HAPPY 2022

PROSPERITY

HEALTH

happiness

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WALLPAPER:  SHRIMP AND CHIPS

Follow-on Work Continues

 DAM TROUBLES CONTINUE

FERC Report Filed

cold weather slows catching

HEBGEN SPILLWAY PROVIDES SOME RELIEF

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.. Northwestern Energy has filed a report with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The report details the problems with Hebgen Dam and the failure of contracted water flow in the Madison River.

.. Thanks to Anaconda Foundry Fabrication Company, {LINK,} The failed part in the dam was quickly fabricated and delivered to Northwestern Energy within 24 hours.

.. The flow in the Madison River is within contract specification at present - HOWEVER - additional work is anticipated on the dam gates and other internal structures. We will keep you informed.

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.. Our gentle transition to winter has kept catching on the lowland Madison River at a good clip. 

.. All good things must come to an end and the snow is beginning to pile up. Temperatures have finally fallen to seasonal norms and the school kids have grudgingly put on their long pants. Our snow pack is not where we would like it.

.. As previously noted {LINK,} La Niña is upon us. We are hoping that the anticipated warmer and wetter winter will ensue.

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WALLPAPER:  STANDARD SALAMI SANDWICH

FISH NOW

ENJOY RECORD CROWDS

Be Kind In Line

watch your elbows

ENJOY - CELEBRATE

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.. Don't rush. Early or late is best. Grab the first parking place you see. Cover lots of water. Fish with a buddy. Fishing is much more important than catching. Eat good grits in moderation. Imbibe sensibly.

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WALLPAPER: POACHED SHRIMP

Grizzle Kills Our Neighbor

 ATTACK DEFENDING FOOD

Large Old Male Bear

wake up call for us

courtesy KZBK Bozeman

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.. Over the weekend a large male grizzle bear attacked our neighbor Charles Mock near Baker's Hole. After several surgeries he died of a stroke in the hospital.

.. According to Gallatin County Sheriff's Department, (and other reports,) the bear was guarding a moose carcass.

.. During investigations at the scene the bear reappeared and charged the investigators: it was shot and killed. A forest closure has been issued outside of the park from the town boundary to the transfer station road

.. We mourn the passing of our neighbor and sympathize with his family. A go fund me page is available for the family (LINK.)

area closure still in effect

RESOURCES

 > Yellowstone First Grizzle Sighting

> New York Times,

> CNN

> NBC

> ABC

> Independent

> KBZK

> CBS

> Montana FWP

> Forrest Closure

> Go Fund Me

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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

The Slow Drip

LOW SNOW HIGH WATER

RAPID DISCHARGE

temperatures spiking

WALLPAPER: THE MELT IS ON

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., Very simply: snow pack down, discharge up. Looks like low water and easy fish finding coming to the neighborhood.

.. We're in the wet and rainy season. The snow that falls is just small flakes and a slight dusting. The charts and maps tell it all.

MORE THAN JUST A BIT LOW

.. The weather gods have blessed other areas more than our neighborhood. The recent warmup has also accelerated the low level melt and the rivers are running fast and warm.

.. The Firehole River is flirting with record discharge rates and has already spiked to near 60°F. The Madison River has hit over 50°F and the discharge is in record territory. 

.

.. This is not a terrible situation yet. This could rapidly become a terrible situation if the rains are warm and heavy. We'll keep you posted.

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WALLPAPER:  CHICKEN DONE RIGHT

Spring Ahead

 

 

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 Do the fish know? Fish the light and fish the shadow  ==  the fish know these!

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WALLPAPER:  NO FORKS  =  CHORIZO CON JUEVOS

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

Holding On

 WAITING FOR RAIN

Runoff Starting

tightrope act

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.. As the thermometer hits 50°F we are anxiously watching the high country snow pack.  We're also keeping tabs on our neighborhood stream discharge.

.. The snow water content is pretty good for this time of year. The rivers are charging along at seasonal norms and, all is well with the world.

.. The neighborhood kids are in short pants and fishing neighbors are trudging through mud and muck to the best catching spots. The prime destinations include the reservoir estuaries of the Madison River and the South Fork of the Madison River.

THE FUZZY WORM

.. Adventurous sled heads pack their gear to Romsett Beach and Cherry Beach Campground on the west shore of Hebgen Reservoir. The little creeks  in this area keep the ice at bay and attract the finny dancers.

..  A couple of cell phone images are proof of the effort.  A pair of lunch-time fish showed that simple flotsam and small buggies are in the belly of the caught fish. Any fly that resembles a small twig or dead bug will entice a dance partner.

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.. We've just received our Covid Vaccine Allotment. Emergency and front-line workers are all vaccinated. Appointment lists are filling up and the process is quick and efficient. Reports include only one dizziness in a post-vaccination patient.

.. Perhaps the dark corners of the pubs will be available for tall tales, lies and secrets. We're ready and plumb tired of shouting at our neighbors.

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WALLPAPER: ANOTHER OMELETTE WITH SOME SPUDS

Finally Here

GOT SOME

Still Down Some

watch for the warm up

LOOKING GOOD  --  FOR NOW

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.. The meager snowfall of the last two weeks has given our fish some hope for the coming summer.

.. The Pacific Ocean temperatures plus the polar vortex outbreak has allowed the Pineapple Express to take aim at our Pacific Northwest.

RARIN' TO GO

.. All we need now is the Gulf Of Alaska Low to reform and we will get some regular pulses of precipitation. Hopefully it will be snow instead of rain.

.. The snows have been relatively dry and contain just a small bit of water content.

.. It's perfect for challenging trees at speed and ripping donuts in the town intersections.

.. We are not holding our breath - BUT this year's winter snowpack may turn out to be O.K.

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WALLPAPER:  Ragù alla Bolognese and Spinach

New Book

 COMING SOON

Pre-Order Possible

another stackpole treasure

COMING SOON

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.. Years and years of local experience are contained in this book.

..If you read, if you read about fishing, if you read about fishing the west side of Yellowstone National Park: you need to read this.

.. This title will be released on July 1, 2021.You can pre-order HERE.

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WALLPAPER:  HAM AND EGGS

345 Days Of . . .

KEEP ON TRUCKING

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.. One year minus twenty days of something, mostly different.  We're hopeful that the snow comes. We're hopeful that we remain healthy. We're hopeful that our nation is strong and sensible. We're hopeful that you and yours have more ups than downs.

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WALLPAPER: ROASTED TURKEY BREAST

The Season Of . . .

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WALLPAPER:  THE CONVENIENT  HALOGEN OVEN

DAMNITALL

THAR SHE GOES

To The North Woods

ours is dry

THE PINEAPPLE EXPRESS HEADS NORTH AGAIN

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.. This is not the weather pattern that our fish desire. With our current Pacific Ocean temperatures this is what the Pineapple Express currently looks like. It has even subsumed our friendly Gulf of Alaska low.

.. Snowfall in the our neighborhood is sparse with small flakes and dry. Our snow water content is at 72% of normal for this time of year.  The east slope of the Rocky Mountains is in the shadow of these weak weather systems. We can say no more.

NEED SOME SNOW

.. By the way: ice fishing is well underway. Shacks at both the narrows and the dam are sprouting like mushrooms in the burned over areas.

-- Right now scuds and leaches are working well. Scuds with a small split shot and a thrumming rod appeals to the most successful catchers. As the subsurface temperatures cools the leeches will pill up and sink into the bottom muck.

-- Check this post for good information = CLICK HERE.

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WALLPAPER:  CHEESE OMELETTE WITH SAUSAGE