It's Just Nuts

NEIGHBORS GONE WILD

Fish Completely Bonkers

the worms crawl in

MYSTERIOUS VISITOR FROM ENGLAND

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.. It is the best of times and the worst of times. Fly fishers below the ice, and fly fishers in open water are using the same flies and doing very well.
.. It's so good that fish are jumping into waders. It's so bad that exotic license plates are outnumbering the neighbor's plates.

GARDEN HACKLE

.. The switch to artificial worms is early this year. There are some skeptics that poo-poo the San Juan Worm as not fly fishing.
.. Well it may or may not be. Orvis sells them in their fly catalog. Orvis also sells several other "non-fly-fishing-flies." The neighbors love them. The fish eat them with gay abandon.
.. Even the Gob O Worms has made it appearance early and is scoring fish in the 5-pound class, (through the ice.)
.. And then there's the fly at the top of the post. We don't know it's name but it comes from England. We committed the unpardonable sin of stealing it from a neighbor's fly box while their back was turned, (toward us and behind a bush.)
.. We have apologized and further humbled our self in the effort to find out the name and source for this segmented wiggler - to no avail. Our misdeed has sealed the lips of the former friend. The damn thing looks like it's molded of vinyl or some such and reminds us of a sunfish lure, (even though it's not yellow. Now there's a thought!)
.. Several times each year we receive grief in major doses from the neighbors for revealing secrets of place or kind. This post is sure to bring down a flood of ire as well.
.. For the uninitiated we show the various non-flies that the neighbors are using right now. These things are usually tied at home but, many are now available commercially. Even if you eschew their use, they will provide excellent conversation starters and stoppers.

SAN JUAN WORM

.. The San Juan Worm is often called THE DEVIL WORM. It has become a staple of fishers that want to catch fish. Many pretend it's an imitation of a Herculean blood worm. That may be. Perhaps fish dream of these things and lose control when one floats by. Currently the red variety is in vogue on the rivers while the purple or two-toned variety is being used under the ice.

GOB O WORMS

.. The Gob O Worms is a much disparaged cluster of San Juan Worms on the same hook. It has the distinction of being invented locally, (or so we've been told.)
.. It can spark vile and evil outbursts from fishers that are usually friends, (LINK.)
.. It is featured on websites around the region, (LINK,) and is now sold commercially by Idylwilde Flies, HERE. And sold as well by the Driftless Angler, HERE.
.. Purple, puce, flesh, and red colors are all being used right now. The fish are inhaling these at a record pace.

APPS BLOOD WORM

.. This year many of the neighbors that usually kindly provide us with flies have turned to the Orvis Catalog. There are some offerings that suit their fancy and they bought some for pattern prototypes.
.. The Apps Blood Worm is the current favorite from Orvis, (LINK.) It turns out that the fly is just a San Juan Worm with some "flexi floss" tied through the body and separated at the bow and stern. The little red darling is not as effective under the ice as on the river. But on the river it's quite the phenomenon.

MEDUSA (red)

.. Another San Juan Worm variant from Orvis is the Medusa, (LINK.) This is, presumably, a fly that will not get you funny looks from your friends.
.. It's supposed to represent a blood worm cluster, CLUSTER WHAT? It is sold in several colors which suggests that blood worms are chameleons, or have projectile tongues, or some such. This creation is yet another SJW variant with a fat body and clipped floss.

MEDUSA (pink)

.. The pink variety featured by Casters Online Fly Shop is doing well under the ice. It's being used with bits of garden hackle and the fish seem to prefer the artificial.
.. Most of the neighbors, feel that both varieties are the same species and that the folks that tie for Orvis ran out of red and used pink.

SHAKY WORM

.. A minority opinion is that the red is male and the pink is female. As soon as we capture some in the seine we'll let you know.
.. Orvis is kind enough to provide even another interesting worm imitation called the SHAKY WORM. It's similar to the rest of these SJW variants but has a pretty glossy body. It also comes with a bit of Phly Phising Philosophy.

MONEY QUOTE FROM ORVIS:

This is not fly fishing heresy. The fact is trout eat worms and not just the ones we fish with. Worms exist in the stream and imitating a worm with artificial patterns is no different than imitating an insect. If it works, use it. Trout fishing worm pattern in red.

.. We suspect that if these things catch fish in the numbers that the neighbors are reporting that feather merchants across the continent will get in on the selling.
.. It will be interesting to see if the local purists eschew profits for disdainful posturing. Now there's a can of . . . .

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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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Party Time

MOM DEFIES NOAA

Pretty Nice Weekend

neighbors abandon town

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.. There's always one. That one is now!
.. In defiance of all logic, predictions, and weather trends, MOM comes through with a bit of warmth on a weekend; just at the perfect time for fishing ice-out on the neighborhood lakes.
.. News has spread to such exotic and foreign lands as Bozeman, Pocatello, and even Salt Lake City. If you can get here, do it now.
.. Hebgen Lake is on fire. Oh, by the way, so is Quake Lake.
.. There's always a few folks that are early, and some that are late. Right now the neighborhood fishers are leaving town and streaming to the two lakes.
.. At most, the neighbors have to drive 26 miles to get to the outlet of Quake Lake, (the end of the boat ramp is only 22 miles.)
.. Choice spots on Hebgen Lake are as close as 11 miles. The party on the north shore is about 16 miles from our front door, (with just a pair of stop signs in between.)
.. If the next three days are as warm as some local weather mavens are predicting, this will be the last best chance to fish the ice edges.
.. Much of the ice is still within easy casting distance from shore, (long range spey casters really get to exercise now, still water and all!)
.. Some edges are within wading distance, (yes Mergatroid, you can use your waders in the lake - and then clean and dry them!)
.. Those with brass underparts use belly boats to skim the not too distant ice edges.
.. Others use real boats of various sorts to follow the receding ice and the feeding frenzy that the debris-rain engenders.
.. The rumored midges have materialized in clouds, (starting about 3:30 PM, in the warming shallows.)
.. There are also some mayflies and a few noses dimpling the surface. However, the real action is still subsurface and it's not quite beyond belief.
.. We promised to mention, only in passing, that the Gallatin River, between the park line and Taylor Fork is stupendous right now, (too cold or no!) Hell, fish eat when they can, and so do the first robins of Spring.
.. We'll forgo the bait and gear rig descriptions, use your imagination, they all work.
.. Flies range from the mundane, through the exotic, to the ridiculous - use them all.
.. Take the jar of winter experiments, errors and mistakes and use them.
.. San Juan Worms are in abundance. The Gob O Worms is frequently put on the end of leaders. Woolly Worms, (yellow or black,) are common. Badly mauled Caddis imitations on the top with a Prince or Princess Nymph at the point are some of the neighborhood favorites.
.. Trolling the ice edge is common and various streamers are favored: dark green Woolly Buggers, Dark & Light Spruce Flies, Yellowstone Spruce Fly, giant Casual Dress, and other leach and bait fish imitations are used, (Bunny Flies make their rare appearance in the neighborhood about this time each year.)
.. This has got to be a short post or we'll lose our parking spot. It would be a shame to get out of the car to catch a 24" trout. The exhaustion might be just too much.
.. Gotta rush, just heard the neighbor's door slam shut.

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.. P.S. Today is the general Montana Opener.

Countdown To Ice Out

WORMS IN SHORT SUPPLY

Maggot & Meal Worm Supplies Exhausted

lawn chairs at a premium
the current rain & sleet & snow are just a bonus

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.. The drool level in town is palpable and escalating. Both the gear group and the fly fraternity speak the same language this time of year.
.. Moms, dads, wives, husbands, boy & girl friends, and the kids had better fish or cut bait.
.. The day could be today. It could be tomorrow. It might even wait a week, (but we doubt it.) There is open water on Hebgen Lake right now. More is appearing by the hour. It's beautiful.
.. The Madison Arm Estuary is open all the way to Grayling Creek.
.. Sunrise Cove is currently fishing like there's no ice at all. The ice shanties have been abandoned. It's Ice Out Time in the neighborhood.
.. We're not sure whether "ice out" is a noun or a verb or adjective. If it's a verb, it's 'icing-out' now! If it's an adjective, the lake will be 'iced-out' in about 3 more weeks. If it's a noun, it's 'ice out'.
.. The neighbors are already planning for next weekend, (since it's snowing again.) Portable grills, ice chests cleaned with baking soda, lawn chairs cleaned and rust removed, spare rods and reels, and of course extra beer for celebrations are on the 'to-do' lists.
.. And, there will be plenty of celebrating to do. This is the time of year when the big fish of the lake are most accessible, and most easily caught.
.. For the next couple of weeks there will be little parties of jubilation along the lake shore on every beach where the ice is within casting range. If we get a genuine cold spell the ice will recede slowly, and the gaiety could last for a month.
.. Short strong leaders are the drill for most of the fly fishers. Nothing over 6' is necessary, (nor is it desirable.) Any thing in the box will do. Presentation and position are the keys for catching success.
.. We continue to mention that the trout will eat anything that looks like food to them. How do we know this? The folks that eat these fish look at the stomach contents. What a varied and capricious bunch of crap-ola the trout do eat.
.. Twigs, (some of gargantuan size,) constantly amaze us. Bits of leaves, grass, and moss, (or something similar???) are also cataloged. There's always sand and gravel, (a size distinction that is lost on us.) And of course the normally anticipated bugs and some others, not so apparently available.
.. Last year at this time a big Brown Trout was gutted and the entrails dissected. Among the above mentioned debris was a nearly complete grasshopper, (minus one leg.) Use your imagination! The damn thing was nearly an inch long.
.. In lakes and turbid streams epibenthic feeding is the norm. There is all manner of goop on the bottom of streams and lakes. Gobble it now and digest it later seems to be the strategy when drift feeding is not available.
.. All the neighbors have their favorite and 'secret' weapons. We use Feather Dusters, Prince Nymphs, Gob-O-Worms, (HERE & HERE,) San Juan Worms, Yellowstone Badger and an occasional Shop Vac. They all seem to work or fail with equal aplomb.
.. Presentation is usually with a slow sink-tip line; cast to the ice, and then pulled gently into the water. This is the most successful method for most of the neighbors.
.. The contrarian method is just about the complete opposite. A high floating line with an extremely long, (12' is where they start,) leader is used. Scuff the leader so it sinks and place a double fly rig on it, (flies about 2' apart.) Cast this rig parallel to the ice and smoke a cigar until the take.

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Traditional Spring Ceremonies

ICEOUT '09 - PARTY HEARTY
Got 'Em Surrounded

Wallpaper Edition

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.. Catching has been painfully simple for about a week. Nearly all fishing neighbors went to Hebgen Reservoir for some sun and success on Saturday.
.. It seems that all legal techniques, baits, and flies were successful yesterday, although not a single fish over 5# was reported before noon. Woolly Buggers, Silli-Legs, and Gob O' Worms have been the flies of choice for the last 36 hours. However reports and pictures of fish taken on what amounts 'the whole damn fly box,' suggest that the feeding frenzy is still at it's peak.
.. The edge of the ice has migrated to Kirkwood Shores and should be out of reach of even Steve Rajeff by Tuesday or Wednesday.

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.. PPL Montana has returned to investigate and make permanent repairs to the Hebgen Dam intake structure that blew out last year. They graded a launch ramp and floated the repair barge through the ice to the construction area.
.. Neighbors in the know have informed us that there is still no answer to the "WHY?" of last years incident.

.. Estimates of the construction period range from 2 years to uncertain. Plans may call for unregulated flows of the Madison River through the spillway during replacement of the wooden timbers.Gear guy on left -- Fly guy on right

You've Got Two Days

BEFORE
THE WORLD FINDS OUT

Quake Hot & Near Clear

Hebgen Hotter & Miles Of Edges-------

.. Just to let you know: yesterday was beyond scrumptious, today should be phenomenal, tomorrow will send tsunamis of ecstasy through the neighborhood.
.. The wind, and gentle rains, and warm weather have brought the lakes into perfect catching condition. It won't last long, and it won't be a secret anymore.
.. Of course the worm clan beat the fly fishers to the good spots the last two days. Of course there are lawn chairs and beer coolers. Of course there's even a genuine crazy in a rubber boat. WHY NOT?
.. The feeding frenzy along the edges of the ice is better right now than even aged memory can dredge up. The fish are large, hungry, looking up, and not at all spooky.
.. As a matter of fact, don't even bother to come up here; you will not be believed when you tell the tale back home.
.. Fish to 6 pounds, (worm folks weigh - not measure,) are not quite bragging size. A couple of 7 pound fish were taken yesterday in bright sun just down-lake from the Happy Hour Bar. They grew considerably in the joyous revelry that lasted until closing.
.. The technique is simple. Find a group of giggling fisher folks. Mosey up to them and admire the pile of fish on the shore - or on the stringer. Comment on the wonderful Spring weather, (even if it's blowing to 30 mph and drizzling a bit.) Ask where they get their worms, (notice the hush that falls over the group.) Ask if the trout will take a fly.
.. Enjoy the looks of amusement and wonder. Bask in the glory of their friendship as they tell you what fly to use, where to fish, and how to present your offering - take their advice!
.. Most of the neighbors will use a fly. Most are pretty good at it. But right now is when the "smoking fish" are gathered.
.. There are 24" Rocky Mountain Whitefish, 20" Rainbows, and 22" Browns just waiting to be harvested. The neighborhood is full of the aromas of smoked fish. These folks are hard working stiffs and this is easy food.
.. They won't mind a bit if you indulge your dalliance with a fly. You'll probably release the fish anyway. After you've worn out your legs from walking the edge of the ice; and your arms from landing fat feisty fish, return to your point of origin - the worm guys will buy you a beer.
.. The road along the shore of Hebgen Lake only has a few good parking spots. You will recognize them by how full of vehicles they are. Park where you can and be careful if you have to cross the highway - visitors are busy admiring the scenery and not paying too much attention to pedestrians.
.. The road along the shore of Quake Lake is worse. The combination of sliding rocks, wandering visitors, and grizzly bears should get your attention. The fishing is just a smidgen better at the end of the boat ramp and at the mouth of Beaver Creek. If you are looking for a bit of solitude these would be the places to fish.
.. WHAT FLIES? The following have taken fish over 20" in the last two days, (and will continue to work for the next week or so.)
-> Gob-O-Worms; purple, purple and tan, dark green, (sizes 12 to 6/2xl.)
-> Dark Spruce Fly; sizes 8 to 4.
-> Jacklin's Rock Worm; sizes 12 to 16,
-> San Juan Worm; florescent orange, dark red, dark blue, (sizes 8 to 14.)
-> Drowned Caddis; use the most beat-up fly you have, (about size 12.)
-> Prince Nymph; any size smaller than 8.

P.S. Don't tell the neighbors about this post.