Projects and Issues

Long Awaited Access To Stillwater

On Friday June 26, 2009, fly fishing and whitewater enthusiasts, neighbors, friends, family, and a large number of youth celebrated the opening of a new fishing access site on the popular Stillwater River. Formerly referred to as the Riverside Inn, about 2 miles downstream from Absarokee, the new fishing access site is a tribute in memory of the Billings boy for whom it is named Jeffrey’s Landing Fishing Access Site.

 The 3.7-acre site, signifies a victory for Fish, Wildlife and Parks staffers and area sportspersons for how well collaboration works.  It is also a tribute to the spirit of a young man and his passion for the outdoors and fly fishing, Jeffrey Stephen Knudson of Billings, a 14-year-old St. Francis Upper School student who died tragically March 8, 2009, in a motor vehicle accident.

 Dedicating the site, FWP Commission Chairman and family friend Shane Colton of Billings said “Jeffrey was extremely enthusiastic about the outdoors. Above all he loved fly fishing.He operated his own Web site, www.bigskytroutflies.com, and he was eager to share his passion for fly-tying with others.Jeffrey’s love of the outdoors was fostered on local waters, and he alwayspacked a rod ‘just in case.’ ” Friends of his family contributed to development of the fishing access site.

Colton added that “this site is not only a tribute to Jeffrey, a remarkable young man, but also a testament to the importance of Montana families always having safe and easy access to public waters. Jeffrey would have been so honored by the naming of this fishing access. His family wishes to offer their gratitude to Fish, Wildlife and Parks and hopes that families will launch from this site with the same enthusiasm that Jeffrey had.”

 MWF affiliate Public Lands and Water Access Association President John Gibson said “Let’s look at this, a public river with public fish within 50 miles of the largest metropolitan area in Montana - and 99 percent of the shoreline is private property. I’m glad to see all these kids here today. They’re the ones who will benefit.”

“Jeffrey did represent what public access is all about,” said Colton, “he learned how to fly fish in public waters using public access.”

 Jeffrey’s father, Steve, described how the renaming will memorialize his son, “We just love to think about people saying ‘Let’s put in at Cliff Swallow and take out at Jeffrey’s Landing.”

 “It’s so neat to be able to name this site, not just in Jeffrey’s memory, but to acknowledge the importance of our young people having access to public waters and safe access for families to utilize,” added FWP Commissioner Colton.