The Park Pause

DUSTING FOR CLOSING

Plenty Fishing Nearby

pray for sun and midges

WALLPAPER:  FAITHFUL FISHER - MADISON RIVER

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.. In the tiny world of  West Yellowstone a pause in the frenetic activity of visitation is a welcome event, It's happening right now - for a few weeks.
.. The winter businesses are gearing up and the summer businesses are slowing down. The wood has been gathered up and hunting is in full swing. The activity is mostly the neighbors going about their own business for the moment.

.. The blustery weather of the past few days has left a dusting of snow on the ground. The warm roads and other dark masses are clear and damp. There's some more bluster in the forecast and then the snow should accumulate.
..  Right now we're at the snow line. Entering Yellowstone National Park is a journey through increased elevation and more snow. The winter blanket should be complete in the next three or four weeks and the fish will live unmolested by fishers for a good seven months. A welcome respite indeed.

.. Neighborhood fishing is now concentrated on the South Fork of the Madison River and the crowded tailwater between the lakes. Midges popped yesterday in the tailwater and the neighbors are scrambling to find the dusty boxes with miniscule flies for the action. Rubber legs are in the offing for the monster fish zooming up the south fork.
.. The neighborhood is filled with the aroma of wood fires and the aromatic smoke from outdoor grills. It is traditional for us to fire up the barbee during these first few days of snow. It's a real adventure.
.. We're headed down the road. Rumors of submarines in the willows have us interested.

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WALLPAPER: THE SMALL WORLD OF WEST YELLOWSTONE

A Fitting End

SOME SNOW AND SUN

Preview Of Coming Attractions

catching excellent for the closing

WALLPAPER:   CLOSING DAY YELLOWSTONE

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.. And so it ends. About two inches and some bright periods were the scenario for the final day of the fishing season in Yellowstone National Park.
.. The Firehole River saw BWO's all day. The Madison River saw elbows aplenty and runners being caught in great abundance.
.. The snow will continue for a spell and then we'll do it all over again. We're starting the winter season with our favorite breakfast. Chorizo con huevos, some refried beans and rice. We'll nibble on some small peppers and head to the nearest secret stream. See you on Duck Creek.

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WALLPAPER:    DAY AFTER BREAKFAST

An Extra Hour To Fish Today

“Don’t worry about the world coming to an end today. It’s already tomorrow in Australia.”
Charles Schultz
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THE TIME SHIFT
AND
HEART ATTACKS

Do The Fish Care ?

do they know ?
Golfers Love The Time Shift

.. A note by Reuters points out the correlation between increased risk of heart attacks in Sweden and the Spring shift in our clocks.
.. The Fall shift to Standard Time does not seem to affect heart attacks, (probably because there's one extra hour for fishing.) On the other hand, today's reversion to Standard Time probably gives rise to heart attacks and sore lips in trout.

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(Click For Larger Image)

.. Duck Creek is formed by runoff in many small basins at the southern end of the Gallatin Range, and the western edge of the park. The three named contributors to it are: Gneiss Creek, Campanula Creek, and Richards Creek. It's a bit of a hump to reach these thin waters but it's usually worth it. There are always fish and at this time of year always the chance for big fish; 15" or more.
.. Cartographers, highway-sign locators, local sages, geographers, and fishers, alike tend to confuse Cougar Creek and Duck Creek. Indeed, these two streams have shared channels, tributaries, and distributaries in the past and will probably do so in the future.
.. Current usage places Duck Creek as the northernmost flow and Cougar Creek as the southernmost flow into Hebgen Reservoir. [[Let the upstream shenanigans of rambunctious runoff be damned, (not dammed.)]]
.. The fishing here has been excellent this Fall, and We're using our extra hour to explore some nifty pools that don't have trails to them. They may be on either Duck Creek or Cougar Creek.
.. Technically the park closes tomorrow at 8:00 AM: but just try to fish the early morning hours and see what happens! Or, if you fish these waters, be west of the park line by 8:01 AM {see Google Earth Image above.} It can be done.

NPS MONEY QUOTE

November 3, 2008: all park roads closed to the public at 8 a.m. except from the North Entrance to Upper Mammoth Terrace, and Mammoth via Tower Junction to Northeast Entrance. Cooke City via Colter Pass to the Long Lake gate is not maintained for wheeled vehicle travel.

.. Since it's early, we're going to take a quick nap and let the huckleberry cobbler settle. Then it's a bit of early surprise attack in the "Duck The Cougar Basin."