The smallmouth bass of the north woods are calling and I must go… Wildfire Refugee I left Missoula in a huff with smallmouth bass on the brain. Lingering smoke and heat had spoiled our precious summer and I’d been out in the elements, guiding clients through the putrid haze. Our ample snowpack was long gone, replaced by rising water temperatures. Deteriorating fishing and concern over our wild trout population weighed heavily on my mind. Other guides had pulled the plug, postponing their seasons until fall, and losing thousands in revenue. I couldn’t, in good conscience, continue to claim checks that our non-renewable resources may not be able to cash. I could find respite in the north woods until cooler temperatures…