Blessings Upon Us

DO WE LOVE
BAR-B-Q ?

just what kind ?

all of it

brief fishing report too

.. There's over 40 motels in town: about that many restaurants exist too. There's 5 churches, (most of the time,) and more pubs than churches. Hell, there's more fly shops than churches.
.. The niche market is filling up fast in the trinket shop category, and there's a gas station for every disposition, (and three car washes.)
.. We often hear heated discussions about the "BEST" of whatever, (food, church, souvenir shop, motel, etc.) Ahhhh, the joys of living where others visit.
.. We also have two remarkable Bar-B-Q restaurants. Both are "authentic," (gawd, can you imagine the arguments ?) No boiled ribs with pounds of sauce to disguise the process will be found at either. Genuine, 'do-it-the-long-way-and-enjoy-the-finished-product BAR-B-Q.
.. We are truly blessed. How do you like your ribs? Beans? Brisket? KC style? Texas style? You can have both! Dripping with rich sauce and smoky aromas? You got it! Subtle aroma and melt in your mouth delicious, (sauce on the side?) Sure! Beans all dolled up and full of special tastes? Just ask! Just beans, with a hint of ham or bacon, no sauce and broth to die for? Why not?
.. Downtown crowds and search for parking? Got it! Leisurely front porch and off street parking? As you wish!
.. Not Often is there a choice so hard to make. Certainly tastes vary - praise the pig! Palettes and moods vary - praise the beef! Atmosphere is certainly an idiosyncratic judgment - praise the difference!
.. Which one is best? You decide!

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.. Fishing and catching is good and getting better. Pick your spot and time and flog away. The offerings are famously varied and not many disappointed fishers can be found. Conditions are tough but rewarding.
.. Both the Firehole River and the Madison River have cleared considerably. The un-seasonal warm weather is keeping the flows a bit above average but the fishing is good.
.. There is some fog, (if you are the early type,) and fish are very active on the surface in the morning. No giant spinner fall to speak of but the finny friends are looking up in the morning. Pick your poison and a dimple in the surface, size 16 - 18 BWO, (and/or PMD,) if your eyes work that early.
.. There is some little stonefly action and the big ones should be along soon, (for the subsurface folks.)
.. The bugs are crawling along the bottom right now and the recent flooding has moved the gravels considerably.
.. Bugs are very active right now but they are mostly in the lower 1/3 of the water column. Use you favorite Yellow Sally sort of fly and you should be rewarded with some fine fish.
.. Small streamers and buggers are also working. The perennial favorite Prince Nymph is about sold out in a couple of the fly shops. The decisions will hurt your head if you worry about them.

Just tie one on - the dance is on!

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.

The Senator From Sidney

NO ACTION TAKEN YESTERDAY

Walleye Still Waiting

how's your table service ?

.. No action was taken yesterday in the Montana State Legislature on SB-15. This is the bill introduced by Senator DONALD STEINBEISSER (R) of Sidney, Montana. [See previous two posts.]
.. Sidney is a pleasant community just 4.6 miles from the North Dakota border. It's on the banks of the Yellowstone River and most of it's news and activities make the papers in Fargo, and Minot, North Dakota.
.. Senator Steinbeisser, is chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation committee, and a member of the Business, Labor, and Economic Affairs - & - Natural Resources committees. Although he does not fish, he believes that SB-15 will go a long way toward "correcting" the view that trout are the only fish in Montana.
.. His sponsorship of a bill that would deify an invasive species as a native species, and update scientific names is just what could be expected from someone that does not fish, and one who thinks that it's the legislature's place to correct science. [[ Shades of the Butler Act and the Scopes Trial.]] - - - Is there a family resemblance?
.. This gentleman is also the sponsor of a bill, (SB-253,) [[Story in Great Falls tribune,]] that would allow an employer a tip credit to meet the minimum wage for tipped employees.
.. Although the bill is aimed at cutting wages of restaurant staff to somewhere in the $2.50/hr. range (capped at $6.90/hr. and adjusted for tips.) This will have far reaching consequences in all parts of Montana's service centered economy.
.. The bill would allow employers to 'count' tips as wages and reduce salaries accordingly. It also includes provisions to 'update' the reductions on an annual basis.
.. Pause, for just a moment, and consider the results of this mentality on the service sector of the economy in service-centered Montana.
.. Tourism is a giant chunk of our economy. The workers are restaurant staff, pub staff, fishing guides, hunting guides, tour guides, hotel staff, and everyone that strives to make visiting Montana a memorable experience.
.. Will your wait staff have any incentive to serve you diligently if the tip is counted as wages? Will a fishing guide, employed by a feather merchant, have any call to find fish for tips - if the tips are deducted from the standard guide fees? [[See MidCurrent for Tips on tipping.]]
.. Will tour guides bother to enhance your experience if their tip is just 'another day's wage?'
.. The IRS is going to have a field day with this one. Stingy business owners are going to drive away competent help. Why would any competent and thinking service worker bother to excel if the fruit of their efforts just went into their "owner's" pocket instead of their own?
.. If your walleye sandwich falls on the floor between the kitchen and your table, it's going to be picked up and presented just as carelessly as if it didn't fall under the 10-second rule.
.. And, if the fishing guides of Montana have to kick-back their tips to the proprietors of feather bins and hackle racks, you might just as well stay home and fish in the toilet.
.. We're going to follow SB-15 and SB-253. Maybe there will even be a bill to extend the borders of North Dakota just 5 miles to the west. We'd vote for that.

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Breakfast

START THE DAY OFF RIGHT

Eat With The Locals

pretend their jokes are funny
end the day right too

**Just Good Food**

--We generally avoid endorsements or advertisements, but like the old plumber said "folks gotta eat."

+++ There are excellent places for breakfast, lunch, and dinner in West Yellowstone. These are of the 'ask anybody' variety. [Just don't ask a restaurant worker.]

+++ There is an exceptional deli for sandwiches or box lunches.

+++ There is a friendly pub & eatery for a satisfying dinner.

To find out where these places are - - - just ASK ANYBODY.

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-- The Running Bear has excellent traditional breakfast; in fact that is all they do! Great pancakes, perfect eggs, 'taters to order.' Tell Mike that we sent you. It might get you a stock tip. Get there before 2:00 PM.

-- Ernies Deli provides a quick breakfast of donuts, (or GIANT sticky buns,) and coffee if you are in a hurry. The biscuits and country gravy demand a bit more time; although you can get them to go.
.. They excel at prefect sandwiches, (try the Ham & Swiss, or Pastrami,) offer an excellent selection of beers and wines, deliver friendly service, and have great box lunches. Tell Dawn that we sent you. It will get you a wink and a smile.

-- Bullwinkle's Saloon & Eatery is a sports bar with a twist - the barkeep is a fly fisherman. Tell Mark, or Jackie, or Dennis that we sent you. You will get good food - good conversation - and maybe a local fly or two.
.. The information is only slightly tainted with local hubris and it's free. You can eat in the saloon, or one of two dining rooms.
.. They open at about 3:00 and trout is on the menu, along with steaks, pasta, sandwiches, special salads, daily specials, and some local favorites as well.
.. They have an excellent selection of beer and wine. Even some excellent Champagne to go with that tender flaky trout.
.. If you're very lucky, and if there's any left, try the cheesecake - yum !