A MATTER OF CHOICE

THE BEST WATERS

Not For Roadside Angling

all the neighborhood kids know

DARK HOLE - ONE PERFECT CAST - 25" FISH

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.. Most of the neighborhood kids, (bless their hearts,) are dragging in  the most - AND BIGGEST - fish of the anglers fishing our neighborhood waters.

Armed for bear - and fish.

.. They are not, usually, on Hebgen Lake. They are not, usually, on Quake Lake. They certainly are not between those lakes.
.. Despite the fame of our ice out catching and the large spawners Between the Lakes, the kids have chosen to fish for the genuinelly big fish right now.
.. Off they go: down muddy roads with muddy ruts, through thick tangles, up slippery slopes, into the slush of melting snow, and to the haunts of fish that never see the light of prose by corporate fishers or the popular writings of famous fishing personalities.
.. Some of the kids walk for a mile or two. Some of them are still riding snowmobiles. Most of them are using fire-breathing-death-machines. They all carry bear spray. They all have freshly charged cell phones. Most are well armed. They all fish for trophy trout. They also tie on the biggest fresh water flies we've ever seen.
.. A few, not many, of the kids fish with worms. Some fish with flies and fly rods. some fling monster bunny strips with a spinning rod. They all have cell phone pictures of wall hangers that they have let go after an heroic tussle.
.. Sometimes they keep a small fish of 16" or 18" for dinner. They let the bigger ones go to continue their spawning activities. Unless you are in the right pub, at the right time, you'll never hear about the locations of where to catch these fish. There's no secret about the locations. Everyone in the neighborhood knows where they are.
.. The places, however, are not for the itinerate anglers that frequent the roadside hot spots. These are places where the biggest fish hang out and make love. These are places where giants from the depths of our local lakes hide from the mysteries of shallow water. These are places where the kids go - why not?

Size 4, 2xl, Frightens Small Children

.. They eschew the redd tromping festival of the fishers between the lakes. They ignore the edges of the ice that require boats. They are allergic to the lawn chairs and easy beaches along the lake shores.
.. We'll catch hell for this post. But not in any nasty way. The kids will tell you right where to catch the fish. It's really nuisance fishing. You have to discard 15 to 20 fish an hour to gather in the big ones. Most visitors would brag about the 16" young fish. They might even quit and call it a good day after dancing with  all those fish. But the kids know better. They are adept at letting a fish go: quickly, safely.
.. We have a fondness for this bunch of rascals. They do us favors. They tie miniscule flies on bits of tippet so we can fish the wee small bug hatches. They take us to the good spots that the counter help at the feather merchants' shops never would go to. They buy us liquids to bolster our vitamin levels and enhance our spirit.
.. These kids know fishing. They know catching. They are wed, not to the corporate fishing scene, but to the fish of our neighborhood. Bless them all.

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Rasty Access To Some Giant Fish Holes - It's Closed Right Now

Estuaries Open

RAVENOUS FISH ABOUND

Rabid Fishers Hitting The Lake

you should be here yesterday

NEIGHBORHOOD HONEY HOLE - ICE EDGE ON THE MADISON ARM

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.. Both the Madison Arm and the Grayling Arm of Hebgen Reservoir are ice free. The South Fork Arm is almost there as well. Parts of the shoreline along the north shore are open as well.
.. Old Rule: ICE EDGE = HUNGRY FISH. It's mostly neighborhood fishing right now but there were several advanced parties of foreign fishers scoping out the lake over the weekend.
.. Catching is an all day affair with the best stringers arriving after about 1:00 PM. Night crawlers, Panther Martain's, and pink San Juan Worms are the standout attractions of the moment.
.. The most devilish indication of just how good the catching is, is that the local garden hackle supply is dwindling toward the zero point. Another indication is that the seven-day-a-week feather merchants have been closed for several hours each day of  the weekend - and all day Sunday. Something is going on.
.. The bluster in the weather has dribbled to a small nusaince level and there was most of a sunny day on Sunday. Neither the fish nor the fishers seemed to mind the sun and gentle breezes. There will be Spring bluster, (on and off,) for the next 10 days or so. Great for charging the streams with warm water and melting the remaining ice as well.

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.. There are colors appearing in the west side rivers of Yellowstone National Park.


YOU CAN DRINK IF YOU LIKE

.. They remid us of the decorations that infants leave in their nappies. Some fishers refer to the color as tea-stained. We'd rather not drink that tea.
.. Visibility on the Madison River is still around 18" or two feet and clouding up slowly. A few warm days and we'll be letting the lowland fishers know that the great catching is about to end. For now though, this is not what we would call a runoff event.
.. There are infrequent small bugs appearing on the surface of the water. There are more frequent appearances of noses and such. We suppose that there are midges in the bright spots of the warming water.
.. We're going to have some biscuits and gravy.

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LOW, SLOW, COLD, & NEARLY CLEAR MADISON RIVER
AT Mt. HAYNES IN YELLOWSTONE

Declaration

ICE OUT VERY SOON

Perhaps Tomorrow

or next wednesday for sure

A Bit Of Liquid Adorns the Ice At Hebgen Lake

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.. The weather wolverine of West Yellowstone has awakened and seen the water at lake's edge. The official declaration of "ICE OUT" is imminent.
.. Between snow squalls the visiting tourons are dressing for summer and pretending that the faint sun is warm enough for a dream vacation.
.. The neighbors are at Hebgen Reservoir, (sadly without lawn chairs for the moment,) and dragging in trout by the bucket.
.. Visitors from nearby foreign countries, like Idaho, and Utah are planning visitations to the famous fishing frenzy on the rocky shores and beaches of the reservoir.
.. Even the bison are streaming out of Yellowstone National Park to view the unfrozen water, - a rare and short lived sight in these parts.
.. We'll have a full report tomorrow or the next day - catching permitting.

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Can Summer Be Far Behind ?

Gentility Begins

AFTER THE CHAOS

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.. St. Pat's is over. Snowmobile Expo is done. The park is closed. The visitors are few. The streets are bare between dusting's. There are places to park. Grocery prices are down to just 2 x retail. The neighbors are taking the time to visit at the Post Office or anywhere else that they bump into each other.
.. Plutocrats and other wealthy residents are long gone to the less interesting and warmer parts of the globe. Transient workers are on the way out of town or busy seeking employment for yet another season of frenzied busyness.


re-frozen and re-cracked ice = catching

.. Children are loosed upon the village without fear and dogs and cats explore the deposits of foreign critters left behind by inconsiderate and unthinking visitors, (the snow hides it all - huh?)
.. Ice out is still some weeks away but there is some fishing and catching for the neighbors.
.. Leisure is the watchword. Opportunities last only a short time. Gentle meandering along the shores of Hebgen Reservoir allows us to fish the early holes.
.. Little bits of open water, (sometimes less than 50 square feet,) are beginning to appear along the shorelines. The fish find them as soon as they happen. Fishers become catchers as the shifting ice responds to the wind, sun, and currents from the in-flowing rivers.
.. Catching is nearly automatic in these little bits of open water. Any worm, spinner, lure, fly, or bare hook with a bit of flash will take a fish.

"HELLIFIKNOW" is on stage

.. It's a neighborhood pastime that attracts us all. It's not for the visitors from afar.
.. It's an ephemeral phenomenon. The holes open and close as the day progresses. The ice creaks and groans. The clear, thin, skim ice from last night twinkles as it is sundered into gleaming shards.
.. The fish appear and disappear. Scuttlebutt is passed from neighbor to neighbor in the grocery lines, at the hardware store, in the diner, and of course the Post Office. Scurrying is the name of the game. We do it on occasion. The cell phone has aided the endeavour greatly. Such fun.

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Sledheads have run out of snow in town. Mud and slush are great fun - huh?

Lowly Scud

BEER BAY OPEN

Whiskey Bay Open Too

fling hardware or scuds

PREGNANT SCUD - GREAT IN FALL, GOOD NOW

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.. For the dedicated fly fisher, (not the part time local guides - nor the experts currently in the far away warmer climes,) there is - RIGHT NOW - a rare opportunity to catch giant trout.
.. Bits of ice are leaving the shore around Whiskey Bay and Beer Bay on Hebgen Reservoir, (depending on wind and sun.) The gear guys have found it. A couple of the enthusiastic young neighborhood kids with long rods have also found it.
.. Gear guys use gold. Fly guys fling scuds. Pregnant scuds, (a hold over from fall catching,) are taking big fish right along side the Mepps spinners and Kastmasters. Practice your figure eight retrieve and cast to the ice. 'Nuff said.

Try this:
ABOUT SCUDS

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Auger In

HEBGEN LAKE IS SOLID

Thrumming is Rampant

flies and pimples in use

SCENIC HEBGEN LAKE IN WINTER DRESS

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.. The neighbors are getting worked up about the ice fishing on Hebgen Lake. There's just 6 weeks until the NAIFC-sanctioned ice fishing tournament arrives. This year there will be a prize pool of at least $14,000 and it could go as high as $21,000. Two local teams took home giant chunks of change last year. They are hoping to do it again this year.
.. The balmy days, frigid nights, and perpetual snows are exciting the neighbors beyond all rational behavior. Ten pound trout have already been landed on Swedish Pimples and giant Shop Vac flies. The tournament headquaters out at Kirkwood Resort and Marina is already gearing up with pre-fishing schedules and maps.
.. This tournement has grown so fast that it has two pages on the official Montana State Travel Website:
===> HERE  &  HERE.
.. The tournament is a three day affair: February 1, 2, 3, 2013. It includes free kids' camp, clinics and instruction, a pre fishing day, group tutorials, Rocky Mountain Ice Fishing Product Fair, and of course the tournament and weigh-in.
.. The tournament is limited to 150 two-person teams so get your registration form in early. Like right now. Use the form on the OFFICIAL TOURNAMENT WEBSITE.
.. We'll keep you informed.

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THE SNOW HAS FINALLY ARRIVED IN WEST YELLOWSTONE

Do It Right Now

BIG FISH FISHING

Little Fish Fishing

it's all good for five more days

Fishing With Bobber & Spinning Rig Is legal If There Is A Fly At The End Of Your Line.

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.. Join  the fun. Drive in the slush, and ice, and sleet, and rain, and snow, and enjoy the clouds and sun and wind and everything about the next few days. Soon we'll be counting down the 200+ days until we enter the fray of swollen rivers, mud, and potholes. All too soon this year will fade. All too soon the fish will grow and the pain subside.

.. The bite is on like in days of yore and even the Chamber of Commerce can't find words glowing enough.
.. The snows have come: wet, intermittent, slushy, and warm. This is typical for the Fall to Winter transition. It's a bit late this year but not out of the window.
.. The good thing is that the roads in Yellowstone National Park are mostly clear of the white stuff for propitious amounts of time. BUT: be prepared with tire chains and/or snow tires. A couple of more days of balmy 40's and 50's then some grunge for the weekend. How usual.

.. We're in the standard "Late Fishing Frenzy" mode. Folks are anxious and antsy about getting in a few more days of fishing. The fish are agitated and vigorously perusing their sexual mandate.
.. Park staff is eager to leave their summer posts and get gone to warmer climes.
.. Seasonal counter clerks, some on commission, are busy selling wash tubs for nets in an effort get the necessary gas money for a quick getaway on November 6. The scene is hardly that of the post cards portraying the idyllic fishing behavior that is rumored to exist in Yellowstone National Park.
.. There are places where fish are easy to catch. There are places where big fish can be caught. The two are seldom the same. Plan on wearing your cocoon outfit. Plan on cold fingers and the occasional frozen guide, (of the human and chrome and tungsten variety.)

.. There is fantastic surface action on the Firehole River with the Baetis imitation of your choice, (when the little darlings hatch in the dreary overcast fog.) Try BWO and CDC patterns in the smaller sizes = 16 - 20. We like the dinkers tied for the guys at Buzz Basini's shop.
.. When the bugs are not on the top the fish are still eating at a glutinously rate. Use a drowned Baetis and a Prince Nymph of the appropriate size, (= small!)
.. Of course the head hunters of the Madison River are out in force. Many are sporting double fisted Spey Rods that are useful for casting to the pools a full 30 and 40 feet away. It's not a herculean effort since the rod usually covers half the distance to the fish.
.. Most of these fishers have perfected the art of walking right through the deep dark water and kicking the fish in their belly. This is a technique rumored to produce greater spunk and fight in the submarines hiding in the deep spots.
.. Many of the neighbors are seeking fish away from the crowds. Up on the Gallatin River, (which is way too cold to fish,) there are places where only the bears and fishers go. The bears run from the boisterous neighbors and their raunchy limericks. The fish seem to run toward the screaming noises.
.. Try it: "There once was a bear from I stuck it . . ." etc. Best sung in a loud and lilting contralto.
.. Or, the neighborhood favorite: "Here bear! Hear Bear!" it seems that the bears do things opposite from folks.
.. We've been fishing and catching in none of the above mentioned places in Yellowstone National Park. They are not places worth mentioning because folks just don't fish there. So we do.
.. We like the idea of catching several dozen brightly-colored feisty Brook Trout that willingly come to whatever bits of fluff we happen to have. We like the idea of being shielded from the biting winds by a tunnel in the Lodgepole Pines. We enjoy getting in the car with no waders and no cold, wet boots. We enjoy getting home and popping a cold one without the hassle of undressing and re-dressing. We seem to have weird priorities. It must come with age and decrepitude.

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FISH THE WEEDS !!

Grab The Groceries

BRIEF FRESHETTE IN RIVERS

Big Fish Bail Out Of Holes

estuary fish smell the bordellos

TIME FOR THE HEAVY ARTILLERY 

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.. Last night's gentle rain was scattered, mostly, throughout the Madison River drainage. It was just measurable in some areas and up to 2" in others. It was enough to raise the river level by as much as 10" or more and cool the flows to fish-stimulating temperatures.

SIZE 20 MADISON MAULER - DEADLY

.. Discharge on the Madison River near West Yellowstone increased by a meager  45 cfs. That is, however, enough to carry the enticing aromas of the river to the estuaries of Hebgen Reservoir.
.. There was a bit less rain in the upper Gallatin River drainage. The exposed point bars and segmented pools should continue to act as little hoosegows for the migrants - until a significant bit of rain bumps them out of their stupor.
.. Resident fish in both drainages have been displaced by the runners and migrants.
.. They are scattered in secondary hides throughout both systems. They are eating small scraps of fluff, anything that looks like a White Miller Caddis, or sundry nymphs of miniscule proportions and even little twigs.

TONE ON TONE AND SPOTS ON SPOTS

.. Some of these displaced residents, (in both drainages,) are up to 18" and surprisingly feisty right now, (is this displacement behavior?)
.. What ever the reason, and whatever the situation it's a good time for catching.
.. Big fish on little flies, giant fish on enormous flies, all fish on caddis of some sort - OR - a size 8 Parachute Adams, (brown variant if you have one.)
.. Over the weekend we observed one hole on the Gallatin River and one on the Madison River where it was difficult to see the cobbles of the river bed for the density of fish.
.. This is about to change. Yes they were, indeed, stacked in there like cord wood. They won't be there tomorrow.
.. There are many techniques for taking the runners and migrants. There is one constant that seems to hold true: HIT THEM IN THE NOSE!! This means moving and casting to cover lots of water. It means exercise and more exercise. It does not mean planting your duff in one spot and flailing the water to a froth - although we see it done this way each time we visit the rivers.
.. We hope the air clears. We hope the fires diminish. We hope there is a good crop of runners. We hope that everyone that wants one - gets one, (or a dozen.)
.. We've been lucky. Our quota has been filled. Perhaps by the coming weekend they will be up by Gibbon Falls and there will be a bright overcast afternoon. It's an annual event for the neighbors. Maybe we'll catch a few more.

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LOW WATER - CRAMPED QUARTERS - SMOKE - COLORS - BIG FISH

As You Like It

LESS IS MORE

Submarines Arriving Daily

or, try a beaver dam

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.. This has to be quick. The big fish, running up the Madison River from Hebgen Reservoir, are coming in waves and running fast and far. The Gibbon River in National Park Meadows even has a couple of the monsters - ALREADY!

.. Follow the neighbors. Walk miles and miles. Cover acres and acres of water. You shall be rewarded.

.. The folks that are catching fish are moving around. Moving around as much as fishing.
.. They are behaving like the steelhead fishers of the Pacific Coast. 

.. Try this: CAST - SWING - SHORT JERK RETRIEVE - THREE STEPS - REPEAT. Get in line. Do the conga. Exercise the pool and your arm. Then, (very important,) move on. Move to another pool. Move to another location. Move to another state, (it's easy to do along the park line.)

.. Fish will eat your fly if they choose to. Switch flies if they aren't on it. It is happening right now. Get here and stay for the next month or so.

..If you're not a headhunter there is great fishing all around us. Hebgen Lake still has some gulpers working to the continuing hatches. Try it, you'll like it.
.. The Gallatin River is in perfect shape and the elbows have left the room. Spruce moths continue to swim near the wooded areas. There are morning, (or all day,) hatches on our blessedly cloudy days. Mostly it's BWO's in the forenoon and a few caddis and, yes Betty, hoppers wake up when it gets a bit warmer.
.. You can fish the Gallatin River all day with an Adams followed by a Prince Nymph and do just fine. Fish with a friend and be very bear aware in the northern reachers of the park water. Hell's Bells - be bear aware along the whole valley. There was just a mauling over the hills. An elk hunter called in a sow griz.

.. A couple of the neighbor kids visited the Firehole River. It's still a bit too warm by mid-day. They sampled the Little Firehole River and Nez Perce Creek. They found both bears and fish. They avoided the bears and stuck the fish with soft hackles.
.. All this kind of exuberant activity drains what little energy we have.
.. There are some nice, well hidden, beaver ponds in, and around the neighborhood.
.. They don't get much press. That's fine with us. A leisurely stroll around them will produce as many fish as mosquito bites in July.
.. We like to watch the noses as they slide up beneath the unsuspecting bugs and bits. Brook Trout reign supreme in these little pools of water.
.. There is, on occasion, a surprise in the form of a 14" - 16" monster. We don't expect much in the way of size - the solitude and gentility are compensation enough.
.. Adventurous neighbors have probed the bear closure boundaries of Duck Creek. There are many fish willing to eat anything that comes their way.
..  Campanula Creek has been neglected by most of the neighbors this year - much to the joy of one youngster that can walk that far. The fish rise freely to anything in the size 12 - 16 range. Sparsely tied caddis seem to be the favorite of the hikers. A Royal Wulff is also a good choice. BEAR SPRAY and an alert friend are mandatory. Singing and joking are requisite behaviors also.
.. That's enough for now - got to go visit some kits we know of.

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Early Runners

SCARE THE RESIDENTS

Target Newbies

damn the soft hackles

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.. Confirmed: a few big fish along the park line on the Madison River. If you're serious about the runners from Hebgen Reservoir use the big uglies and streamers.
.. It'll spook some of the resident fish - so what! We're after heads here. Can't wait? Do it now and be prepared to cast an awful lot. Be prepared to walk and drive a lot. Revisit holes after moving on.
.. Cover acres and acres of water. Use your wading staff. Probe every possible hiding place. Probe the improbable. Badger the feather merchants. Set up a cell phone network.
.. Look for clusters of cars near rivers. Smell the waders. Breath deeply the smoke filled air. Dodge the mobile condominiums on the roads. Dash down dusty byways. Get the early fish.
.. It's way too exhausting for us.

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Forget Me Not

NOT JUST FOR SPRING

Great For Searching

pretty good bobber too

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.. We will, on more than an occasional basis, tie on a Stimulator for our early Fall fishing.
.. We learned about this from one of the neighbors who fishes it year 'round. He ties them big for the Spring and calls them "STONIES." He ties them small and calls them "CADDIES." He ties them giant and calls them BOBBIES. Go figure!
.. Big fish are already sniffing the cooler waters in the estuaries of Hebgen Reservoir. Fishers in boats are are piling up among the braided weed beds of the upper ends of the various "arms" of the lake. It's an annual event. It's early. It's way too early. But, hope springs eternal.

.. The "NEIGHBORHOOD RIG" consists of a giant stimulator, (as big as #2, but usually a #4,) and a trailer 'de jour,' about  14" behind the bobber.
.. The current trailing fly of choice is an Olive Matuka, (with a Little Brown Trout in a close second place.)

.. In a couple of weeks, (maybe a month,) the trailing fly will become a standard local big fish streamer: Furnace and Red, Baker's Hole Bugger, Brindle & Hen, Pheasant and Blue, or, (our favorite,) Woolly Worm.

.. These are not the flies that the clerks at the feather merchant counter will sell you. Buy theirs and catch some fish. Tie your own and catch more.
.. Currently, those fishers that are still fishing in Yellowstone National Park are swinging soft hackles and doing a bang-up job on Nez Perce Creek. Beware of the bear!

.. There are some rumored monster fish in the confluence meadow in Biscuit Basin and up the Little Firehole River. The same rumor persists for the bigger meadow just downstream from the parking lot as well. These are wary fish and they require a bit of stealth. If you don't see noses a perfect cast to the grass covered, undercut bank should produce a tussle if your drift is very long and very perfect.
.. Hoppers are going crazy on the Madison River and beginning their annual dance along the Firehole River and the Gallatin River as well.
.. You can use your favorite hopper imitation of the appropriate size and color if you choose, - OR - surprise, a stimulator!

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