book. When several other local businesses in the area decided to call themselves A-1, Shorty changed the name to A Able and the rest is history.

The name “Shorty” is synonymous with Flathead Lake.  Thousands of customers, and hundreds of lifelong friends have been out on the big lake in an “A Able” boat.  Many of the guides and outfitters on the lake today got their start with Shorty.

In 2008, Shorty sold the business to Pat and Tobi Campanella.  Longtime customers and friends, Pat had previously worked in the charter business on Lake Tahoe and had guided hunters and anglers alike in Alaska for years before coming to Montana

Shorty and Pat, along with a couple of other part-time guides, worked the big lake for a couple of years before Shorty permanently retired in 2009.

In early 2011, Mike and Cindy Howe became the new owners of this storied company.  Pat and Tobi needed to return to Alaska for career reasons, and Mike and Cindy, already involved in numerous outdoor ventures in the valley, were looking to expand into the outfitter business. It was a perfect fit.

For years, A Able Fishing Charters and Tours was based out of Marina Cay Resort in Bigfork.  In 2011, they returned and once again called Marina Cay home.  While there were new names on the masthead, the legacy of Shorty and A Able Fishing Charters lived on. (Shorty passed away in April of 2017.)

Back in the early 2000s, Captain Bob Orsua got his start with Shorty, and within a few years had started “Mo Fisch Charters.” Mike got his start in 2009 guiding for Mo Fisch. In early 2017, tragedy struck when Captain Bob was diagnosed with aggressive cancer that would take his life within thirty days. Howes was offered the opportunity to purchase the Mo Fisch business and combine the two largest charter companies in NW Montana.

Which now brings us to Chris and April Mischke of Big Sky Fishing Charters. They purchased Howes, AAble, and MoFisch in 2023 from Mike and Cindy Howe to give them the opportunity to retire and focus on a whole new kind of life experiences just waiting to happen. Chris and April added Howes Fishing to their company, naming it Big Sky Fishing Charters: home of Howes, AAble & MoFisch Charters to keep the history alive.