Short Time Coming

KISS YOUR FELT GOODBYE

And Your Ass Too ?

will you sterilize your rubbers ?

-------

.. Briefly: Montana introduces legislation to ban felt soled waders. Check out the posts at The Trout Underground and comments at The Headhunter. Read carefully the comment by Earl James. We're not home free yet!

.. The tons of soil and supposed included micro organisms moved around by wading fishers is documented in a masters thesis from MSU, (LINK.)
.. The proposed amended Montana Legislation is HERE. And, just like the U.S. Congress exempts itself from many of the laws it makes, Montana exempts it's employees and emergency personnel from the ban. Is there a message here?
.. We're sure that this is not a cure all; and, further believe that the wader manufacturers still need to go a long way into providing better gripping rubber, (or whatever,) soles.
.. We predict that sales of the wading staff will skyrocket in the near future.
.. We also predict that there will now be less cleaning of wading gear, (including the newly-sold wading staffs,) than prior to the legislation
.. How about some legislation mandating the cleaning of wading gear? See how far that boat floats!

-------

.

Burger, Fries, & A Coke

JUST GOOD GRITS

Breakfast At Eleven

a sensible sort of place

-------

.. Winter in West Yellowstone combines all sorts of silliness into a chaos that reaches a fever pitch about the second week in March with the World Snowmobile Exposition, (more about that later.)

.. Snowcoaches, Snow Machines, Snowshoes, Snow Skies, Ice Fishing, Just Plain Fishing, and the occasional Fly Fisher combine to enliven the town and it's environs.
.. Visitors explore Yellowstone National Park, Gallatin National Forest, and the few remaining eateries that stay open for this winter madness.
.. The "official" opening of the community ice rink takes place this coming Saturday: now there's an event to bring your blood to a boil.

.. While many critters, human and otherwise, slow down or sleep during this season, our neighborhood becomes a hive of activity. There are folks that revel in the cold white stuff  --  believe it or don't.
.. Food, of course, is needed to fuel this broad spectrum of activity. Besides being active, it's cold; and, food is the fuel to keep the body warm as well as fed.

.. The Canyon Street Grill is open in winter for this necessary pit stop. It provides simple fare, served with a flair.
.. The decor is aimed at bringing back memories to those old enough to have them. The storied '50's and '60's leap from the walls and insinuate themselves into your brain.
.. It's a fun, and warm place for good food and conversation.
.. Neighbors and visitors congregate for the food and conversation. Food is served like it was in the not too distant past - by a waitress that smiles and stops to visit with you. It is prepared to order so there is a bit of time to relax.

.. The hamburgers are made from "NEVER FROZEN" beef, the fries are made in-house from real potatoes, the malts and shakes are spun out from 40 year-old blenders, the soups and chili are home made, and it's guaranteed that your food will be hot and not at your table in 3 minutes or less. What a treat.
.. During the winter season, breakfast starts at 11:00 AM. Now, how sensible is that? It blends with lunch or an early dinner.
.. Even folks under the age of 60 have learned the litany of ordering in the old style: "BURGER FRIES & A COKE." Of course there are many burgers to choose from: Norma Jean, Wolfman Jack, Peggy Sue, Betty Boop, and the ever popular Little Deuce Coup.
.. The grill is primarily a sandwich shop, with soup, chili, salads, and other stuff available as specials. You can even get a hot dog grilled in the old style.

-------

.

And The Wind Did Blow

About That Snowpack

ABOVE AVERAGE

Way Above Last Year

growing and growing and growing

-------

.. 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.

-------

.

Stuff & Such

Smoke 'Em If You Got 'EM

COLD IS HOT

Hebgen On Fire

smokers galore

-------

.. 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.

-------

.

No Earthly Reason