Perfect Timing

 WAITING FOR IT

A Sunny Afternoon

mother's day arrival ?

THEY WILL BE HERE SOON

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.. 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.

..

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WALLPAPER:  BLT SANDWICH WITH EXTRA MAYO

Fish Now

 SURPRISE WEATHER

We'll Take It

spring bear too

TRY THIS ON FOR SIZE

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.. Get out the sunglasses. Grab the rejected winter fly selection. Find some open water. Catch fish and rejoice in the Spring warmup.

THE FUZZY JOHN

.. Estuaries on Hebgen Reservoir have pushed beyond natural lake circumference and are legal to fish. The same holds true for Quake Lake and the tumbling waters Between The Lakes.

.. There is even some open shoreline along the road beside Hebgen Reservoir as well - take sun screen! There is not much chance for a spring bear shot in the roadside areas - BUT - bear spray anyway!

.. A sow and two cubs spotted near the airport. Wouldn't shoot that one but the boars are out too.

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WALLPAPER: STRAIGHT FROM ICELAND = sinful

This Day

THE FIRST OF MAY

Is It For Summer Or . . .

the common worker ?

THE CORRECT WAY TO DO IT   . . . courtesy EarthSky

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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,

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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?

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WALLPAPER:  SHRIMP AND TATERTOTS

Trust The Gauge

MADISON RIVER IS HIGH

Firehole River Is High

gallatin river is high

USGS GAUGING STATION  ON THE MADISON RIVER

 

WALLPAPER:  LOOKING IN

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.. The recent unseasonable warm weather has increased river flows and impacted our low and mid level snow pack. It's not to the worrisome stage yet but, the long range temperature guess suggests a warm and warmer Spring and Summer.
.. You can follow the daily squiggles for yourselves with these resources:
>> USGS Firehole,
>> USGS Madison,
>> USGS Gallatin,
>> USGS Below Hebgen.

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.. Just a couple of notes:
1) Yellowstone National Park is still closed,
2) The old town site of Grayling is upstream from Hebgen Dam,
3) The gauges are in drastic need of maintenance.

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WALLPAPER:  VERY CRISPY

Slow Open

BE VERY CAUTIOUS

Don't Rush To Death

it's not over yet

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.. Gov. Steve Bullock has announced a gradual and phased reopening of the state beginning April 26 for individuals, and extending to businesses April 27, (That's tomorrow and the next day.)

.. Main street and retail businesses can become operational on or after April 27 if they adhere to requirements to limit capacity and maintain strict physical distancing.

.. Restaurants, bars, breweries, and distilleries can begin providing some in-establishment services beginning May 4.

.. Businesses where groups gather without the ability to social distance including movie theaters, gyms and other places of assembly will remain closed.

.. Montana's travel quarantine will remain in effect, and out of state travelers and residents arriving from another state or country back to Montana for non-work related purposes are required to quarantine for 14 days.

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..  With two flights a day, West Yellowstone receives largest federal grant among Montana airports, (LINK.)

.. YNP superintendent: "no chance of immediate full open," (LINK.)

.. Sheriff disputes claim inmate tied to West Yellowstone murder has coronavirus symptoms, (LINK.)

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.. Fishers on the lowland Madison River are having to change their waders - the fishing is just that good and the caching is running apace with the fishing.

NOT MUCH COLOR YET

.. The weather is wonderful and, with 70's in sight over the next few days, should make for grand days on the water.
.. Right next door there are some shirtless folks on Hebgen Reservoir. They are following the rapidly receding ice edge and taking a good number of very big fish. Even the neighbors are impressed. Some license plates are from Utah.
.. Duck Creek and the upper Gallatin River are just waiting for some adventure. 'Taint normal but it is good.

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WALLPAPER:   ANOTHER BACON BUTTY

Revisit The Hot One

VILLAGE FAVORITE

Emergent Madness

you will succeed

WALLPAPER:  ELK HAIR EMERGER

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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.

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WALLPAPER: WWI SMITH & WESSON .45 ACP REVOLVER - 1917

Updates

FLIGHT AND ARREST

Timber Concerns

warm week ahead

CRITICAL ELK HABITAT  .. courtesy Bozeman Daily Chronicle.

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.. Madison Sasser, 18, is jailed in Conroe Texas, being held on an out-of-state fugitive warrant. Sasser is the aunt of James Alex Hurley, 12, who was found dead in the family home in West Yellowstone in early February. [Link To Story.]

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.. A federal judge sided with environmentalists in a lawsuit over a timber project on the north side of Hebgen Lake. U.S. District Judge Dana Christensen ruled that the U.S. Forest Service needs to take another look at the 'North Hebgen Multiple Resource Project’s'  potential impacts on habitat for wolverines and elk [Full Story Here.]

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Sneaky Devils

.. Must be Spring. 60's in the bullseye. 50's happening now. Rain, (in drizzly amounts,) keeping streets damp. Snowpack holding. Discharge rates climbing. All face masks in place. Lots of parking places. Summer folk arriving in droves = refuge from crowded cities. Food quantities stable = limit one item and no more than 5# hamburger.
.. Neighbors cautiously breaking the law and fishing near - AND - in the Notellum Creek willow forest.
.. Catching is reported as spectacular.

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WALLPAPER:  SUNDAY ROAST BEEF

All Done

CLOSED FOR NOW

Park Notice

chamber of commerce note

KEEP OUT

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.. 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.

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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.

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WALLPAPER:  SHRIMP, FRIES, GRANDMA'S DIPPING SAUCE

Snowballs

NICE WET DUMP

Kids Pleased

more may come

A MOST SATISFYING SITUATION

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.. 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.

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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.

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WALLPAPER:  COULD BE FAJITAS

Yellowstone Stuff And Nonsense

THE OTHER ACTIVITIES

Minimal Fishing News

upkeep and chores

THE CRUMBLING BRIDGE

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.. 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.

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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:

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WALLPAPER: POTATO PANCAKES WITH SOUR CREAM

Spring Foolers

A PAIR TO DRAW TO

The Neighbors Know

simple basics

THE BIRD'S NEST MIDGE OR, THE FUZZY JOHN

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.. 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!

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.. 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.

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WALLPAPER:  COOKED AND ICED AND READY TO DIP