Monday, August 30, 2010

Hot Water

A SURE SIGN OF FALL
Firehole Fever Starting
check your box

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.. It's not really Fall. It's just close. Our neighbors, (the ones that seem to know,) are still telling us not to try any catching of fish on the Firehole River. They continue to warn about hot water and piscine exhaustion. Pretty much, that's a true story.
.. BUT, and it's a very big but, the water is cooling rapidly and the fish are cavorting with gay abandon due to the many local anglers that have avoided the stream and let the fish enjoy the summer.
.. Day before yesterday the highest temperature officially recorded for the Firehole River was a cool 19°C, that's just 66°F, yesterday it was just about 72°F.
.. This is just what the "Firehole Fanatics" have been waiting for! The flurry of activity that is associated with Fall fishing on the west side of Yellowstone National Park is starting.
.. Plan for the runners from the lake, plan for cool days on the Firehole River, check the gear, explore your fly boxes, make dates with old and new buddies, scout locations, tie some 'special' flies, share secrets, toast the coming frenzy.
.. Soft hackles, both on the surface and below are the mainstay of the coming elbow clutter on the river. Then too, there's always the chance of a baetis hatch, some midges, and the caddis in the evening. The 'old-timers' chant - "COOL, NO CADDIS - WARM NO BAETIS." God bless 'em, it's mostly true.
.. The wildly fluctuating air temperatures and cloud cover at this time of year demand that planning and 'river savvy' be employed for successful catching. The best river information comes from a quick phone call to a local fly shop. Most written reports are way out of date by the time their are written, (even, or perhaps especially,) this one.
.. We can see 4-season days this time of year. Check our weather page for real-time radar maps and temperature fluctuations, or use your favorite source, Plan for anything, carry the kitchen sink to the river's edge. Join the frenzy, it's nearly upon us.
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P.S. The water in the Little Firehole River and Iron Spring Creek is on the verge of  'cold.' The fish around the confluence of these two creeks and the Firehole River near the foot bridge in Biscuit Basin are happy and hungry. The fishers and elbows are there too.