It was Barack Obama’s “A River Runs Through It” moment.
Moving beyond his usual sporting pursuits of basketball and golf, the U.S. president took advantage of his trip to Montana’s Big Sky country on Friday to try his hand at the Western pastime of fly fishing.
His original plan for a 30-minute helicopter ride to a fishing spot at the O’Dell Creek Ranch was nixed by rainy weather.
Instead, after hosting a healthcare townhall meeting in the rustic town of Belgrade, Obama traveled by motorcade to a nearby private ranch set against a misted mountain range.
The meandering East Gallatin River runs through it and the fishing hole there was apparently deemed acceptable for presidential use.
Although the press pool was kept at a distance with its view mostly obscured by trees and overcast skies, Obama’s entourage was spotted headed to the riverbank with fly-fishing rods in hand. Whiplike lures could be seen looping gracefully over the water.
