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

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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WEE PAWS FOR DIGESTION

A Different Drum

EXPLORING FISH FOOD

There's A Lot Of It

mostly it's very small

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.. We are headed out to avoid big fish fishers. The visitors are still thick as . . . .

.. The weather is too warm for fishers but the visitors are loving the bright days, cool nights, and the missing thunderstorms of Autumn. We're not too disappointed either. And, some a few big fish are being caught.
.. Just up the road there's a bit of water that's infested with small fish, weed beds, cool temperatures, and bears & berries.
.. We're armed and ready for a bit of non-congenial, anti-social, cell-phone-less, fishing. Perhaps the catching will be good too.
.. The neighborhood kids tied a bunch of minuscule scraps of fluff on some tippet material for me and suggested that it would work if I  could see well enough to get the knots right. We'll see! Report to follow.

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PRETTY PLEASE !!

BE BEAR AWARE

They're Dangerous

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.. These videos speak to the native intelligence of two distinctly different species. We could go on . . . . .

..
..

.. Read about the bears in:

THE NATIONAL PARKS TRAVELER.

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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Up A Lazy River

THE ELBOWS DESCEND

The Bears Persist

please park safely

TIE ONE ON !

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.. It's not your typical postcard idyll on the Gallatin River these days. In fact it's become a damn dangerous circus.

GREAT FISH FOOD

.. Cars, trucks, buses, motorpickles, dune buggy's, screaming bicycle riders, and bear jam congestion's are all on the roadway.
.. The river has finally come into it's own. You can fish all day and score with just a simple rig. A size 10 Elk Hair Caddis up top followed by a size 12 or 14 Prince Nymph 12" down on the point. You will catch fish.
.. There are PMD's that confuse the picture just before any clouds descend, (rare right now,) and spruce moths are beginning their dance in earnest. Two years ago at this time we were singing the virtues of hoppers. Well, this year, the little pogo sticks are about a week or ten days away from being our first pick.

THE PLACE

.. There are a few bears visiting the haunts of our neighborhood fishers. The Fan Creek bear is a cinnamon colored black bear that is curious and hangs out even in the presence of fishing parties and trail riders. This bear has been up the Gallatin River along the Bighorn Trail as well as along Fan Creek.
.. A small grizzly bear is causing traffic jams near Specimen Creek and the meadows below the road and the narrow canyon above the road. The annual visitation of the large black bear around Black Butte is also becoming a regular occurrence.

HAND CARRY

.. Fish with a friend or two. Sing ribald songs, tell dirty jokes, laugh and guffaw with gusto.
.. Make your presence known and by all means carry your bear spray in your hand.
.. There has already been one death-by-bear in Yellowstone National Park this year. Try not to become the second.
.. The Madison River is beginning to see some small hopper action along with a sparse but persistent PMD hatch. Caddis is still king along the big water and foam lines. Some of the fish are taking small brownish nymphs such as the Shop Vac.

BUBBLEBACK EMERGER

.. The folks down at Galloup's Slide Inn have a variation on the Pheasant Tail Nymph that is becoming popular with some of the neighbors. It's called "Trina's Bubbleback Emerger." Most of the neighbors use it as a dropper fly for general searching. It's pretty good early in the hatch as well.
.. The bear is still on the Mary Mountain Trail along Nez Perce Creek. So too, are the fish. This river is seeing better fishing than we've seen in a few years. Sage philosophers allow that this may be because a lot of Firehole River fish 'ran-up' the creek early during the monster high water phase last month. Could be.
.. What ever the case may be, they are still behaving like Nez Perce Creek Fish: Attractor dry flies and yummy-looking terrestrial imitations are working just fine. Even grasshoppers!

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AS CLOSE AS WE WANT TO BE !!

Bring It On !!

FALL MAKES IT'S APPEARANCE

The Fish Know It

fishers too

From Over The Divide . . . Fall Arrives !

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.. Fall weather boiled over the continental divide and let us know it with a 40° drop in temperature. We quickly dropped everything and headed to some of the worst holes on the Madison River - all the best ones were taken!

Visiting Wildlife.

.. We even took a few very gullible residents on some worn out caddis emergers until the fish decided that they wanted the the itty-bitty bugs on the surface.
.. Baetis are everywhere and it seems that the conventional wisdom was spot on this year. "Bluster = Bugs."
.. Increasingly we're hearing of runners both inside and outside of Yellowstone National Park. Visitors from near and nearer are enjoying the rapid up-tick in catching.

Peek-A-Boo . . . I See You !

.. After the last several years of Summer turning to Winter overnight, we just may be in for some wonderfully unsettled Fall weather.
.. The next two weeks, (should we choose to believe the weather folks,) contain words like overcast, showers, cooling, rain, 50°, evening thunderstorms, 25°, chance of snow, etc. We're keeping our fingers crossed.
.. Today will be gentle - just perfect for Wolverine Homecoming. But we may only get up to a high of 55° for the parade.
.. The game will be played in what we have come to know as "football weather." Raw winds should make it interesting.

Bluster On The Divide . . . Finally!

.. The fancy synthetics and the stodgy oilcloth raiment's are making their fashion statement in the hotel lobbies and restaurants.
.. Wet trails of mud and moss litter the floors of our favorite pubs, and some very wild arm gestures accompany exaggerated whispers over the rapidly quaffed brews, (often sprayed through runny nostrils for effect.)
.. It's hard to ignore the fishing frenzy that's pounding the pavement in town and along the west side rivers. Funny hats, waterproof long johns, muddy boots, implements of fish torture, and vests full of esoterica are visible at every turn.
.. The neighbors roll their eyes, dodge the unfamiliar cars parked in their driveway & on the sidewalk, smile at the crowds of baggy pantaloons and bent old men. It's kind of a ritual around here. And the Chamber of Commerce loves it - so too the feather merchants.

.. This Fall, at least, catching is living up to it's fabled reputation and all seems right with the universe. The correct bugs are here, the big fish have finally arrived, the weather is doing it's best, and the elk are beginning to move. 
.. The 15 year old, 375 pound grizzly bear that was camped out on the football field has been relocated to a place where he may survive; missing teeth, low body fat, poor weight and all. Now if we can just catch the momma black bear and her cub we'll breath a bit easier knowing that our toy poodles are eating the kibble we leave outside for them. Just where is 'Poopsie,' anyway?
.. Grab the fall fly box. Head to one of the fabled rivers. Today will be full of success and joy on the water.
.. We're headed to the homecoming parade to enjoy the accompanying traffic jam, and see who the homecoming queen is going to be. We'll even endure the game if the sun shows it's face for half-time.

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