At The Scene

Fisherfolks Guide To West Yellowstone

A START FOR YOUR VISIT

The Basics

.. location, Location, LOCATION. The Map below will give you some help in navigating the town. During the Summer it's a surprisingly crowded place.
.. Enormous condominiums on wheels park in the center of the street. Children chase each other through red lights, visitors walk in the middle of the street, drivers stop and start for no apparent reason, "U-Turns" are common and unannounced, panic stops in intersections are the rule, parking is nonexistent. It's best to park and do it on foot.

[[ Click on the map for larger, printer friendly image ]]
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-- The Fly Shop Map --

1. Blue Ribbon Flies
2. Madison River Outfitters
3. Bud Lilly's
4. Arrick's
5. Eagle's Fly Shop
6. Bob Jacklin's
7. West Yellowstone Fly shop

And Still More

THEY JUST CRANK
THESE THINGS OUT !

P.S. Fishing This Afternoon Was Spectacular

/O.NEW.KTFX.FA.Y.0012.080613T0218Z-080614T0215Z/ /00000.N.RS.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/ 830 PM MDT THU JUN 12 2008

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
IN GREAT FALLS HAS ISSUED A

* SMALL STREAM FLOOD ADVISORY FOR
RAIN AND MELTING SNOW IN...

BEAVERHEAD COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST MONTANA... THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF DILLON... GALLATIN COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST MONTANA... THIS INCLUDES THE CITY OF BOZEMAN... MADISON COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST MONTANA... THIS INCLUDES THE CITIES OF...VIRGINIA CITY...SHERIDAN...

* UNTIL 815 PM MDT FRIDAY

* WARMING TEMPERATURES THROUGH FRIDAY WILL INCREASE SNOWMELT IN THE MOUNTAINS. WITH SOME STREAMS ALREADY RUNNING NEAR BANKFULL AND SOILS MOIST FROM RECENT PRECIPITATION...THIS INCREASED RUNOFF WILL LIKELY LEAD TO MINOR FLOODING OF SOME STREAMS. AREAS OF GREATEST CONCERN ARE GALLATIN COUNTY AND NORTHWEST BEAVERHEAD COUNTY WERE UP TO 3 FEET OF SNOW HAS RECENTLY FALLEN IN THE MOUNTAINS. THIS ADVISORY WILL LIKELY NEED TO BE EXTENDED THROUGH THE WEEKEND AS TEMPERATURES CONTINUE TO WARM.

MOST FLOOD DEATHS OCCUR IN AUTOMOBILES. NEVER DRIVE YOUR VEHICLE INTO AREAS WHERE THE WATER COVERS THE ROADWAY. FLOOD WATERS ARE USUALLY DEEPER THAN THEY APPEAR. JUST ONE FOOT OF FLOWING WATER IS POWERFUL ENOUGH TO SWEEP VEHICLES OFF THE ROAD. WHEN ENCOUNTERING FLOODED ROADS MAKE THE SMART CHOICE...TURN AROUND...DONT DROWN.

A FLOOD ADVISORY MEANS RIVER OR STREAM FLOWS ARE ELEVATED OR PONDING OF WATER IN URBAN OR OTHER AREAS IS OCCURRING OR IS IMMINENT.

LAT...LON 4563 11363 4558 11227 4605 11092 4480 11117 4457 11279 4545 11363 TIME...MOT...LOC 0218Z 180DEG 0KT 4554 11350

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.. Nothing fancy; big flies that look like a sack of groceries to any hungry trout.
.. This section of the Gibbon River, below Virginia Cascade, was fishable for about two hours this afternoon, (Thursday, 6/12/08.) It probably won't come back into shape for another 10 days.
.. Despite the rosy reports from many sources - conditions guarantee that picking your water is, at best, an "iffy" proposition.
.. Make a lot of new friends when you get here - hire a guide who's seen this before - pay your money and take your chances.

Snow Fish

FROM THE NWS

Snow Advisory

/O.EXT.KRIW.SN.Y.0043.000000T0000Z- 080612T2100Z/ YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...LAKE... MAMMOTH...OLD FAITHFUL 902 AM MDT THU JUN 12 2008
...SNOW ADVISORY NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM MDT THIS AFTERNOON...

THE SNOW ADVISORY IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 3 PM MDT THIS AFTERNOON.

OCCASIONAL SNOW WILL CONTINUE ACROSS YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK THROUGH 3 PM TODAY. 1 TO 4 INCHES OF SNOW HAS FALLEN AT MANY AREAS ACROSS THE PARK WITH UP TO 7 INCHES AT SYLVAN LAKE. A SNOW TOTAL OF 4 TO 8 INCHES IS EXPECTED WITH AS MUCH AS 6 TO 12 INCHES EXPECTED OVER SYLVAN PASS NEAR THE EAST ENTRANCE BY 3 PM TODAY. MUCH LESSER AMOUNTS OF AN ADDITIONAL INCH OR TWO ARE EXPECTED AT MAMMOTH HOT SPRINGS AND THE WEST ENTRANCE. ROADS ABOVE 8000 FEET ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN OR BECOME SLICK AND SNOW PACKED THROUGH THIS MORNING.

A SNOW ADVISORY MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW COVERED ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING. ROADS CAN BECOME ESPECIALLY SLICK WHEN THE TEMPERATURE OF THE ROAD SURFACE IS CLOSE TO FREEZING.

VISITORS TO THE PARK SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR UNSEASONABLY COLD AND WET CONDITIONS AND THE LIKELIHOOD OF ROAD CLOSURES INTO AND THROUGHOUT THE PARK TODAY.

Spring Continues

BRING YOUR LONG JOHNS

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE GREAT FALLS MT
621 AM MDT WED JUN 11 2008
MTZ008-014-015-052-055-111800-
/O.CON.KTFX.HS.W.0007.000000T0000Z-080612T0000Z/

BEAVERHEAD-CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN LEWIS AND CLARK-MADISON-JEFFERSON-
GALLATIN-

INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...DILLON...HELENA...LINCOLN...ENNIS...
BOULDER...BOZEMAN...WEST YELLOWSTONE
621 AM MDT WED JUN 11 2008

...HEAVY SNOW WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM MDT THIS
AFTERNOON FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 5000 FEET...
A HEAVY SNOW WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 6 PM MDT THIS
AFTERNOON FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 5000 FEET.

SNOW...HEAVY AT TIMES...WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON. BY
LATE THIS AFTERNOON...3 TO 9 INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATION ARE
EXPECTED AT ELEVATIONS BETWEEN 5000 AND 7000 FEET...WHILE THE
MOUNTAINS ARE EXPECTED TO RECEIVE BETWEEN 9 AND 14 INCHES OF
SNOW.

EXPECT VISIBILITIES TO BE REDUCED TO LESS THAN ONE QUARTER OF A
MILE AT TIMES IN HEAVY SNOW. TRAVEL CONDITIONS IN THE WARNING
AREA WILL BECOME HAZARDOUS THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON.
ADDITIONALLY...THIS WILL BE A VERY WET SNOW. IN AREAS THAT
RECEIVE HEAVY SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...THERE COULD BE SOME POWER
OUTAGES OR DAMAGE TO TREES THAT HAVE LEAFED OUT.

A HEAVY SNOW WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE
EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW ARE FORECAST
THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN EMERGENCY. IF
YOU MUST...KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT...FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR
VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

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..

Brevity

A FINE SOFT SPRING

can you say thundersnow ?

.. Last night's soaking rain and this morning's constant drizzle is sure to cloud the rivers a bit more. The thundersnow over the weekend melted rapidly in the warm deluge that followed in its aftermath. This produced a bit of color in the rivers as well. The beauty of the rose colored water is a wonder to behold.
.. Briefly: the Gallatin River is cold, cloudy, and fishable above the Taylor Fork, productivity should be low; the Madison River is a portrait in mud and silt, catching will be done with a bit of tinsel and white - down and deep; the Gibbon River is roaring again but is mostly in-bank, (a rainbow of earth colors swirl through its froth;) the Firehole River is holding its own and in the meadows around Biscuit Basin clarity and visibility is surprisingly good.
.. Despite the optimism of the intrepid fishers in our neighborhood, both the flows and colors of the rivers mitigate against spectacular catching. The apparent discharge peak of June 5 - 6, and the two day down-turn thereafter brought joy to the neighbors' hearts. Short lived it was.
.. Flows are again on the upswing. The Madison River is at 950 cfs, still 100 cfs above its 81 year average and climbing once again. The Gibbon River is nearing 400 cfs, about 200 cfs above its seasonal average and raising rapidly. The Firehole River is currently at 600 cfs, a full 200 cfs above its seasonal average.
.. Rain, snow, sleet, and cooler temperatures are in the forecast for the next four days. Temperatures will hover around the 40's and 50's for highs. This is just enough to slow the rivers a bit. Warmer temperatures on the coming weekend will increase the flows again - there's still snow to be melted.
.. The Gallatin River has finally reached seasonal flows, but is very cold and slightly turbid. The discharge from the Taylor Fork can be distinguished for a good two miles before it dissipates into the full width of the stream. Fish the edge of the silt plume and there will be fish to dance with. This is strong water despite its appearance. The wade to the east bank can be treacherous. Take a stick or staff or have a native porter carry you across. You will be rewarded.

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.. Weather be damned, bugs and genes have their own calendar; and persistence of emergence will out! There are some hatches, and they are fishable. The fish have found them and so have the observant fishers.
.. Despite the color on the Madison River there are Stonefly Nymphs actively moving underwater. A Yellowstone Sally will be your best bet as the top fly in a two fly rig. The trailer might be a soft hackle or a flashback Prince Nymph. Size 8 for the Sally, 12 - 14 for the trailer.
.. Fishers looking for surface action can find it on the Firehole River. The cool temperatures and afternoon drizzles have brought forth the PMD and Baetis hatches. Mid -afternoon to dusk is good for the hatches.
.. Caddis hatches are now appearing but they are spotty and intermittent. These are all flies that trend toward the SMALL! Sizes 16 and 18 will be a good place to start.
.. The spinner float has been excellent. For those of you that don't need a second cup of coffee, (or even a first,) try the Yellowstone Morning Glory. These can be fished in reasonable sizes of 12 - 14. They can even be drowned and will produce well.
.. The Firehole River also has a bit of Stonefly activity. If you're interested in some larger fish try the Yellowstone Winter Grub, or your favorite rubber legs pattern.
.. Many of the neighbors are having success with the Silli-Legs stoneflies, (every feather merchant has a version or two - choose by color, size, aesthetics, or ugliness: they all work.) Just be sure that you let the drift carry the fly to the deepest part of the water. Pockets near the bank and undercut areas will be your best bet.
.. There are excellent and detailed reports, along with prognostications at Madison River Outfitters, and Blue Ribbon Flies.

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.. We haven't forgotten those of you that like to view a bit of pleasant scenery. The Horse's Mouth brought us a bit of unseasonable decoration. Football instead of fish? We'll take it!

Straight To You From . . .

JUAN CARLOS
SHOULD BE ASHAMED

P.S. short Firehole Report
P.P.S. a wahine too

.. On frequent occasions we dip into the sage meanderings of The Horse's Mouth. We gather wahines, information, insight and nostalgia.
.. This time we gathered a chilling bit of video. We present it below for your edification.
.. El Caminito del Rey, (The King's Footpath,) is just a bit of crumbling cement and rusty steel supports north of Malaga, and north of Alora, near El Chorro Spain. It ascends a 700 foot gorge of the Rio Guadalhorce: it looks, (and is,) pretty fishy.
.. The footpath was constructed between 1901 and 1905 as a means of access for an interesting aqueduct project.
.. Should you feel the need to go fishing for giant carp, barbel, pike, zander, bass, or even trout you should check out Go-Fishing-Spain.com. The excellent site map will give you instant access to the opportunities that present themselves in the Andalusian region around Malaga, (we prefer Granada ourselves - viva el Rio Darro.)
.. The video below is not for the faint of heart. It's not even for most of the stout of heart.
.. The footpath is closed to the public: but given the independence of spelunkers, rock climbers, and tourists from around the world, it gets visited almost daily. (Four people fell to their death between 1999 & 2000.)
.. The limestone regions of Spain are justly famous the world over for caves, cliffs, gorges, and climbing locales. This gorge on the Rio Guadalhorce is just one of the many attractions just south of the Plains of La Mancha.
.. In scientific terms this trail has a "PUCKER PHACTOR" of 10+ !!

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.. The Firehole River is fishing just fine; thank you. A few Baetis, a few Caddis, a few trout, and elbows of the mighty fishers are all present and accounted for.
.. The unsettled Spring weather has failed to darken the river very much, and good opportunities exist above its confluence with Nez Perce Creek. Below the confluence you have to pick your water with care - or trust to luck.
.. The Little Firehole River in Biscuit Basin has yielded some very nice fish on soft hackles; and, there's even a surface bite for those willing to stand still and watch the water. Caddis, Baetis, midges, and sticks seem to be what the trout are eating in this short stretch of water.
.. The Firehole River above Old Faithful, along the trail to Lone Star Geyser, is gin-clear and cold. It harbors mighty Brook Trout ranging to over 7". They too are eating sticks and whatever else, of an appropriate size, that floats. Few fuchsia vests or $900.00 rods were seen on this stretch yesterday.
.. We're on our way back right now - the sun is not up yet and it's dead calm. Rumors abound of a great spinner fall - we're skeptical, but curious.

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.. Also From The Horse's Mouth: a blue fish!