Unbelievable

A GLORIOUS WEEKEND

Fishing Great

catching slowed a bit

TOO PRETTY TO FISH

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.. The neighbors ditched their rods for a full three days. We succumbed to only a single day with rod in hand. The cause? JUNE IN OCTOBER.
.. Bright sun, gentle breezes, wispy clouds, short pants and thongs. What more could one ask? Temperatures in the 50' & 60's? You got it.
.. Plans for the weekend were hastily arranged around outdoor meals, football at the school and in the city park. Bicycles were dragged out of storage and roller blades received an unexpected late season round of exercise.
.. The weather gurus are calling for a full week of spectacular visitation weather. Crisp nights in the 20's and days continuing in the 50's and 60's. A few clouds should buzz through the neighborhood and the ever-so-slight chance of a bit of precipitation may visit us.
.. Submarine sightings on the Madison River have been regular but fewer than expected. On the other hand the caddis on the Firehole River have erupted into clouds of afternoon dive bombers starting about 3:30 or so. There are even a few hoppers still gamely fluttering around in the afternoon rays. SUCH A DEAL!
.. Several Conga Lines have formed in the usual places and fishing has become a more social event than sporting event. Conversation, stories, lies and jokes are the fly of choice at the Barns Holes now and for the foreseeable future. It's all good.

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Conga Line etiquette: carefully fish through the pool, stroll back to it's head, get in line, tell stories!

Sands Of Time

THE CLOCK IS TICKING

Hoppers Diminishing

hormones in ascendancy

RIFFLE & RUN  -- OR -- RIFFLE & POOL?

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.. First there needs to be a bit of "Air Clearing." There are big fish in almost all of the waters of Yellowstone National Park. It happens. Accept it. This is the time of year when hormones and instincts trump simple conventional wisedom.
.. If a large, (for the neighborhood,) trout is 22" or more, then there was a large trout, (two actually,) taken at the confluence of the Gibbon River and Solfatara Creek . . .  TRUE!
.. There have been several very large fish taken near the confluence of the Gallatin River and Specimen Creek. A couple of giant fish have been taken in the very thin water of Bacon Rind Creek. just west of the highway, (bet you drove right past them.) Of course there have been bucket-loads of large fish taken in the park-line-pools at Bakers Hole on the Madison River.

.. The simple fact is that mature trout migrate instinctively upstream to gravels suitable for spawning. That's going on right now and the surprises are wondrous to behold.
.. Recent fishing along the park reaches of the Gallatin River has been delightful, (save for the smoke in the air and air temperatures in the low 80's.) There are still some hoppers and spruce moths and beetles and flying ants attempting to swim in the river.

.. Fall catching on the Gallatin River is enhanced by finding the optimum conjunction of terrestrial and aquatic circumstances. No giant insight here.
.. The most successful neighbors count at least five factors that must come together in very extremely close proximity for optimum catching: Sagebrush Flats, Willow Bottoms, Lodgepole Pines, Riffles punctuated by Dark Water Pools, and Undercut Banks. The diversity and availability of foodstuffs in these areas accounts for both trout and bear density. Keep that in mind!
.. The weather is often less of a factor than conventional wisdom would dictate. Right now we're in a similar weather pattern that we experienced two years ago when temperatures of 85°F were seen in October. It could happen again.

.. Fish are still migrating and spawning. Photoperiod and water temperature are key triggers for the current sort of sexual shenanigans that the trout are enjoying.
.. The near-term weather forecast calls for unseasonably warm and dry periods for up to the next two weeks.
.. Evenings, of late, have been in the 20's but promise to rise into the 40's. Some clouds and some widely scattered showers may grace parts of the neighborhood but they will not significantly alter the trend - or the trout and bear behavior. Keep in mind that the berry crop is low and the bruins are ranging widely.

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. . . Into It's Own

WORTH THE WAIT

Elbows Diminishing

catching is way too easy

FOLLOW THE TRAIL TO SERENE MEADOWS

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.. The sweet sister river on the west side of Yellowstone National Park is in perfect shape for catching.

.. With flows about 100 CFS below seasonal averages, and temperatures at a fish loving perfection, the GALLATIN RIVER has become the choice destination for fishers of all stripes.
.. The hoppers are going mad with delight at the very warm days. They awaken predictably after the Fall-like cool evenings. They swim poorly, much to the delight of fish and fishers alike.
.. Some flying ants are present near the northern park line, and Spruce Moths have found their way to the river from the edges of the wooded meadows.

.. The golden hues of Fall are invading the emerald rainbow of the valley floor at a rapid clip. Straw colored grasses are creeping toward the green's of the river's edge.
.. Our sparse afternoon rains have allowed the beetles to mature at an astonishing pace. AND - lo, the predictable caddis are present in satisfyingly large numbers.

.. GALLATIN RIVER tributaries, in the park, have begun to look too thin to hold fish of any appreciable size. Don't be fooled. The fish seem to know the season even before the calendar or the weather.
.. It takes a bit of a walk to get there, but the tangled willow meadows of FAN CREEK are easily the second finest place to surprise yourself with an outsized fish.

.. If you can bring yourself to brave the dusty road along the edge of BACON RIND CREEK, and if you can forego the urge to rush upstream from the parking lot, and if you are not in too big of a hurry to reach stream side - THEN - there are some pudgy resident fish not 40 yards from that selfsame dusty road.
.. Should you care to brave the bears and brambles of the cloistered stretches of SPECIMEN CREEK, you will have found the third best chunk of water for surprises of the largish sort.
.. The dinky little parking lot at the trailhead is almost constantly full of vehicles. Some of the invading $40,000 SUV's receive their first bit of parking lot rash in these environs.
.. Our destination, this weekend, as usual, is the upper reaches of the GALLATIN RIVER. It's that lonely stretch along the Bighorn trail. We end up hoarse from singing to the bears and winded from the walk. We pledge, after each foray, to never torture ourselves again.
.. Yet, back we go to the isolation, beauty, splendor, and gregarious fish of this bit of water. The bears miss us and it's easily the fourth best place to gather up a submarine in water so thin that they leap onto the bank and land themselves.
.. On the other hand, we may end up at the first best place to catch the early run monster fish of the GALLATIN RIVER.
.. It doesn't take a horse to get there but one would make it a lot easier. You'll know where as soon as you see the only rig in an unlikely pullout far from any named tributary. The one near the giant culvert.

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TOO THIN TO HOLD A VERY BIG FISH  ---  DON'T BOTHER

Takin' Five

BIG DOIN'S IN TOWN

Neighborhood Feasting

rods running

DELIGHTFUL AND USEFUL FOR SUMMER DINING

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.. On occasion, there are happenings that take precedents over fishing. So we participate.
.. This last weekend we were chided mercilessly for missing the morning bug frenzy on the Gallatin River, (mile post 29,) and the evening suicide flights of the fresh hoppers - same place.

However . . . .

.. We enjoy the benefits of a large Latino population in our village. One of them is the importation of fine Mexican food products. Peppers, sure: Maria's Cookies, Coconut Candy, Gamesa Sugar Wafers, etc.
.. Before we continue, the recipe below is one of the most useful ever devised - just make it up and try it - in everything!

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CHILI PASTE

One bag of dried peppers, (seeds, stems, skin and all!)
4 cloves, (or more,) garlic,
1/4 cup sugar,
1 Tablespoon salt,
2 Tablespoons milk,
1 (or 2,) Tablespoon cooking oil, (Olive oil - if you choose,)
White vinegar to make paste - add very slowly for desired consistency,

Throw it all in a blender - blend until really smooth. Refrigerate overnight for best taste and consistency.

Add bits of paste, (to taste,) to hamburgers, soups, salad dressings, mayonnaise for sandwiches, stews, fresh salsa, tartar sauce, etc. YUM  - YUM

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.. As close as we got to fishing was the observation of gear in the village. The owners were, as we were, enjoying the cruising Street Rods, Hot Rods, and Custom cars at the 42nd annual West Yellowstone Rod Run.
.. Of course several neighborhood feasts were happening and we had to visit them all since we could not show favoritism to any of the neighbors.

.. Even some of the neighborhood fishing fanatics cut short their marathon catching, (the Gallatin River is hopping right now,) and used the excuse that their arms were sore from catching so many fish.
.. There are 16" fish in Bacon Rind Creek, There are 14" fish in Specimen Creek, There are 20" fish at the park line near Snowflake Springs, - AND - the Taylor Fork is running cold and clear.

.. Now is the time for your favorite hopper-dropper combination. Float 'em both, sink 'em both, float one and sink the other - it's all good.
.. The apparent most successful combination, (we weren't there,) reported by the catchers of note, was a high floating hopper, (size 6 - 10,) followed by a drowned Stiff Hackle, (size 10 - 14.)
.. We caught a few of the neighbors at the park and around town and snapped some photos of the cars. It was just a wee bit too hot for our taste but the doin's was worth it.

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Get Upstream

FISH HERE

USE THESE

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.. There are still eager fish to be fed along the Gibbon River in Yellowstone National Park.
.. For the neighbors it means trading a few gallons more gasoline for the privilege of catching some trout in cool water.

.. It's unusual, but not unheard of, to speak of the upper Gibbon River warming as fast as it has this year.
.. It means that the further upstream you go, the cooler the water and the more sprightly the fish. We'll take it - but not as often as usual.
.. The terrestrials are out and the Hoppers are beginning to imitate Olympic Swimmers - but poorly at that: all in the favor of the fish and fisher.
.. The Spruce Moths are busy imitating Caddis Flies in some areas, and the active fish are very indiscriminate about the pattern or size - right now.

.. There are very few ants around, but the beetles are especially prolific this year, (soft winter and all that!)
.. Fish in the morning while there is still dew and pockets of fog. Precise casting to the early shadow lines with groceries will wake up some of the larger fish.
.. The Brook Trout will be active all day, but again, they will be resting in the shade of rocks and undercut banks. As the sun moves - so too the fish.
.. The nice thing about fishing marginal waters in the late summer is the beauty of the surroundings that are unencumbered by elbows or the plashing of baggy waders.

.. The catching has slowed just a smidgen and there is time for dawdling and lazing and basking in the beauty of Yellowstone National Park. This is not for headhunters or scalp collectors. It is, however, relaxed, gentle, unhurried, fishing - with some pleasant catching thrown in.
.. The neighbors are fond of reminding us that even, (or especially,) the bigger fish seek the cooler upstream waters. Your Ipsydasie Superslaughter Wig-Wag attractor fly may end up with a fish bigger than your relaxed attitude deserves!

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P.S. The gulpers of fame on HEBGEN LAKE are becoming very noisy early in the day. Right now the midges are holding sway but . . . .

Some Cold Water

FISH HERE

USE THESE

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.. The mid summer warm has forced the neighbors north. Into the elbow-ridden Gallatin River valley they have fled. The cold water and the early hopper hatch has made the social aspects of crowded fishing worthwhile. The catching continues to improve by the day.

.. Spruce moths are also available. Not quite as thick as last year - yet.
.. The standard assortment of trout fodder is currently gracing the valley in Yellowstone National Park.
.. Some PMD's in mid morning, followed by caddis. Hoppers are busy drowning as soon as they get some sun, ants have been seen doing the back stroke around Black Butte, and beetles are all over the ground.
.. Flies that work are simple and effective right now: San Juan worm, Yellowstone Sallies, small Rubber Legs, small Spruce Flies in the undercuts, and Hare's Ears nymphs, (with or without bead heads or gold ribs.) It's a good time to fish - just do it.
.. Remember - PLEASE !! - the bears are still in the valley. Carry bear spray, sing ribald songs, and fish with a partner.

.. Our little village is suffering the standard busy weekend full house syndrome. Current events make walking, parking, shopping, and just plain being a chore. The Rodeo is drawing crowds at a record pace, the 42 annual Rod Run is in town, the Smoking Waters Rendezvous and living history event is camped out here, and visitors are arriving in record numbers. Visiting fishers are having a hard time finding a place to stay, and the motels are loving it.

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Too Hot - High Or Low

SHADE NOW A PRIORITY

For Man And Beast

visitors wearing neoprene waders

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.. It has got to be a true shock to the psyche of the tweedy set. They've packed their finery. They've read the books. They are armed with rods of herculean proportions. They are ready to strut their stuff on the glory waters of Yellowstone National Park and the rest of Southwestern Montana.
.. They forgot their short pants. They never had a short-sleeved fishing shirt. They wear socks with their sandals. Their waders are full of powder and their sweater is packed and ready. Oh Well!
.. It's not too early to dream of blinding and slashing strikes at terrestrial bugs. Of course the experts would have you believe that the dainty flies are holding their own as fish fodder - mostly true for some famous places.
.. The weather has been of the standard variety for this time of year. It's been hot, punctuated with gentle showers on occasion.
.. The showers and blessed coolness of the afternoons has slowed the final molt for our local grasshoppers - but there are a ton of the nymphs ready to fall into the rivers.
.. White millers have sprouted like dandelions as have the evening caddis, and a few spruce moths have also shown up.
.. For the moment the catching game goes something like this: morning spinner fall, (peaks about 7:30 or 8:00 AM,) followed by recreational wading, lunch and a nap in the shade - then caddis in the late afternoon and evening, (be on the water about 5:00 PM or so.)
.. This schedule will get you through the day on the destination waters of Yellowstone National Park. The neighbors are already fishing beetles, ants, small hoppers, gaudy rubberlegs, and San Juan worms on those waters with fewer elbows and more fish.

.. The Yellowstone River is a destination for some fishers that remember the glory that once was. There are some large fish to be had - true enough. On the other hand, it looks like recruitment is up and should you just want a pleasant fishing experience we recommend it highly.
.. Social fishers are clogging the parking lot at Slough Creek. Everything from hoppers to PMD's are pricking fish.
.. Get there now and fish all day. Ignore the experts, if you dare. These fish are eager and hungry. By fishing hard you will contribute to their advanced degrees. But today, (and maybe tomorrow,) they really are just like any old hungry trout. Throw it - they'll eat it.``

.. If you can find Snowflake Springs, you can find fish on the Gallatin River. If you can get past the beaver ponds and through the woods to the upper meadows on Fan Creek you can fish with the bears and elk: you will catch some of the prettiest fish in the park as well. Say hi to the horse packers and mounted rangers for us.
.. Ask the visitors about their big flies. They probably won't mention the damselfly. Nor do the visiting clerks at the feather merchants.

.. In passing we'll just note that there are trout that can, (and do,) take the blue lady from the grass overhanging the deep undercut banks. It may look foolish to the uninitiated, it may feel foolish when you do it, - BUT -  casting to the grass can take some monsters in  the mid-day doldrums.
.. Park your car in the evening shade and walk the gentle trail to Osprey Falls. Take a picture of the monster clouds. Sniff the burnt smell in the air.
.. Go above the falls and catch a mighty Brook Trout with every other cast. If someone got there before you it might take a half dozen casts - damn!
.. Nothing really new right now. Catching is all in how you do it.

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