Soft Tacos

A UNIVERSAL TREAT

Yellowstone Invention

please be bear aware

CARRY BEAR SPRAY

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.. This is the month of "Most Outdoor Camping," in Yellowstone National Park. Although it's too hot for most of the neighbors it is just right for visitors.
.. Of course many of the campers are also fishers. These are the folks that are savvy enough to pick a place near the best morning hatches.

PARACHUTE ANT

.. Slough Creek is in fine fettle and many fishers from far and wide are camping in the Lamar Valley.
.. The catching is good and the eating is as well.
.. There are gentleman's hatches and the terrestrial critters are active as well. Slough Creek has warmed rather quickly this year and it's best to schedule an early morning foray near the campground and lower meadow.

BEAD HEAD WHAATZITS

.. There are fish to be had on the surface - for the careful and stealthy fisher. Use little ants, small beetles, and maybe a midge or two.
.. Great success is being had by the neighbors that are fishing "bead head anythings." They should be small and either in the seam near the bank or way down deep and slow.
.. Fishers on both the Lamar River and Soda Butte Creek are being being treated to the Bison Olympics. If you are not in shape for the wader waddle sprints it is best to keep a weather eye out and walk a bit further than you have planned.

YELLOWSTONE BADGER

.. The poor sister of the north is the Gardner River. Both inside Yellowstone National Park and just outside the catching has been nearly spectacular this year. Nothing fancy is required.
.. Use your favorite small golden stone imitation or a nondescript nymph in the seams, pillows, slicks, etc.
.. The Rainbow trout are among the prettiest in the park. This is a stream with browns, cutts, white fish, rainbows and the occasional brookie down low.

FUZZY GOLDEN

.. Get yourself further into the park from the north entrance and there is a wonderful Brook Trout fishery just below and mostly above Osprey Falls.
.. Walk a little and fish a lot - catch bunches! Take the husband and kids. Have a trail side picnic. Take pictures. Enjoy the shade. Make a day of it.
.. Today is the festival of cars in West Yellowstone. The 46th annual rod run has been in town for a couple of days. This morning is the parade and show and shine in the city park. Music, food, and cartoon cars the way we wished they were 60 years ago.
.. We're headed to the crowded "downtown" of our village. It's a neighborhood tradition.

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WALLPAPER:  CHIPOTLE PULLED  PORK DOUBLE TORTILLA

It's Here

THE UP SIDE

Cooling Rains Exit

neighbors migrating

WALLPAPER: OVER THE TOP

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.. We traveled to the far reaches of interior Yellowstone National Park.
.. It's a trek we make a couple of times each year. It's part of the neighborhood migration. As our west side rivers heat up and the fish need a break from the lather whipped froth of fly flingers we join the neighbors for brief forrays into the other bits of the park.
.. The migration is a little late this year. We've been blessed with more cool days than we deserve and the exceptional catching has held on far longer than we anticipated.
..The weather forecast for the near term, however, suggests that a bit of warmness is blasting toward us. It's overdue.

ANT COLONY

.. 80's and maybe 90's are about to visit us. The ants like it. The hoppers like it. The beetles like it. Fish hide from it. Cloudless skies are tough on a fish looking to hide from the eagles and ospreys.
.. This is the time of year we look toward the Lamar River and the Yellowstone River.

.. Those drainage basins are currently full of cool water, many bugs, many fish and many tributaries that often go overlooked.

FUN WATER

.. A couple of our favorite small streams are on the way to the big rivers.
.. We stopped and looked. They are still busy with friendly fish and eager fishers. Pass!
.. The end of the salmon fly hatch is hanging on in the Lamar River Canyon.
.. Nymph and soft hackle flies hold the day for the moment. Very soon now the mayflies will be everywhere, (just not all at once.) We smashed a couple with our predatory windshield wipers but not the density that should happen any day now.

JUST FOR FUN

.. The hoppers are mature and, on warm days, they will practice their breast stroke along the grassy parts of the rivers.
.. Take a couple hopper imitations for bobbers and fish either a 'hopper dropper' or 'hopper dry' combination. You may be surprised with  a double up - it happens.

GOOD BOBBER

.. If you are into watching your fly swirl along the surface it would also be good to carry a box full of PMD imitations.
.. If you're real lucky a giant Green Drake will tickle your ear and it's time to find them on the water.

LAMAR RUN

.. We spoke with some folks exiting the dusty Slough Creek Road. It seems that catching is picking up and that streamers, nymphs, and even some dry flies are fooling the famously wily trout.
.. Jump on it now, (if you're so inclined,) because the campground still has open spaces and it's not too overly crowded.
.. The sporadic rains have clouded both Soda Butte Creek and the Lamar River. No real mud plugs to speak of but it's still possible at any time.  Soda Butte Creek is getting crowded from Trout Lake to the confluence with the Lamar River.
.. The small stretches between giant boulders above the lower meadow are full of fish. This is water that is a nuisance to reach and is often overlooked. Just about any ol' floater and quite a few sinkers will gather up a storied day of 10" to 12" fish. Try it you'll like it, (even if you have to walk through a tangle of vegetation.)

LONELY STREAM

.. We enjoyed Pebble Creek, (above the campground and the picnic tables.) The fish are smaller but the elbows are fewer.
.. There are some deep meanders in this shallow stream that hold monster, (up to 15",) fish. This is bragging size for this little wonder of a stream.

WORKS GOOD

.. Generally guides and visiting fishers concentrate on the water below the road and into Soda Butte Creek. Have at it.
.. Right now there are plenty of fish to be fooled and the little stream is clear as crystal and cold.
..  There are some reports of bears and even wolves, (my my,) so carry your bear spray and sing silly songs in chorus with your fishing partners. It lets the bears know you are coming!
.. Big water Yellowstone River report coming up. Stay tuned. It's coming on daylight and we're still digesting last night's dinner.

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WALLPAPER:  SEARED AND READY

WALLPAPER:  BOILED IN REAL LARD

WALLPAPER:  CRISP AND TENDER CARNITAS

WALLPAPER:  CARNITAS TACOS

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

Just Delightful

UPPER GALLATIN SMOKIN'

Fish Seeking Dance Partners

all bugs seem to be present

WALLPAPER: THE VALLEY OF PERFECTION

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.. So when it's good it's just too good. That's the haps on the Gallatin River. It's easy to tell when the fishing and catching warm weather calendar has about run it's course.

IT'S TRUE -THEY'RE THAT SMALL

.. The catching becomes almost mindless. The breezes are gentle. The clouds are dense. The afternoon showers are right on time. Temperatures climb all the way into the 70's.
.. Every bug in our box is present and, alive and. on the water or, in the air or, in the weeds. What more could you want?
.. The low hopper count seems to have improved. It's even flying ant time. There are still, (or increasing,) spruce moths along the wooded sections and the beetles are big enough that you need to watch your step or trip over them. The neighbors are favoring the old fashioned Hopper/Dropper combination of a size 10 hopper and a size 16 ant.

HOPPERS LEICA THIS LENS

.. There has not been the anticipated heavy rains that scared some fishers to the lowlands.
.. Intermittent and wildly dispersed showers in the afternoon and heavy fog in the morning seems to have wrung some moisture from the air.
.. Some folks still insist that the drive to the northeast corner of Yellowstone National Park is where you will find that the fishing and catching is best. Farm out - have at it!
.. While you're over there look for the pretty colors in Soda Butte Creek. Flow testing with dye infusions started yesterday. Some sections of Soda Butte Creek will remain open. Some sections will be closed.
.. The electrofishing for cutthroat salvage will begin about mid week, (around the 19th of August.) Poison dumping is scheduled to happen on the 24, 25, and maybe 26 of August. Check with your favorite feather merchant for exact dates and stream section closures.

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PREVIEWS OF COMING ATTRACTIONS

.. Our weather continues to be a pub topic with the neighbors. One of our well educated fisher friends explains that we are already feeling the effects of this coming monster El Niño.
.. It seems that the persistent light precipitation around here is in response to the Jet Stream doing a hula as it moves north and south in response to warm air pulses from the eastern Pacific Ocean around Peru.
.. Of course it has to dodge the Great Basin High and slip underneath the polar vertexes. Hearing the jargon of explanation makes our head spin.
.. We have a better time with pictures and simple arithmetic.
.. In the simplest terms the current, rapidly building, El Niño has a better than nine in ten chance of being the biggest in the last 50 years.
.. We'll let you know come next April or May. Right now we're headed to Specimen Creek. Or maybe Bacon Rind Creek. Or maybe even the perfect Gallatin River.
.. We suggest that you avoid the noisy gulpers on Hebgen Reservoir.

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WALLPAPER:   FLAUTAS CON MACHACA

Briefs

DEATH IN YELLOWSTONE

Spruce Moths Working

hoppers have wings and legs

THESE ARE NOT JUST FOR DECORATION

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.. The partially eaten body of a seasonal employee of Medcore was discovered near Elephant Back Loop Trail. The body was found about noon on Friday, (LINK-1.) The involvement of Grizzly Bears was announced yesterday, (LINK-2.)
.. We've said it before and we say it again: walk, stroll, hike, or meander with your bear spray in hand and sing loudly to the bears. Two or three companions is usually a good number for bear fishing. 
.. The man was described as "an experienced hiker," and was known to frequent the area where his body was found.

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ADULT MOTH

.. Spruce moths have been reported along the wooded sections of the Gallatin River near the northern boundary of Yellowstone National Park. They now add their flavor to the miscellaneous smorgasbord available for the eager trout.
.. It might be worth mentioning that the neotanous form is also edible and does, in fact, fall from trees into the awater.
.. Ants, beetles, caddis, hoppers, and sporadic mayflies provide a balanced diet for our scaly friends. Certainly you have something that will work.

BABY MOTH

.. The best advice for now is to take the whole box, (or two or three,) and fish with a friend to share information with. Covering a lot of water is always a good idea. Trigger finger on the bear spray and take time to look around at the scenery above the water.

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.. It's not known as a streamer fishery but, there have been some genuine hogs jerked from the Madison River Between The Lakes. The last few deep meander bends before Quake Lake have been, of late, persistently haunted by a couple of the neighbors.

GOOD OL' OLIVE MATUKA

.. Once a gigantic fish takes a streamer it's hard to fish elsewhere for awhile. Nothing fancy going on here: no two handed rods, no 10' nine weights, no exotic flies with endangered fluff. Matuka is the name of the game. Fling, mend, strip, wait, strip again, hang on.

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.. A steady stream of the young neighbors are traveling to far reaches of the northeast corner of the park on a regular basis. They get up early and arrive in time to see long shadows across the confluence of Slough Creek with the Lamar River.

TROUT CANDY

.. These sage rats ignore the lush meadows of the famous creek. They don't fish where trees obscure the view and snag a cast or where the grass is so deep that it tickles their nether regions. They are allergic to guide books and famous fisheries.
.. Right now they are using unfashionable San Juan Worms, Black Deer Hair Beetles, monster Woolly Buggers, Hoppers, and the occasional small stone fly nymph or ant imitations. The cell phone pictures are convincing.

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.. Whispers abound in the least used tables in the pubs. Winter Creek, Gibbon River between the cascades and Greebe Lake, Firehole River on the trail to Lone Star Geyser, and weed beds with leeches on Hebgen Lake.
.. We'd be remiss if we failed to mention the whispers. We'd be garroted if told you more.

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WALLPAPER:   SODA BUTTE

The Other Park

THE RIVERS ARE DIFFERENT

There's Different Scenery

the fish are similar

WALLPAPER:  LAMAR POCKET

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.. Expect the Lamar River to be smaller than you remember it. It's still plenty big but, the sparse snow pack, capricious rainfall patterns and warm, (except for the last two weeks,) weather have conspired to keep the flows down low.
..  In fact all the famous waters of the great northeast of Yellowstone National Park are down just a bit. The fishing ranges from good to very good. And as usual, in this corner of Yellowstone National Park, the fishing is every bit as good as the fisher.
.. The ground-dwelling bugs are further along than in the west side river valleys. Hoppers are a skosh larger and have wings. Ants are on your feet and little black beetles are easy to see in the dust.

Clearing Lamar waters demand probing the structure and covering lots of water.

.. Temperatures in the high 70's through the mid 80's will persist through the middle of next week and the waters should be clear and cool. This is an open  secret. The fishers are as thick as the buffalo and it's strange to have to plan for alternate parking spots.
.. There are some "No Stopping" zones and the bison are active in the morning and evening - they usually take a mid-day nap. Watch for them.

No Room At The Inn.

.. The campgrounds are fully booked and this has caused additional crowding, both on the road and on the rivers.
.. The mayfly hatches have been adequate and sporadic. Be prepared with the surface box but exercise the terrestrial box if the little fliers are not readily visible. A hopper dropper combination is what those in-the-know fishers start with. Use small hoppers, (or even a stimulator as the top fly.) The point fly can be an ant or beetle or even a bead head something - keep it on the small side too.

Fish where the fish are - just find them.

.. The braided stream channels at the confluence of the Lamar River and Soda Butte Creek look like gravel pits. There are, (indeed,) fishy nooks and crannies in this low water wasteland. There are even fish here.
.. Look for little streams of quick water dumping into - or - skirting around dark mini-pools, The shadows are friends of fishes in this section of the valley. Mid day is tough but, still crowded. Carry and use sun block.
.. Soda Butte Creek is both on fire and a popular elbow watching venue. The famous water, (from Trout Lake to the confluence meadows,) is a display of gear and license plates from near and far. This is for good reason. The creek has moved away from it's banks and is providing novel catching opportunities.

Welcome to Slough Creek.

.. Use your best small hoppers with beetles or ants. The caddis have been kind of shy but, a small caddis imitation will bring noses to the hook - if you see the noses first.
.. If you have the right fishing license you can gather up some dance partners in beautiful downtown Silver Gate. There are even occasionally available rooms to let in both Silver Gate and Cooke City.
.. The welcome sign is out on the road to Slough Creek. The celebrity  and spooky trout are beginning to be closed mouth when it comes to artificial flies. Catching, from the sagebrush through the second meadow, requires hunting skills as well as fishing skills.

Damsel

.. Gentle strolling along the bank and keen observation are keys to galling a fish. This is one place where it is most important to fish the fish rather than the water. The trout don't have lock jaw yet but it's getting to be that time of year. Fish wise and fish slow.

Grunt in - Slide out.

.. Even little  Trout Lake, (with trout the size of watermelons,) is crowded. This little destination requires a small grunt to get to.
.. Coming out, down the hill, should be a breeze - unless you are exhausted from catching all those willing, yet shy fish.
.. There is an abundance of damsel flies on the water right now. Don't forget the weeds - use your best larval imitation.

Pebble Creek classroom.

.. Pebble Creek, from the camp ground to the Soda Butte Creek confluence has some fish of the willing variety. Practice your stalking skills in the brambles that the other fishers avoid and walk around.
.. There are some gently undercut banks that hold large and lazy fish. These critters can feel you coming. They are just hangin' out and waiting for some groceries. Don't telegraph your presence and you will fill your dance card. Try a pair of nymphs with a bobber. You shouldn't have to cast far.
.. If you are brave enough to negotiate the campground at Pebble Creek, (avoiding the educational seminars, creative parking, and family fun,) you will find some excellent catching opportunities in the willow meadows.
.. This is one of those places that has few fishers: lots of hikers, photographers, and families, but few fishers.
.. What's happening on the Gardner River? How about Obsidian Creek or Winter Creek? Could there be fish in the Yellowstone River?
.. What a place !!

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WALLPAPER: THE SODA SIGN