COW FARTS THREATEN FISHING

GLOBAL WARMING CAUSED BY COW FARTS
Global Warming Increases Jellyfish Populations
over-fed trout released for competition
local fishing continues to improve
WESTSLOPE CUTTS GET AID FROM POISON

.. The European Union has figured out how to curtail global warming. Just stop cows and sheep from "PARPING." An article in yesterday's The Sun reveals that EU MPs are demanding laws to stop the parping. The comments section for this article is well worth your time.
.. As silly as it seems this has become an explosive issue in both the fly fishing and environmental communities. Tree Hugger posted on this last year and even suggested a new patent for the remedy. The comments to that post are also a poot.
.. Tree Hugger also posted on the scientific rush to sniff out cures for bovine farting. And just yesterday they noted that a flurry of activity is surrounding the development of a pill to cut down on cow farts: BOVIN-O??
.. The original revelation from the United Nations has caused quite a stir on Digg; leading to some aromatic comments and additional fallout.
.. Even heatem has provided fodder for the debate and suggested things such as a 'fart tax' & 'flatulence fee' for the eruptive power of vegetarian emissions, which are supposedly of greater environmental impact than your average fart.
.. We wonder if this approach to mitigation will spread to Yellowstone. We also wonder if bison and elk flatulence is contributory to the demise of fly fishing opportunities in the park. Only time will tell.

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.. The Sun has also reported on the jellyfish population explosion in their feature "We're On The Erode To Hell." Jellyfish vs. human encounters are up, and this too is laid at the alter of global warming.
.. In a lighter(?) vein: a fishing contest in New Zealand is being treated to a large infision of over-fed trout in an effort to celebrate the improved water quality of Lake Pupuke (no poo poo, that's its name.) Lake Pupuke was the first lake in New Zealand to be stocked with trout: Rainbows at that. The event is sponsored by TU New Zealand, and the fish will weigh up to 2 kg.

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.. Hebgen Lake fishing is getting better by the day - so is the catching. The ice out is nearly complete, and the fish have podded up and are cruising the shoreline. Sight fishing is possible in the South Fork estuary, all along the Lonesomehurst road, and the docks near the "Summer Homes." Use a large, (size 2 - 6,) San Juan Worm in both red and dark brown. This is similar to gulper fishing. If you get in your tube, be careful and be aware of the dangers of cramping and hypothermia.
.. Keep in mind that this is bear season - for hunters and bruins. The trophic cascade resulting from the expanded and expanding grizzly bear population has caused many bears, (black & grizzly,) to wander far and seek new territories. Many bear sightings and encounters have already been reported. Be especially careful around the 'power line cut' on the South Fork Road. A large two-toned boar grizzly has been roaming this area - as has a sow black bear with cubs.
.. The Gallatin River is beginning to swell and soon will become colored to the point of unfishability. Depending on the length of the current warming trend there is still at least a week, (maybe two,) of Spring fishing to be had. Stonefly nymphs, Prince Nymphs, and small Yellowstone Spruce Flies will all produce excellent results.
.. There are plenty of midges, and in the backwater cavitation swirls these little critters bunch up into clusters. The water around Red Cliff Campground is producing large fish on midges and very small Caddis imitations, (sizes 18 - 22; or there about.)

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.. Jason Neuswanger over at the Trout Nut has some new pictures. The photos should inform the efforts of fly tiers and trout fishers alike. We especially like the female Ephemerella subvaria, (Hendrickson,) and the adult chironomid, (midge.)

photo courtesy Jason Neuswanger -->

.. Mark Powell and Blogfish are celebrating their one year birthday. Congratulations are in order - to Paris Hilton too.
.. Fishing Jones lets us know that sensitivity to human vectors in the spreading of disease, (infectious pancreatic necrosis,) in Connetquot River state park is taking the form of "new rules." [The onomatopoetic roots of the State name and the river name are obscene at best - look it up for some entertaining reading and a bit of ethnographic insight.]
.. Fujioka's Home Page has been updated. This blog is constantly evolving into a site of immense interest and some importance. A new section on 'other fish in mountain streams' has been added, and new photos and renderings are present. He has also refined the 'paper craft' page; it's possible to download patterns for fish and their display stands, these are some beautiful pieces of paper sculpture.

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.. The threat of invasive species is potentially aided by their ability to outperform some native species in low resource environments. Protect Your Waters has a note about some studies in Hawaii that shed light on this disturbing phenomenon.
.. The Invasive Species Weblog has a zoom tag cloud that now shows "FISH" as the major category. This is both encouraging and discouraging.
.. The USDA NATIONAL INVASIVE SPECIES INFORMATION CENTER has expanded their "What's New?" section. Posts for the last two months show a continued growth in whirling disease interest.

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VIVA LA WESTIE

.. Notes in the Westerner, and the Missoulian show that despite what the foolish judges think, and despite the genetic ignorance of the USFWS , Montana is concerned about saving the Westslope Cutthroat Trout.
.. Twenty one lakes where hybrid fish live will be poisoned in an effort to remove the hybrids and reintroduce Westslope Cutthroat Trout. This is a major project and demonstrates the commitmnet of Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks to preservation of this wonderful fish.
.. The project is sensitive and has taken years to plan and implement because it takes place in a wilderness area.

"Over the coming decade, biologists will poison 21 lakes - 11 in the Bob Marshall, eight in the Jewel Basin and a couple on nearby forest lands - killing the fish in the fall and allowing waterways to detoxify over the winter before restocking in the spring."

.. We applaud the efforts of the Montana crews who have worked so hard to bring this about.