The Big Smoke

THE FISH DON'T KNOW

Your Eyes May Water

preparations for fall

HEGBEN BASIN SMOKESCAPE

-------

.. The west side of Yellowstone National Park, including the adjacent Hebgen Basin is enjoying our annual eye watering smoke from fires near and far. It neither enhances nor hampers the fish bite.

GALLATIN RIVER AND A SPECIAL TRIBUTARY

.. It does provide us with some interesting sunrises and sunsets. It does taste funny and certainly lets our eyes and lungs know what is going on around us.
.. It seems to have a singular positive affect on the west-side rivers. It filters the sun just enough to allow some minor cooling of the rivers. Temperature spikes, however, continue into the dangerous range on the Firehole River.
.. The closed rivers of the Madison River Drainage are showing a cooling trend that defies the air temperature trend. That's a good thing for the possible early re-opening of these rivers to fishing.
.. We are under a RED-FLAG WARNING and will probably stay that way for some days to come, (if not weeks.) Today's break in the current record and near-record high temperatures may continue for at least another week. That's good.

DARK SPRUCE FLY - REMEMBERED BY SOME

.. Significant cooling or precipitation may not occur until mid-September. That's not so good.
.. Most of the neighbors continue to fish the Gallatin River with good results. The lessor known tributaries are getting more attention than usual.
.. The upstream portions of the tributaries are still cool and serve some of our diehard neighbors the opportunity to try out their fall streamers.
.. It's amazing how small a fish will attack a very large fly. Keep in mind that it is sometimes hard to tell if you have a small fry on the end of your heavy line when Spey Casting the mega flies that are so in fashion right now.
.. The mama grizzly bear and her cub continue to visit with the visitors around Specimen Creek. You don't need to be in the backcountry to need bear spray. You do need to have it in hand when you exit your car.

LITTLE BROWN TROUT - EVER USE ONE ?

.. If you are interested in fires and weather we recommend the following links:
=> InciWeb for all fire information,
=> Yellowstone Park News Releases for fire, road, and fishing updates,
=> National Weather Service for national conditions, alerts, long range forecast,
=> Yellowstone Fishing Weather for current Yellowstone Park and West Yellowstone conditions and forecast.

-------

BULLS CHARGE - YIKES !!

.. Our ever-optimistic neighbors are busy tying flies for the Fall Fishing Frenzy. We've tried to convince them that it's not a necessary activity in the heat of Summer - they chide us and promise retribution in the form of fish stick totals. We listen patiently.
.. Some of the neighborhood fly masters are already tying streamers and other devices that are not available from the commercial feather merchants.
.. We'll save the full fall fly rundown until the elk have quit pestering each other. Yes the rut is underway despite the heat - it seems weird - but that's the way it is.
.. P.S. Gulpers still happening on Hebgen Reservoir.

-------

NEIGHBORHOOD FAVORITE GHOST - YOU CAN'T BUY THESE