The Arrival

A VISITATION

Very Dark Room

slide shows for all

EAGER ATTENDEES ENTHRALLED IN ANTICIPATION

-------

.. National Park Service speakers regaled and lectured a not quite standing room only crowd in West Yellowstone.
.. Exposition of the Native Fish Conservation Program was the topic for a series of slide presentations featuring efforts on Yellowstone Lake, The Northeast Fishery, and the West Side Fishery.

AVAILABLE FROM NPS

.. The presentations were replete with optimism about the progress of the program and the success of the efforts currently underway. Anticipated and planned programs for the future were briefly detailed.
.. The commercial fishing contracts to curtail the population explosion of Lake Trout in Yellowstone Lake are anticipated to continue to the tune of $1,000,000.00/yr. Funding support is anticipated to continue with the newly amalgamated Yellowstone Park Foundation-Yellowstone Association (LINK A).
.. Increases in catch and kill numbers through the years have shown success that is correlated with length of nets employed.
.. More nets=more dead Lake Trout. Exploration of chemical killing of eggs and fry continue to be a research focus for the known spawning areas.
.. Large numbers of Lake Trout hiding from the gill nets have been found in the South Arm of Yellowstone Lake. Previously found concentrations have continued to be the cynosure of netting including those populations in West Thumb.

REGULATIONS: ABOUT THE SAME

.. There have been no appreciable changes in the fishing regulations this  year and the lake will open for catching early again.
.. Rearrangement of fish populations, poison, barrier construction, regulation modifications, and scientific review continue too be the focus of the program.

SODA BUTTE CREEK

.. Anticipated fishing and catching success for managed areas such as Soda Butte Creek and Specimen Creek and Grayling Creek should reach peak productivity by 2019 - 2020.
.. New concerns about climate change have been introduced to the program and the thrust is relocation of, (or establishment of,) populations of fish in areas most likely to provide survival of cold water species in periods of climatic warming.

BROOKIE PARADISE

.. Focus on the upper GIBBON RIVER will include the poisoning of GREBE LAKE to remove all fish. The current non native population of Grayling will be salvaged, relocated, and then reintroduced to GREBE LAKE after it has been cleansed of the Rainbow Trout**.

.. Information about recovery of invertebrates after poisoning shows that without fish to eat them they show a population explosion.
.. The subterranean stretches of Cougar Creek are being investigated as barriers to fish migration which places this little stream on the potential hit list for future management.

MUSHROOM AND SWISS

.. It's way past lunch time and we are having breakfast for lunch.
.. The pubs enjoyed some fish talk last night. Better than the coffee provided at the informative gathering.

-------

BROOKIE HANGOUT

A GRAYLING TANGLE

**In 1921, U.S. Fish Commission  personnel stocked the fishless  Grebe Lake with the Montana strain of Thymallus arcticus montanus, a lacustrine form of Arctic Grayling.
.. The initial introduction came from Georgetown Lake near Anaconda, Montana.
.. It is believed that the fluvial form of Arctic Grayling was native to the MADISON RIVER and the GIBBON RIVER below Gibbon Falls.
.. In an effort to re-establish Grayling in western states, over 72 million Grayling eggs were harvested from GREBE LAKE between 1931 and 1956 and distributed to hatcheries.
.. Many lake dwelling Grayling populations in the west can be genetically traced to these stocks.
.. GREBE LAKE was closed to fishing until 1944 because of the fish culture operations at the lake.
.. Nearby WOLF LAKE and CASCADE LAKE  also contain some Grayling as well.
.. This is an interesting exercise in the preservation of an introduced species, (the Lacustrine GRAYLING,) even as the indigenous species,  (the Fluvial GRAYLING,) is being reintroduced and established elsewhere, (in GRAYLING CREEK.)
.. Native Fish Preservation?

THEY SEEM TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE

..
-------
.

WALLPAPER:  NATIONAL PARK MOUNTAIN

.

The Teutonic Connection

Ja Jörg, ES IST HIER

Not Just China

needed new iphone ?

WALLPAPER:   TEUTONIC EXCELLENCE

-------

.. Among the finest fly reels in the world, (precision, design, manufacturing, cost, value,) is the Vosseler. It's probably not for sale at your local feather merchant.
.. If your third car is a BMW X5 that you reserve for park and fish adventures you can find out about the reel at the Vosseler Reel website, (Link 1.) 

.. What does this have to do with an iPhone?
.. Well there is a giant European market that Apple has not been too successful with. It's the ethos infected, Eurocentric, common folk of that continent.
.. There is, at this moment, in a highly secret bunker in Berlin, a brain trust of about a couple dozen people, (give or take,) who have little time for fly fishing.
.. These folks are experts in technology, marketing, industrial manufacturing, and contemporary zeitgeist. 
.. They are busy dreaming up a few new ways to out compete Samsung with some futuristic integrated iPhone technology.

.. In the not too distant future you will need, (desperately need,) a new iPhone.
.. Why, you say? Because you will not be able to drive your new Titan without it.
.. What's that? It's an electric mass market car coming from Apple, (they have bypassed the fishing tackle & gear market.)
.. The Apple car will be here in less than two years and will be built in Germany. It will have all the ethos of a Germanic import for sale to American consumers, (while allowing some tax benefits for Apple.) Better than stinky VW's or BMW's.

Courtesy:  Sport Fishing Asia.com

.. Of course it will be pricey. Of course it will be exclusive. Of course it will appeal to fly fishers who already have $10,000.00 worth of gear on their body when they enter the water.
.. So, you don't believe it? So you only have $1,500.00 worth of gear when you fish close to home? Well you will be left out of the growing camaraderie of select fly fishers that travel to exotic places and cluster together to discuss the esoteric pastime of fly flinging.

.. By the time the car hits the streets it will be renamed the "iCar." and will be in great demand by Apple buffs from Dubai to Detroit.  We'll be interested to see who is driving the first one to enter Yellowstone National Park, (a place with no charging stations.)

.. This video provides the facts that will allow you to chase down the iCar and, give you a wader up on the neighbors.

..

..We're waiting for the "iRod" and the "iReel."  We suspect that they will be manufactured in China out of synthetic, (3-D printed,) bamboo.
.. They will have "smart" features such as: intelligent drag application, compensatory taper adjustment, automatic hero-photo composition, immediate social media posting, in-built commentary such as "good fish" and "mend - mend - mend now!," selective GPS locators for precision casting, and other features to discuss with cohorts during a catered shore lunch -- -- which will be ordered from the integrated iPhone.
.. There are a few videos,released during the last month or so below. If you can resist the urge to fish today check out where Apple and the other electric cars are going to and coming from.
.. This is the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service. We're headed to the park to join the line at the west entrance station.

-------

..

..

..

..

CAN IT BE ??

..

WALLPAPER:  PAN SEARED OVEN FINISHED

Tesla Beware

NOT JUST CELL PHONES

NOT EVEN RODS & REELS

a new force for you

WALLPAPER:  AUTONOMOUS TAXI ANNOUNCED

-------

.. Just who is Jia Yueting? Where is he? What does he do?  What is a Chinese multi billionaire doing wearing western clothing?
.. Who are the top five entrepreneurs in the world? How many live in your neighborhood. How many live in your state? How many live in your country?
.. You can bet you sweet ash rod that Elon Musk knows the answer. And, you know that Mark Zuckerberg is in tune with the coming attractions.

FAMILY RESEMBLANCE ?

.. Why, even Amancio Ortega, Carlos Slim Helú, and Bill Gates are keeping up with the haps in China.
.. Ignore this post if you, like most of our citizens, just want to be an ostrich about what is happening tomorrow, (actually on April 26.)
.. Those of us that still drive a BMW, or an Aston Martin. or a Jaguar, don't really care about developments in the automotive world. The ownership of Aston do!
.. We know that Fiat/Chrysler, Volkswagen, and Rolls Royce have us covered. Yah - right!
.. But Aston Martin, (Lagonda, Ford, etc,) are already lashed up with LeEco for development purposes in new car and chassis production. 贾跃亭 does it like no one else does.

.. What is the relationship between LeSee and LeEco? Do they fly fish? Do we Care? The Wall Street Insider does, (LINK 1.) The Business Wire is on to it, (LINK 2.) They think that billionaires in blue jeans who are building cell phones and electric cars and fishing reels are just O.K.
.. We're headed to the river with our nylon impregnated fiberglass mesh fly rod and our aluminotitanium fly reel, and we're armed with poly impregnated Dacron fly line and a tapered nylosymter leader.
.. All of it sold by American firms that don't tell us where it's made. They did tell us how good it feels to fish with their brand of gear!
.. Even if it is made in China.

-------

WALLPAPER:   O.F.  LODGE CABINS

National Park Week

ENJOY FOR FREE

VERY EARLY MELT

cloudless skies-huh ?

WALLPAPER:  ELK ISLAND, FIREHOLE RIVER

We've snapped this view for the last 14 - 16 years during opening week. We've seen 6' of snow on the ground. We've seen 6" on the ground. We've never seen no snow and green grass. Some change.

-------

.. Thanks to Dr. Jim we know that there's some meetings to be aware of. Meetings are scheduled for Bozeman, Montana, Cody, Wyoming, West Yellowstone, Montana and Jackson, Wyoming.

".. Yellowstone National Park staff will travel to nearby communities to talk with anglers about the ongoing efforts to restore native fish species, the threat of aquatic invasive species and the park’s fishing regulations."  ...  Billings Gazette

..  The meetings are:

• Monday in Bozeman at Hilton Garden Inn, 2023 Commerce Way.

• Tuesday in West Yellowstone at Holiday Inn, 315 Yellowstone Ave.

• May 3 in Cody, Wyo., at Best Western Premier Ivy Inn, 1800 8th St.

• May 4 in Jackson, Wyo., at Wort Hotel, 50 N. Glenwood St

.. Read the official announcement from Yellowstone National Park - RIGHT HERE.

.. Dr. J also pointed us to the expanded Montana Fisheries Information System. It's a database containing information on fish species distribution, supporting data for distribution, and information related to the management of aquatic resources in Montana.
.. Pick your water and pick your fish - it's probably there. Good information about our resource - AND the catching possibilities. You can find it HERE.

-----

.. Well it's another year and the National Park Service has missed another opportunity to rearrange the rivers and the roads along their banks.

VIEW THE DIVIDE ON THE MADISON

.. It's National Park Week. Visitors can enjoy the park with no admission fees.
.. We congratulate the NPS for their fiscal responsibility and foresight.
.. Having just a single seasonal employee in the morning at the west entrance station generates a single line of cars all the way back to West Yellowstone: keeping up the real Yellowstone Experience.
.. The rivers are running clear, cold, (mostly,) and surprisingly slow. We've had some color in the Madison River over the last few weeks but the in-water visibility has remained above six feet.

ATTACK OF THE MONSTER FLIES

.. After some funding rigamarole the USGS has found the money to continue monitoring and reporting data on the Firehole River.
.. The early snow melt and warm up this year has the Firehole River spiking to temperatures above 70° F already. Could signal an early closure date.
.. The polyglot fly fishers will be able to explain the appearance of the giant mayflies along the length of the Firehole River.
.. They were in thick swarms, early in the morning, and lovingly splattered themselves into our windshield so we wouldn't miss them. We've heard rumors of accelerated hatches in situations like this. No caddis yet - apparently.

AT YOUR OWN RISK

.. Look for the bridge in Biscuit Basin to soon be closed for repairs.
.. The rotting and broken beams are approaching the life threatening stage.
.. Even at the elevation of Biscuit Basin there is no snow and the grasses are turning green. The river level is just now near bank full stage and it's clear, as is usual for the pre-, or non-,  runoff stage.

INVITATION TO FISH

.. Under these conditions the Firehole River is a most inviting sight and we can see why the anglophiles of yore did salivate at the thought of planting non indigenous fish in the water; poor aquatic micro fauna.
.. Even Nez Perce Creek is running on the warm side. The bear warnings are out and it seems that the quick warm up has done nothing to shoo the bears out of the valleys.
.. Happily the Gibbon River is behaving in a nearly normal fashion. There is a tinge of color and the water is approaching the green grass on it's banks.
.. The color has not affected the color of the Madison River for a very great downstream distance. The discharge of the both the Firehole River and Gibbon River is so low that by Seven Mile Bridge the Madison River is nearly dead still. Reflections show so little distortion that many a lake would be jealous.
.. We're gonna visit again tomorrow. The entrance line need some encouragement.

-------

WALLPAPER:   MADISON AT THE BRIDGE

Only in Yellowstone

..

-------

.. Full report tomorrow.

Sure Signs

ICE OUT

Mostly

little open shoreline

WALLPAPER:  VIEW TO THE DIVIDE

-------

.. About 3/4 of the Madison Arm of Hebgen Reservoir is ice free.
.. The winds and caprice of Mom have conspired to keep the north shore of the reservoir pretty clogged with ice.

BANK FULL GRAYLING CREEK

.. The best, (most easily accessible,) shore with open water is around Kirkwood.
.. Catching is absolutely nuts right now. Even the most jaded of our neighbors have smiles to match their outspread arms as they discuss the fish.

ICE OUT ARRIVALS

.. All  of the tributaries are ice free and the snow is lingering in shadows and other north facing protected areas.
.. The distinct signs that Spring is here to stay are punctuated by the arrivals of the migrant osprey and eagles.
.. Although we have a few resident eagles that hang around for the Winter the osprey are a most welcome sight. They seldom arrive before the fishing gets good.

FISH HERE

..The west side of Yellowstone National Park is now fully accessible and the National Park Service is busy cleaning up the roads and the abundance of downed trees.
.. We'll have a report after we see where they have moved the rivers to this year.
.. The village is still on the quiet side and parking is abundant. It's even possible to visit with the neighbors at the grocery store without an interpreter.
.. It's way early and we need some sausage.

-------

WALLPAPER:  GRAYLING TANGLE

Roller Coaster Spring

THE WARM, THE COOL

Little Rain, Little Snow

it's all so good

WALLPAPER: FOGGY SNOW AND RUN OFF

-------

.. This time of year we're allowed the privalige of experiencing three season days - no real Summer yet.
.. We've had a couple during the last week. However, it looks like the roller coaster is slowing. The coming week is looking like a real Spring week. We may hit 60° F once more.
.. The Gallatin River seems to know that Spring time is here. It is displaying the warm hues of pre runoff in a fine fashion. We took a couple of fish at Snowflake Springs yesterday. We then trundled down the canyon to investigate some spots where the snow has recently receded and allowed fair access. No dice.

GALLATIN COLORS

.. Taylor Fork is not churning too wildly yet but, there is enough sediment to see a color line and silt plume. Took a baby flying fish there and continued down canyon. Reminiscences of changing baby diapers.
.. The further down canyon we trundled the more glorious the brown hues of the water grew.

AND SO IT BEGINS

.. In-water visibility is down to about two or three feet in the main current. It's a little better near shore.
.. Honking and squiggling giant streamers should work for a few more days.

.. Lateral line fishing can awaken the denizens of the deep if done correctly.
.. Dark, (like black and deep purple or olive,) with just a hint of flash, Herky-jerkey strip downstream near shore is what the neighbors do.
.. The sun should shine a little today and we are headed to Hebgen Reservoir. We'll pass on the Hebgen Tailwater. The migrant fishers have tromped down most of the redds and are calling it good sport.

HEAVY FEATHERS

.. The disturbance of the spawning run in the tailwater does more to diminish the downstream trout population than does any malfunction of Hebgen Dam.
.. Local guides and feather merchants turn a blind eye to this merchandising opportunity while hurling scathing remarks about the problems with the dam. Lucre wins.
.. It's a good thing for the redd stomping population that the lowland Madison River fishers are only concerned with their favorite fishing hole. The whole river never enters into their cerebral cortex.
.. We're headed out in search of some easily accessible shoreline with a bit of open water and ravenous fish. Perhaps this is the week.

-------

WALLPAPER: THE OTHER COLORS OF SPRING