Elbow Room

Fising Denied

GIANT ERUPTION AT BISCUIT

Well, Not Too Giant

three pools made into one

FIREHOLE RIVER LOOKING NORTH:  OUTWASH FROM LEFT TO RIGHT

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.. We took our fishing gear into Yellowstone National Park and caught no fish. Instead we took several hours to wander around the thermal features of Biscuit Basin.
.. A thermal explosion and eruption occurred a couple of days ago and rearranged the topography of the three most visited pools along the boardwalk.
.. The debris field, scoured outwash area, and boiling muck now clouding Opal Pool give testimony to the forces at work just below the feet of wading fisher folk: or for that matter, any folk in Yellowstone.
.. Eyewitness reports place the vertical displacement of water at about 70 feet. It was a large single column of water the erupted with a violent explosion and showered debris into the three previously separate pools along the boardwalk.
.. Boiling water, scalding mud, and boulders the size of watermelons were ejected from the newly expanded vent. The amount of water expelled was sufficient to remove vegetation and some subsurface sand all the way to the Firehole River, about 300 feet away.
.. Only a few faithful geyser gazers were present for the eruption. Hoards of visitors are now not streaming to the area to view the scene. After all, this is the last week of the "Summer Season." There are very few folks around to enjoy our protracted salubrious weather. So be it.
.. We're going to make up for not fishin' by going fishing. Golly gee, there's only seven days left.

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VIEW TO THE WEST SHOWING SCOURED AREA AND EJECTA:
Salt & Pepper Spring on the right was filled with debris and is now a pepper & pepper spring.

VIEW TO NE: SALT & PEPPER SPRING,
CURRENTLY SHOWING MUD FROM BOTH VENTS

VIEW TO NW: SHOWING DEBRIS AND SCOURED AREA

SKETCH MAP OF ERUPTION AREA IN BISCUIT BASIN

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Interlude

THREE HOT DAYS

It Don't Mean A Thing

it's just a capricious mom

Empty Bridge Over The Firehole River

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.. The colors are Autumn: the temperature is Summer. Grasshoppers are loving the brief pause in the steady temperature decline into Fall.

Funny How They Look Gray From A Distance

.. They get to warm up earlier in the day. They get to display their surprising colors for all to see. They get to fly in squadrons around the amber meadows. They get to feed more birds and fish. They just know how to  live. The hot interlude is just mom being a sad comedian.
.. Fishing is still good in Yellowstone National Park. Terrestrials are claiming most of the attention from feather merchants and experts alike. Hoppers, ants, beetles, spiders, and sundry attractors are doing their thing as they entice fish to the hand.

Closed Means Closed

.. We headed to Nez Perce Creek in an effort to enjoy some solitude and cool water.
.. Surprise! The bear is being persistent and the trails along the river have been closed. The crowds are gathering along the road and over the bridge. The bear is nonchalantly providing entertainment as it enjoys the cool water, abundant ants, hoppers, berries and beetles.
.. For us, it's not a photo-op but rather a grave disappointment. We had to walk about twice the same distance up the Firehole River to find the cool water of the Little Firehole River.
.. It's a chore for our legs and the reward, (besides the dances with trout,) was a visit with a neighbor who was bitterly whining about the same things that we were.
.. Not a single fisher nor photographer that we talked to had bear spray. None considered themselves in any danger. None had heard of the recent death by bear. None could, apparently, read.
.. It's a sad state of affairs when the illiterate masses with $4,000 cameras and $12,000 lenses can't read, and believe that the National Park Service is just a cartoon force. Believe it or don't: this IS bear country.

Safety Tip: Put The Kids Between You And The Bear !

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.. Soda Butte Creek is attracting anglers without bear spray and, of course, the meadow bear is still there. Catching is very good on both Slough Creek and the Lamar River. Bugs is the fare when hatching. Terrestrials and attractors when no hatch is present. Sneaky and closed-mouth fisher folk are drowning big Woolly Buggers and Silli-Legs in the meadows of Slough Creek. We wonder why?
.. Up on the Gallatin River the same critters are being gobbled by the bears and fish alike. It seems, right now, that any old attractor, (size 8 or smaller,) will take fish.
.. There are three active bears along the Gallatin River inside Yellowstone National Park. Combine this fact with the interesting notion that only one feather merchant in town carries large canisters of bear spray. We wonder at the marketing forces at work given this condition.
.. Bear spray costs about the same as two days worth of commercially tied flies. Unless you lose less than 5 per day. It also costs much less than a ride in a medivac helicopter. Enough of that!

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..The mosquitoes of Bechler seem to have taken a break during this warm spell. Boundary Creek, the Bechler River, and several not-to-be-named tributaries in the Cascade Corner are getting a fair amount of attention from fisher folk. Flying ants and beetles seem to be the predominant offerings that are taking fish. Bless 'em all: we hope bear spray is in attendance for the dances.

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It's All Hot !

TEMPERATURES SOAR

Sweaty Anglers Rejoicing

catching beyond belief

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.. Now that there's no place to sleep in West Yellowstone, and no place to avoid the heat, it's time to go fishing.
.. There is no cool place in town this evening. The pubs have the best air conditioning. Guess where the fisher folk are congregating? Guess what they are talking about? The best fishing possible on the west side of Yellowstone National Park. Guess what's about to happen? The heat will melt more snow. Then what?

.. The National Weather Service has issued both a FLOOD WATCH AND HEAT ADVISORY for our area. The Gallatin River may flood near Gallatin Gateway and Yellowstone Park may experience record breaking heat over the next two days. It may cool down just a bit for the Fourth of July.
.. Here's the current river status:
==> Firehole, about 225 cfs above seasonal average, colored & clearing, temp. spiking to 68° F, heavy bug activity, highly catchable.
==> Gibbon, about 100 cfs above seasonal average, colored & clearing, temp. spiking to 68° F, bug activity picking up, meadows drying, little water producing well, big water attracting stealthy fishers.
==> Madison, about 300+ cfs above seasonal average, surprisingly clear, temps holding in mid 60's, heavy evening White Miller and other caddis activity, ignored by many because of crowds and bison activity.
==> Gallatin, 300+ cfs above recorded max for the day, out of bank in some canyon sections, temp. at about 60° F, muddy and dangerous.

==> Lamar, about 200 cfs above recorded max for the day, still eating the road at confluence meadows & rising, Wild and Woolly Froth, some bugs seen running down the road to escape the muddy rampage, suicide wading discouraged,
.. [[ Road Press Release #1, Road Press Release #2, Hotline for road closure and conditions: (207) 344-2117.]] There is a distinct possibility for additional closures or heroic delays. Please use the hotline before you travel in the Lamar Valley.

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.. You won't need too many bugs in your box. Your favorite big bugs for the rocky and riffled areas of the Firehole Canyon and riffles near shore on the Madison River, (Yellow Sally, Golden Stone, Salmon Fly.)
.. White Miller Caddis & small Elk Hair Caddis for the afternoon and evening along the Madison River and Nez Perce Creek, (make noise and sing to the bears.)
.. Baetids in a few forms: emerger, spinner, dun, stillborn [mangled,] for any hatch you may encounter on the Firehole River below Biscuit Basin. If you are more picky than the fish use a PMD imitation.
.. Nymphs and streamers will be the way to go for those that want to catch astronomical numers of fish. King Prince and standard Prince should do, beadheads if you like. Two-toned Feather Duster, and Rock Worms should be enough for the upper Firehole River, Nez Perce Creek, the small meadows of the Gibbon River and all over the Madison River.
.. We're just back, (our orifices were clogged with caddis,) and can report that more fisher folk are reporting success than we've heard for many a Fourth of July. Veracity is never questioned when we chat with visitors!
.. There's a new watering hole in town and we're going to see if anyone besides the neighbors have found it yet.

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