Unfair

TRUMP IS A HERO !

America First !

support our holy leader

unfair cartoon from 'paulschicklercartoons.com' all lies and fake news

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.. The fake  news is loading up on our dear president. He has done so much for America; they should worship at his feet. History will record President Trump as our greatest president of all time. We should be proud that we had the insight to elect such brilliance.
.. We heard that he is going to use military money to dig a 550 foot deep hole in Washington, D.C. He calls it the 'Martha Washington Monument.' Such brilliance.
.. We don't think that Randy Rainbow is being very nice to our beloved president:

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.. This is in the most unlovely spirit of patriotism. We know that all fly fishers denounce this kind of attack on the president: they just don't say it out loud.
.. The latest episode of 'Trump The Opera" is, without a doubt, the most fake of all news ever spun against our fantastic social general - "Grab 'em by the p . . . ."

..

.. We use this space to warn presidential supporters against watching these fake news videos. This is a disgrace and should be outlawed by an executive order of KING TRUMP!

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THESE SHOULD WORK

.. We're headed to Notellum Backwater for some out time. The fish are becoming atrophied from the lack of dance partners and we need to help them.
.. We have a jar full of winter fly rejects that should work wonders for the poor deprived fishes. The sun should feel good and the breeze delicious.
.. See you around the campus.

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WALLPAPER:  A PAIR TO DRAW TO  (and one more)

Old Tech

VINTAGE ROTISSERIE

Going Strong

just like a perfect leica

WALLPAPER:   BRINED AND SPIT ROASTED

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FRY AS BAIT

 .. If it ain't broke - don't fix it. At our age being trapped in a past century is not all bad. The rotisserie still roasts and the old Hardy reels still catch fish. What's not to like?

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.. The cool, (not cold,) weather continues and the lowland Madison River is a perfect destination for catchers of the streamer stripe.
.. Bright overcast and even blue skies yield good fun on both sides of the river. Watch the sun and switch as the shadows move.
.. We like the early afternoon on the west side of the river just as the fish have settled in.

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WALLPAPER:  OLD FRIEND  --  A WORKHORSE

WALLPAPER:  A PAIR OF NEW FRIENDS

The End Of . . .

PARK FISHING

Onions

sex starved fish

WALLPAPER:  PULLED FROM THE SNOW

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.. We got a head start on our winter productivity. We're two dozen shy of our first gross of  flies for others. It passes the time!

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STANDARD MATUKA

.. There are a couple of sympathetic guides who have taken pity on us and scheduled some lowland river fishing.
.. The upcoming 10 days should prove to be warm enough and bright enough for some streamer tugging down on the Madison River.
.. With our day light saving switch and, sleeping in to hit the active fish time, we should be ready for anything. Seldom a skunk this time of year.
.. Dark under banks and crisp shadow lines are good for the soul in the late fall. Splash, pause, swing, tug, swing, tug, swing, tug,  slam-bam thank you ma'am.

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TRAILING SHUCK

.. Habits are hard to break. One that has stood us in good stead is the use of the simple Matuka. We've tied and used the latest and greatest on and off each year. But, just can't break the habit.
.. With a little luck the deep side of the boat should provide excellent big nymph dunking. If the sun plays peek-a-boo there may still be some dinky baetids bopping around. We're pleased to visit those foreign lowlands a couple of times each year.
.. The old truism about "smaller through the season," seems to hold value. So, we take advantage of the neighbors' kindness. They tie some 14's and 16's on short leader bits for us.
.. The other truism about stillborn flies in late season seems to bear some truth as well. Ugly flies seem to be worthwhile during this time of year - on the right day.

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.. The best thing about a good an exceptional river guide is their selfless energy in response to the client's needs. We're very needy. There are so many things we do poorly that can be compensated for by a good guide. There are only a couple of guides that put up with our deficiencies. Happily they are willing to indulge us. Off we go.

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WALLPAPER: HONEY WHEAT LOAF

Tools, Tactics, Strategy

LINE AND LEADER

Big And Little

water, sun and shade

WALLPAPER: FIREHOLE BOUND

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ATTITUDE IS EVERYTHING

.. A few hints should allow visiting fishers to cope with the spate of cold and snowy weather we've been experiencing.
.. Attitude is key to enjoyment. Clothing is key to attitude. Planning is key to clothing. A dram or two never hurt and, often helps.
.. Change rods, lines, leaders and, even reels to fit these situations. In a pinch you can "overline" your summer rod by one or two numbers. Use Vaseline on the guides, (WD-40 in a pinch.)

OPTIONAL FLY

.. The heavy lines help with precision casting in the wind. A sink tip will get down quicker, (you are allowed to cut off some sink tip line to match the depths of our shallow waters.) Use a leader stronger than you think is necessary: this allows a short tussle and a meaningful hook set. Abrade the leader with some fine sand or silt to remove the shine and break surface tension to allow quicker sinking.

GOOD WEIGHT

.. Don't be pure about weight. Weight in the fly and weight on the leader are not sins, (For those that catch fewer fish it is a sin.)
.. Fall fish, runners or not, are driven to strike and to eat. Winter is on the way. Offer a smorgasbord of flies. Bright ones, dull ones, big ones, little ones, internal action, external action, fuzzy, slick, etc., are all attractive fodder at various times with various fish.

THE  SKINNYTUKA

.. This is the one time that we will endorse the offerings of counter help at the feather merchants. Buy everything offered. Change often if you insist on the same run for hours at a time. We would suggest that you cover as much water as possible. Move around. Move up or down or both: the fish do!
.. Given the variable amount of clouds and fog during this kind of weather fishers tend to forget about the position of the sun. Interestingly, the fish are just as sensitive to sun and shade during these days.

TRY SMALL & SHINY

.. In fact, because of the diffuse sunlight, the fish are more attuned to the various depths of shadow than on days when the shadow line is abrupt and sharp. This can work to the fishers' advantage. Fish may be in comparatively brighter water than on very sunny days.
.. This is the time to listen to the successful catchers of fish. But, understand the full context of the catch: water type and depth, drift and retrieve, location on the water, location of the sun and shadow, try and either succeed or fail THEN - change it up.

IS BIGGER BETTER?

GOT THESE?

.. Pause periodically to evaluate your experience. Having a good time? Feel fulfilled? Like the scenery? Toes warm? Guides clear? Need a nip? Fingers good enough to change flies? To hell with it all, fish the rig and accept the consequences? Just where is your head.
..Talk to the world. Feel your surroundings. Talk to the fish and, the snow and, the trees and, the grass and, the water.
.. Listen to them. This is not a one way conversation. Are you the subject or the predicate? Can you be both? Should you be one or the other?
.. By the way there are still baetids on the Firehole River. Fish both top and, wet at the same time. Try it you'll like it. Done right you don't even have to set the hook, (provided that you sharpen it first and, sharpen it well.)
.. Don't catch 'em all and keep 'em wet.

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WALLPAPER: HONEY MOLASSES LOAF

The Turning Worm

SEASON OF SWEETNESS

A Double Delight

submarines sighted

SWEET STUFF FOR THE NEW YEAR

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.. We have, in our village, only one Jewish family. There is a fly fisher among them. This is a signal moment in time for these neighbors. Rosh Hashanah, sometimes called the Jewish New Year, coincides with the dawning of "Runner Fever."
.. Pods of large fish have been sighted in the estuary where the Madison River debauches into Hebgen Reservoir. This is the pre-spawn ritual for sex charged trout.

WORKS IN ALL WATERS

.. This is a season of sweetness for both the Jewish family and, fly fisher folk.
.. Sweet food is the theme of Rosh Hashanah meals. Sweet fishing is theme for fly fishers. Indeed; the worm has turned.
.. Flies that are hawked by the feather merchants are often called "sweet." There are many "best flies" in the various vocabularies of counter help in our fly shops. For some inexplicable reason the best flies and, those not best all work to take fish.

BAKER'S HOLE BUGGER

.. In the dark corners of our pubs, secrets are shared. Secret flies, secret waters, secret techniques, are shared in muted tones.
.. The truth of the matter is that the underpinnings of all these secrets is that; "JUST HIT 'EM IN THE NOSE."
.. A combination of fly, leader, line and, depth in the water column will succeed if the fish is bonked in the nose. The key, despite the hyperbole of the counter help, is finding the fish and presenting the fly.

PHEASANT AND BLUE

.. Fly selection is always a combination of personal choice and marketing hype. We've enumerate the most popular flies used in the neighborhood HERE.
.. One perennial favorite of the counter help and, our visitors, is the Baker's Hole Bugger. It is a representative of the class of big gaudy streamers used around here. These flies and patterns are ubiquitous and highly variable. Use any of them. They are all the best.

BRINDLE AND HEN

.. We would suggest that the coming snow and heavy overcast weather will bring forth elbows aplenty along the hides and dark water of the Madison River.
.. Cover all the water! Get down! Move, move, move! Arrive early and stay late! The fish are moving based on shadows, water depth, fishing pressure and, pure caprice.
.. There are really no secrets. There are, however, less fished places that regularly hold fish. These places are just not mentioned frequently.
.. If you should choose to indulge in 'runner fever' and, choose ask for advice from the local counter help -- be sure to ask them when they last fished where they are sending you. It may be a bit dicey, BUT, ask how they know what they know.

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COMING ATTRACTION

.. The neighbors are busy with patching waders, wringing out wet woollies, building gourmet bologna sandwiches and, deciding where the fewest elbows are likely to be. It's tough work but someone has to do it.
.. A few young'uns are headed to the spawning canyon of the Firehole River. For those in the know, it's the steep little canyon just beyond the bridge above Old Faithful. It's an easy 300 yard walk in and, it feels like five miles coming out. Big fish aplenty and little to no fishing pressure.

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WALLPAPER:  SOME LIKE IT RED

Happily

BEEN TWO YEARS

Sails Are Nifty

back to norris

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THE BLOND FEATHER DUSTER

.. On a personal note: caught our grayling. In the meadow by the Norris Campground entrance road. On a floating nymph. A blond Feather Duster. Great way to close the season.

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WALLPAPER:  RASPBERRY SHORTCAKE

For Old Time's Sake

WALK TOO SLOW

Talk Too Much

fish just a bit

WALLPAPER:  AUTUMN IDYLL

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NECESSARY GEAR

.. The flasks are loaded, the thermos is hot and black, the hard salami, cheese and stale bread are mashed together in plastic bags and, the old gear is ready for work.
.. Each year about this time a few of us get together for a saunter in Yellowstone National Park. We're mostly older than our ancient gear but we use it on purpose.

FIREHOLE FALL

.. We arise early. We gather at the chow house for coffee. We look strange. But the stories start up before the mugs arrive.
.. This is our little celebration of surviving another year on this side of the grass.  We've done this on an informal basis for the last decade or so.
.. The last few years it has been a firm and ritualized gathering. We've lost a few story tellers. We miss them.

ONE FROM PAYNE

.. We will take a couple of old trucks and switch riders along the way. We will stop often and wet a line. We may even catch a fish or two. We know where the benches are. We will tell old truths and a few lies. We will reminisce and enjoy the day. It will be all too short.
.. We trade rods and share flies. The muscle memory of bamboo comes back quickly - maybe never left. We speculate on the future of our pastime.

ONE FROM GRANGER

.. We revel in the past and bemoan it's passing. It's not the maudlin kind of discussion: rather an immersion in the good times remembered.
.. There are very few folks left that have fiddled around in the park since before the middle of the last century.

ONE FROM LEONARD

.. We wonder if we have discovered anything previously unknown. We remember the famous folk that have passed this way. Some stayed or passed through and some moved on. They stamped the place with legend and lies. So be it.
.. We stop to puff a bit of Cuba. We sip some old stuff and pretend that we are warmed by it. Bitter is as bitter does. Fire of a different kind in our belly.

BYGONE GEAR

.. We observe the small changes and large. Trees blown down or burned up. Good holes filled in by sand and silt. New holes opened up by heavy runoff - not yet immortalized by recent sages of the local rivers.
.. We catch a fish and wonder if the tales of ours and others are the truth. Were those fish really bigger before the warming of the Firehole River? Were there more of them?

YES,  IT IS A FLY

.. We relive the battles over the Brown Trout in the North Fork Of The Snake that made headlines in the 50's and 60's. Back before it became fashionable to call that bit of water the Henry's Fork.
.. We observe certain rituals that have long since disappeared. They disappeared with the gear that made them necessary. We take turns stretching each other's lacquered lines.

RIVERSIDE SUSTENANCE

.. We dry and change the silk one. What nuisances we put up with. We thought it was the best of all possible ways to do things.
.. We will pretend that we can build a sandwich from the mashed fixin's in the plastic bags.

ONE FROM F.E. THOMAS

-- It is a brutal bit of nourishment and we pretend to enjoy it. So dry it is that it requires a slosh of something - bitter - burning - or black. Such simple rituals.
.. We, and so many others, create them and extol their value as necessary adjuncts to our pastime. After all fishing is just fishing otherwise.
.. It's getting late early and we need to buzz along. Time's a wastin'.

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WALLPAPER:  ORVIS 99

Get Lost

PERFECT IMMERSION

A Mind Meld ?

is it zen ?

WALLPAPER:  GOOD TOOLS

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.. Fall brings competition for outdoor activities: Fishing, Hunting, Hiking, Biking, etc. Some folks even combine activities: biking/hunting, fishing/hunting, biking/fishing, etc.
.. Of late we seldom hunt. We do fish and shoot competitively. The still cool air is conducive to both.
.. There are moments, sometimes hours or days, when we get lost in our chosen pastime. The targets seem larger, the fish seem more willing, our selected tools get absorbed into our very being and, all is right with the world.
.. We've been told it is a zen moment. If so, so be it. What we do know is that it is a condition where anticipation and anxiety disappear. We don't anticipate the strike of the fish or the strike of the bullet. There is no need for anticipation because the occurrence is a foregone conclusion. There is no anxiety about the outcome .
. . sigh!

PERFECT FORM

.. Anticipation is a powerful condition: both physically and mentally. Tense and anxious we lose sight and focus on just what it is we are doing.
.. We somehow feel that trigger pull is most important.
.. We somehow feel that the back cast is most important.
.. Then we feel that breathing is most important.
.. Or we feel that line speed is most important.
.. Then again we might reconsider the ammunition or the fly selection. These factors are really secondary to doing what we are doing.
.. In 1988 Dan Wieden coined the phrase, "JUST DO IT," for a Nike advertising campaign. Aside from the push as a fashion statement there is a greater truth in the phrase.
.. Immersion in the moment is a wonderful bit of existence. Right now, around  our village,  we see so many folks anticipating rather than doing. When the various bits of impedimenta fall away from the activity - the activity will swallow us up.
.. For some reason the Autumn brings about this relaxed participation in our own outdoor activity. We seem to catch more fish, (and it matters not.) We hit the bull more consistently, (and it matters not.)

CASUAL TOOLS

.. For some folks catching the fish is the most important part of fishing. For some folks hitting the bull is the most important part of target shooting.
.. For us, just shooting or fishing is the most important part.  AND, WE DO CATCH FISH AND HIT THE BULL - so?
.. Getting lost has nothing to do with being lost. It has to do with immersion in the moment, in the activity, in the experience. We can get lost while tying a gross of flies. We can get lost while loading our 22 PPC cartridges. We can get lost in our living room - it's so rewarding.
.. For whatever reason we seem to get lost most often in the Autumn. We like it that way.

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WET OR DRY

.. Right now there are white miller caddis, baetids of a couple sorts, small fry, other fry, and nymphs galore on the west side rivers in Yellowstone National Park.
.. The expert counter help is warning folks off of the Gallatin River as "TOO COLD."
.. Avoid this river if you choose. There are many active fish taking small streamers that imitate fry. Some patterns of the caddis sort may be fished above and in the film as well as below and soaked to the bone.

DRY OR WET

.. Catching is on the mind of so many of the pro fishers that they seldom enjoy fishing.
.. Right now the fishing is excellent in these pleasant Fall days.
.. We're in the 60's and the sun is playing with the wispy clouds. There are scattered flurries of mixed precipitation and the wind is just a gentle breeze.
.. Catching is pretty good too!

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WALLPAPER:  BREAKFAST EXTRAVAGANCE