Best Bar By A Dam Site

EVER TRIED

SWEET 'TATER FRIES ?

Good With Flame Broiled Beef

good food and good fun

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.. Now there's a change of pace. The Happy Hour Bar on the shores of Hebgen Lake is a haven in the winter time for folks that travel between the high country and the salubrious climes of the Madison River Valley down below.

.. This longtime favorite of local residents harbors good food, good drinks, and good fun.
.. It's a cozy place with "atmosphere" just dripping from the walls, (and ceiling.) This year-round watering hole is gathering place for the "LAKE PEOPLE." It's out here in the country where elbow room is more important than the minimal conveniences in the town of  West Yellowstone.
.. Sledheads find it in the winter as they cruise the vast expanses of a frozen Hebgen Lake.
.. Ice fishers call the place home, (and they can show you buckets of fish as proof that they really were fishing.). The adventurous cross country skiers willing to forgo the sweet and simple trails of Yellowstone National Park frequent the bar for a toddy or two.

.. In the summertime this is a popular destination for lake fishers, (both gear and fly,) who prefer the adventure of large trout taken from a boat. It's also a port of call for visitors meeting " . . . at the bar . . ."
.. Seasonal and local festivities center at the Happy Hour Bar. The Super Bowl Party was a scene of extreme gaiety. Through the year you may bump into Senators, Movie Stars, Famous Fly Fishers, and other not quite normal folks. Of course there are quite a few "not quite normal folks" that aren't famous and live right here too. You'll probably meet some of them as well.
.. This place just warms the soul and the toes if necessary. Grab a stool and order a burger done the way you like it and be sure to try the sweet 'tater fries.Let them know we sent you; but only when you're ready to leave!

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Let It Snow

SNOW PACK STILL HIGH

Cold Temps Slowing Rivers

cautious optimism

(Click on image for larger size.)

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.. We're becoming cautiously optimistic that there will be good stream-flows and correspondingly good catching this coming season.
.. The snowpack is up more than just a bit, (LINK #1, LINK #2,) and the recent intermittent chilly temperatures, (-40° F or so,) have us thinking of those bygone days when stream closures for flow or temperature were not even a thought in fishy planning.

.. Two or three coming weather events have tempered our optimism just a bit. The "Valentines Day Blip," the "St. Patrick's Day Breakup," and the "Tax Return Rains," are still to come.
.. Some time in the next two weeks there will be a spike in the mid-winter temperatures. This blip can cause havoc with the stream flows, snowpack, and fishing plans. If the warm spike lasts for a week or more we can be in deep do-do, (literally and figuratively.)

.. Generally we know that Spring, (such as it is up here,) has arrived in mid March. If it warms toward moderate temperatures the melt accelerates and the rivers turn a lovely color that is reminiscent of chocolate milk.
.. In this part of the world "Spring Break" has more than one meaning. The kids have their own idea and the fishers have theirs. Both groups are already talking about it with eager anticipation.
.. By mid April we've entered our wet season, (it usually lasts through June.) If the rains come with any sort of persistence the snowpack can be washed away in the blink of an eye.
.. Cool is cool for the next few months. We're keeping our eye on the data and the forecasts and will let you know how things are shaping up.

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Tough Neighbors

FOG DOWN BELOW

Cold & Clear At Home

new snow helps

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.. We traveled over the hill to the lowland Madison River. The morning fog persisted for some time and then turned to light snow.
.. There were very few midges visible but fish noses dimpled the surface near $3 Bridge and took our flies frequently enough to keep us in the water for about three hours.
.. The trout were happy to eat a size 12 soft hackle. When the noses disappeared from the surface we switched to a large, (size 8,) bead head Prince Nymph and continued to have some fun with the local fish.
.. There were mostly Rainbow Trout with a couple of precocious 10" Brown Trout in the mix. Two giant Whitefish, (maybe 16") took the nymph out near the large boulder in a typically "trouty place."
.. The Reynolds Pass fishing access is plowed closed and the early vehicle tracks are not visible under the newly fallen snow. The 6" of snow we just received is a blessing and is keeping the snow water content high for the coming spring.

.. Back up in the Hebgen Basin the neighbors are still visiting the trout on the Madison River.
.. Between The Lakes, the Hebgen Tailwater has been lightly fished after the first rush that came with the first snows a couple of months ago.
.. Just a few neighbors are paying their respects to the trout and the fish are being most accommodating to the few locals that take the time to visit.
.. The kind folks at Campfire Lodge have kept the road to the river nicely plowed and are willing to listen to requests for parking. There is also a nice wide pull-out at the Cabin Creek Scarp Area.
.. The local offerings are the usual mixed bag of nymphs, midge clusters, emergers, and attractor dry flies. There has been a recent abandonment of San Juan Worms in favor of a mashed and drowned Adams dry fly.
.. Drowned dries are in the giant size range, (8 & 10,) and are purposely mangled and rumpled prior to casting. It seems like a waste of good hackle to turn these beauties into a submerged stiff hackle - but then, if it works . . .
..We occasionally get to visit with the local fly fishing guides.
.. They are constantly touting the latest and greatest places, techniques, and flies.
.. They catch scads of fish as testified to by the fish porn on their cell phones and videos from their fancy cameras. Good on 'em.
.. Most of the neighbors that fish in the winter seldom darken the doors of the feather merchants. They drink their suds in quiet corners of local pubs and don't seem to associate much with the elite pros. They catch scads of fish too.
.. They don't usually carry cell phones or cameras. They talk about the weather, the local politics, and mundane topics that fill the life of the working stiff. There is definitely a non-meeting of the minds between these two cultures.
.. Each of the groups could probably learn much from the other. Sadly, we doubt it will happen. On the one hand there's just too many flies to invent and, on the other there's just too much work to be done.

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EEEEEEK !!

FEELING STUDLY ??

Need A Trim ?

east coast suavity

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.. Straight from our favorite music blog, (New Heathens,) comes information of the strangest sort. MONTANA FOR METROSEXUALS ????
.. It seems that Stamford, Connecticut is a genuine hot spot for the "Montana Mystique." Here, (there,) now is a place for men to get a trim, (and many other things if you look at the menu for services in this interesting barber shop.)

.. As we read the post at The New Heathens blog we fell from our saddle and rolled on the floor choking on spittle and parts of the contents of our stomach that got stuck in our nose.
.. It's with real satisfaction that we note that folks from Montana who have migrated to the East Coast still recognize what a barber shop is all about.
.. This barber shop, MONTANA FOR MEN, was opened in 1988 to provide a place for men. If you're feeling manly and studly then stop in and get your hairs cut, or trimmed, or coiffed, or whatever else you like from the menu.

MONEY QUOTE:

Montana for Men was established in 1998. Master Barber, Michael Warde, had a belief that gentlemen needed and deserved a Grooming Center to call their own, where they can relax, kick back and receive all the services offered to women, but in a masculine setting. No fear of running into your best friend’s wife while getting your color. We offer the classic barber shop elements with the most up to date modern techniques.

.. We note, thanks to the extensive New Heathens report that there are some interesting takes on the flavor of Montana. For instance the "The Billings" is a full-boat treatment. You can see some of the other "Packages" below.

.. The things that seems like they would be at home in our fair state are the beer and televisions. Probably placed there to take your mind off of what you're paying for your package.
.. We can not do justice to the post on the New Heathens Blog. Check it out for what real Montana haicuts would be. They probably wouldn't fly too far in Stamford, Connecticut.

For instance:

The Paradise Valley = Where would you like your hair subdivided, I mean cut?
The Missoula = Your hair is knotted into dreadlocks and softened with patchouli oil.
The Bellgrade = Free townhouse by the interstate with every cut.
.. There's a page full of real Montana haircuts if you choose to laugh so hard it will hurt all the way to Stamford, Connecticut. CLICK HERE!

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NATE SINGS

NATE FISHES

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Couch Time

Thanks Ralph & Lisa

THIS IS SPECTACULAR

11 Years, 8 Cameras, 3 Countries

just plain buggy

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.. The midges are thick on these recent sunny and nearly windless days. It's nice. It makes the snow enjoyable. It makes catching pretty simple.

.. As winter thunders back upon us, it may be time for some indoor research. We suggest "BUGS OF THE UNDERWORLD." A spectacular DVD that shows our favorite bugs as never before seen.
.. Ralph and Lisa Cutter have brought us a DVD to change the way we see and understand the critters that fish eat. They do it with style, simplicity, beauty, and insight.
.. There's no overwhelming music. There's no pedantic sermons. There is, however information and images that should keep fishers, fly tiers, and interested parties riveted to their screens.
.. The DVD is available HERE. There are bits and pieces of it on YouTube. There are images stuck in our head that will inform our fishing and hopefully catching for years to come. GET IT!
.. This is not a new DVD. It's been around for a few years and only gets better with time. It continues to garner awards and accolades. We've worn out one monitor just because it's always on.
.. There's some hints about midge fishing and possible midge fly patterns in the clip below. There's some interesting insights in the mayfly clip too.Try it you'll like it. It should be good for more than several winter's evenings.

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We'll Miss Ya

AS GOOD AS IT GETS

Kind, Gentle, Competent

caught fish & built rods too

 

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.. We can't say much more than has already been said. Ralph Moon has passed on after 85 years on this earth. He enriched us all with his charm, wit, insight, and joy for life and fly fishing.
.. About 18 years ago we became enamored with Ralph's personal rod. A unique taper that allowed us to fish big water with a short rod. It just fit us. At that time it was a 7 1/2', one tip, six weight that seemed to cast itself.
.. During an afternoon session in the basement rod shop I opined that the rod was nearly perfect. Ralph asked what it needed to be better.
.. "The same thing in a 5 weight would knock the socks of all the little fish in the lonely stretches of small waters that we liked to fish," burst from our lips.
.. About a year later the rod was ours, a surprise gift from Ralph. It was now fitted with two tips and cradled in a soft corduroy sleeve that was lovingly hand made by Pat Moon.
.. The rod now casts both tips with the same precision, delicacy, and ease. That's the kind of guy that Ralph was. Thanks again, more than a bunch, Ralph.
.. You can read his newspaper remembrance in the Island Park News. It does barely scratch the surface of this once fine fellow. He lives in our memory and that of may others. We're enriched for having known him.

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