Mom's A Reduxest

HERE COMES THE HEAT

Prediction: Rivers To Rise Even More

and they are already a skosh high
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.. "Second Verse, Same As The First?" Visitors to the neighborhood are beaming with toothy grins and anticipating sunshine and warm weather. The West Yellowstone forecast calls for 80's starting on Wednesday and continuing through Sunday. Temperatures throughout most of Yellowstone National Park will be just a few degrees cooler. A wee bit above normal.
.. All rivers on the west side of Yellowstone National Park have shown significant, (nay dramatic,) increases in flow over the last couple of days. River height and flow don't necessarily mean reduced catching, nor visability reduced to the point of hopelessness.
.. The Gallatin River is up but not too brown despite the observations of many of our neighbors. It should continue to fish well to late evening Caddis, and Feather Dusters all day.
.. Small Stoneflies are also producing at the edge of the silt plume around the Taylor Fork. You just have to negotiate a way across the river to do a lot of catching.
.. The Madison River has come into shape nicely and should accommodate catching from spinner fall through evening Caddis, despite it's return to bank-full status.


.. The king of June, the Firehole River, should see little change in catching through the middle of next week despite the warming temperatures and increased flows. On the other hand we expect that if the predictions hold there will be noticeable bizarre changes in the Gibbon River and Nez Perce Creek. Watch these closely as the catching has just begun to pick up. Certainly the speedy sections will require some forethought.
.. The observed & anticipated increase in flows for the west side rivers do provide a single pleasant thought: it will be well past the Fourth of July before we need to start worrying about significant warming on the Firehole River.
.. Some of the smaller streams in the upland areas may experience a bit of clouding during the latter part of this week and the earlier part of next. We don't expect any to be too far out of bank, nor too unfishable. It just might be well into July before these finally hit the catching frenzy that they are famous for.
.. The neighbors are enjoying the high waters and what they portend for the mid summer doldrums: better fishing than in recent years.
.. The feather merchants are already enjoying crowded aisles, and the trend of visitation in Yellowstone, (up about 20% last month,) continues to brighten their prospects as well.
.. Visit the links in the sidebar for up to the minute reports during the week. And, a reminder, the "Yellowstone Fishing Weather" link in the masthead will give you real-time radar images and accurate forecasts. Just click on it and avoid the tripe and hyperbole found here.

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.. Preview of coming attraction!

Rivers Of Waste

WHERE'S YOUR
OLD HARD DRIVE ?

PBS Airs SOME Facts
preview press release here

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.. Your computer will die. It will go away. Do you know where to dispose of it? Do you know how to dispose of it? Where will it go then?
.. The toxicity of these pieces is known and is a growing news story. There is mercury, lead and other toxic substances in these marvels of technology.
.. However, a second story is also gaining momentum: there is information contained in the discarded components. Personal information, corporate information, etc.
.. Can you protect your personal information? Will someone steal your picture and use it in a phony I.D.? How "clean," (in an information sense,) is your disposable treasure?
.. Is your data really gone from your old cell phone and computer and television? Find out just how vulnerable you are on Tuesday, June 23, 2009.
.. FRONTLINE/WORLD on PBS is airing a program detailing the dumping of electronic waste by the USA, (and others,) in third world countries. The USA has not ratified the treaty banning the export of hazardous waste. We send it and it's sensitive information around the world.
.. Cell phones and computer consoles are being found in our waterways and fisheries suffer. Our debris is making it's way to foreign countries. The interesting thing is that our information is riding this river of waste and ending up in criminal hands.
.. If you have any concerns you can follow the trail at THEWIP website and at the GREENPEACE website.
.. If you are a techno-weenie and have everything under control then fish the Gallatin River and worry not.
.. By the way, cell phones and expired dry cell batteries are now finding their way into the rivers and thermal features of Yellowstone National Park. There are no reports, yet, of computer dumping in the park. BUT - there is on the Gallatin River just north of the park.

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Father's Day Surprise

DAMN THE WATER
FULL DRAKES AHEAD

A Father's Day Gift

be very sneaky

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.. There's not many yet. They are on the river shown above. They are hiding just like the trout. Use your binoculars to find the noses. Beware of the bison. Walk softly and carry a big PT. We like 'em pudgy the way SwittersB ties them.

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Weekend Shorthand

BRIEFLY:

.. Firehole River: Fish now. Morning spinners until 11:00, Baetis and Mosquitoes from 11:00 until 8:00. Caddis in afternoon and evening. Nymphs all day and until 10:00.

.. Madison River: Stonefly nymphs all day. Double fly rig with emerger trailer after 1:oo. Baetis, (the nearly invisible kind,) in the shade and after 3:00.
.. Nez Perce Creek: Attractors all day. Hare's Ear Nymphs all day. Caddis after 4:00 if the sun peeks out.
.. Gibbon River: Canyon with attractors on top, double nymph underneath. Big meadows finally demanding fishing skills and providing exceptional dry fly action. Baetis and stealth is a good combination, (beware the bears and bison.)
.. Above the campground low enough for sneak attacks with small attractors. Above the cascades - meadows with caddis, (all day,) riffles with rock worms. Grebe Lake is exceptional right now, (walk carefully around the outlet.)
.. Obsidian Creek: Trail is dry and the water is high and full of eager Brookies. Try your favorite double floating fly rig, (Royal Wulff and Adams,) for all day fun.
.. Winter Creek: Don't know, but probably marginal.
.. Way up on the Firehole River: It's a grunt but the fishing and catching is about "wet-dream perfect." Little attractors in the riffles, above Lone Star Geyser and near the cave will keep a 6' four-weight bent all day. The scenery is spectacular. A 14" Brook Trout was badly surprised yesterday and then returned to complacency.
.. Duck Creek: Small streamers at the park line for holdovers and eager residents. Elk Hair Caddis in the willows near the lake, (same for Grayling Creek.)
.. Gallatin River: the best kept secret in the park right now. It's cold, it's high and it's fishing well. Fan Creek has cleared considerably and it's worth a 20 minute walk. Bends and undercuts, (spongy ground,) with a Casual Dress will do the trick.

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.. Enough of that. We're avoiding the crowds and the traffic and the safety inspections by invading the lowlands and taking a boat ride.

Reiteration

NOTHING FANCY
FOR CATCHING

Tie 'Em On - Toss 'Em Out

close to guaranteed

.. It happens occasionally. Everything just comes together: Weather, Water, Bugs, Fish, Flies, Fisher Folk. It's happening now.
.. We'll make this short. Fish the Firehole River now! It's like it was before the drought. It's almost like is was in the 50' and 60's. The weather has returned to it's long term pattern and all is right with the world. The water is up and so are the fish.
.. Although the technical fishers are having a party, it's the grunge fishers, like us, that are taking the fish by the billions, (or thereabouts.)
.. We continue to suggest a simple two fly rig for catching. A small dark caddis followed by a small light nymph. Technical folks should have no trouble matching the PMD's, the Baetis, the Caddis, or the Stones. For the rest of us: just tie 'em on and fling 'em out. Hold on!
.. Where? Just about anywhere on the Madison River or Firehole River. When? All day - peaking, (if you can call it that,) between 2:00 and 8:00.
.. If you can't stand to have a second cup of coffee each morning, fish the Yellowstone Morning Glory to the spinner fall. Start as the steam begins to lift from the river.

BEETLE WATER

Elbow Avoidance

GET THEE TO
THE FIREHOLE RIVER

Don't Go To Nez Perce Creek

what's a grebe ?

.. Conditions for catching are perfect on the Firehole River in Yellowstone National Park. Go there now.
.. Enjoy the comradeship of fellow fishers. Scream "FISH ON" to salute your prowess. Wave at the other visitors taking your picture. Delay the capture and release of the finny foe for the extended joy of the 'Yellowstone Experience.'
.. Smile once more for the camera with the fish tightly grasped in your paws. It's June and you've succeeded!
.. By no means should you go to Nez Perce Creek. After all, the bear warning sign was just removed. It could be dangerous.
.. There will be far fewer people to witness your catching. You may have to walk for 15 minutes. Avoid this little river like the plague. After all, bear spray will occupy one of your hands, and you'll have to sing ribald songs all the way in and out.
.. Get thee to the Firehole River and make the most of the crowds. Sing hosanna and praise the the tiny flies on the end of your gossamer tippet.
.. Tell stories and sit on the bumper as the wetness drips from your mud snail infested waders. Ignore the gentle solitude that a brief stroll will bring. It's June and you've heard the call.
.. The Firehole River is where it's at! Do it now and you'll have memories to last a lifetime. Send a note to all your friends back home and mention the hatches and clouds and drizzle and scenery and fish. They'll be envious. Hot, is the catching on the Firehole River.
.. And too, on Nez Perce Creek. But there's not as many fisher folk on this little sister. And the feather merchants didn't mention it. And no one back at the office has heard of it. So avoid this cold water like it would give you leprosy.
.. There is a gentle trail: don't take it. There are scenic vista's: don't view them. There are bison and bears: that's deterrent enough. There are acres and acres of geyserite: ignore them. Forget that there are eager and willing fish to be caught. Forget the majesty of Mary Mountain peeking at you on the skyline. Return to the familiar and fabled crowded parking lots of the Firehole River.
.. Nez Perce Creek can wait. Maybe next week. Maybe next month. Maybe next year!
.. The bugs are in the air. The bugs are in the water. Myth and lore are growing in the musty aisles of the feather merchants. Whispers are projected over the clothing racks and fly bins. Did you try the canyon? What fly? Near where? How big? Who told you? Get thee to the Firehole River. Everyone else is.
.. Just what bugs? All the usual suspects: PMD's, Baetis, Caddis, Perlodidae, and Pteronarcyidae.
.. Just what flies? Why are there so many? Why can't the experts agree? Do they all work? Which one is best? What size? Did the fish read the same book that we did? Do the fish really wait for the right pattern? Help me out - please!
.. The perfect fly combination for catching right now is a simple rig of two flies. There is absolutely no challenge at all. There is no hatch-matching voodoo. There is no need to torture yourself with Latin names and minuscule tippets.
.. Tie on one of Jason Neuswanger's deer hair caddis imitations. Pick a size that you like, (we like a 10 - 12,) and grease it up real good. It should float like a bobber. It's dark and presents a good silhouette. Follow it with an iris caddis, (a local invention still cataloged by the inventors.) The little nymph is light colored and has a bit of sparkle. We like size 14 or even 16.
.. Depending on your mood, (or the fish,) the nymph can be floated or sunken. It can be 10" from the top fly or 18": you choose.
.. Don't use this combination on the Firehole River. It will spoil the mystique. Use this only on the remote stretches of Nez Perce Creek. Don't show it to the folks on the Firehole River. It's just plain too easy.
.. By the way, this is also a great Grayling getter at Grebe Lake. The trail to the lake is negotiable. It requires bear spray and ribald songs. There are some elbows already - but it's a good sized lake. Don't catch them all.

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.. P.S. There are no Firehole River pictures in this post.