Breakfast, Lunch, And Dinner

TRULY, IT'S SUMMER

Fish Hard All Day

a long lunch & early dinner

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.. The first rhubarb pies of the year are entering the gastronomic stream of our neighborhood fishers.

.. Of course we gobble them up as rapidly as they are presented to us. The fish on the Gibbon River and Madison River have set the precedent. They are gobbling the surface offerings of fishers with gay abandon. Also, there are some big bugs in and around the water. My, my, my.
.. National Park Meadow and the confluence marsh are seeing some heavy pressure from the fly flingers. The fish are in a very cooperative mood.
.. Not only the big bugs, but the little bugs, are feeding the ravenous trout. Caddis, Golden Ones, PMD's, Big Ones, and White Ones are on the water all day.

.. Some piscine psychologists  have opined that the floating smorgasbord must confuse the trout into a catatonic state that leads to indecision about which morsel to eat. Other mind readers believe that the trout eat the bug most available to their current hiding place. Some even think that the trout behave toward bugs the way that fishers approach a giant slice of freshly baked rhubarb pie: gobble it before your neighbor does.

.. Whatever the state of the trout mind, (in these two rivers,) may be, one thing is certain: fish looking skyward are available all day. So too, are those that don't like rhubarb pie and hide in the dark caves under the bank.
.. Now is the time to fish. Catch some too. We're having another piece of pie.

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Crowded ?

VISITORS ENJOY VISITING

Bison Enjoy Lounging

fishers enjoy catching

FISH THE GIBBON RIVER GINGERLY

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.. The "HIGH SEASON" in Yellowstone National Park is upon us. A major spike in visitation is just two weeks away.
.. By the Fourth Of July behavior patterns of fish and people in the park will have reached maturity.

.. Right now motor home owners have learned to park on the double yellow line. Fish have learned to look up.
.. Bicyclists have already learned to ignore the bicycle lane. Fish learned to follow the shadows two weeks ago.
.. Photographers are learning  to scorn the life-giving rains. Fish have remembered to use the current in a tussle with upright featherless bipeds.
.. Changes in the learning process and park conditions will soon begin to take place. These changes should increase the maturation level of visitors, fish, and fishers. Lines at entrance stations will reach astronomical lengths. Fish will begin to avoid the warming waters. Fishers will need to fish at different times on different days with different weather conditions.

A BLOOMIN' RIVER

.. Sadly visitors will not learn to enter the park earlier or later. Interestingly fishers will gripe and grouse about the weather - rather than take advantage of it.
.. Fish, of course, will be in the most advantageous water for feeding and keeping cool: The fish mature faster than humans.

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.. The Firehole River has provided excellent catching over the past four or five days. Air temperatures have been below seasonal averages.
.. Along with a couple of decent showers, our cloud cover has been fortuitously conspicuous and has encouraged the hatches of Mayflies, Caddis, and other aquatic bugs and such.
.. The next few weeks will demand rapid maturation of the fishers if they intend to become successful catchers:  A WARMING TREND LOOMS.

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.. The Madison River has become slow, cool, and crystal clear. It is spewing forth little winged creatures that seem to be unappreciated by many visiting fishers: perhaps it's the combined vehicular and bicycle traffic.

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.. Grebe Lake is experiencing some heavy pressure. The early disappearance of the snow and the rapid drying of the trails has allowed happy anglers to spread the word about this normally moderately fished destination.

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.. Pistol packing fishers have been encountered on the Mary Mountain Trail. They had no bear spray. Apparently they have lost their light bulbs.
.. They were disappointed with the catching as well. Search the deep riffles and dark pools with drab nymphs and you'll do better than they did on Nez Perce Creek.

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Tough Casting On Grayling Creek

.. The larger fish seem to have backed down from Grayling Creek. This leaves the creek with an exuberant population of 8 to 10 inch fish and lots of elbow room - for both the bears and the fishers. There is even a small caddis hatch happening late on warm days.
.. The best catching is beginning to move from the rapid bits of water in the park to the lower willow thickets of the lower creek and the upper ends of the estuary at Hebgen Reservoir.

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Do It Yourself

.. The Upper Gallatin River is still being ignored by experts and feather merchants alike. Sparse hatches of mayflies have been reported. Sparse sightings of caddis are problematic. Big fish are being taken on giant nymphs, small streamers, and both soft and stiff hackles. Some of the deep holes along about mile-post 26 are clear and it's possible to to see the gentle inhalation of the nymphs: if you're sneaky.

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HAPPY CAMPER

The Generals

TOO MANY BUGS

Too Few Flies

make 'em do double duty

MADISON RIVER AT THE PARK LINE

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.. So it's come to catching time at the O. K. Corral.
.. All of the wealthy visitors and other sorts of technical fishers currently in Yellowstone National Park have each bought a hundred dozen flies in eight different sizes and 27 patterns.
.. They have listened to the professionals. They have read all the books. Now, flies in vest, they have it all covered. Good on them.
.. We're not strong enough to carry that many flies, nor can we change them quick enough to keep up with the different bugs that pack our ears and nose, and radiator.
.. The neighborhood kids, on the other hand, are poor; they cover acres and acres of water - and - are true artists at devising flies for matching our local hatches: real and imagined! They tie exceptional flies. You can't buy their flies: at any price.

TRIPLE THREAT CADDIS

.. They are also masters at destroying perfectly good flies given the exigences of changing conditions, luck, or whim, or whatever.
.. One of their favorite flies, (ours too,) is, (for want of a better handle,) the "Triple Threat Caddis."
.. It's just a standard elk hair caddis pattern. It's a bit lighter than most of the commercial patterns.
.. The wing is a little sparse for catalog pictures. And, Horror of horrors, the hackle is the premium dry fly sort and way too big for the fly.
.. It is usually tied on a gold-toned hook that they have scrounged up from some undisclosed Bass Pro Shop or Wal Mart.
.. With deft manipulations of their fingernails, (or whatever,) they transform the fly into a floating something-or-other, and with a smidgen more plucking they end up with a sinking thing-a-majig.
.. We've tried it. You should too - or not, depending on your creativity, desperation, or pocketbook.

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DISGRACED MUDDLER

.. The lowly and ubiquitous Muddler Minnow is subjected to a similar, but slightly different treatment. It is usually tied with colors that could imitate either a small fish or a local grasshopper.
.. It is usually fished with gusto,  (appropriate to the conditions and imagined imitation,) and can be swung, stripped, floated, jerked, or plopped. The wing is often split side-to-side and pulled down below the body and supposedly imitates a hopper. If nothing else it is a good bobber for a hopper-dropper combo.
.. Great stuff if you can't afford a 97 pocket vest and the heavy boxes to fill all those pockets.

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LOCAL MITE

.. A Montana legend is the Sandy Mite.
.. The neighborhood kids have a variation that dispenses with the woven body and can be rapidly tied with simple, cheap, and common materials. They sometimes call it the Local Mite - when they call it anything at all. Sometimes just the Mite - or - Mighty Mite.
..This little darlin' is subjected to the same depredations and humiliations as the caddis. Plucked naked or with just a few shortened fibers it becomes anything your heart and imagination desires.

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.. We own a few fly boxes. We use them. The kids have a few, or many, as their whims demand. We usually take our boxes with us. They fit in a lunch sack with pepperoni and a baguette of french bread.
.. The kids pack an old 35mm film canister with a bunch of flies and jump in the river. Travelin' lite and catching many. Not the stuff of slick videos, product endorsements, or webbyzeeens - aw shucks! Catch fish by the bucket though.

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RECRUITS: 100+ strong. Fish Near Here In The Evening. YUM!

As Suspected

"FIRE" HOLE FOR A REASON

Up The Hot Staircase

closure may be early this year

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.. We're watching the spikes on the Firehole River:

==> JUNE 15 = 75° F,
==> JUNE 16 = 76° F,
==> JUNE 17 = 77° F,
==> JUNE 18 = 76° F.

.. Them's a bit warm for this part of June. The extended forecast is for continued warming. The near term outlook is for moderating temperatures in the mid- to high 60's.
.. Fish now is the consensus.

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GULPER HO !!!

THE WEEDS ARE RIGHT

It'll Only Get Better,

cruel winds starting later

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.. The heat hath it's blessings. One notable blessing is that the zephyrs of the high country have been starting well into the afternoon. Who knows how long this will last - BUT - for now it's a small compensation for the poor showing of afternoon rains.
.. Hebgen Reservoir produces Callibaetis at a prodigious rate. The fish have figured out this simple meal. The fishers are, of course not too far behind.

.. The lore and lure of gulper fishing is varied, contradictory, and profuse - seldom is it profound, often it is profane. It's a simple thing, really. Get an attractive fly in front of a slurping submarine and chances are they will take it.
.. The lake has been like glass. Get on it early. On many mornings Tricos will also hatch early. Midges are still around. The Callibaetis can pop early this year so take your second cup of coffee with you - better yet, take your your breakfast and coffee, and lunch with you as you leave the door.

.. Conventional wisdom dictates a Callibaetis cripple for the floating fly. Almost all patterns work some of the time: go for it. Long precise casts are part of the tradition. Stealth should be too.

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.. Although there is a small "purist" tradition building over the last six or eight years, it hasn't reached the obnoxious level of some in the fly fishing world, yet:
**Cast to only one fish.
**Time it's nose appearances.
**Lead it by five feet.
**Cuss when it takes the natural right next to your perfectly presented, exquisitely tied, grotesquely expensive, designer fly.
.. This ritual has a certain snob appeal befitting gurus, guides, feather merchants, and shop dogs. Enjoy the elite feeling and your new found ribald vocabulary.

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.. The truth is quite a bit different. There are many fish in the same area. Fish change directions without telling anglers. There are millions of targets for the fish. There are hundreds, (nay, thousands,) for the fisher. It's really just a statistical game.
.. Maybe, just maybe, your fly's number is up! So then, put an appropriate fly in the appropriate area and wait for the appropriate signal to lift.

.. Fishers in tubes take "gulpers" while trolling submerged flies. Maybe they are slurpers and not really gulpers.
.. The double fly rig is popular with our most successful neighbors. Hackle Stacker, Shop Vac, Challenged Callibaetis, Feather Duster, and even PMD's in the right size take fish with surprising regularity.
.. Try a small hopper as a bobber and dangle a very light colored $3 dip about 18" behind it. Hell, even Bill's Pisser accounted for over two dozen fish yesterday morning before a giant sea monster ran off with his last one.
.. What ever your predilection - now is the time. It will get better by the day for the next two - three weeks. Enjoy some of the easiest, (or most challenging: snob-wise,) fishing that the neighborhood has to offer.

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BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND

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Just For The Neighbors

AUTUMN READING LIST

Beer + Fly Fishing

bedtime stories

FIND OUT HOW TO CATCH FISH LIKE THIS

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.. Fly fishing blogs are full of it: Beer & Fishing.
.. Coming soon to a fly shop or book merchant near us is an expert on both.
.. Montana author, acclaimed fly fisher, beer quaffer extraordinaire, journalist for the New York Times and Village Voice, and lead singer for The New Heathens will be skulking around the neighborhood soon.

PRACTICING THE "REACH CAST"

.. Nate Schweber, world renowned contortionist and author of "FLY FISHING YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK: An Insider's Guide To The Fifty Best Places" as well as "INDIANA BREWERIES" will be interrupting his field research and pub crawling to appear at a few book signings, readings and mini-concerts.

Brew Guide

.. This is our chance to pick the brains of a fly fisher that has the tough job of spending months at a time in Yellowstone - and calling it research.
.. Mark your calendars for the dates and times listed below:

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**Reno, NV -- Friday, Aug. 17 at 1 p.m. at the International Fly Tackle Dealer Show (Signing)

REACHING THE PRACTICE CAST

 **Missoula, MT -- Saturday, Aug. 25 at 11 a.m. at Shakespeare & Co. (Reading plus little mini-concert at the end featuring Mr. Chip Whitson on guitar)
 **Jackson Hole, WY -- Tuesday, Aug. 28 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at Valley Bookstore. (Signing)
**Bozeman, MT -- Tuesday, Sept. 4 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Country Bookshelf. (Signing)
**Livingston, MT -- Tuesday, Sept. 4 at 7 p.m. at Elk River Books (Reading)
.. There may be a few other dates and places, depending on the author's tough schedule of fishing and imbibing. You can keep up to date on the latest schedule HERE.
.. See what OUTSIDE BOZEMAN has to say HERE.
.. Order on-line HERE or HERE.

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DISCOVER BIG FISH SECRETS

Gallatin Frenzy

THE ELBOW INVASION

Some Stretches Still Available

take a number or a tributary

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.. With the famous west-side rivers in Yellowstone National Park closed because of high water temperatures the neighbors are flocking to the Gallatin River. The visiting license plates are also proliferating.
.. Right now love abounds on the Gallatin River in Yellowstone National Park.
.. Feather merchants have begun to shift their vocabulary. Guides are re-learning the pull-outs and parking spots.
.. The ever faithful caddis are making their daily appearances. Sometimes it seems like all day. Some days there is a curtain call about 7:30 PM.
.. Love of caddis fishing is one of the staples of the Gallatin River. Floating, bottom bouncing, and skittering are all caddis behaviors and all are successful - at various times. Elk hair, deer hair, light, dark, green, brown, big and little flies have devotees along this river.
.. Of course there are some other flies and other hatches. Of course there are people who wait for hours on end until they see a nose in the air. Of course there are fisher folk that must be able to see their fly in order to catch a fish. But - there is always some sort of caddis fishing available.
.. Currently there is a smattering of PMD's, a few Flavs, (and or drakes,) and still, the wayward - but small, (mostly yellow,) stoneflies, and other assorted fluvial bugs.

.. The terrestrial hatch is well underway and ants, beetles, bees, spruce moths, and hoppers are increasing their populations by the day.
.. As the elbows crowd the easily accessible water near the highway it behooves the fisher with good legs, good lungs, and an appreciation of the remote to seek out the tributaries. [[ BEAR SPRAY IS MOST STRONGLY ADVISED.]]
.. Already exuberant love is being spread up Specimen Creek (by both bears and fishers.)
.. Gentle fondling is taking place along Fan Creek, (especially the lower reaches.)
.. Penetration into the willow meadows of Bacon Rind Creek has been discovered. {{Hint: there are some large fish along the dusty road leading to the parking lot.}}
.. Incursions up the Big Horn Trail are becoming nearly commonplace. Such love is seldom seen on this neighborhood river.

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.. As you most certainly know, the Gallatin River trends north/south; this means that the fish switch hides periodically during the day.
.. The sun & the shifting shadows play a big part in fish location. It's important to keep this in mind as you caress the banks with your gentle strides.
.. Should you bother to notice it, the fisher's trail is way too close to the bank. Your footfalls and shadow will telegraph your loving intent far before you get to where the fish were.
.. Stealth techniques will reward the fisher, even on this most forgiving of our neighborhood streams.
.. Remember that beneath the surface these high valleys are covered with glacial detritus of one sort or another.
.. The Gallatin River cuts through a terminal moraine along the Big Horn Trail. Outwash gravels and boulders predominate in the subsurface strata for most of the park section of this river.

.. These tightly compacted stones are amazingly efficient conductors of sound and vibration. Galumphing and brush busting will get you there quicker, but the fish may know it long before you arrive.
.. Don't catch them all!

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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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