Closures Still In Effect

FUDGING KILLS FISH

.. The restrictions, which took effect on July 21, affect the Yellowstone, Madison, Firehole, Gibbon and Falls rivers including several of their tributaries.
.. See the NPS Detailed Information And Map:

Drought Fishing Restriction Strategy (PDF)

Fishing Advisory Map (PDF)

.. With no restrictions and still good flows the Gallatin River is fishing well. If you can find a parking spot and if elbows don't bother you it can be a rewarding time.
.. OR . . . Take your 3 weight for a walk in the meadows around Wolf Lake on the Gibbon River. Lots of fun with eager fish and attractors.

Montana Opens Upper Yellowstone

IT'S JUST A LITTLE COOLER
.. The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks announced Monday that it had lifted fishing restrictions on the stretch of river between Yellowstone National Park and the U.S. Highway 89 Bridge east of Livingston.

The View From Bozeman

WATCH THIS SITE

Best Fly Fishing Yellowstone.com

.. It promises: " . . . interviews with top guides, outfitters, retailers, and industry experts, the most essential information about the main rivers in Yellowstone (distilled) down to a page or two, provide continually updated information about the rivers in Yellowstone, including discussion of flows, current hatch data, the hottest flies, special changes – weather or management induced changes in access or regulations."

.. The home page gives a complete introduction to the site and provides an "How To" link for using the site. The Blog portion of the site looks interesting and should attract a good following.
.. With Yellowstone's thousands of miles of shoreline, the more information - the better. It being August, we are eagerly awaiting the Bechler River and Falls River updates.
.. Yellowstone fishing continues to be tough in those rivers with low flows and high temperatures. The slight cooling of the last week has not reduced the slime on the Firehole River, nor has it enhanced the catching on the Madison River.
.. The cold waters of the Gallatin River are productive, and continue to attract savvy anglers on the west side of the park. However, we suggest avoiding this river because of the current nuisance factor. The hoppers are so thick that they clog the radiator on your car: they also get in your ears and nose and mouth. It's hardly worth facing the hoppers to catch the willing fish that are engorged with them.
.. And, the flying ants are so numerous that they will splatter on your windshield to the point it's nearly impossible to see the pull-outs that are so full of cars that it's hard to find room for your own.
.. Only dedicated anglers will face the enormous shoals of fish so eager that they jump into your net with little or no provocation. It's true - the nuisance factors are so high that we suggest that you avoid the perils of the Gallatin River until the year 2009. Consider yourselves forewarned.
.. A couple of often overlooked areas are fishing very well right now. Head-hunters and braggarts need not bother with the Gibbon River.
.. If eager fish in the 6" - 14" range are in your sights try the area around Virginia Cascades. These eager fish are enjoying good hatches and cool water. There is nothing exotic about this fishing - just be a bit stealthy in the thin water. Both along the road and in the meadows around Wolf Lake there are fish just eager to entertain.
.. This is fun fishing at its best and a single fly box and a bit of tippet material will be all the gear that you need. Use the general attractors and terrestrials in sizes from 8 or 10 to 16-20. You will enjoy a gently walk, a pleasant and friendly stream, and fish that are as bright as you remember - maybe even a Grayling, (we've still not caught ours yet.)
.. If your legs are a bit better than ours take the trail to Trout Lake. Pick one of the ever more plentiful overcast days and you can almost be guaranteed a pleasant day of fishing - don't forget the bear spray.

.. Hebgen Lake is hosting a gulper frenzy. The dog days have ushered in cool, still, salubrious mornings that are just begging to be taken advantage of.
.. This is the time of the year that we refer to the fine article in Fly Fisherman: Callibaetis. Click on over there for a fine primer -- and a list of good lakes for the gulpers of the west.
.. Take the road to the Madison Arm Resort and be sure to stay on the roads that are not closed. The drive through the burned area of the Madison Arm Fire is far more dusty than usual but the trip is worth it. Right now you don't need a tube or a boat. The hour after the sun hits the water is the time to stroll the banks and cast to fish in the clear, still water.
.. The other side of the lake is also active, and depending on the wind direction can be expected to produce hatches until the early afternoon - of course success in catching is still dependent on wind for the later hours.
.. For a peek into the mind of a Bozeman Valley fisherman click on over to Trout Ball. Among many interesting items is a 2006 article about the nude fishing in the East Gallatin River . . . not for the faint of heart.
.. Over at The Horse's Mouth there is a picture that could change your mind about fishing from a pier. Then there's the snapshot of the Junior Bird Girls that could change your mind about Kite Boarding.
.. Over at Carp On The Fly we're informed that JJ is walking - there are indeed things more important than a fish on a hook! Good going JJ!
.. As Thee Hooked Whitey reminds us there is evil all around. Check the note about BP & Lake Michigan.
.. New West has an article by Montana State Senator Jon Tester about the continuing influx of people into Montana, (particularly Gallatin County,) and their actions and ideas about property rights. He doesn't mention the fact that it's his neighbors that are selling the land he's worried about. It's really hard for us to be indignant about folks from "other places" buying agricultural land when it's the folks from right here that's selling it to them! The extensive comments are well worth a read.
.. Well, it's 5:00, foggy and still as a church mouse - time for biscuits and gravy.

..

R & R - For The Fish

PARKS' FLY SHOP HAS IT RIGHT

Hot Weather = Hot Fish

find the cold water

.. The mandatory closures for streams in Yellowstone went into effect last Saturday afternoon: the Firehole River, Madison River, Gibbon River below Gibbon Falls, Gardner River below Osprey Falls, Slough Creek, Lamar River below Cache Creek, Soda Butte Creek below Ice Box Canyon), Yellowstone River below Seven Mile Hole, Lava Creek below Undine Falls, and some of the Bechler waters including Boundary Creek and the Bechler River, are closed from 2:00PM until 5:00AM. (Yellowstone Park Press Release, Closure Map PDF.)

Effective Saturday afternoon, July 21, the following rivers and creeks within the park will be closed to fishing between the hours of 2:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m.:

Northern Yellowstone: Gardner River below Osprey Falls, Lava Creek below Undine Falls, Lamar River below Cache Creek, all of Slough Creek, Soda Butte Creek below Amphitheater Creek, and the Yellowstone River below Seven Mile Hole.

West side of the park: Madison River, Firehole River below Keppler Cascades, and the Gibbon River below Gibbon Falls.

Southern portion of Yellowstone: Bechler River below Ouzel Creek, Falls River below Rainbow Falls, Mountain Ash Creek below Union Falls, Proposition Creek, Boundary Creek below Dunanda Falls, Robinson Creek, and the Snake River below Six Mile Ford.

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.. Check the following reports for details on the fishing results for the last few days: Madison River Outfitters, Parks' Fly Shop, Bud Lilly's, Blue Ribbon Flies. All concur that most of the fish need a rest.
.. Hebgen Lake is fishing very well in the mornings and - for that matter - through the heat of the day. Evening streamer fishing is also picking up. Gulper fishing is exceptional on these dog-day mornings with the lake like glass and the mosquitoes still asleep. Dawn is not too early to arrive, but the gulping hits high gear between 7:30 and 8:30 AM.
.. There is an abundance of flies on the water and the hatches are strong and consistent. Callibaetis & Trico spinners and emergers are the key here - keep it small, about 16 or thereabouts is close. When the wind comes up go to nymphs and keep fishing. The windward shores are producing good fish in the afternoon and evening on small streamers and Montana Dusters.
.. The Madison River below the Hebgen Dam is crowded and fishing well despite the pressure. Some evening caddis are working in this tailwater stretch. Deep drift Prince Nymphs and Montana Dusters between hatches. Be on the lookout for Hoppers and fish 'em if you got 'em.
.. The Gallatin River is fishing very well. Caddis is the strong suite here along with a few hatches of PMD's and some Yellow Stones keep the action in this coldwater going. Hopper action is in full swing and a hopper-dropper combination with an Hare's Ear or Feather Duster will reward you. Watch where you park and be careful with your turns and slowings - the increased fire traffic make the road a bit busier than usual.
.. A gentle walk up the Fan Creek trail to the narrow sections and the meadows is worth it. Small attractors and nymphs will produce some sterling action and occasionally a bragging fish of 10" - 12". Be very sneaky in the open areas.
.. Some of the best advice for fishing the Soda Butte Creek [early and often,] Lamar River [take a walk,] and Slough Creek [good as the terrestrials are - leave it alone,] in the northeast corner of the park comes from Bud Lilly's:

"So get up early and head NE - take a siesta after 2 PM or head to the upper Gardner at Sheepeaters Cliff and catch a mess of Brookies."

.. There are fish to be had in the Yellowstone River. Skill, Stealth, Luck, and Guile will reward you with a large Cutthroat or two. The fishing is hard and there is plenty of water.

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.. "Turns Out You Really Can Get Crabs From A Toilet Seat."
.. Tired of tame fishing and wily trout? Tired of elbows and egregious fishers? Tired of cars and diesel buses and the other accouterments of our advanced civilization? Walk into the Bob Marshall Wilderness and catch willing fish on a string - from the Bozeman Chronicle.
.. Want to see some exquisite photos of the molting process of the Black Quill? Go to Troutnut.com - spectacular! There's a lesson here for fly tiers.

photo Courtesy Jason Neuswanger - Troutnut.com

Back For More

FRIED MOTHERBOARD

Repairs Underway

old tech to the rescue

.. This is "Kiss-A-Fish Weekend" in West Yellowstone. Those fish that have survived the heat, low flows, and algal growth deserve a kiss.
.. Now that posting is possible with an ancient PC there will be a full report tomorrow -- and things are looking up, (including the fish and the catching!)

A Few Evening Showers

GO TO THE NORTH

Go To The South

Go To The Yellowstone

.. With mother nature bringing some afternoon showers the fishing has picked up some.
.. Computer still glitchy. Fish the Yellowstone. Fish the Gallatin. Fish the Madison.

Where It's At

THIS IS A BRIEF PRECIS

Avoid The Firehole

.. We'll be necessarily brief. The computer connection is intermittent and the the problem is compounded by a rapidly failing hard drive. We will be more regular within a week.
.. The park has asked fishermen to avoid the Firehole during the heat on a voluntary basis. Sadly there are still people fishing.
.. The Gallatin is the place to fish on the West Side of the park. Soda Butte, Cache Creek, Slough Creek and the Lamar River are the place to be on the east side.
.. Computer gone . . . .