IT COULD NOT END BETTER
Visit With The Visitors
fish with the neighbors
.. Some soft hail, a bit of cold rain, and sleet never hurt the catching prospects of the Madison River: it does keep the weenies away, though! The catching was good in the mid 
afternoon on streamers, (Yellowstone Spruce Fly, Dark Spruce/light Casual Dress combo.).. A quick trip in late afternoon to Duck Creek turned up a couple of neighbors and a "popcorn rise" of resident trout in the 8" to 11" range. No runners were encountered. The confluence pools looked interesting but there was so much action on the surface that we stayed with it.
.. We reached a consensus that there was a midge hatch; however, floating Feather Dusters and Yellowstone Badgers in the 16-18 range
were working just wonderfully. The fish were both spooky and eager. Casts of less than 10' would send them away. Light but short leaders were good in the dwindling light and any fish within 25' was an easy target. It doesn't happen often but the bite was on in the willow jungle that lines Duck Creek just next to the trees. A 10 1/2 foot 4wt would have made things easier... No Goblins were encountered and it was certainly dark enough by 8:00 PM for them to be about. The bear spray was holstered at the vehicles and conversation below a shout was resumed. There were bears sighted in the Fir Ridge Meadow yesterday and yet, we nearly fully enjoyed the outing.
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