Spring Mix

PICK YOUR POISON

Weather For One And All

catching improving by the day

If you have a large screen you can read on the sign who once lived here.

-------

.. Estuary fishing is good: estuary catching is great. Those with the guts get the glory. A bit of local knowledge and a willingness to post hole, snowshoe, or ride a sled to the open waters will yield some of the best catching ever. Hebgen Reservoir is the destination of choice for many of the neighbors. Ice out is not officially here but the expanding tributary estuaries are giving it a nudge.
.. Some neighbors are exercising their petrol ration and visiting the lowland Madison River, Missouri River, Yellowstone River, and Big Spring Creek. Lowland fishing and catching is in full swing; as it were. Check the sidebar for links to the reports of folks already deep in Montana's waters.
.. The weather has given us everything from wet snow to hail. A bit of rain and some graupel always keep the mix interesting. The fish don't seem to mind: the fishers usually do. Rare, however, is the empty pub parking lot syndrome. Folks have bailed out of town with a whoosh that was heard as far away as the Varney Bridge.


Reversed Parachute Midge Emerger

.. Up here it's still midge time and the fish are enjoying it. The bright, dead still, gentle snows of mid day are perfect times to tie on a midge pattern.
.. Some of the "REVERSE" midge emergers from across the pond have been used by the world traveliing fly fishers in the neighborhood. You'll have to tie them yourself - no local feather merchant has them at this time.
.. You can read about their success rate and use HERE. We like fishing midges Between The Lakes because there is no need to enter the water and disturb the redds of the spawning trout. Cavitation slicks and back eddy swirls are prime places, (and they ocure near the shore.)
.. The midge is a staple of the trout in many areas - not the least of which is the Madison River tailwater, or the edge of the weed beds in the just now opening estuaries.. The wonderful video by Ralph Cutter, (below,) is highly instructive for fly fishers that wish to indulge themselves in this sublime form of torture - and exaultation.

..

-------

.. If dinky flies are not your cup of hooch, try some streamers. The ones with a stinger hook seem to be becoming fashionable right now. There may be something to it. Little fish nip at the tails of their food. Big fish attack the head. If you'd like to hook up with a small  16" trout for a dance or two try a streamer with a stinger hook. If you are looking for normal sized fish stick 'em with a traditional streamer.


Scleech, image courtesy of Parks Fly Shop

.. Stinger hooks are a staple of salt water fishing but seem to have never caught on with the inland fly fisher.
.. One of the best in our region is the SCLEECH, that has been tied in Gardiner for a long time and is now available from the MONTANA FLY COMPANY. It should be available at a retail feather merchant near you.
.. It's not our practice but, some of the neighbors fling a streamer toward the over-sexed trout and aggrivate them into taking the offering. Some very big fish are stuck this way.
.. The outlet of Quake Lake is ice-free and access through the boulder field is negotiable by younger legs than ours.
.. The Devil Worm and it's relative the GOB 'O' are each being used currently, with more than moderate success, at the edge of the ice at Quake Lake, both at the outlet and at the boat ramp near it's head.
.. That's it for now. We're headed to an empty parking lot that we know of.

-------

.

Parking lot sucked dry, (and empty,) by folks leaving our village

Boyz Day Out

LOWLANDS HEATING UP

Real Baetids Sighted

pubs as crowded as fly shops

FLY SHOP SURROUNDED BY PUBS AND PICKUPS - HEAVEN?

-------

.. It's impossible to live in the high country and not envy the length of water-time availble to lowland fishers. We have heard rumors of the fun to be had: we went to investigate.
.. Right now the open portions of the lowland Madison River as well as the Gallatin River below Big Sky are providing storybook catching.

ON THE TOP

.. At even lower elevations the Yellowstone River, Missouri River and Big Spring Creek are about to enter the early season Valhalla, (the hall of the slain.)
.. Don't get your knickers in a bunch as you hurry to take advantage of the best kept open secret of the current weekend.
.. Yesterday gave forth with some perfect Spring weather. Snow, Hail, Graupel, and wind treated the high country while the lowlands enjoyed gray wet skies, variable breezes, occasional mixed precipitation, and stray beams of sunlight.
.. Who could ask for anything more? Certainly not the bugs or pub owners!


ON THE BOTTOM

.. There's no mystery here. Grab your spring fly box and head to the lowland river near you. Streamers will gather the big fellas on all the waters. Plonk them down and retrieve with rapid and intermittant strips. Three or four - wait - three or four more - you know how.
.. On the big water a Stonefly nymph can produce a submarine or two, (we find it hard to accept that it's early April and the folks down below are talking Stoneflies and Skwala's already.)

IN THE MIDDLE

.. On top and in the film you can pick your favorite spring mayfly. For the stealthy back eddy fisher there are midges galore and for those that would like to guess when the fish strikes, a bead head anything will grab the maw of trout in deep dark slicks and shadowed riffles. We don't say it often but, it's hard to miss right now.
.. Rubber pants and fingerless gloves seem to be de rigueur for the moment. The blustery weather can numb your various appendages rather quickly, (with all the catching to be had comes the attendant releasing.) For some appendages there's no suitable muff, however.
.. A couple of the neighbors have been plying the waters of Hebgen Reservoir. All of the tributary estuaries have pushed into the ice to the point that legal fishing can be had. Catching still runs hot and cold and is usually dependent on the intuition and experience of the angler. Right now the fish are podded-up along the edge of the ice and bits of flotsam are the general fare. A few reports of leaches are circulating in the pubs, (we do enjoy the gusto of pub tales.)
.. Tomorrow is another day. Back at it. The appendages have thawed.

-------

A WEE BIT OF GREEN ON THE BANKS OF THE LOWLAND MADISON RIVER

Just The Thing

A BIT MORE SNOW

On Top Of Slush

on top of rotten snow

OPEN WATER AT LAST

-------

.. Mom is doing her best to slide gently into Spring. We are treated to heavy wet snow, rain, sleet, sun, thunder, warm and cold temperatures - sometimes all in the same hour. Just the way it always is.
.. Visitors, (very few, now that Yellowstone National Park is closed,) comment on the variety of weather in the most colorful of verbiage. The neighbors smile, shake their heads, and wonder how it is that lowlanders think that water gets into rivers.
.. Took a quick jaunt down to _____ Creek. It's a scrumptious sight for eyes too long glazed by frozen water. It's being fished at it's estuary and lo, the fish managed to survive the winter once again. We watched. laughed, kibitzed, cajoled, and encouraged the kids that did us a turn and took us along.
.. The capricious Springtime mix of precipitation is being called for during the next couple of weeks. It's a good thing: keeps the idiots gentry down low. We'll be there soon to see how it's done. Rumor is; that the Missouri River is getting hot early. The pre-runoff season is upon us.
.. More to come from the lowlands.

-------

Speed Bump

RAMIFICATIONS TO FOLLOW

Champagne Flowing In Billings

fast & loose lost

-------

.. Yesterday the Supreme Court of the United states handed down a decision in the case of PPL Montana vs. State of Montana.
.. As of this moment Montana probably owns less river bottom than it thought. As of this moment there is great celebration in the PPL offices in Billings, Montana. As of this moment fly fishers and other recreational users of Montana's waters have some worries. As of this moment the courts in Montana have the herculean task of trying to be a bit more considered in their application of laws and precedents. As of this moment it seems that the law of the land has been changed regarding the definition of navigability. As of this moment there may be fewer rivers where access is legal because of the navigability precedent.
.. You can read all about the concerns:
-- MidCurrent - HERE,
-- Moldy Chum - HERE,
-- Chi Wulff - HERE,
-- FOAM - HERE,
-- LOGARCHISM -  HERE,
-- GOOGLE SEARCH -  HERE.
.. The legal stuff is also available:
-- Legal Planet - HERE,
-- Environmental Law Prof Blog - HERE,
-- Thomas Merrill - HERE,
-- Decision (PDF) - HERE.

.. So, Batman, what's it all mean? Well, as in many Supreme Court cases, the high court has criticized the lower courts for playing fast and loose with the law and remanded the case for correction.
.. Interestingly the test of ownership by navigability seems to have been glossed over by much of the post decision analysis. The test of navigability at the time of statehood could be a genuine ball buster if title and ownership questions arise about current water that was not in existence then. At present there is not a set precedent - YET.
.. Finally it also means that fly fishers have just one more thing to worry about on the river and stream access front. Consensus seems to be that the Montana stream access law is not in immanent danger - we'll see: especially if the state does not have title to currently navigable waters that did not exist at time of statehood, (think Mitchell Slough, think the re-arranged Ruby River, etc.)
.. We believe that the real import of this case will be felt for a long time. It takes no real genius to understand that "navigability," will be a concern in legal cases for several more decades and may really mean: PORTAGE THEN - PORTAGE NOW.  Now there's a can of wigglers for ya!

-------

A Couple Of Notes

MINNOWS IN THE MISSOURI

Need For More Papers

-------

Not our neighbors, but the neighbors in North Dakota have posted a picture of what they are describing as a "Missouri Minnow."

.. This Sturgeon was caught in the Missouri River north of Bismarck, North Dakota, two weeks ago. It weighed out at over 1,000 lbs and measured out at 11'1". It was 56" around the girth and took over 6 and a half hours, and 4 dozen beers, for the 4 guys taking turns at the reeling it in. Any Sturgeon OVER about five feet has to be released unharmed and cannot be removed from the water. They are brood / breeding stock and probably older than most of us.
.. Read about it HERE.

-------

.. The WILD TROUT SYMPOSIUM has extended it's call for papers to April 30, 2010. If you are still interested in presenting this September at Wild Trout X, submit your abstract today. Visit the website for complete details on abstract guidelines and suggested topics of interest.
.. You may now register online for the symposium at www.wildtroutsymposium.com/register.php The registration fee is $250. Starting September 1, 2010, a late fee of $50 will be added for general registrations. A $25 cancellation fee will be applied after September 1, and no refunds are available after September 14, 2010.
.. Your registration fee includes: social events, viewing of River's of A Lost Coast independent film and a special fly fishing casting clinic with renowned angler and fly tier Bob Jacklin. To register online: www.wildtroutsymposium.com/register.php
.. If you would prefer to register over the phone, register with MSU Conference Services in Bozeman, MT. Contact: Stephanie Stratton (406) 994-3333
.. The Holiday Inn Sunspree Resort is the host hotel for Wild Trout X. Mention the "Wild Trout 10 Symposium" or group code "WTS" and receive the special group rate. For a complete list of the room choices and prices, visit www.wildtroutsymposium.com/accomodations.php.

-------

..

As Arnold Said . . .

"I'LL BE BACK" - ohmygawd

SB 425 Alive But Not Well - Yet

Keep Watching This One

.. Just when we thought the Montana State Legislature had settled down to do the people's work along comes our old friend SB 425. It's hard to kill a walleye. The current bill is just a re-write of the construction authorization bill and a hasty effort to generate funds for an ailing facility.

-------

.. Here's an interesting section for your perusal: (red=stricken, blue=new, black=as written.)

--> (4) Costs for hatchery construction, operation, maintenance, and personnel are to be funded with revenue in the warm water game fish accounts established in 87-3-236, revenue in the general license account, or any federal funding available to the department. It is intended that the hatchery be constructed in stages as revenue becomes available in the warm water game fish accounts established in 87-3-236."

-------

.. At least the walleye is not going to be "declared" a native species in order to generate the funding.
.. Perhaps there are "WALLEYE BAILOUT FUNDS." Perhaps, as the hasty bill suggests, - we should all bailout the walleye.
.. For some informative reporting about the SB 425 visit GazOutdoors. For some interesting analysis check Will Fish For Work, (#1, #2.)
.. The bill has struggled but looks like it's a done deal.
.. The Bill's History: click HERE
.. The Verbiage: click HERE.
.. Montana FWP page on funding options: click HERE

OH NO, Mr. Bill

SCUTTLED AT THE END

HB-455 Probably Dead

Big Sky Rivers Act Flushed

.. As we promised, we've monitored this bill. Sadly, for Montana's streams, the big money and thoughtless greed of real estate interests have dumped it in the toilet.
.. Votes in the House Local Government Committee and executive actions seem to have doomed the bill.
.. Thank your local real estate developer the next time you see them. Now rivers such as the Yellowstone, Gallatin, Madison, Jefferson, Smith, Missouri, Clark Fork, Blackfoot, Bitterroot and Flathead will soon have their banks covered with palaces of the rich and invasive.
.. Major development of condominiums and luxury retreats will sprout like the riparian vegetation that is there now. Stream access will fall to "property rights" defenders, and soon Bozeman will look and smell like Central Los Angeles, or Downtown Milwaukee. The invaders should feel right at home.
.. No 250 foot setbacks will be enacted. "Local Control" added to the bill did not satisfy the plutocrat's of development. Their watch words seem to be: "IF IT'S THERE - BUILD ON IT!"

READ THE UGLY DETAILS HERE.

.. Best get to the Gallatin River before you can't see it!

out . . . & BACK

AN EXPERIMENT IN PRESENTATION

.
.

ROAD TRIP - Big Mo

..