• PARTNER: PROTECT YOUR WATERS
  • Go To: THE FLIES OF YELLOWSTONE
  • Go To: YELLOWSTONE FISHING WEATHER
  • Go To: YELLOWSTONE FLY FISHING MAPS
  • Visit: Moldy Chum
  • Visit: The Horse's Mouth
  • Visit: Chi Wulff
  • Visit: Parks' Fly Shop
  • Monday, January 28, 2019

    Another Bit Of Winter

    COLD THERE
    Warmer Here
    something unusual ?

    THE WOWZER !!
    -------  
    .. Just another little upset in the heat exchange engine that we call the earth's atmosphere.
    .. Some snow at the leading edge of the interface of the occluded front.
    .. We got a bit of dry flake twinkle. The sun is burning it off right now. It's 'squinty bright' outside. We're due, again, for some temperatures above freezing.
    .. Happily the high country gathered up some of the white stuff. Our snow depth and snow water content are slowly building toward normal for the date and season. We've got our fingers crossed.
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    WALLPAPER:  SWISS STEAK AND CREAMY SLAW



    Saturday, January 26, 2019

    Really Good News

    DOOR POUNDINGS
    The Kids Arrive
    they get up early
    -------  
    .. We're amazed and awe struck.
    .. Look at this happy athlete.
    ..
    ..
    -----
    .
    WALLPAPER:  ROCK x CORNISH

    DAMN YOU !

    IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT
    -----
    DEAD STILL AND COLD
     

    .

    Friday, January 25, 2019

    Mr. Clean -- ??

    GIMMEE, GIMMEE, GIMMEE
    -->> CHECK THIS STOOGE
    ---------------------
     Mr Dirty  ?????
    .

    Wednesday, January 23, 2019

    Some Relief ?

    NOT POUNDING
    Get The Shovels
    just missed
    WALLPAPER:   MID WINTER DRIP
    -------  
    .. The snow gods are teasing us. They are a bit nicer to the surrounding area.
    .. We are under a winter storm watch. We will get some snow and, that's a good thing. The major precipitation zones are doing a good job of avoiding us and, that's a not so good thing.
    .
    NO CIGAR:  MAYBE NEXT TIME
    .. Below is the official warning:
    .
    Event:Winter Storm Warning
    Alert:
    ...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 5 AM MST 
    THURSDAY... 
     
    * WHAT...Heavy snow occurring. Storm total snow accumulations 4 to 
    9 inches expected at lower elevations, mostly 8 to 16 inches in 
    the mountains, but isolated higher amounts on ridgetops. 
     
    * WHERE...Cascade, Judith Basin, Meagher and Gallatin. 
     
    * WHEN...Until 5 AM MST Thursday. 
     
    * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Travel could be very difficult at 
    times. Areas of falling and blowing snow could significantly 
    reduce visibility. Expect snow packed and icy roadways.
    Instructions: A Winter Storm Warning for snow means severe winter weather conditions will make travel very hazardous or impossible. If you must travel, keep an extra flashlight, food and water in your vehicle in case of an emergency.
    Target Area:
    Cascade
    Gallatin
    Judith Basin
    Meagher
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    FUZZY JON
    .. Well it's time to visit the Post Office, Supermarket, and Hardware Store to get the local gossip. We missed the pub crawl last night and feel deprived of local fish lore. Withdrawal is in the offing.
    ..  Weather is just as capricious as the fish! We'll take any white stuff that floats our way. As they say at the Post Office: "We need it."
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    WALLPAPER:  CHEESE OMELETTE AND HASH BROWNS


    Monday, January 21, 2019

    River Watch

    STILL HIGH
    Air Temperature Too
    water warm as well
    WALLPAPER: MADISON: WATER UP, SNOW DOWN
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    .. Not to put too fine a point on it BUT, Our neighborhood rivers are at discharge rates above normal for this date.
    .. Average air temperatures are running 2°F - 6°F above normal. Even the water temperature is a little bit above normal.
    .. This is good for current catching but not so good of a prognosis for the coming summer conditions.
    Briefly:
    MADISON RIVER, PARK = 114%
    HEBGEN DAM, OUTFLOW = 100%
    MADISON RIVER, CAMERON = 103%
    MADISON RIVER, ENNIS DAM = 143%
    HENERY'S FORK = 116%
    .. Interestingly the Gallatin River Canyon is cooling the Gallatin River and allowing some anchor ice but there is an unusual temperature shift - warmer water here than at Big Sky.
    .. Even with the ice in and around the Gallatin River the flows at Gallatin Gateway are 113%.
    -----  
    ALL PURPOSE
    .. We got enough snow to shovel last night. It wasn't as much as predicted. We'll take it.
    .. Another warm week ahead with temperatures climbing above freezing. No 40's predicted but, we'll see!
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    WALLPAPER:   TWO PUMPKINS

    Thursday, January 17, 2019

    Gettin' Any ?

    WE WATCH WEATHER
    Fish Need Water
    so do folks
    DAILY SURFACE MAP
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    .. Way up here in our little corner of the 'Dakota Splinter,' (also known as 'Lost Dakota,') we enjoy watching the weather.
    .. Some enjoy it more than others but, it's always a guaranteed topic of conversation.
    .. The conversations usually include the topic of snow and rain and recently; "We need some."
    .. We are, right here, still in a drought. Have been for about 9 years. It has to do with the weather shadow caused by the Continental Divide. In global terms it's insignificant.
    .. The area around us, mostly, has left the drought behind us - lo these last 5 years - or so. But, it's still too dry.
    ----- 
    .. Some fisher folks obsess about the weather and available surface water, (guilty.) Farmers do too. There's not much we can do about it but we watch!
    .. The United States Department of Agriculture helps us with our watching by publishing a page of maps giving the current conditions. Our page is HERE. The maps are adjusted on a seasonal basis.
    .. As soon as we can figure it out, (with the help of the kids,) we will post a link in our masthead. Then you can skip the drivel and go straight to the information.
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    .. We are getting a small snowfall. May get about 10" this week. We obsessive types know that it's not just what comes down but what also runs off. Right now it's still too warm for our tastes. The streams are still running high and the water is headed away from here. Were it not for the soil moisture content the trees would die.
    .. We'll keep you informed.
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    WALLPAPER:    BREADED PACIFIC POLLOCK

    Wednesday, January 16, 2019

    The Other Grinches

    JUST DELIBERATE !
    Pass The Passed
    boot likker
    A LESSON IN SERVITUDE
    -------  
    .. Recalcitrance in action. Enough to go around! America's showcase on politics.
    -------  
    .
    A LESSON IN OBDURATION

    Tuesday, January 15, 2019

    Katelyn Ohashi

    4 DA KIDS
    The Neighbors Know
    is this possible ?
     ..
    -------  
    .. Coffee and cocoa in the forenoon has brought us a glimpse into the viewing habits of the neighborhood kids.
    .. We know very little about this stuff, (but we did see some of it at the Spokane Expo about 40 years ago.)
    .. Better than guns and knives and cocaine.
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    .
    WALLPAPER:   GOOD GREASE
    OVER NIGHT SNOW SAVING TEMPERATURES

    Sunday, January 13, 2019

    Third World Country ?

    HOW'S DA ECONOMY ?
    Do You Notice ?
    watch inflation grow
    THE GIANT EXPORT MACHINE
    -------  
    .. While the economic model in the United States concentrates on hoarding patents and developing products in a 2 - 3 year cycle, the eastern model is open source and, copy and, improve products in a weekly or monthly cycle.
    .. As we whine and litigate rather than compete, both India and China are poised to boast economies larger than the United States in the next 10 years (LINK-1.)
    .. As the United States continues it's current policy of disengagement from the world, the rest of the world is engaging in new trade alliances and rapid growth in contemporary technology and service sectors.

    Lockheed F-16's made in India

    .. If you are young enough, you will live to see the United States become a second tier country in the world economic picture.
    .. With no change in our trajectory of false pride our children and grandchildren could see us become a third world country.
    ..With Lockheed moving to India we begin to see the sort of global engagement that the private sector is aware of (LINK-2.) We need to think globally and act internationally.
    .. Soon "made in China" and "made in India" will become prestige labels and, "made in America" will fall to the level of "hecho en Mexico."
    .. The rest of the world does not cotton to the idea that point of origin is determinate of quality for all products. Time was that electronics and photographic products were best made in America. The world bought from us because of quality. Those days are gone.
    WHY BUY THESE ?
    .. We saw and poo-poohed the automobile revolution until it was too late.
    .. We now poo-poo open source and rapid turnaround of product lines not made in our pedestrian mode of innovation.
    .. Tradition is grossly overrated - just ask Hardy of Alnwick. Why have they introduced a new brand and, new reels made abroad? How have their $800 dollar reels been doing? Hell, the old ones sell for even more to collectors. Such a deal.
    .. Perhaps it is socially and psychologically comforting to prop up coal mining and déclassé automotive production.
    .. Perhaps it is best for our national psyche to demean those of other nations and ethnicities. Perhaps it is perfectly fine to import workers from abroad rather than educate for technological and industrial change.
    .. Perhaps - or - perhaps not. We will see in a couple of decades. Have some offspring if you don't worry about their future. Have many of them - we will need folks to repair our crumbling infrastructure and, our rotting factories. Hell, the Chrysler building is for sale - by foreign owners - they know.
    WHY BUY THESE ?
    .. There are exceptionally good bits and pieces of tackle being manufactured in Asia.
    .. Hell's bells that's where our commercial flies come from.  The market is not big enough for a marketing push - yet. But some new fishers are are more than satisfied with their imported  offerings.
    .. Will there be a larger thrust into the wader market? Boots market? Rod market? Vest market? More than now?
    POST WAR EXCELLENCE
    .. The quality is excellent, the price is right and, the barroom prestige is low.
    .. As long as American fly fishers succumb to peer pressure that extols obsolescence and ignores excellence we shall continue to have the provincial attitude that will bring about our third world status {LINK-3.}
    .. Of course there will always be the committed traditionalist that demands that their camera be made in Germany - even with an American Name.  Some even demand German cameras made in Germany with hand ground lenses and bodies assembled by elves.
    GOT TRADITION ?
    .. And of course, fly fishers and camera geeks will not be able swing our perspective on world trade and our diminished economic status.
    .. They will, probably, continue to exhibit our national mentality that ignores the modern international/intercontinental world and our place in it.
    .. Are we the world's policeman? Are we leaders in the international sphere of human rights? Do we cooperate with other nations in combating international terror and imperialist aggression?
    .. Do we engage in multi national conversations about long term effects of industrial, agricultural, social, and national actions in the environmental sphere?
    .. OR, do we use Leica IIIF cameras, Hardy Perfect reels, and drive Lincoln Continentals or Navigator SUV's. We can guess. Teach your grandchildren to say "Number Three." it's O.K.  Why be Number One anyway?
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    WHY BUY THIS ?
    .. It's been almost blindingly bright. The sun really is electric when the overcast evaporates.
    .. Makes it tough for the visitors with fancy cameras.
    .. Folks that rely on their cell phones do better than the "real Photographers."
    .. Ah, more technological lag. Look at the leap that Sony made with mirrorless cameras that both Canon and Nikon poo-poohed.
    .. Now they are here. SIGH!!!
    -----  
    .. Fishing is in the offing at Notellum Backwater. We've made the commitment and shall drag these bones there. We'll take a heavy bamboo rod with a 70 year old reel. To heck with being first - the Chinese can win.
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    WALLPAPER:  ELECTRIC PAN ROASTED CHUCK

    Saturday, January 12, 2019

    Got Some . . . Need Some

    ABOUT 7" FELL
    Minus 1" Overnight
    week of warm ahead

    COMING ATTRACTIONS
    -------
    .. Well, it continues. A couple of days ago it looked like winter. Had to shovel some snow.
    .. We keep getting teased with some snow and then it goes away, (sublimation and melting.) Our visitors are quite enthused by our gentle weather. Our neighbors are beginning to worry about the fish come Summer.
    SIGN OF THE TIMES
    .. The weather services are reporting a shrinking snowpack. Even the snow water content is showing negative numbers on a day to day basis.
    .. Our only saving grace is the cool evenings. With the below zero evenings it takes a good bit of time to warm up during the day.
    .. Peak temperatures are in the early afternoon and, since the sun is low in the sky oblique rays have a hard time doing their job on our dark masses.

    MAPS


    .. We'll keep you advised.
    -----  
    THE WHITE MIDGE
    .. For now the bright afternoons are sucking the midges up to the surface. Snow flies abound Between The Lakes.
    .. It is a mixed blessing for sure - good fishing now and worries about the coming Summer.
    .. The overcast usually breaks up nicely in the afternoon and allows the neighbors to get their park and town chores done before fishing.
    .. The visitors are very appreciative of our community efforts to take up the slack during the government shutdown.
    .. We're up early again, (age related - don'tchaknow.) Must put on some coffee to fortify the toilet angels and trash trolls.
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    WALLPAPER:   CARAMELIZED PEARS AND WAFFLES


    Sunday, January 06, 2019

    Yellowstone Park Status

    EVERYBODY HELPS
    Gov. Employees Suffer
    bite out of profits
    ENTER HERE
    ------- 
    .. Our neighbors are pitching in and helping with the dirty work during the government shutdown of Yellowstone National Park.
    .. Concessionaires have delegated employees to clean restrooms, gather and empty trash, groom trails, give information and conduct tours.
    LOCAL BUSINESSES PITCH IN
    .. Our local business community has risen to the challenge of continued operations and expanded services.  It's an additional burden for them. It is winter after all.
    .. Everyone is currently manning telephones and assisting visitors in the myriad ways that they expect from a winter trip to wonderland.
    .. A fund has been established by private citizens and local businesses to cover the discontinued government services . It costs the tour companies and motels and restaurants and other  concerns between $300 and $500 each, every day.
    RESOURCES
    YNP Webpage > https://www.nps.gov/yell/planyourvisit/conditions.htm
    NPR 1 > https://www.npr.org/2019/01/04/681995105/private-companies-are-paying-to-keep-roads-groomed-bathrooms-cleaned-in-yellowst
    NBC Montana > https://nbcmontana.com/news/local/tourists-still-visiting-yellowstone-national-park-amid-govt-shutdown
    KPAX Missoula > https://kpax.com/news/montana-outdoors/2019/01/02/guide-yellowstone-np-staying-clean-amid-government-shutdown/
    Yellowstone Insider > https://yellowstoneinsider.com/2019/01/01/businesses-pick-up-slack-in-yellowstone-shutdown/
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    .. Yes, even the neighbors are helping with traffic, snowmobile rider assistance, sidewalks, streets, trash receptacles, and other stuff.
    STREETS FOR SLEDS AND CARS
    .. We know that folks save money, (sometimes for years,) to visit us in the winter. It would be a real crime - a travesty - to be shut out of the park because of a bit of governmental intransigence.
    .. Even fishing is taking a back seat to helping visitors in this time of trial and tribulation. We're proud of our neighbors and appreciate their sacrifice of time and money.
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    WALLPAPER:  COMING HOME


    Saturday, January 05, 2019

    Running Away

    THE MADISON
    High And Fast
    look out st. louis
    WALLPAPER:  DOWN THE DRAIN
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    .. The Madison River discharge is at about 111%. This is considerably higher and faster than normal for this time of year.
    .. This is good for the level of water in Hebgen Reservoir - for now.  It makes the utility happy. It also means that Ennis won't flood in this winter - so far.
    YELLOWSTONE WINTER GRUB
    .. It also suggests that there may be too little water come Spring and Summer when the fish need it.
    .. Our continuing mild start to winter and, the low snowfall sends the low level snow pack down the drain.
    .. This is not a clarion call about disaster - not yet. How silly it may seem to the lowland population that we, (most of us,) are rooting for more snow and more cold weather. We will see what the future holds.
    .. You can keep up to date with the interactive map of rivers in Montana and the rest of the United States HERE.
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    WALLPAPER:  BREADED ALASKAN POLLOCK