• PARTNER: PROTECT YOUR WATERS
  • Go To: THE FLIES OF YELLOWSTONE
  • Go To: YELLOWSTONE FISHING WEATHER
  • Go To: YELLOWSTONE FLY FISHING MAPS
  • Visit: Moldy Chum
  • Visit: The Horse's Mouth
  • Visit: Chi Wulff
  • Visit: Parks' Fly Shop
  • Showing posts with label Spring Fly Box. Show all posts
    Showing posts with label Spring Fly Box. Show all posts

    Sunday, April 11, 2021

    Perfect Timing

     WAITING FOR IT

    A Sunny Afternoon

    mother's day arrival ?

    THEY WILL BE HERE SOON
    -------  


    .. Opening Day in Yellowstone National Park is about a month away. Masked fishers are lurking in dark corners of the recently opened pubs in our village. The talk, of course, is of lowland fishing and the beginning of caddis fly swarms.

    THE GREEN WONDER
    .. They are not here yet but some solitary individuals have been reported in the Gallatin Valley near Bozeman, Montana.The reports seem to be reliable.

    .. Over on the Yellowstone River sparse occurrences of midges, BWO, or the occasional March Brown mayfly have been suggested by Parks' Fly Shop.

    .. AND, Makflies has come forth with the perfect pattern for the moment. There is just enough time to tie up a gross for the next month or two. We include the video below.

    ..

    ------- 

    WALLPAPER:  BLT SANDWICH WITH EXTRA MAYO


    Saturday, June 06, 2020

    Fishing Weather

    STARTS TODAY
    Don't Miss Out
    parking and open water
    WALLPAPER:  READY AND WAITING
    ------- 
    .. Yellowstone National Park has many lonely fish. It's time to make friends with a few of them. This is an unusual time in national and Yellowstone history.
    .. Visitation through the west entrance is is very low and may set modern records for sparse figures. Check out the west entrance webcam HERE. 
    TIME FOR THESE
    .. Tonight the rain starts and temperatures will be in the 30's. Tomorrow will see some 20's and, drizzle throughout the early morning and heavy cloud cover until evening.
    .. Monday will bring us light snow with nitrogen for the garden and, hatches to die for. Tuesday will be gray and low and damp. Perfect fishing weather - Y'all come!
    . Of course the neighbors have made some rapid forays to the rivers and streams, They are eager for the upcoming weather. Starting tonight we will recover from yesterday's unseasonably high of 83F.
    Here's a few observations from the neighbors:
    THE 'GO TO' FLY
    >> Firehole River a bit high and fishing good,
    >> Big bugs in the Firehole Canyon,
    >> Yellow bugs on the muddy Gibbon River
    >> Madison River is clearing - rain may slow it's progress,
    >> Gibbon River in the highest meadows has light color,
    >> Gallatin River cold and clear - wait on this one.
    >> Madison River around the west boundary has some outrun snakes. 
    -----  
    .. Daily fishing reports can be found in the webpages of the feather merchants in the left sidebar.
    .. Ask the simple questions when seeking information: "Have you fished where you are suggesting that I go?," "When ?" Ask guides and counter help if they support the 'keep 'em wet' philosophy.
    ------- 
    WALLPAPER:  NICELY MARBLED

    Friday, May 01, 2020

    This Day

    THE FIRST OF MAY
    Is It For Summer Or . . .
    the common worker ?
    THE CORRECT WAY TO DO IT   . . . courtesy EarthSky
    -------  
    THE MAY QUEEN
    .. When thinking of May 1st,  the Pagan Holiday Beltane comes to mind along with the annual international celebration of workers. The day has a convoluted meaning in the mind of contemporary populations.
    .. Usually folks just name the day and go on about their business. Celebrations are small and, scattered around the world. That's sad. This is a day for the world to rise together in celebration. It is an ancient recognition of the "warm season" beginning.
    .. It was once the rallying cry of the IWW. (international workers of the world - wobblies.) It is famously the day for imperial Russia, (and the Soviet Union and contemporary Russia,) to parade the power of the state.
    .. Up here, at this time, it is seldom mentioned. Today it is passed over in the gloom of Covid-19 and the relief that we have survived one more day. In real terms it is now a day of relief. The evolution of meaning for the day and it's celebration provides an interesting story of who we are and, how we became this way.
    RESOURCES
    Wikipedia,
    Travalanche,
    Goodnews,
    Washington Post,
    Parting The Mists,
    EarthSky,
    Playmakers,
    London May Day,
    Russian May Day,
    -----  
    TRICOS SOON ?
    .. If they think about it the contemporary fly fisher may associate May, (the month,) with their favorite bait. Sunk or floated the mayfly is an important enticement for trout, (and other fish as well.)
    .. The piscatorial use first came about around 1645-1655 as two words may+fly. The term was used because the thinking was that these little bugs were most prevalent in the month of May. QED.
    A VERY TWISTED BAETID
    .. Many of the neighbors have disappeared into the hidden parts of the South Fork of the Madison River. They brave willow thickets and Grizzle Bears for a chance of tangling with a spawned out monster.
    .. We are sheltering in place and tending the strawberry bed. It suffered more this year than previously. We attribute this to the ice that formed at ground level during our gentle winter. A little love and some gentle massage will bring us strawberries by the end of June.
    .. Our village is waking up slowly. The kids are out - a good sign. There are residents and some neighbors with commercial face masks. There are some neighbors wearing bandanas - outlaw fashion. There are even a few cars parked by eager shop owners - hoping the park will open soon - are all foreign visitors still banned from entry?
    ------- 
    WALLPAPER:  SHRIMP AND TATERTOTS

    Tuesday, April 21, 2020

    Revisit The Hot One

    VILLAGE FAVORITE
    Emergent Madness
    you will succeed
    WALLPAPER:  ELK HAIR EMERGER
    -------  
    SUCKSTER  CRIPPLE
    .. Each year at about this time we note the hot emerger pattern that the neighbors embrace.
    .. Especially on the lowland Madison River, where the spring flows are on the cold side, the emergers hang in the film for an extended period of time.
    .. Clustered in the shore-side slicks the emergers and, the submarines congregate in a ballet of ingest and die. The late mid day sun marks the end of the easy catching. The early sunny side of the river is a pure slaughter zone. This simple pattern will do you well.
    .. Some of the more mature neighbors stick with the Shuckster Cripple for their go to pattern. We tie up a double floater using one of each. Some call it cheating.
    ------- 
    WALLPAPER: WWI SMITH & WESSON .45 ACP REVOLVER - 1917

    Sunday, April 19, 2020

    60's Upcoming ?

    EMERGENCY STATE CONTINUES
    Weather For Gardens
    we're waiting 
    -------  




    USE THESE SORTS
    .. The lowland Madison River is providing good catching and, the boats look good on the river. No "Stay At Home" for the intrepid fishers.
    .. Our state-wide emergency declaration is in force until the end of the month.
    .. Gallatin county is the most Covid-19 affected county in Montana.
    .. The neighbors are taking long walks. Kids on skateboards are visible. Yellowstone National Park is still closed. There are still holes in the grocery stocks at the store. Milk is scarce, toilet paper is scarce, ice cream is getting low.
    -------  
    .
    WALLPAPER: SALISBURY STEAK - AN 1888 CURE ALL

    Friday, March 27, 2020

    All Done

    CLOSED FOR NOW
    Park Notice
    chamber of commerce note
    KEEP OUT
    -------  
    .. It's finally come to this. Requests from the counties surrounding Yellowstone National Park, combined with a park push to modify operations to implement the latest COVID-19 health guidance have closed the park until further notice.
    .. Our village has followed suit with measures in line with state and federal mandated actions. Included actions are a few unique suggestions not seen in national or state practices. Two of the more interesting suggestions are: 1) wipes for grocery baskets and/or gloves for claiming goods from the shelves and, 2) fingernail brushes for hand washing.
    RESOURCES
    >> Yellowstone Park News Release,
    >> TIME,
    >> West Yellowstone Chamber,
    >> Yellowstone Vacations.
    -----  
    GOLDEN HAYSTACK - NOW
    .. The village streets are plumb dry and, the old snow piles are showing the many layers of gravel from plowing. All but the flat roofs are devoid of the white stuff - sliding snow is a cacophonous event.
    .. Mud is showing on most fishing trails around the lakes and even the South Fork of the Madison River is about to be conventionally accessible - another couple of weeks or so.
    .. Spring is in full roar and getting punctuated by occasional spittings of snow. We should get another dump, Zeus willing and the foehn winds don't blow. We'll keep a weather eye out for developments.
    ------- 
    WALLPAPER:  SHRIMP, FRIES, GRANDMA'S DIPPING SAUCE

    Saturday, March 14, 2020

    Snowballs

    NICE WET DUMP
    Kids Pleased
    more may come
    A MOST SATISFYING SITUATION
    -------  
    .. The snow and rain and temperature just go to prove it's Spring. We had a nice 4" dump of wet snow today. Then, we had a warm drizzle as the temperature climbed to 36°F for a couple of hours. The warm and wet happened just as Saturday basketball practice ended. Snowballs and short pants danced along the routes home.
    ..  Our snowpack is slightly above normal but, our snow water equivalent is a healthy 115% above seasonal average: this is a good thing for our rivers and the fishy inhabitants. Tomorrow and Monday promise to bring a warmer replay of today. We may hit 50°F by Tuesday. Nothing quite as much fun as a slushy St. Patrick's Day.
    .. Come Wednesday or Thursday the local discharge rates should prove informative: Madison River chart, Firehole River Chart, Gallatin River Chart. Right now discharge is hovering around our seasonal norms - or - slightly above: we'll see.
    -----  
    ROYAL COACHMAN BOMBER - WORKS NOW
    .. The neighborhood conversation is jammed with three topics: good catching, rich folks back from Hawaii and, what supplies to lay in from the grocery store.
    .. Good catching reports from three places: Between The Lakes, Boat Ramp at Quake Lake, Quake Lake Outlet.
    .. Save for the occasional midge hatch all fish are being taken with subsurface nymph sorts of patterns. A few snakes are being reported from the boat ramp. The spawning exodus is under way.
    .. Some rich folks have returned from Hawaii, (not in our neighborhood.) They had a good time, by all accounts. Social distance is the watchword from here on in. We promise not to kiss any strangers.
    .. There are not noticeable shortages in our grocery stores - or the hardware store or, our convenience stores. Beer and toilet paper are still on the shelves. Sanitary wipes are still in their regular places. The madness should start around April 17, 2020 when the West Entrance opens. If our warm weather continues the skiers and bicyclists should be here in a couple of weeks.
    ------- 
    WALLPAPER:  COULD BE FAJITAS

    Sunday, March 08, 2020

    Yellowstone Stuff And Nonsense

    THE OTHER ACTIVITIES
    Minimal Fishing News
    upkeep and chores
    THE CRUMBLING BRIDGE
    -------  
    .. Flying under the radar for most folks is the Spring activity in Yellowstone National Park. Here's a list of the recent goings on:
    >> Bison migration late start. Hunting and herd reducation events, (HERE 1.)
    >> Earthquake swarms continue: some felt, (HERE 2.)
    >> Spring plowing starts, (HERE 3.)
    >> Employee housing multi million dollar upgrades, (HERE 4.)
    >> Proposed bridge replacement, (HERE 5.)
    >> NPS announces proposed bridge replacement and, comment, (HERE 6.)
    >> COMMENT ON BRIDGE REPLACEMENT.
    -------  
    FISH ON THE BOTTOM
    .. The Madison River and the Firehole River are running strong and periodically topping seasonal norms. Surprising clarity is present.
    .. As the temperatures increase it looks to be a strong runoff. We'll keep an eye on the situation and the rapidly diminishing mid level snow pack. Current charts shown below:

    ------
    ------- 
    WALLPAPER: POTATO PANCAKES WITH SOUR CREAM

    Sunday, February 23, 2020

    Week O' Warm

    SPRING HOVERING
    Winter Still Nigh
    neighbors dance in streets 
    WALLPAPER:  GETTING READY
    -------  

    PREDICTED ICY ROADS IN THE MORNING
    .. Conditions are ripe for false hopes. Yet, we allow ourselves to be fooled. Daylight Saving Time is just two weeks away. And, as John Muir said; "Spring's work is going on with joyful enthusiasm."
    .. Our head, in light of the calendar, says that  we need tie no more piles of flies.
    .. We are busy putting off the onerous task of packing fly boxes for specific occasions. We are thinking deeply of cleaning and waxing the fly rods.
    .. Our cogitations run toward washing and treating our fly lines, (we did it last fall but it can't hurt to make sure.) Of course the reels will need some attention as well!
    .. We'll get it all done, right after the next winter blast blows through.
    .. This is an iffy time of the year. We can fish early IF the runoff is not too early. We can scope out the park IF the runoff is on time. We can drive the trails IF the neighborhood melt is on time. We can pop a bear IF they come close enough. We can gather up bushels of hungry trout IF ice out is slow and steady.
    .. For most of the neighborhood kids Spring is just a calendrical notation. They've been fishing pretty steady for the last few months anyway. We're truly pleased with the arrival. It means that our old legs have made it through the dark time. It means more mud and less ice. It means hopes and dreams that have been put off have one more chance to come to fruition. Hooray & Yippee Shit it's Spring.
    -----  
    .. We need to point out a nifty bit of reading that appeared over at Chi Wulff [LINK.]
    .. We, in our stuffy habits, have  been selecting fly lines for fly rods based on anticipated conditions and situations for years.
    .. Rod and line numbers, for us, have fallen by the wayside long years ago. If your gear is not working as you feel it should, something should be changed.
    .. Many folks just go to the counter help and buy a whole new rig. Ahhhhhh, just what the industry wants. It's important to become intimate with your tools. Practice on the grass at the park. Take several reels and lines. Imagine the short stuff. Imagine the long shots. Practice, practice, practice.
    .. We frequently fall back on double taper lines of various weights. Old fashioned indeed. Works wonders.
    .. We carry bits and pieces of lead core to adjust for the situation. We've even been known to finagle a paper clip or two for fine adjustments.
    .. Testicles from the lead finch are a last resort.  Well worth the read [LINK.]
    ------- 
    WALLPAPER:  MEATBALLS

    Saturday, February 22, 2020

    Spring Foolers

    A PAIR TO DRAW TO
    The Neighbors Know
    simple basics
    THE BIRD'S NEST MIDGE OR, THE FUZZY JOHN
    ------- 
    .. With the warming daytime temperatures, (40°F upcoming soon,) the neighbors have added two simple flies to their arsenal for stabbing trout.
    MADISON CLARET
    .. These patterns take advantage of the increasing vittles available to our finny friends. On bright quiet days in early afternoon the midges come out to play. Their  larva float at the surface for a little while. This makes them easy pickings for trout; especially in still water.
    .. Of course fishers with surface inclinations just drop the 'Bird's Nest Midge', (Fuzzy John,) in amongst them and haul away.
    .. For those fishers with a more questionable continuance the 'Madison Claret' is the pattern of choice. 
    .. The deep red of the dry-tied fly changes both it's hue and chroma when wet. This pattern is fished slowly in the shoreline seams near bottom. Consensus is that it imitates freshly dropped eggs. Just could be!
    -----
    .. We confess to being out in the tame areas on only a couple of times in the last few weeks. Old legs and frozen guides are an obstacle that is a new bit of frustration for us.
    ------- 
    WALLPAPER:  COOKED AND ICED AND READY TO DIP