The Bite

GATE FEES UP ?

Public Comment

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WALLPAPER:  SOFTLY FAITHFUL

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.. A proposed fee increase for many popular parks in the National Park System has been announced by the National Park Service.
.. 17 parks will could enjoy an increased entrance fee during the five month "peak season."
.. During a five-month peak-season at each of the 17 parks, the entrance fee would be $70 per vehicle, $50 per motorcycle, and $30 per person. All of the funds would be used to improve facilities, infrastructure, and visitor services, with an emphasis on deferred maintenance projects.

 The peak season for each park is defined as the busiest contiguous five month period and would be as follows:

- May 1-September 30 for Arches National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Canyonlands National Park, Denali National Park, Glacier National Park, Grand Canyon National Park, Grand Teton National Park, Olympic National Park, Sequoia & Kings Canyon National Park, Yellowstone National Park, Yosemite National Park, Zion National Park
- June 1-October 31 for Acadia National Park, Mount Rainier National Park, Rocky Mountain National Park, Shenandoah National Park
- January 1-May 31 for Joshua Tree National Park

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RESOURCES:

Chicago Tribune,
Los Angeles Times,
USA Today,
NPS Information Page,
Public Comment Page.

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.. Finally the whispers have taken over the conversations in the pubs. Runners on the Madison River are thick as mosquitoes in the Bechler Region.

{{As an aside: There are some nice fish coming out of the Bechler River and the road is still open and dusty.}} 

YELLOWISH WOOLLY BUGGER

.. Yellow Woolly Buggers seem to be in the ascendancy for gulling and galling the submarines.
.. They are really just a matter of personal preference since the fish are lit up and ready to kill any intruder that looks either threatening or like food. 
.. Crowds of fishers left during our recent snow and brief cooling. With today's sunshine and more temperate weather all the usual suspects are at all the usual  places and doing some exciting catching.  

BLUEBIRD SKY AND SOME WARMTH

.. We thought that the run was light this year BUT, it was just a smidgen late. Shows what we know! There are very many fish from Hebgen Reservoir throughout the Madison / Gardiner River system - - - below the falls on each river.

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.. Some of the more energetic and fit neighbor kids are scoring big fish on the Firehole River in the "Spawn Canyon" above Old Faithful and below Kepler Cascades.

WHERE THE BIG FISH ARE

.. Although this bit of the river is seldom fished it is not a secret by any means. Fishing on the river above the Grand Loop Highway bridge is legal. It's just a major nuisance to leave the river after fishing it.
.. As they say in the pubs: "It is 100 yards in and five miles out." The parking is tough and the hike out of the canyon is a real grunt. It can be treacherous going down too  -- unless you are very careful.
..Every now and again a fisher brags about a 24" monster fish taken from the Firehole River. The best and most honest protestations in defense of the fish story are seldom believed. However, there are big fish in the river if you know where to find them. In the Fall of the year they are concentrated in this little canyon. Try it now.

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NO SNOW FOR HALLOWEEN ?

.. The next six or seven days, (save one,) will show a return to 'tourist weather.' Feather merchants are ecstatic and the guides are dancing cross legged. There are bugs in the air, fish in the water and fishers packed elbow to elbow -- game on go to it!
.. We're up early to build a couple of lunches and fill a few Thermos bottles with some black swill. Perhaps some amber liquid in a small flask too. Off we go.

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WALLPAPER:  GERMAN'S SWEET CHOCOLATE CAKE

We May Have A Fall

RIVERS: LOW, SLOW, COLD

Drift Boats Becoming Scarce

fish still active

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.. It looks like the high temperatures for the next 10 days or so will be in the 50's to low 60's. That's a bit warm for this time of year but we'll take it.
.. Elbows are becoming fewer and the catching is getting better. The lake run fish have finally made their appearance in significant numbers.

.. A few more cold evenings should make the carnival atmosphere worth the trouble. Mornings are seeing midges between the lakes, on the Madison River in the park, and on the Firehole River. Clouds of the little devils have also been spotted about mile post 23 on the Gallatin River.
.. The esses along the park line near Baker's Hole have produced some fine specimens of broad-shouldered trout from Hebgen Lake. Be sure to have both a Montana License and a Park Permit if you fish this productive area. Both Park Rangers, and Montana FWP Officers are on patrol in the area.

.. The Brook Trout are still active on the upper Gibbon River and the upper Firehole River. They have yet to learn the skills of discernment and discrimination regarding flies and presentations. Children's fishery be damned, it's great fun and not at all crowded. Far less truth, (capital T,) is spread about these bits of water than the glory holes of fame and fisher density.
.. Not much novel can be said at this juncture: flies = flymphs, buggers, gob-o-worms, San Juan Worms, bead head nymphs, egg patterns, and streamers in tandem with your favorite soft hackle, will get the job done. When the Baetis show up, (more sparse than expected so far,) a pretty and little hatch-matcher will do the trick, (check with the local feather merchants for the various truths in this arena.)
.. We're headed for the midges between the lakes, then to the last home football game of the season. The faithful will be on the water before us and leave way past a decent hour. But then again, the night life in West Yellowstone is a wonder to behold!
P.S. The Bechler River and Boundary Creek are red hot and the mosquitoes are about gone - YEE - HAW!
P.P.S. A smidgen & dusting of snow in the next couple of days.
 Double YEE - HAW !!

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Find 'Em, Fish 'Em

THE FINAL HOPPER MOLT

All Waters Are Go

t.c. strikes again

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.. Just caught a review of Carr's work "The Shallows" by that sneaky and relaxingly absent blogger of underground troutenalia  T.C. (LINK). We suspect that there is a message for us in it.

.. Rather than fight it, we're going with the flow. Here's our possible new  fishing report format.

THE HOPPER HATCH

==> Hoppers are hopping.

==> They're everywhere.

==> Gallatin River = size 6 to 10, bigger soon.

==> Madison River = same as above, in conflict with caddis.

==> Nez Perce Creek = walk a 1/2 mile / sizes 8 to 10.

==> Lamar River = yellow belly, sizes 6 & 8.

==> Slough Creek = just starting to get good.

==> Gibbon River = same as always.

==> Bechler River = being carried home to baby mosquitoes.

==> Hebgen Lake = chironomids now, callibaetis as it warms.

==> Quake Lake = same as above but less so.

==> Cougar Creek = nearly dry but lots of hoppers.

.. Due to the new format we've had to omit times for optimum catching, hot spots of hopper activity, primary and secondary hatches, effective fly patterns, rigging, killer techniques, and fish porn. We'll be condensing this format even more for the rewired fishers. Click on!

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A Midsummer Night's Report

EGAD - IS JULY ENDING ?

All Open Park Waters Now Open

all fish now targets
(monster map at end of post)

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.. In the blink of an eye we've gone from anticipating opening day to the summer doldrums. Fishing and catching, however, are anything but dull or depressed.
.. We've gathered up the best information, juiciest rumors, and most rampant speculation about the fishing in Yellowstone National Park.
.. We even went out of our way to fish several of the best places to examine the information for this fishing report, to wit:
==> Arnica Creek: Getting low, still cold, avoid the fire, attractors and small ants.
==> Bacon Rind Creek: In prime shape, beetles, ants, caddis, stalk the banks and cover a lot of territory, carry bear spray.
==> Beaver Creek: Long walk - small fish, bears, but great camping and exploring, anything in the box will work, only fish it if you're young and adventurous, two reports, (cell phone photos,) show fish to 14" taken on a "WHITE ROYAL COACHMAN" - never heard of such a thing!
==> Bechler River: The mosquitoes are not too bad yet, drakes as big as bombers are coming off in the meadows, anything will take the smaller fish on top, the large fish are there but you need all the stealth of a B2 to get within range, perfect skills will gather up some of the largest stream fish in Yellowstone.
==> Blacktail Deer Creek: Golden stoneflies right now, big soft hackles and bead head caddis underwater, caddis on top, sallies if you're lucky, as soon as the hoppers mature this will be very crowded.
==> Boundary Creek: Seems to be clearing early, without rain this creek and the Bechler River will be as good as it gets for the next 3 weeks, (or more,) use your full arsenal of 'ground bugs' here, beetles are especially good right now.
==> Cache Creek: Fishing better than the Lamar River or Soda Butte Creek right now, if you've got the legs this is the place to be for the next week, PMD's and Drakes are working now, reports of hoppers seem a bit suspicious, we believe the beetle and ant stories.
==> Cottonwood Creek: Long walk, good fishing, worth a day to go in and out, terrestrials soon, carry bear spray for all streams in the canyon, Royal Wullf, yellow Humpies, and Adams will do on top, Prince Nymphs and Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear down below.
==> Cougar Creek: Low again this year, fish outside the park near the confluence with Duck Creek, or right at the park line in the thick willows.
==> Duck Creek: There are some small winged hoppers here, first of the season, soft hackles and attractors too, please obey the bear closure.
==> Falls River: No good current information, however it should be just great with PMD's and small stoneflies.
==> Fan Creek: In perfect shape, carry bear spray and fish with a friend, some flavs and drakes, subsurface with soft hackles all day.
==> Firehole River: Fish the upper with attractors and soft hackles, dance with beautiful Brook Trout, go way up, camp, fish in pristine water, take bear spray.
==> Gallatin River: Water of choice for a couple of weeks, spruce moths starting, caddis clouds in evening, nymphs and soft hackles all day, a winged hopper was seen yesterday, see ya there - armed with bear spray.
==> Gardiner River: Fishing well with heavy pressure, caddis on top and Prince Nymphs below are the staple fish-getters.
==> Gibbon River: Canyon has slowed, use soft hackles and attractor flies, below the falls is marginal - walk and prospect, above Norris Campground still fishing good, (eager Brook Trout in the shadows and undercut banks.)
==> Iron Spring Creek: Surprising number of fish in this still cold water, attractor dries, caddis, Prince and Hare's Ear, best hurry this water will warm up too.
==> Lamar River: clearing and fishable, streamers in the canyon, soft hackles in the riffles, match the hatch if it happens, small stonefly nymphs will serve in most places, PMD's and other surface activity getting good.
==> Little Firehole River: Not as many fish as expected, try Iron Spring Creek, in the late evening a mouse is a good bet near all the sweepers and downfall.
==> Madison River: Excellent evening caddis, terrestrials, (without hoppers - yet,) for the day, sparse mayflies about 10:00 AM, warming rapidly.
==> Nez Perce Creek: The water about a quarter mile above the Loop Road is teeming with fish just run up from the Firehole River, cover a lot of territory and swing soft hackles, make noise and carry bear spray.
==> Obsidian Creek: Just a delight, cars or no cars your choice, walk a bit and find Brookies so colorful you'll two pair of sun glasses to appreciate them, often scorned as a "kids fishery" this is one of the prettiest creeks in Yellowstone, and - DAMN if the catching aint as good as the fishing.
==> Pebble Creek: Often ignored, sadly, try the long glides right by the picnic tables, use large soft hackles and beetles.
==> Slough Creek: The drakes are starting, the water is clear, the evening has some caddis and folks are beginning to arrive by the busload.
==> Snake River: Caddis is king with the drakes scattered, if you bump into them hold on.
==> Soda Butte Creek: Clear cold and beautiful, meadow section has caddis and PMD's, lots of ants this year - big too.
==> Straight Creek: The green drakes are still hanging around, fish near the confluence with Winter Creek for the most eager of the Brookies, enjoy the heavy cover, lose some flies.
==> Tower Creek: Worth the walk to the bottom right now, small stones, caddis, soft hackles, and mice in the evening.
==> Trout Creek: Just too good to leave to the worm fishers and kids.
==> Winter Creek: What a glorious tangle! the fish are here and larger than they have any right to be, attractors of the most bizarre sort work here, so does everything else.
==> Yellowstone River: Still on the high side, clear, cruise the banks looking for noses, Stimulators may infuriate large fish.

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==> Grebe Lake: Crowded, fishing well, grayling on the small side.
==> Hebgen Lake: Gulpers-ho, callibaetis, drowned Adams, furious action.
==> Joffe Lake: Great place to meet new friends, have a picnic, let the kids fish, and catch a few yourself, evening is best if the mosquitoes don't suck you dry.
==> Lewis Lake: Camp here, explore in the day, drag a leech near the outlet for some real excitement.
==> Shoshone Lake: Same as above, the mosquitoes are larger and hungrier this year than in recent memory, pretty place.
==> Quake Lake: Streamers near inlet and Beaver Creek, some gulper activity near trees and outlet.
==> Yellowstone Lake: Shore fishing still productive in the West Thumb area. Float a soft hackle well ahead of cruisers.

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A Brief Map Note

CASCADE CORNER
MAPPING STARTED

The Red Spots Are Dead Mosquitoes

.. We've added one more map. It's not on the map page yet but you can follow along at Yellowstoner's Places. The map is going to be confusing at first because the stream courses coupled with the State/Federal boundaries mean that you will need at least three tickets in your pocket -- Idaho, Wyoming, Yellowstone.
.. There are now 13 maps that have been visited over 150,000 times in just over a year. The information base is growing and the visitation rate is gratifying.

Brief Reports

FISH NOW

IT'S GETTING WARM

Plan Ahead - Use The Weather

Stat Pack

.. This has to be quick; visitors, don'tcha know. The rivers and streams on the west side of Yellowstone National Park are full of fish, bugs, fishers, and elbows. Summer is in full stride. This is typical. The roads have made it so.
.. Summer weather has set in. The forecast shows a few days during the coming week that will probably still provide some excellent catching opportunities:.. Visitors have choked the pullouts and parking lots, and although there are still some unimpeded stretches of water to fish, solitude is not to be found near the road.
..Be prepared to meet new people and to share any beat on the west side streams. Evening is the most salubrious time, (save for the occasional mosquito,) and spinner falls combined with caddis are the food of choice for the trout on the Madison River and the Firehole River.
.. There are still some long empty stretches of water on the Firehole River - try the trail to Lone Star Geyser for some hot action and nearly a fish per cast with just about any well presented fly in the size 14 - 16 range.
.. There are BIG BUGS around Snowflake Springs on the Gallatin River. They are invading our space - good on 'em. Barring any local deluges the Gallatin River should be the place to be for a few days. Small Sofa Pillows, large Elk Hair Caddis or Marcella's Trout Fly will bring normally shy giants to the surface. Yellowstone Sally, Prince, and Yellowstone Badger nymphs will take more fish, (sizes in the 8 - 12 range.)
.. The Gibbon River canyon is a real delight. Right now the flows are quick but gentle and the fish are beginning to look up. The riffles are still showing some white water, but the slicks are becoming more pronounced. This is the time to put a fly in any bit of water where you can not see the bottom.
.. A few places are beginning to see anglers where there were none just a few weeks ago. The Bechler River, Boundary Creek, and a couple of unnamed tributaries in the area are worth a visit. The mosquitoes shouldn't have this beautiful corner of the park to themselves.
.. Slough Creek has bugs, (mosquitoes, PMD's and some nice sized Drakes,) and the fish are eating everything that they can get to. Don't forget the midges, (clusters and such,) they are prolific right now.
.. Even the big pool at the pull out is dimpled with rising monsters. Visitors just stand and stare.
.. Soda Butte Creek is colored but very attractive. Remember: "FISH GOT'TA EAT." Try a Royal Humpy in the seams.
.. We are pleased to see that the MRO BLOG is persistent in it's first person reports. There is a note about moonlight fishing that we suggest you check out. Do you want to see what lurks in the night?
.. The good folks at Parks Fly Shop let us know that the Gardner River is in fine shape and that catching is almost as good as the fishing. Check out their recommended flies.
.. The expanded site for Jack Dennis Sports is settling down and approaching stability. The podcasts have slowed down, but the reports, and other good sources of information are very current and accurate. Take some time to explore the site. We like it.
.. Want to fish the Brooklyn Bridge? Check out the summer patterns for stripers over at Fishing Jones. Pete sure gets around; interesting comments too.
.. Kiss me baby. How appropriate for THE HORSE'S MOUTH. There seem to be advantages for stripers caught by wahines.
.. In the "SWIM AT YOUR OWN RISK" department: jumping sharks and surfers enjoy the same space at New Smyrna Beach. This is the same place where there have been 12 shark-bitten folks this year -- so far!

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.. Here's our second quarter, very brief, statistics report. This little ol' family and friends blog has settled down at the figures shown. Not very big as blogs go.

Happy Yellowstone Fourth

YELLOWSTONE RIVERS
IN GREAT SHAPE

Yellowstone Roads Crowded

yellowstone fish hungry

.. The weekend will be a bit warm. The crowds will be a bit dense. The rivers will be a bit crowded. The fish stories will be a bit exaggerated. And, a good time will be had by all.
.. Places where fishing will be good -- AND crowded:
-- Firehole River
-- Madison River
-- Gardiner River
-- Gibbon River, (below Norris Campground)
-- Trout Lake
.. Places where fishing will be good -- AND less crowded:
-- Firehole River, (along the Lone Star Geyser trail)
-- Firehole River, (between Firehole Falls & Madison River)
-- Little Firehole River
-- Iron Spring Creek
-- Nez Perce Creek
-- Gibbon River, (between Norris Campground and Virginia Cascade)
-- Obsidian Creek
-- Solfaterra Creek
.. Places where fishing will be good -- AND nearly empty:
-- Gibbon River, (along the Grebe Lake trail)
-- Fan Creek
-- Duck Creek
-- Grayling Creek
-- Bacon Rind Creek
-- Gallatin River, (above the Fan Creek Confluence)
-- Bechler River
-- Falls River
-- Boundary Creek
-- Heart Lake
-- Grebe Lake
-- Snake River, (in the Thorofare)
-- Hellroaring Creek
-- Trail Creek
-- Mountain Creek
-- Pebble Creek
-- Slough Creek, (along the sagebrush flats)

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.. The weather is going to cooperate for the long weekend. Clouds, thunder storms, wind, and mild temperatures are predicted for the weekend. Not necessarily good picnic weather - but great fishing weather.
.. By Monday the Summer weather will hit its stride. July promises to be a bit hotter than in recent years. This weekend looks like the last of the Spring fishing weather -- and it's going to be great.

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.. We note that Jeff Kennedy has featured the Feather Duster in his post for yesterday. This is most apropos. The Eagle family celebrated 100 years in business, in West Yellowstone, last week.
.. An open house, 300 former employees, and nearly 100 family and relatives graced West Yellowstone with their presence. The stories were rich and varied -- you should have been here.
.. Sam Eagle was the first licensed guide in Yellowstone, Wally Eagle developed the Feather Duster using ostrich plumes from the store's dusters. The fly shop has been in continuous operation for just over 90 years. It features both fly fishing gear and tackle for other disciplines as well.
.. Icons and legends such as Bob Jacklin, Bud Lilly, and Craig Mathews have all worked in the shop.
.. In honor of the Eagle's anniversary, and our nation's independence we're going to fish only Feather Duster's for the next week.
.. They are an amazingly versatile fly. Big and sunken they work wonders in the spring and through the salmonfly hatch. Little and sunken they are just as effective as a Prince Nymph or a Yellowstone Badger. They can be greased and floated through a whole cycle of either caddis or mayfly hatches. The color variants can imitate eggs, and other groceries that a trout is interested in.
.. Thanks to Jeff Kennedy for the wonderful rendition. And special thanks to the Eagle family for giving us an enduring fly fishing tradition and a wonderful fly.

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.. Jack Dennis Sports has revamped their web site and it is very comprehensive. Click HERE for the report.
.. Fishing is continuing apace in the northern part of Yellowstone National Park. For the latest information keep an eye on Parks Fly Shop Reports.
.. West side reports at Blue Ribbon Flies and Madison River Outfitters are current and very informative. Bud Lilly's has been keeping track of Hebgen Lake. The fishing is just shy of stupendous.

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.. Time to kiss a fish!

Blessed Rain & Cooler Temperatures

FINALLY, A WEEK FULL OF OVERCAST

Get Out The Poncho

photo courtesy Jason Neuswanger

.. The weather has finally given us and the Baetis a break. We're going to check out Boundary Creek and the Bechler River. The fires are still smoldering in the Cascade Corner, but the pub talk has fish jumping into waders - we'll see.
.. Baetis is the watchword for the week. They are on the Firehole River, the Madison River, the Gibbon River, Slough Creek, Soda Butte Creek and even the Gallatin River - if you can find them. Get over to The Trout Nut for pictures.
.. Caddis are beginning to flutter around mile post 23 on the Gallatin River and on the Firehole River. If you're looking for the big'uns carry some drakes and hope that fish memory is as good as rumored.

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.. Over at Trouts & Seasons Of The Mountain Village, Fujioka has updated his Pfluger Medalist Page. Besides some very informative pictures of these reels, there is excellent information about the evolution of the marque. We have several of these and you probably do too. There is also a list of references for additional research.