Flathead Lake Lodge

“Bing” Remembers Flathead Lake Fishing; Pictures in Film Book

By MILDRED KELSO, East Shore Correspondent

BIGFORK, Jan. 9—Movie-minded local residents took one look at the recent January issue of Motion Picture magazine and wondered if Les Averill was Hollywood-bound.
Denying any such ambition, Averill admits that he does get a “kick” out of the movie magazine’s picture of him and Bing Crosby trolling for Dolly Vardens on Flathead lake.

The picture is one of a spread of six “shots” of Bing and his party on last summer’s fishing junket. The accompanying brief article is entitled “Gone Fishin’.”

Fished in Valley

While on the 3,500-mile jaunt, Crosby fished many of Montana’s streams and had a try at both Swan and Flathead lakes.

The crooner was a guest at Les Averill’s Flathead Lake lodge, and Averill and Irv Ohmstede of Bigfork joined the party for the Flathead lake fishing. With Crosby were his script writer, movie producer Bill Morrow, and his ranch manager, John Eacret of Elko, Nev. Despite the movie magazine’s reference to “Montana’s fish-filled Flathead lake,” Bing’s efforts were futile.

Using a large wooden plug made by J. D. Sale of Woods bay, “Der Bingle” hooked a big one but the fish got away before it could be brought within range of the landing net.
That is Bing’s story and Averill and Ohmstede back him up in it.

When here in May, Crosby stated his intention of returning later in the season for another try at the “one that got away,” but his summer’s schedule did not permit a second visit.
Appreciative of the hospitality he enjoyed at the lodge, Crosby has continued to keep in touch with the Averills.

Soon after his departure he mailed back several pictures taken during his stay there, and to baby Douglas Averill who arrived just two days after the crooner’s visit, a sterling silver porringer engraved “Douglas from Bing.”

Christmas season just past also brought the family a card from “Bing, Dixie and the boys,” and to his fishing companion Les, a cigaret lighter engraved “From Bing.”

Crosby hooks, loses trout

EAST LAKE SHORE—Bing Crosby likes Flathead lake, but wishes he had landed the big one that got away.

The movie and radio crooner motored to the valley Monday and stayed at the Flathead Lake lodge that night and most of Tuesday.

He, Bill Morrow, his script writer, and John Eacret of Elko, Nev., manager of his ranch, tried the Swan Monday night and were enthusiastic about its fishing possibilities. They caught 12 good-sized trout.

Then Tuesday morning Les Averill and Irv Ohmstede took the trio out in Ohmstede’s cruiser. They hooked a “tremendous” bull trout which was pulled almost to the boat before the line broke. Crosby says his radio audience will hear about this one.

They dined on buffalo steak and said they enjoyed the naturalness of the valley. This was Bing’s first visit.

They had been visiting the Jackson Hole country where they reported streams were too high for good fishing. However, they reported success on Montana’s Madison river.