And The Wind Did Blow

About That Snowpack

ABOVE AVERAGE

Way Above Last Year

growing and growing and growing

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.. Soon after the black eyed peas have been eaten and shortly after the first mess of fish have been smoked and shared, conversation in the grocery stores and post office turns to the accumulation of snow.

.. Right now the conversation is mildly optimistic and the hope is for continued and increased snow fall, and a not too warm spring.
.. This year's rapid accumulation and frigid temperatures have some of the old-timers worried about ice jams, fluctuating stream flows and flooding. The conditions are ripe.
.. As we speak the Montana snowpack is 46% above last year and a healthy 12% above average, (see Great Falls Tribune.)
.. On January 1, 2011 mountain snow-water content was 112% of average and 146% of last year.
.. **West of the Continental Divide mountain snow-water content was 106% of average and 142% of last year.
.. **East of the continental divide mountain snow-water content was 112% of average and 139% of last year, (see KBZK dot com.)
.. The Madison River Drainage Basin is at 121% of average and 168% above last year. The Yellowstone River Drainage Basin is 114% of average and 145% above last year. The Gallatin River Drainage is 116% of average and 151% of last year.
.. As of January 1, all Montana streamflows are forecast to average 101 percent, for the period April 1 through July 31.
.. **West of the Continental Divide, January 1 streamflows were forecast to average 104%  for that period.

.. **East of the Continental Divide, January 1 streamflows are forecast to average 99% during that time, (see Clark Fork Chronicle.)
.. These are promising figures -- BUT, about 1/2 of the snow season remains and anything, (good or bad,) could happen. The near term forecast is for good. We'll keep you posted.
.. There's an additional 4" to 14" of snow forecast for the next 5 days and the temperatures are beginning to look like winter, (-20's to -30's.) Happily the daytime highs will be about + 3 to +5.
.. It's getting deep in West Yellowstone and the sledheads are enjoying the snow and frequent fresh powder. Cross country skiers and biathlon teams from around the world are also having a grand time.
.. The Madison River in Yellowstone National Park is running with occasional frozen slush. It takes about 10 days of -40° for lows and 0° or less for highs to put a skin of ice on the river. This could happen anytime between now and mid February. It's unusual but not that rare.

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Stuff & Such

Smoke 'Em If You Got 'EM

COLD IS HOT

Hebgen On Fire

smokers galore

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.. It's nice that in this world there are youngsters that take pity on their elders. It's nice that some of them pretend to enjoy our company.
.. It's even nicer when they bring over some tasty golden bounty from nearby Hebgen Reservoir. We pretend to understand their language and we get along just swimmingly.

.. We offer toasty toes and a wee bit of a 12 year old single malt. They accept the toes, but dash to the truck for a couple of cold ones.
.. We trade lies about the temperature, (-20's & -30's,) and extol the seeming virtues of being able to exhaust oneself by partaking of the exercise necessary to drill a hole in the ice -- and sit in a small shelter while the wind roars across the naked expanse of ice.
.. It's cold enough here that we usually don't have to resort to "wind chill" factors to impress anyone. On the other hand a -52° F / wind chill factor in the bright and blinding sun is not an experience for the faint of heart.
.. So, long story made short: smoked fish is the dish of the day. These kids are genuine smoked fish aficionados: they cold smoke the fish most of the time. It takes more time but the fish last longer, taste far better, and are flaky and buttery smooth.
.. On rare occasions they will hot smoke them with a sweet brine and then throw the boned fillets in a blender with some mysterious ingredients and produce a smoked fish dip that goes great with just about anything.
.. These fish were taken about a week or so ago. There are still some in the smoker. There will be more tonight - damn the weather. Bless their hearts.
.. Apropos of our recent posts a few were taken on a fly. Not a single one on any of the flies we've mentioned. These were taken on a small renegade. Most were taken on bits of night  crawler. A few were taken on the last of the maggots left in town. The fish are hungry in the winter.

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No Earthly Reason

It Can Get Cold

Thrummin' Hornbergs

IT'S ANY ONE'S GUESS

Slightly Modified

weighted body

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.. This slightly modified classic is just now making it's appearance beneath the ice on Hebgen Lake. The neighbors call it the "Bearded Hornberg," or the "Rasty Hornberg." It's tied just like the standard pattern with the addition of a large beard.
.. It's attached to the fishing line behind it's ample head with a standard riffling hitch; a small split shot is also suspended from the eye of the hook. Rigged correctly this allows the fly to hang in the water in a nearly horizontal position.

.. Neighbors don't remember a Whitefish being taken on this fly. Speculation allows it to mimic a small fish, thus attractive to the large rainbows and Browns in the lake. Truth be told it's any one's guess about what it really imitates. And like so many attractor flies it is not a major topic of conversation. It works, and that's that.
.. This pattern is almost always fished with a thrumming rod. Infrequently it is dangled beneath a tip-up. The thrumming rod allows the vibrations from the thumb-thrummer to move the fly in subtle ways beneath the water. Additionally, speculation allows that the vibrations attract the fish. Whatever the case, this is a rig that the neighbors favor when looking for the big trout in the reservoir.
.. NB: Maggots are scarce already. Meal worms are disappearing fast. Most night crawlers are dry or growing green stuff. It might be time to give the artificials a heavy workout.
.. More to come

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Merry Christmas

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