Just The Thing

A BIT MORE SNOW

On Top Of Slush

on top of rotten snow

OPEN WATER AT LAST

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.. Mom is doing her best to slide gently into Spring. We are treated to heavy wet snow, rain, sleet, sun, thunder, warm and cold temperatures - sometimes all in the same hour. Just the way it always is.
.. Visitors, (very few, now that Yellowstone National Park is closed,) comment on the variety of weather in the most colorful of verbiage. The neighbors smile, shake their heads, and wonder how it is that lowlanders think that water gets into rivers.
.. Took a quick jaunt down to _____ Creek. It's a scrumptious sight for eyes too long glazed by frozen water. It's being fished at it's estuary and lo, the fish managed to survive the winter once again. We watched. laughed, kibitzed, cajoled, and encouraged the kids that did us a turn and took us along.
.. The capricious Springtime mix of precipitation is being called for during the next couple of weeks. It's a good thing: keeps the idiots gentry down low. We'll be there soon to see how it's done. Rumor is; that the Missouri River is getting hot early. The pre-runoff season is upon us.
.. More to come from the lowlands.

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We're Loving It

GRAY, DRIZZLE, PAVEMENT

HUZZAH !!! - The Big Melt

gotta go now

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.. The streets are really and truly paved in West Yellowstone, Montana. For just over four months a 10" - 14" snow pack has been maintained on our streets. It has been groomed and manicured by our dedicated town road crews. This facilitates travel through the village by snow machines.
.. When the bottom falls out & the slush becomes an obstacle course of frozen tank-traps at night, the city crews spend 18-hour days removing the tons of melting snow to keep the roads safe. Those folks now have the majority of the streets down to the pavement - bless 'em all!
.. Rumors have just hit our ears of sizable and gallant  fighting trout in the heavily pounded stretch of water between the lakes. We're about to don our elbow pads and wade into the silliness. The rumors demanded our attention especially since they contained a cherished bit of wisdom: "FISH NYMPHS!!"  We'll let you know.

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Native Fish Get Boost

$1,000,000 = $2,000,000

Grant Matched By NPS

just a start

SEE THE LAKE TROUT?  SEE THE CUTTHROAT?  YUM, YUM !!

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..The Yellowstone Park NATIVE FISH CONSERVATION PROGRAM has been given a boost by the finalization of the $1,000,000 grant from the Yellowstone Park Foundation.

.. Last December we noted that Yellowstone Park was embarking on a comprehensive program to protect and preserve native fish stocks. That program is now underway with the infusion of funds and the implementation of the plan.
.. The recognition that the native fish and their abundance and distribution and behavior constitute a vital link in the ecology of the park has led to this action. As a food source for grizzly bears, birds, coyotes, otters, and other animals the native species are vital to the health of the ecosystem.
.. This effort is designed to address all aspects of the concerns about the dwindling populations of native fish and will guide management for the next two decades and beyond.
.. A major concern, of course, is the impact of Lake Trout on the native cutthroat population. Efforts to ameliorate this impact will include stepped-up gill netting efforts, research, and plans to create a resiliency in the native fish population.
.. It will probably take six years to accomplish the major goals of the project. During this time future strategies and management plans will also be developed to insure that the native fish population can be successfully managed in the face of:
** Predation by non-native fish such as Lake Trout and Brown Trout,
** Hybridization with non native Rainbow Trout,
** Drought, climate change and fishing pressure.
.. The top priority of this action is to decrease the number of Lake Trout in Yellowstone Lake.
.. Additionally the project aims to:
+ Restore Yellowstone cutthroat trout to waters within the northern portion of the park;
+ Develop a westslope cutthroat trout brood source;
+ Continue long-term restoration efforts of westslope cutthroat trout; and
+ Begin to restore Arctic grayling within the Gallatin and Madison drainages.
.. Information Resources:
-- Yellowstone Park Foundation Announcement,
-- Yellowstone Park Information Document (PDF),
-- FONSI Native Fish Conservation Plan (PDF),
-- Native Fish Conservation Plan EA (PDF),
-- Native Fish Conservation Plan EA;  Chapters 1-5 (PDF),
-- Native Fish Conservation Plan EA; Appendices A-F (PDF),
-- Native Fish Conservation Plan EA; Appendix G (PDF).

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Not Quite . . .

IT ONLY GOT TO 47° F

Winds Were Manageable

neighbors vacate town

THE NEIGHBORS PAUSE IN THEIR LABORS TO QUAFF A BREW OR TWO

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..Sunday was another pleasant and unseasonably warm day. The thermometers in town ran to 47° F and not a bit more. We were hoping for another 50° F. The day was "Squinty Bright," and sun block was a definite must.
.. Some of the brave neighbors probed the estuaries along the shore of Hebgen Lake for legal open water: it's a sport for the young and thick of body. Rumors of open water at the mouth of Grayling Creek persist - SO?

Size 20 winged midge with outriggers

.. Ice fishing is still in full swing and, (depending on expertise,) some fine trout dinners are being gathered up.
.. Smokies, (whitefish,) as well, are running to 3# and seem eager as the ice-out approaches.
.. The water around Campfire Lodge is getting a pounding - all the way down to Quake Lake. Fish are being taken on just about any subsurface offering in the size 10 to 14 range. Pheasant Tail Nymphs, Prince Nymphs, Feather Duster Nymphs, Shop Vac Nymphs, and winged midges, (size 20 - 24,) are getting drowned in abundance.
.. The extended forecast calls for a few more gentle days with some mixed rain and snow about to show up in the neighborhood.
.. There is a steady stream of cars running from town to the little bits of legal open water. There are quite a few non-recreational snowmobilers headed to the major estuaries as well.
.. The fisher folk of our village have abandoned their 'stool-warming' at the pubs during mid day and can only be found with their prehensile cheeks squoze down after dark - - SPRING FEVER HAS ARRIVED !

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With the last few weeks of salubrious weather the Madison River is already bank-full

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. . . And Then Some !

50° F FOR TWO DAYS

The Bottom Falls Out

the neighbors rejoice

FISHERS OF THE FLY  --  Between The Lakes

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.. It happened. The thermometers in town hit the magic number:  50° F. The neighbors are sanguine enough to understand that it means nothing of great significance at this point in March - but they chortle and giggle at the prospect of our impending Spring.

.. During the daytime hours our town's roads become a rutted mush. As the sub-zero nights blanket our basin the roads become icy tank traps waiting to devour the undercarriages of unsuspecting visitors in their low-slung $50,000 chariots. Even the granola skiers have trouble with their "Super Subaru's."
.. The very thin skim of ice that was left on several neighborhood small streams has evaporated with the bright sun and high temperatures. A few shaded small streams, (like Cabin Creek,) are still ice and snow covered.

Sierra Bright Dot

.. Surprisingly, (and happily,) Friday and Saturday were not only bright and warm, - BUT -  without any significant winds. The midge fishers jumped on it!
.. It may hit 55° F today but the winds have already started. The "snow-eater" arrives!
.. A couple of months ago we extolled the virtues of the Sierra Bright Dot as a fly for taking trout when the midges were hatching.
.. Of course the fly-shop-groupies poo-pooed it and stuck with the sanctioned offerings of their respective feather merchants. It's understandable given the economic and social competition between the elitist fly shop gangs, (whose hat do you wear?)

Olive Double Midge

.. We would like to highlight a very, very, similar fly from RiverBum; used in exactly the fashion that we've touted. On occasion even the feather merchants get it right.
.. Between The Lakes on the Madison River the neighbors, and a few visitors from states in the deep south like Utah and Wyoming, are taking fish on San Juan Worms, Sierra Bright Dots, floating Shop Vac's, and small streamers of various sorts.

Worms du jur between the lakes

.. The combined effects of warm sunny days and top-of-lake-discharge have made the Hebgen Tailwater very productive for the winter hatching fauna.
.. According to the glitterati literati folks that know, there may be three species of midges and their associated worms in the tailwater.
.. We have no idea. We do know that the traditional San Juan Worm in a glorious red color is the preference for the fishers that like to catch fish.
.. We're headed down that way, (sort of,) to a bit of open, legal, water without a trampled footpath. We suggest that you fish Between The Lakes now. It's hard to tell when the Montana DFWP will figure out that there is genteel recreation occurring there and regulate it.

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HEY GUYS, LOOK WHAT'S OPEN

Of Fishers & Photographers

IN THE MIND'S EYE

The G.A.S. Attack

just do it

WET SEASON
by Marco Adamczewski
See it on Flickr:

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..  It's called Gear Acquisition Syndrome. We all have it to a greater or lessor extent.
.. Fly fishers and photographers seem to be constantly coveting the latest, or oldest, or greatest, or shiniest, or heaviest, or lightest, or spiffiest, or what-ever-est gadget.
.. We just saw an interesting note from Blood Knot, (thanks Tom,) about preserving things and a wonderfully snide bit of humor = "89% of U.S. Anglers Can't Afford Fly Fishing Gear." My, my!
.. The image above was taken with a camera that uses no batteries, requires film, demands waiting for the film to be processed, probably cost in the neighborhood of $30.00, and hasn't been produced since 1984.
.. The image has very little to do with the camera - it's about the vision. That image speaks volumes without saying a word. It tells a tale. It engages the eye and conjures up feelings in our experience. We like it very much, indeed.

Leica's in Yellowstone.

.. Please don't be deceived, we certainly do enjoy our Leica's and Ed Payne bamboo rods - sure do! But we enjoy taking pictures and fishing more.
.. We're not an expert at either endeavor by a long shot. We are, however, entertained and engulfed by both.
.. Being a fly fishing "Duffer" is probably akin to being a "Snap-Shooter." The implication is that there is something wrong with not being a professional or an expert. Truth be told - most of us are neither experts or professionals.
.. We, now, speaking from both experience and criticism, in fact, certainly are not.

Payne in motel in Oregon.

.. And that's the rub. Many of us, while seeking to avoid snapshooting, or dufferdom, retreat to G.A.S. How human.
.. We retreat from the task at hand. We avoid mastering the tools at hand. We retreat to the conceit that better tools make better craftsmen! 'Taint so.
.. From many years of experience, and several G.A.S attacks we, ourselves, have discovered that the gear never made us any better.
.. Just watch and see how pretty our tailing loop becomes when tossed with a $900.00 fly rod - the wind knots are so much more symmetrical!
.. Just admire the blown highlights from our $4,568.00 digital masterpiece - the empty spaces are interesting!
.. There's a lesson here somewhere. Perhaps it's the doing rather than the being that satisfies.

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Olympus Trip 35 and a fine book about doing.

It's A Neighborhood Thing

LITTLE BLESSINGS

Full Moon Skiing

cold clear skies await

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.. We enjoy the exuberance of the young of heart and leg. Off they go into  the twenty below evening, (it was -18° last night.) Good on 'em!
..For 3 or 4 nights: when the sky is clear, when the moon is big, when the spirit moves them, when the forest is full of shimmering light and eerie shadows, the neighbors celebrate our place in the universe.
.. Read about the big doings HERE.

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