White Stuff . . . Please

WE NEED SNOW

Fish Need Water

entering mid winter thaw 

YELLOW IS NOT GOOD

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.. We had some light rain today. Asphalt is showing up on the streets. School kids are wearing short pants. We hit 42°F.

ORANGE IS NOT GOOD

.. The neighbors refer to this period as the "February Thaw."

.. We are in for some oscillating temperatures for the next few weeks.

.. Heavy show forecasts have been abysmally wrong the last couple of weeks and our mountain snow pack is suffering.

.. Added to our anxiety is the warmth of the Pacific Ocean.

.. La Niña is experiencing a mid winter flare up and the warmth has displaced both the polar jet stream and the low level storm tracks.

.. This current pattern is reminiscent of the the drought patterns of just a few years ago.

.. We're not too optimistic that a radical weather pattern shift is in order before springtime.

.. A poor compensation is that access to good fishing is easier right now than it has been in several years.

.. A sled is still needed for the South Fork Estuary - but there is no doubt about the lake water = legal to fish. Out run spawners of the large and snaky form are plentiful and are taking anything bigger than a nymph.

SURPRISE SURPRISE ... !

.. The neighbors are beginning to lay off the spawners by the road Between The Lakes. Better catching is available at the boat ramp near the head of Quake Lake.

.. Speaking of boat ramps: if you can get to it, the boat ramp at mid lake has a large bit of open water full of angry fish. Some are of good size. They were looking up this afternoon in the bright sun.

.. As strange as it seems a Muddler Minnow on the top was highly successful in catching large dance partners. At this point in the fishing year we will take any surprise that is offered.

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WALLPAPER:  ROAST PORK LOIN = NEAR PERFECT

Real Fish Food

FORGET NAY SAYERS

Trout Eat Worms

red ones are best

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.. Let you neighbors poo poo the worm flies. We promise that a worm will catch a trout.

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WALLPAPER:  RASPBERRY PANCAKES & SAUSAGE

The Coming Attraction

 FINALLY ARRIVING

End Of Fair Weather

early snows dwindling

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.. Our perfect fishing weather is coming to an end. It's just about a seasonal bullseye. We have enjoyed the last few weeks while lowlanders and new arrivals have moaned about brief snow piles.

.. What ever you need to do without multiple layers  --  DO IT NOW. Roll up the hoses. Shutter the windows. Stack the wood. Check automobile fluids. Winter is bearing down on us. We're pleased.

BIG DIP AHEAD

DEADLY ACCURATE BOOM STICK

.. Soon we will be tucked snugly in our igloos. Covid-19 will be stalking our every foray into the real world.

.. The neighbors are relieved that the knuckle dragging, mouth breathing visitors are vanishing. We're lucky so far: no Covid-19 related deaths. Three of the neighbors are out of town in intensive care. We wish them well.

BACK IN THE DAY

.. We are looking forward to this coming isolation phase of our socioclimatic calendar.

.. We'll tie a few flies. We'll attend to the rods, reels and, lines. We'll mend some clothes. We'll drag some hunting gear out of the vault and clean, oil, polish and coat some handsome stainless, blue and, camouflage metal.

..There is still time to torment a few trout. The big bend at Snow Flake Springs on the Gallatin River has quite a few submarines enjoying the food laden debris from the discharge.

NEEDS ATTENTION !!

.. The boat ramp area at upper Quake Lake has some cruising pods of pre-spawn fish that are aggressive and willing dance partners. Just down-lake a bit the delta gyre where Beaver Creek debouches into the lake has cruising monsters on their merry-go-round. They too are gobbling up sticks and other flotsam from the discharge.

.. We now mention the verboten words: Duck Creek  &  South Fork of the Madison River. Each year about this time we incur the wrath of the neighbors for this mention of our home waters. But, fish are there and very rambunctious. We're headed out now.

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WALLPAPER:  HALF-KETO BREAKFAST PLATTER

A Winter's Delight

LOCAL IS BEST

New London, CT

open 5 PM 'til close

WELL WORTH THE TIME - GOOD RECIPE AND INFORMATION

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.. When the kids down the block go on a tear they wander through the interwebs with gay abandon. They bumped into this site and we were cajoled into watching it. Quite a mesmerizing bit of entertainment.
.. It brings to mind a phrase that may be full of more truth than meets the gray matter! "Never trust a skinny cook."
.. We're pleased to mention COOKING WITH THE BLUES. Below is a bit of kitchen entertainment that we watched a couple of times: in the dark of a winter's day. Just can't tie flies for more than 4 hours at a time. Ran into a slow spot in the book So. . . . . . .

FOLLOW THE RECIPE:

WATCH THE MEASUREMENTS

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SKITTERING MIDGE

.. We're having "See Saw Weather:" thirty below at night and, melty in the day. It's about right for this time of year. The snowfall is dwindling to flurries out of clear skies. The morning fog is a result of the air warmed by wood stoves and the wonderfully aromatic aromas of carcinogenic smoke.
.. The neighbor kids woke us up in the dark of the morning and demanded coffee. We did stumble through it and were regaled with tidbits of of tales of big fish Between The Lakes - and at the boat ramp at the head of Quake Lake. No snakes yet as the fish are still moving upstream toward the dam.
.. We yawned and propped open the eyelids - THEN -  back to the sack. It had cooled off. Damn!

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WALLPAPER:  CLAM CHOWDER

Keep Informed

GRAB ONE

Follow The Crowd

it's the other crowd

IT'S NOT SCHEDULED

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.. Come join the weirdness. SNOW UKE FESTIVAL is upon us! So There!

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WALLPAPER:  FRIES AND CRISPY SHRIMP

Pick A Season

WELL, HERE WE ARE

It's February Second

it was 37 degrees yesterday

A VERY GENTLE WINTER . . . SO FAR

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.. Black ice mornings. High country snow pack slowly building. Rivers running off. Folks walking around town. Sunshine periodically. Cloud layer thin. Fog in the morning. So much fun.

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WALLPAPER:  RIB AND BEANS

Just One More

ANOTHER MAK FLY

Cute Little Thing

neighbors using it now

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 MORE ENTERTAINMENT

.. The neighbor kids down the block are on a YouTube tear. They keep us entertained with contemporary insight and gifts of fluff. Thanks folks.
.. This midge pattern grabbed them in the soft parts and they are fishing it right now down Between The Lakes.

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.. Another day of melt down: 35°F is not our typical late January number. Should have a couple more days of tropical heat before the February freeze hits. We'll see what goes down.

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WALLPAPER:  MEATBALL BREAKFAST

Winter Entertainment

MORE FROM MAK

For Worm Fans

typical visitor video too

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.. Just a little red thing to add to the worm conversation. This is an easy and simple pattern. It can be tied larger than mentioned and, one of our neighborhood fishers is tying in size 4 and 6. Could this replace the San Juan sort of worm? We'll see in a few months.

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.. Here's a time waster for when the pizza delivery is running slow or you have a late night moment. A brief remembrance of last summer and, visitors trying to cherry-pick the best of the Madison River.

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WALLPAPER: SOME ITALIAN MEATBALLS

The Paradox Of Choice

NEED ANOTHER ROD ?

Which One ?

maybe get two ?

WALLPAPER:  A WONDERFUL SELECTION

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"The paradox of choice is an observation that having too many options to choose from, rather than making people happy and ensuring they get what they want, can cause them stress and engender problematic decision-making."

PICK A ROD, ANY ROD

.. Here we are in mid winter and it's warm. Snow is coming and melting at the same time.The mind wanders to springtime fishing and what gear to get ready. We think about our hoard of rods, reels, lines, flies and other accouterments that need to be readied for the opening.
.. Aha! Selections in this day and age are greater than ever. We think that there are more types of gear than at any other time in history - certainly more than in recent memory.
.. What a wonderful world. Enormous amounts of gear and accessories. Enormous amounts of manufacturers. Enormous amounts of vendors. Enormous amounts of experts. Enormous amounts of destinations and locations. Zowie - boy we are blessed!

Autonomy and Freedom of choice are critical to our well being, and choice is critical to freedom and autonomy. Nonetheless, though modern Americans have more choice than any group of people ever has before, and thus, presumably, more freedom and autonomy, we don't seem to be benefiting from it psychologically, ( — quoted from Ch.5, The Paradox of Choice, 2004)

.. We see this frequently. Which one to buy. How much to spend. Maybe we should think about it for a while. We'll ask the neighbors. We'll ask the counter help. We'll search the web. We'll read a book or two. Etc., etc.

PICK A REEL, ANY REEL

.. From 'Choice Overload' to 'Buyer's Remorse' there is a range of anxieties that can result from our selection of gear. Hell, there is even the on stream penis fly rod envy. The glance askance toward the tackle in the parking lot, the walk to the stream, and other opportunities.
.. We even note the concept, (rapidly growing over the last decade,) that 'BETTER' gear makes a better fisher. To cite the photographer's insight. "Question: what camera is the best camera? Answer: the one that's in your hand!)
.. Better fishers are made by fishing. Better casters are made by casting. Long ago, (in San Diego,) we saw a famous fly fisher cast the full length of a fly line by using a plumber's friend, (that bathroom plunger we all know and love.)
.. We would suggest that all of us have all the gear that we need. We often wonder if we confuse what we need with what we want. Ah, the curse of affluence!

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NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS

.. We have mud instead of packed snow leading into the winter fishing spots. The combination of snow, rain and high mid day temperatures provides goop on the trail and slush on the roads. Of course, night time temperatures bless us with some black ice and slick roads.
.. The mid day rush to the grocery store and the Post Office is a wonder to behold. Folks are even walking around town and, of course, some kids are wearing short pants. The high country snow pack seems to be building and avalanches are frequent.

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WALLPAPER: GENTLE CARAWAY RYE

A Week Of Warm

IF SNOW COMES

We'll Take It

end of january ??

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.. This is a wonderful gift from the weather gods. As long as we get a couple of inches, (or more,) each day the snow pack up high will be adequate.
.. The fishing neighbors are fishing, the sledheads are sledding, the shoppers are shopping and, a few school kids are wearing shorts. Life is good.

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WALLPAPER:  RIB STEAK WITH APPLES, POTATOES & AND BUTTER

Mark Your Calander

FOURTH ANNUAL

Date Changed Again

for our three day invasion
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WHAT A SILLY FESTIVAL AND OH SO MUCH FUN

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CARBON UKULELE

.. Once again the dates for the West Yellowstone 'Ukulele Festival' have changed. It's still in February but is moved to the 'President's Day' invasion. It should be a merry time for all visitors.

PLANT 'EM SHALLOW

.. The official holiday is Washington's Birthday. The various spellings of,  (President's Day, Presidents Day, Presidents' Day,) have arisen since about 1950 when the Associated Press started using the spelling without the apostrophe. Their reasoning was that because it uses an attributive noun and the holiday is meant for all presidents as well. With the apostrophe after the 's' it shows that its meant to celebrate the presidents as well but the day belongs to them.
.. There are several new local and regional groups that will be performing. The schedule, in the past,  has fluctuated with the whim of the organizers and performers. Be prepared for the jungle telegraph to keep you informed.
.. The ice rink is solid now and the sticks, chairs, kids and parents are carving noodles all over.

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.. Got some snow. Getting a wee bit more. Adequate pack for now - temperature permitting. Fingers crossed. Never worried in the recent past. Oh well.
.. Mark your calendar !!

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WALLPAPER:  PRESSURE COOKER ROAST BEEF & VEGETABLES

Coming Soon

UKES A PLENTY

West Yellowstone Ukulele Fest

bring plastic or wood

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., Next month is the West Yellowstone Ukulele Festival.  We'll Keep you posted. Here's a few teasers to sate your hunger.

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A MIDGE OR TWO

.. We've entered the 'more cold than snow' part of winter. Pubs are places to relax and warm up. The "D" word is still being whispered.
.. The sturdy neighbors of the younger persuasion are enduring clogged guides. Some have ventured way down to lowland Ennis on the Madison River. Catching is excellent and midges are working overtime in the soft backwaters. Yum, Yum.
.. The weather forecast is for dribs and drabs of snowfall. The anticipated 1" to 3" per day is welcome but not overwhelming.

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WALLPAPER:  QUICK AND EASY LUNCH

On The Edge

THE "D" WORD

Pray For Snow

or use voodoo

DROUGHT MONITOR

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Might be too early to panic . . . BUT!

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WALLPAPER:  BE PREPARED

Big Thank You

MEMORIES

Childhood Glutton

try it this way

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.. We have memories that lay dormant for decades. Then, BOOM, they are triggered by some event. That just happened and, we are surprised and thankful.
.. A big shout out to the tribe over at Chi Wulff. Thank y'all for he post about Muffuletta sandwiches. Although we've only been to New Orleans once and, briefly at that, we sampled the sandwiches. At that, long ago time, our childhood memories were not as dim as now.
.. The Muffuletta post triggered those dim memories in blazing neon. Thanks folks! We're not of Sicilian heritage. Reggio in Calabria is close enough. So what?!
.. As a wee child we developed a taste, (more like obsession,) with the way the relatives made the sandwiches. Begging for more was not beneath our countenance. We would gobble as much as was allowed - more than most, indeed.
.. With those memories still bright in the head we suggest a sandwich most like the one we remember. We're on the way to the grocery right now. We'll bake the bread this afternoon. The olive salad will marinate over night and, tomorrow our glutton self will take over. Burps and Farts be damned!

Great Video = CLICK HERE,  try it this way.

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USE THIS ONE

..  Got a bit of snow. A bit more on the way. Neighbors have succumbed to the joys of easy catching between the lakes. Soon the redds will be visible and it will be time to find other places.
.. Hopefully the high country will continue it's steady march toward an adequate snowpack - maybe even more.
.. This is the time of year that prognosticators begin to look to the hills from whence cometh out streams.

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WALLPAPER:  FINALLY SOME SNOW TO SHOVEL

Winter Winners

A GROSS OF THESE

Not Too Easy

passes the time

THE JELLY BUG

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.. It's both a blessing and a curse to have our daily 'dark time' end late and, start early. Burning the midnight oil starts at about 5:00 PM. But, then again, there's time for some fly fun.
.. MAKFLIES (LINK) has been cranking out some spiffy offerings. You'll not find these in the bins at the corner feather merchant. Tying a few should be entertaining. Don't do 144 of them unless you have a lot of down time.

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,, We had a request. Materials are not too cheap. Skill can be acquired. Time flies, (sorry Alice,) when you're having fun. If you have the time and dexterity it might be worth your efforts.

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.. Sled heads are increasing. Turons are in-migrating. Ski types are here with their own popcorn. The town is enjoying the cash flow and the fresh white that has enhanced the holiday spirit.

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.. While not our preference we managed to distress our standing rib roast. For those that abhor the deep pure pink of a proper joint we managed a tender, medium or medium well, lean roast.
.. Simple formula = dry age + Santa Maria Rub, (usually used on a Tri Tip,) + gentle microwave + oven sear + slow roasting yields a crusty chunk. Once is enough for us.
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SLOW ROASTING WITH SANTA MARIA RUB

JUICY STILL, VERY TENDER,  JUST A LITTLE PINK

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WALLPAPER:  WE LIKE WHITE BREAD - DONE RIGHT