Fly Fishing In Yellowstone National Park: The Mythic Firehole River, (part two)

Thursday, June 21, 2018

The Mythic Firehole River, (part two)

AEROBIC FISHING

The Magic 7300

path to good catching

WALLPAPER: DESTINATION BISCUIT

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.. Biscuit Basin in Yellowstone National Park is world famous for it's geothermal features. It is also an attractive destination for fisher folk from around the world.

GEARING UP !!

.. The typical behavior of visiting fishers is to park in the parking lot and fish along the stream well within sight of their vehicle. Seldom are wader-clad fishers seen on the boardwalks or trails around the thermal features, (galumphing through fish infested waters is the norm.)

CAN YOU STILL SEE THE CAR ?

.. Granted: the elevation is ≃7300' asl, many lowland fishers initially need more oxygen than is readily available, many visiting fishers are of the 'mature' persuasion, city folk are protective of their stylish vehicles, Biscuit Basin can seem to be a wilderness to fly fishers, most fishers don't carry bear spray and feel the need to be in the vicinity of other members of their species.

NEED ONE OF THESE ?

.. A short walk to the confluence meadow is well worth the effort for those seeking substantial fish in surprising numbers.
.. If trout need highly oxygenated water, (we think so,) and, if they inhabit cooler rather than warmer water, (we think so,) and if fertile stretches of the stream attract actively feeding trout, (we think so,) then it might be worth a gentle stroll through a lush meadow to catch a few - view of the car be damned.

MINGLING WATERS

.. The confluence meadow in Biscuit Basin combines the waters from three creeks: Iron Spring Creek, Little Firehole River, and Firehole River. These waters originate in three different landforms and contain three different chemistries from the chemo-geology of the diverse landforms. This fluvial diversity is mirrored in many places in Yellowstone National Park.
.. Bugs, beasts, flowers, shrubs, trees, water weeds, and fish profit from this kind of diversity. It is well worth a walk to these areas if you should be seeking fish to dance with.

RIVER CHEMISTRY

.. It is also worth exploring each stream through the year to ascertain the seasonal variation of the water and the fish population. The most popular 'fish experts' pontificate about these things based on sporadic visitations and spurious catching experiences.
.. Counter help at the local feather merchants parrot the wisdom that they pick up from scuttlebutt through the day. Such is the palaver that informs fishing behavior in Yellowstone National Park.

WHY NO FISHER FOLKS ?

.. Extensive and exhaustive firsthand knowledge is wonderfully missing in the erudition spouted by fishers when discussing the Firehole River and Biscuit Basin in particular. This condition is feasted upon by politicians, and fly fishers alike.
.. We are constantly asking embarrassing questions: how do you know?, who says so?, when where you last there?, how many times?, etc.

ARE BIG FISH HERE ?

.. Time transgressive events, (both small and large,) bring changes. Rivers change daily, weekly, seasonally, annually, etc. Today's truth is tomorrow's fiction.
.. Explore, observe, fish, move on. Do this and you become the expert; no matter who said what - especially any blog post or sacred tomb by famous names - even those who were here last year.
.. The fly fishing literature is rife with outdated information, mythic truth, and attractive prose. The lure of 'a good read' seduces us into believing the specificity of examples - shame on us. A good read is a visceral experience and very satisfying, indeed. It is not a substitute for either technical literature nor firsthand experience.
.. The satisfaction of a good read is of a different sort from that of catching a fish that you discovered by exploration. Try it -- you'll like it. Vicarious experiences are far different than existential experiences!

.. There are big fish in the Firehole River. You can dance with them right now. The rain and drizzle has abated for the moment.

CLOSED TO FISHING -- SHAME !

.. Explore the river and make your own history. Write your own script. Direct your own movie. Become your own expert - it's better than following in the footsteps of famous dead, (or living,) gurus. After all, the river is different today than it was yesterday.

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