Preparedness

CURRENT BUG ACTIVITY

Anticipated Visitation

some interesting places to fish

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.. Well folks, it's just about as good as it gets. Although the rivers on the west side of Yellowstone National Park are above their seasonal discharge averages, they are rapidly clearing and the catching is getting better by the day. You, (and 150,000 others,) will not want to miss this opportunity.

.. The big bugs are on the Firehole River and the fish have found them. There are Yellow Sallies as big as bananas, the Salmon Flies are like giant zucchinis and the Golden Stone Flies will dwarf a Mazda Miata. This co-emergence is not unheard of, but to happen for the Fourth Of July is a rare occurrence.
.. If you like to fish in the morning on the Firehole River you will find a cool light fog and a spinner fall, (PMD's,) from about 7:30 AM onward. BWO's, Baetids of a couple sorts, and drowned nymphs can gather up fish all day.
.. For the folks that want to catch a lot of fish a rig with a small, (size 12 or less,) dark, floating Woolly Worm followed by a Caddis Nymph, (Rock Worm, Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear, or even a Prince Nymph) imitation will take 10" to 14" fish all day in the deep riffles.
.. We like to use a drowned, green, stiff-hackle in these high water conditions. Sizes 10 through 14 are good depending on what your rock-turning indicates.
.. The forecast for the weekend is a few scattered clouds and a few thundershowers. If you're blessed with overcast at the right time a mid-day mayfly hatch will clog your orifices. You'll need perfect presentation to fool a fish because of the fantastic cloud of the little devils.
.. The caddis have begun to appear in numbers that the fish enjoy. Sunshine in the afternoon is not a cruse right now. A two-fly rig with a large elk hair caddis, (size 10 - 12, or even 8,) followed by either an emerger or nymph will get the attention of even the most wary of trout as dusk covers the valley.

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.. The Madison River at this time of year is touted as a streamer fishery: and that's true, but there are some heavy White Miller hatches happening now that will continue for another week or two.
.. The deep undercut bank, (on the far side of the river from the parking at Barns #1,) has grown to enormous proportions during this high runoff episode. There are fish in there that will suck the cleats from your boots.
.. Take the long way around and sneak up on the bank, (getting your knees dirty is a good idea.) A short line and short, heavy leader with a marabou leech or dark green Wooly Bugger will wake you and the fish. Be prepared.

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..  Nez Perce Creek, (poor neglected sister,) is providing catching so good in all the riffles that should make the legal stretches a designated children's fishery. It's too easy right now. That's probably why it's being ignored.
.. The wade-deep crowd just can't stand to have anything too easy. Drowned and mangled dry flies, big nymphs, or bright yellow Woolly Worms will take more fish that your story can convey.
.. Of course, it requires a walk of about 700 yards to get to the water that provides exceptional catching. That may be too far for the wader-laden visitor.

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.. Visitation is heavy now and will be astronomically high for the Fourth. Caution is highly recommended in driving, gawking, parking and walking.
.. Some of the best fishing in this post-high-water period is reached by parking in a narrow spot, crossing the road, and then a meadow with downfall and bears. Please be careful: restrict your posing for the tourists to the crowded parking lots.
.. The bison are busy re-paving the road from the west entrance station to Madison Junction. This early summer maintenance is a Yellowstone ritual. It has been made an even greater attraction this year because of the wet meadows. The bison don't like to lounge in a wet puddle any more that do the picnickers.
.. If you can handle not fishing in crowded waters we suggest the Firehole River above the cascades along the Lone Star Geyser Trail. There are just a few Brook Trout in the water, but most of them are eager to dance with you.
.. We'll mention the Gibbon River tomorrow . . . we promise. But for now, we commiserate with you if you haven't found lodging. This little burg in the woods has been full for a week. There are a few camping places left, but driving from Bozeman is not too far if you need to fish in Yellowstone National Park over this coming weekend.

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A Day To Remember

SOFT WINDS: FLUFFY CLOUDS

Pretty Pictures

many fish

(mostly enormous images - click for high resolution.)

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.. It was a fitting end to this year's season in Yellowstone National Park. Elbows have returned in throngs as fishing and catching reached a mighty crescendo on the final full day of our fishing access.

.. The water has remained very low, cold, and quiet: the fish bunched up like cord wood in the few available parking places. The bugs have filled the air with the silent fluttering of diminutive wings.
.. Gawking at the beautiful day replaced lunch for many fishers on the final day of dancing.
.. On occasion the winds were crisp with of a hint of moisture from the peaks surrounding the plateau. They were not so strong as to disrupt the perfect placement of cast flies.
.. The Firehole River addicts were traipsing through the cold deep runs and risking erect nipples in their efforts to kick a few fish loose.
.. The "FIREHOLE FANDANGO," (practiced by some neighbors and visitors alike,) is similar to the 'SAN JUAN SHUFFLE.' It's a herky-jerky triple-metre jog dance: step - scuff bottom, step - roll rocks, step - twist feet; repeat.
.. About 35 feet of fly line is followed through each run. The offering at it's end is anything that the capricious angler desires. Tripping and falling in this river is not usually fatal. The fish however, sometimes die of laughter.
.. Fisher folks on the Madison River had a chance to practice both their casting techniques and their social skills as the famous runs drew too many cars and too many elbows.
.. Quite a few of the neighbors have discovered new depths and hides that resulted from the heavy early runoff. They have taken an obscene number of fish that the feather merchants haven't heard about. Oh well.
.. The arrival of real fall weather late in the day did not seem to dampen any spirits. Stories in pubs ran longer than the fish that they depicted and were way more colorful - and that's saying a lot.

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.. This has been a memorable season in Yellowstone. Old farts and newbies alike have commented on the gentility of the waters and the density of fish.
.. The early runoff, (record setting on some rivers,) moved the gravel, and moved the holes. The rejuvenated river beds should be healthy for quite some time.
.. The bugs were prolific as ever, but not as predictable as the feather merchants would have it. This situation obtained throughout the season and added some spice to fly selection as well as some unique marketing techniques for newly hired clerks in the feather emporia.

.. Guides did well, of course. They carry every fly known to man and can re-tie a rig with lightning speed. Hatch matching and contrarian techniques are their bread and butter. They are good at it.
.. Bears, bison, cantankerous elk, and wolves haunted the meadows of our favorite creeks. Some closures lasted longer than we have been used to. The upper Gibbon River and Nez Perce Creek closures put a kink in our seasonal habits. Change is frowned upon by our very epitome. We did survive.

.. Even Norris Campground was closed for marauding bears. The berry crop has failed this season and the Whitebark Pines have dropped very few nuts - the bears have stayed down low to forage in the meadows and in town.
.. A couple of bears up on the Gallatin River never left the valley floor. The same situation was found in the willow bottoms of Duck Creek and Cougar Creek. Not the kind of occurrence to encourage exploration of new territory in either case.
.. All during the year there were very few days that were too hot, and there were even fewer that were too cold.
.. This Autumn has been the stuff of calendar pictures and mild temperatures. We're still waiting for mom's payback. It could be brutal but maybe not too deep - we'll see. The evening's snow sprinkle is just a taste.
.. The images below summarize the final day. all are big enough for wallpaper - should you choose.

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Party Down

BIG BASH AT BARNS HOLES

You're Invited

one more day

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.. Believe it or don't! It's too hot for waders at the Barns Holes, (and throughout Yellowstone National Park.)
.. The neighbors glue AstroTurf to the bottoms of old sneakers and jump in. And, it's November. It's was colder in Orlando, Florida today than in West Yellowstone, Montana.

.. The fishing was pretty spectacular too. We'll be talking about this weekend for several decades; if the suds last that long!
.. Neighbors and visitors are finally climbing into the water in numbers that celebrate the weather and the catching. Pudgy Rainbow Trout and stout Brown Trout are stacked fin-to-tail in the few deep holes, (water levels are low.) Sore lips or no: they still bite the fluff that is offered by fishers.
.. Even the bugs are celebrating. There are several kinds of mayflies and a couple of caddis fly species cavorting along the rivers. Of course the fish are peculiarly selective and don't always target the most prevalent fly.  Ahhh, such fun in the sun!
.. We're too polite to call the thronging hoards chaotic - but - there has to be a polite word. We'll call it a party with a nod toward forced civility.
.. Tomorrow should be just a small bit cooler and present us with precipitation of some sort. The weather folks are just a mite defensive in the face of this salubrious blip in our Autumn weather.
.. Well then, lunch at 5:00 PM is the tell tale indicator. Gott'a get back for the evening chaos dances. More later.

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