Low Down

GALLATIN TOO COLD

Don't You Believe It

fish are where you find 'em

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.. Took a quick trip to the lowland Gallatin River. Found some fish. Frightened some fish. Caught some fish. Hooked some fish. Missed some fish. Life is good.
.. Used this:

Nothing Spectacular

GOT SOME SNOW

Water Content Up

a whisper of spring

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.. Well now; Yellowstone National Park will be closed to over-the-snow vehicular travel at the end of the week. The Snowmobile Expo will take place on the following weekend.
.. These two events signal a few realities for the neighbors. There will soon be places to park downtown. Seasonal employment will disappear for about two months. The heaviest snowfalls of the season are in the offing. Muck, mush, and melting will dominate the town snow piles. Winter fishing will be the best it's been since Adam was a rib, or thereabouts.
.. Our snow depth is approaching the 100% mark. That's the good news. The snow water content is lagging on the Madison River and the Gallatin River by about 20% over both drainage's. That's the O.K. news. Spring will tell the tale.

.. If the current warm-up persists to the point of rain we're done for the year and that's not all bad. If we get a few more snow storms with some wet spring snow that's not all bad either. If we get a few storms and pile up the snow to above average depths and spring warms up rapidly the runoff could be excessive and persistent, and that's not necessarily bad. Obsessing fails to comfort the soul.
.. The mid-range forecast suggests that we may see 50° F by next Sunday or Monday. That is what the folks next door call " . . a whisper of Spring . . " It's has been a gentle winter by historical standards and we're pleased to let the upper prairie states be the coldest in the lower 48 for a change.
.. Fishing has been good, catching has been better - probably because access has been easy with the soft snow and mild weather. We've been fishing our usual assortment of flies plus an additional newcomer to the boxes. Along with our worms, shop vacs, winter grub & Yellowstone Spruce fly, we've added the winter caddis.

.. The winter caddis is nothing spectacular. It's just a large, bright, overly-dressed soft hackle. It has a lead core for the body, no friggin' bead head, and is made from chartreuse hare's mask and partridge breast. It is a simple, quick, effective fly. So we use it. It can be tied without the lead and greased to float. That works too.
.. With the lowland Madison River closed, (where it's economical for us to fish it,) we're stuck with the Hebgen Tailwater, (and that's not all bad - high as it is.) There are still midges and as the days get brighter and warmer they will play a role in the theater of the fly as well.
.. We'll let you know if it gets to 50° F over the coming weekend.

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Lowland Madison Visit

STILL FALL DOWN BELOW

Fewer Fishers - More Fish

lots of choices

NEW BOTTOM AND ALL - IT'S READY TO GO !!

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.. With a kind and generous neighbor at the oars we were treated to a rare visit to the 100-mile riffle. There was a hole in the clouds so the day was warmer and more gentle than many a blustery one in June.

RARE FISH PORN - PRETTY FISHIE

.. Bugs were plentiful in the air and we could've imitated any of several Caddis Flies, Itty Bitty Baetis', Crane Flies, Horse Flies, or other winged denizens.
.. The visiting head hunters strip streamers looking to dance with an exuberant piscine partner.
.. After much mulling and cogitating we produced the ideal rig: a size 14 Parachute Adams. The easy way out of the technical fishing trap set by the local experts and sage minds of the lowlands.

INDULGENCE & COMPETENCE

.. Healthy Rainbow Trout and Brown Trout were a bit recalcitrant in the sunshine, but we had some dance partners. The streamers were a bust but not the pretty little Parachute Adams - go figure.
.. Breaking away from our personal predilections for finding fish: a nymph was on the end of the line for only about 1/2 hour.
.. It's nice to have indulgent neighbors with keen eyesight that can tie a competent knot.
.. We fished merrily along leaving a trail of flies stuck in snags, sweepers, boulders, cobbles, willows, and baseball caps, (oops -- sorry 'bout that.)
..The freezing drizzle in the high country is muting the vibrant colors of Fall. Not so along the lowland Madison River: it's still way too green and gold for the middle of October. We'll take it.
.. We're "re-Rigging" and getting ready for a bit of snow and rain and sleet and hail. It's off to Yellowstone National Park in the morning. Back to bluster.

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LOWLAND COLOR -- AWESOME WITH THE GREEN STILL AROUND