Can It Be ?

FOUR FIVE CONQUERORS?

Woke For July 3 ?

exclusive or inclusive ?

A NATIVE AMERICAN SACRILEGE ?

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.. Some interesting facts:
1) Washington and Jefferson both held slaves,
2)  Lincoln, though he led the abolition of slavery, also approved the hanging of 38 Dakota men in Minnesota after a violent conflict with invading white settlers there,
3)  Roosevelt, a good Republican, is reported to have said, "I don't go so far as to think that the only good Indians are dead Indians, but I believe nine out of every ten are." He also said, "the most vicious cowboy has more moral principle than the average Indian.” {LINK}
..  For many Native American people, including the Lakota, Cheyenne, Omaha, Arapaho, Kiowa and Kiowa-Apache, the monument is a desecration of the Black Hills, which they consider sacred. Lakota people know the area as Paha Sapa — "the heart of everything that is."
.. So, of course, our president a good Republican,  has scheduled a major event at the monument. We have had our head shaken by this juxtaposition of perceptions in this time of conflict, pandemic and, national unrest.
..  Unlikely as it is, many fly fishers, feather merchants, fishing web sites, and YouTube channels avoid comment on the reality of this moment in history; we are fully cognizant of the sociopolitical atmosphere surrounding us. It is troubling! We cannot avoid comment. Silence is not enough.
.. For this celebration of Independence Day, we're trapped in a little tourist town with 1/4 of the shops closed. Montana is not fully "open" yet. Entitled visitors from around the world are trouping through our village. There are very few face masks present. The grocery store aisles are full of normal appearing folks searching the empty shelves.
.. The surreal aspects of our daily existence are entirely missed by those entitled visitors = fly fishers included. We've lost our part time gig due to closures. We're free to observe from our car, porch, patio, and occasional forays into the grocery store, post office, hardware store and gas station = such an awakening. May this never happen again!

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CADDIS TO GO

.. Yesterday's mid-day thunder boomers brought some hail and cool rains to the neighborhood. The result was a brief respite from the warm weather and a moderate period of excellent evening catching.

.. The Firehole River will be fishable for the coming weekend. Catchable is another question. Temperature spikes to 70°F are already here. Early morning is best - very late evening is a fair bet as well. Stick with soft hackles in the shadows. Don't spend any effort with surface flies unless the critters are crawling in your ears. If so, they are probably caddis of one sort or another.

.. The Madison River has fared better this year. Catching has succumbed to the "Madison Holy Trinity" = caddis. PMD and, soft hackles. A dozen of each should endear you to the local counter help. Remember that surface flies may be drowned and still catch those pesky trout.

COACHMAN HACKLE

.. Early morning should find you parked in a wide dirt spot on the Gibbon River. Get there early and pound the riffles and dark slicks with large nymphs.
.. By noon time refugees from the other rivers will inundate the road and the parking spots. When it becomes elbow-crazy a small movement can continue your catching,
.. The meadows around the museum of the ranger and, upstream are full of brook trout and the occasional grayling. This is a good place to practice your stealth stalking skills. Just about any fly on  the surface will bring strikes. Good, long drifts, are best. Don't be too quick of wrist. The little fish often miss and come back for seconds.

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.. With a few neighbors and, no dogs, we're headed to a secluded bend on the Notellum River at the edge of the park boundary. A small fire just beyond the park line and a few steaks, (nearly a week's rent,) along with a cool one and great fellowship with young skeptics and old grouches should celebrate our independence.😎😎😎😎

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WALLPAPER:  CANNELLINI SOUP WITH BACON GARNISH

Successful Variation

BRIGHT COLORS

Familiar Recipe

use it now

WALLPAPER:   BLUE NOSE MUDDLER

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.. There are still a few streams with active fish. A few streams have substantial Brook Trout populations. These are smalish streams and are off the beaten path and out of the indices of the guide book.
.. This variation on a Muddler Minnow pattern makes use of the bright color palate of Fall run Brook Trout. It's either food or foe. Which ever it is the strikes are frequent and ferocious.
.. Before the ice comes and, while the weather is still on the gentle side there are feisty fish to be had. Snow shoes, skis, or snow machines are required - depending on the water. Take a light pack rod and a half dozen flies - include midges and have at it.

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WALLPAPER: FOR THE FLATS: 45-70

The Mythic Firehole River, (part one)

"THE FISH PREFER"

No Big Fish Here

abandon your car

WALLPAPER:   DESTINATION BISCUIT

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.. It would be futile to debunk the myriad myths that appertain to the Firehole River. That said; there are a couple of popular myths that demand to be addressed.
.. The first myth that needs to be explored is that ". . . the trout prefer the warm temperatures of mid summer . . ."
.. The second myth that floats continuously is that ". . . there are no 'big' fish in the Firehole River . . ."

FIREHOLE BLACK SNAILS

..Aside from the anthropomorphic attribution of 'preference' to the little scallywags, the argument that they have lived for so many generations in the warm environs of the Firehole River that they have adapted to warmer water has some merit. BUT ONLY SOME!!
.. However, the first fish introduced to the Firehole River were Smallmouth Bass followed by Brook Trout. Neither of these species have taken to the warmth of the stream. The bass are gone and the brookies have migrated to colder waters and are very rarely taken in the river below Kepler Cascades.
.. Introduced Brown Trout and introduced Rainbow Trout are the two dominate species in the lower Firehole River.

FIREHOLE BLACK SNAILS

.. Although water temperature is a rough indicator of both Brown Trout and Rainbow Trout distribution, aerobic capacity is more meaningful. Dissolved oxygen is the key to survival and ability to thrive for these trout.
.. Wild trout, in their indigenous habitat, do show a wide range of temperature tolerance depending on their natural history and geographic constraints. The Rainbow Trout can be found within a range of 17.8–24.6°C [LINK-11.]

USE FOR "GOOD FISH"

.. Brown Trout seem to be a bit more tolerant of warmer waters and can be found in waters at 28°C. This oversimplification of thermal tolerance does not take account of other limiting factors such as: length of day, length of extreme temperature exposure, age of fish, dissolved oxygen, egg tolerance, smolt tolerance, etc.
.. Research from regions as diverse as from the Iberian Peninsula to Idaho to  Michigan to California to Germany to Australia suggest that these two trout do best, (survive and thrive,) in cooler rather than warmer water.
.. Given the opportunity, these fish will hang out, (prefer to be?) in more highly oxygenated cold water rather than less oxygenated warm water.

FOR TOPSIDERS

.. Not surprising then, the fish in the Firehole River will indeed, be mostly found in the cooler bits of the stream. We all knew that, right?
.. The Firehole River does have submerged cold water springs. We know a few. The river also is fed by warm streams as well as cold streams. We know a few of those too.
.. Should you be seeking to dance, a time or two, with the fish in the stream your best bet is to hire a guide. Should you want non stop catching seek the optimum fish locations: nearby shade, weeds and bugs, cooler water, dark holes and hides, etc. These are the spots that the guides keep for themselves.

NEED BIG FISH ??

.. As for the second myth; you must define big. A three or four pound trout is big in our book. Length varies depending on species and time of year. A spawned out buck at 22" may be big to some folks. But they look too much like a snake to us.
.. There are four pound trout to be had in the Firehole River. They are far less rare than you have been led to believe. They are in those places where optimum conditions exist for growth and survivability.

WANT BIG FISH?

..  Keep in mind that although big fish are opportunistic feeders, (as are all trout,) they eat little fish. A little fish can be defined as the "good fish" that your guide praises for your ego.
.. You will often see a fish skimming the surface, leaping in the air, charging the shore, and diving into weeds when chased by bigger fish. Got a fly that imitates a six inch trout? Use it. Be a myth buster!

RESOURCES:

>> Rainbow trout thermal tolerance,
>> Brown trout thermal niche,
>> Rainbow trout upper thermal tolerance,
>> Brown trout consevation,
>> Thermal Tolerance Limits for Trout,
>> Requirements and tolerances for Brown and Rainbow trout,
>> How hot is too hot?,
>> Henry's Fork trout requirements,
>>

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LISTEN TO THE JUNGLE DRUMS

.. The cool days and frequent rains have been a boon to fishers on the west side rivers. Not too much color, not too much discharge, not too many elbows, not too few bugs, and - - - great catching. Be here now.
.. Just dumped the wet poncho on the oriental rug, draped the wet jeans over the silk brocade on the Victorian Chaise, kicked the muddy boots into the corner by the giant Navajo baskets, and  settled down to scrawl type this.
.. Now for a late supper and some couch time.

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WALLPAPER:  CHILI BURGER -- HOLD THE BUN

 

Game On

MADISON WORKING

Fish The Firehole Late

a tale of two canyons

WALLPAPER:  FIREHOLE SUNSET

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..We're not prone to hyperbole but, the classic and popular segments of the Firehole River are fishing just like the guidebooks and counter help explain it to you.

Shuckster   #1

.. We'll mention a few flies but the truth of the matter is that just about any fly of the right size will gall a fish - quickly and successfully, (given a gentle presentation and sharp hook.)
.. We visited with a few visitors on the rivers and came away with one interesting observation that they had made: the hooks from the feather merchants are amazingly dull this year. A few swipes with a diamond sharpener will go a long way to insuring your success.

Shuckster #2

..  Better than good numbers of Baetids and some PMD's have been coming off.
.. The super dry fishing has been just O.K. but, the emergers, (slightly drowned or in the film,) have been what many of the neighbors have been using.
.. These combined with the standard drowned soft hackle or "Dry Soft Hackle" Are becoming, (more than usual,) the go to choices.
.. It's  good to enter Yellowstone National Park early: it's better to stay late. The caddis are already prolific in the afternoon and there have been some late evening spinner falls of the mayflies. Lots of noses in the air in the early evening.

Lots of eager and lonely fish here

.. The Madison River is alive with eager and ravenous fish. They are feeling very lonely.
.. Ignoring the Madison River early in the season is a tradition of feather merchants, guides, and guide book readers.

Here too

.. Many folks would rather gather up fifteen to twenty 10" fish instead of ten or fifteen 19" fish. It's a strokes and folks thing.
.. Of course, by the time they get to the Madison River the best of the catching has moved on and they spread stories about how the river really isn't worth fishing. Some of the strange stuff you hear from the establishment rumor mill.

Gibon River coming on early

.. The Gibbon River Canyon has a nice assortment of rainbow trout and some wily brown trout, should you need to gather up more than a handful of fish in a morning or afternoon break.
.. This is one of the most rewarding of nymphing rivers at this time of year.

King Prince

.. We use the King Prince or just a large Prince nymph.
.. There are also regular and consistent hatches of mayflies that the fish seem to discover before the fishers. Floating a dry in the appropriate places can surprise even the most expectant fisher.
.. We gathered some intelligence from a couple of fishers that fished the big meadows and the Brook Trout Paradise above the cascades. Recruitment of Brookies has been exceptional over the last few years and it's becoming commonplace to take a few 10" or 12" specimens in couple of hours. The crowds have found this water but the fish seem to be very cooperative and not too skittish right now.

Firehole Canyon

.. The Firehole Canyon is being visited by some savvy fishers and  a covey of the neighbors.
.. Stoneflies of several sorts are in both canyons. Pick your poison and hang on.
.. There are even some large salmonflies on the Madison River between Madison Junction and 7-mile bridge.
.. The neighbors are using sparsely tied black nymphs in both canyons and on the Madison River.

Sparse

.. The big bugs are beginning their contrary appearance along the Firehole River. They are crawling along the shore above Firehole Falls - but not in any great numbers.
.. Firehole Canyon has a few early fliers as well. This is a good time to use a floater/dropper combination. Put your best "mature" floater up high and a dark, (sparsely dressed,) nymph ten to fifteen inches down at the tip. No need for weight, just cover a lot of water.

Portrait

.. Should you be feeling adventurous a double nymph of yellow or golden stones along with the big honker can provide near constant action in the right place.
.. Soon you won't have to cover any water - the fish will willingly jump in your waders.

.. Our days and nights have tried to fool us into believing that Summer is really here. The days have been partly cloudy and bright, (too bright for some.)
.. The nights have been warmer than "sleeping weather."  Days will continue in the 70's - approaching the 80's, (egad!)
.. This is about to change. Hatch chasing for the dryfliest should become exceptional over the next five or six days as the gray and gloom and drizzle return.
.. There should still be enough afternoon sun and brightness for the caddis and white miller visitations. Hopefully the nights will cool off some.
.. Get thee to the Firehole River right now. Discharge on the little stream is a few hundred cfs below median rates for this time of year. It is also approaching historic minimums.
.. Temperatures have already spiked to 75° F.  Official closure may or may not happen but, it's soon going to be very hard on the fish if you stab one in the snout.
.. We are loath to say it but, catching has gotten off to a fantastic start. We hope that there is a guide book writer in the house.
.. Better get out the 10 weight two handed rod.

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WALLPAPER:   NICE TRY

Quickies

SODA BUTTE . . FLUSHED

Lamar In Good Shape

madison cooling

WALLPAPER: A POOL ON THE LAMAR

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.. According to the National Park Service the poison has been flushed from Soda Butte Creek.
.. The 3,000 refugee Cutthroat Trout have been returned to the river. Should you be in that stretch above Ice Box Canyon we suggest that you say high to the fish and don't ask for a dance. Down low in the meadows and little prairies catching is progressing apace with the onslaught of Autumn.

SHUCKS TO YOU

.. With our last bit of atmospheric stability the Lamar River has blossomed into a wonderful destination. Terrestrials are first choice, followed by your favorite small and large mayflies. Baetids of a couple of sorts are the ticket on cloudy days.
.. The meadows above Virgina Cascades are attracting fishers to the colorful and willing Brook Trout. This segment of the Gibbon River is a catchers paradise and is entering the Fall with a good supply of ants, hoppers, and tromped down grass.

LOW AND SLOW

.. The cooling atmosphere and lowering of the sun has cooled off the Gibbon River in the big meadows. It's not at it's peak Fall condition, (at this moment,) but should be in the next week or two.
.. The Firehole River is cooling but not quickly enough for the neighborhood faithful. Patience is a virtue and the river should be ready in a few weeks. The fish should be well rested and ready for a Tango about September 23: solstice time.
.. The Madison River has managed a week of lowering temperatures. Folks are fishing in the mid 60° water. There are better choices on the west side of Yellowstone National Park. 
.. If you know where the cold springs are, and choose to fish the Madison River,  please use a short stout leader and horse the fish in and, release them quickly. No hero pictures necessary.
.. Duck Creek from the Highway 191 bridge to Hebgen Reservoir is attracting the attention of more than a few of our neighbors. Access is a little difficult along this short stretch and it is often overlooked by visiting head hunters.
.. Right now there are a few spruce moths swimming in the low and slow waters. Hoppers and beetles are enjoying the cool respite of a quick dip as well.
.. The estuarine waters of Grayling Creek, and up through the willow jungle below the historic old Post Office site is getting some attention from mature trout coming out of Hebgen Reservoir. Of course the trout are getting some attention from fishers coming out of West Yellowstone.
.. The catchers of fish are streaming to the Gallatin River. The ever cool water of this friendly little stream has an abundance of fish that are easy to find and will occasionally agree to dance with fishers.

PSEUDO HOPPER

.. The waters of Yellowstone National Park beckon the Autumn fishers of the world. They have heard the call are arriving by the busload.
.. We welcome them to our village. We direct them to the local feather merchants and tell them to heed the advice of the counter help.
.. They will buy a handful of flies. They will fish the glory waters. They will catch a fish. Have at it.
.. Motel rooms, for the Fall, are being reserved at a record pace. Hotels with international ownership are rising from the vacant lots around the village. Restaurants with honest international fare and chefs are making their presence felt. Goodbye to steak and eggs. Goodbye to biscuits and gravy. Hello to tapas with a Spanish owner. Hello to Tao's place. What an interesting time.
.. Tomorrow morning we're going to have a plate of baozi, a bowl of congee, some chicken feet and a glass of soy milk with our tea.
.. Then, after battling the willows of Notellum Creek, we're coming home to pulled pork and BBQ beans. Tradition will out.

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WALLPAPER:  DOWN HOME PLATE

Brook Trout Playground

A COLD CLEAR CREEK

With Swift Oxygenated Water

and shade for man and beast

A Bit More Gentility

ONE DAY TO GO

Gentle Bluster In The Air

gobbling fish in the waters

WALLPAPER:  BISON HOLDING THE HOLDING WATER

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.. Here's the quote from the official NPS website:

Sunday November 3rd is the last full day of travel through most of Yellowstone — all park roads close to the public at 8 a.m., Monday November 4 to prepare for the oversnow, winter season, except from the North Entrance to Upper Mammoth Terrace Drive, and Mammoth via Tower Junction to the Northeast Entrance. Except for the roads between the North and Northeast entrances visitors must be off park roads and all through travel must be completed by 8 a.m. Monday November 4.

.. This has always been a source of amusement for the neighbors. They laugh that the NPS touts Yellowstone as being open 24 hours a day, 365 days per year, (citation.)
.. PARKSPEAK does not allow closing the park. Rather; some roads are closed and travel is restricted: giggle, giggle, giggle, they suck you in every way that they can!
.. Fishing and catching was great yesterday, (the next-to-the-last-day before road closures and no traveling on roads through the open park - huh?) Sounds like the NPS is taking lessons from the U.S. Congress.

DON'T BOTHER - THE EXPERTS DON'T EITHER

.. What's the bet if a visitor decides to take a hike up Fan Creek, (walking, mind you,) and spend a casual 12 hours bird watching on the 5th of November; is the park open? Are trails closed? How about a little trip to Monument Mountain? If there was snow the skiers would be allowed - how about hikers? Is the park open ?
.. That nonsense aside, there is just today left to dance with some fish in the park. If you are adventurous enough we suggest that The Biggest Brook Trout in the park may be holding an orgy up on the gravels of Solfatara Creek. A few big Brown Trout also engage in the spawing fun here too.
.. There are a couple of unnamed, (and other named,) tributaries to the Madison River that attract runners for the milt and egg party. Right this moment they don't look like much. Most are ignored by the supercilious secret holders of the neighborhood. These are the real secrets, (if any,) in the Fall fishing frenzy.
.. Trout buzz up these little rivulets when there is enough water and find gravel, food, sanctuary, and a cozy love nest for procreation. It's good that the self espoused experts don't bother to walk too far from the road.

Eat Me Now You Big Brute

.. The Gibbon River has been yielding some dandy fish for those that can tear themselves away from the Madison River. Hell's Bells, it's the only smart, (if anti social,) thing to do.
.. You should have seen the crowd of cacklers at 9-mile Hole yesterday at 3:00 PM. There was nary a place to park and nary a fisher in the water. Social fly fishing is on a tear in Yellowstone National Park.
.. The darkest clouds have come and gone in waves. Bright and dark patches of sky alternately grace the fishing day. This unsettled weather is a blessing for the fisher. Little bugs like the dark overcast. Big fish like the parading shadows that give them the opportunity to move to the next hide. The fish that are not engaged in sex are moving. Moving through all the obvious and less obvious places. They are bunched up for a spell and then strung out as they move. Catching is good.
.. It's snowing a bit right now. We're headed back for some more. Right after another rasher of hickory smoked bacon, a gigantic chile relleno, and a couple jalapeño waffles.

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WALLPAPER:   MADISON RIVER HERD BULL

Adios Visitors

TIME FOR THE NEIGHBORS

Snow Is Not A 4-Letter Word

very and cold are 4-letter words

View Toward The South Fork Last Night.

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.. Minus 15° F is on the border between cold and very cold in our neighborhood. Happily we are not sleeping outside.
.. The weather mavins missed this one! We're hoping they are correct about the coming warm up and the chance for some continued productive fishing.
.. As the pubs empty of visitors and their chatter about "too-cold-to-fish" and their comments about Siberia, the neighbors are geared-up for some spectacular catching.

The Evil Eye Of The South Fork

.. There are still 19 days of catching to be had among the forgotten haunts and holes of the South Fork of the Madison River. Here the fish are far larger than those that run up the Madison River into Yellowstone National Park.
.. The fish are mostly untutored in the ways of fly fishers and seem to be willing to grab any thing with a hook in it = even nightcrawlers and Mepps.

Easy Access

.. Many of the motels in our village are closed as the staff gets laid off and mom and pop head to Jamaica or Hawaii or Belize, or some such place. Visitors flee from town when there is snow and the temperature reaches single digits.
.. The neighbors feel blessed that they have this glorious time & water all to themselves. With the recent snow, access is easy on a snowmachine and the elk hunters can hear you coming.
.. The old adage about keeping your fly in the water is most appropriate when the air temperatures get below -10° F. Half a chicken worth of feathers becomes a colorful icicle very quickly with more than just a couple of false casts.
.. Most of the neighbors fish close and roll cast, (a forgotten art form among the testosterone laden Spey flingers.)
.. The neighborhood fly box is quite a bit different from the one that the feather merchants sell for the Madison River in Yellowstone National Park.

Hornberg For Now

.. Small and medium sized flies with gobs of "internal action" are the favored offerings of those that have fished the Fall run for decades.
.. As we've mentioned before, the old and dowdy Hornberg is a local favorite. So too, the small wet flies of bygone days. Flies like the Scarlet Ibis, Lead Wing Coachman, and Whitt's White Wing.
.. Mash them up good and separate the feather parts into individual strands. Not too pretty but very effective.

#4 / 2xl Soft Hackle

.. This year we've seen some giant soft hackles and some imitation salmon flies that seem to be working just fine. Most of the sizes are tied on extra long hooks of the 4 and 6 variety. Occasionally there will be a 4 / 2xl thrown into the mix.
.. The Fall run on the South Fork is a bit later, (by weeks,) than that on the main stem of the Madison River. It started just a little early this year, (to the surprise and delight of a few savvy kids in the neighborhood.)
.. Usually the catching heats up to mercurial dimensions about the last week of the season. The biggest fish are in the system by the second week in December and they draw some fish watchers, (the riverine equivalent of bird watchers.)
.. Well, it's up to 1° F on this sunny and balmy Fall morning. We've finished the huckleberry flapjacks and the second pot of coffee. There's a stale dozen "grocery store" donuts on the front seat of the car and the neighbor kids are tugging at our epitome to get there before the other old farts in the neighborhood do.

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The Glorious And Unmolested South Fork Of The Madison River.