The Fat Lady Never Sings

HEADS UP Y'ALL

Beware The Whisper

marshall your indignation -- again

THIS IS NOT ALFRED E. NEWMAN

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.. Now that the rich and infamous have gotten a toehold on restricting usage of the Madison River they are marshaling their forces in the ongoing Ruby River lawsuit.
.. As noted by Ben Lamb, (LINK,) a pair of heavily muscled groups have just joined the fight to overturn Montana's stream access law.
.. As you have probably forgotten, that lawsuit is spearheaded by James Cox Kennedy who likes to use public bridges as fence posts. You remember him. He's the media mogul that has poured millions of dollars into Grady College in Georgia. It's now his alter ego in the new media business, (LINK.) We wonder what he's done for the colleges in MONTANA.
.. Talk about muddy waters! The two briefs, recently filed,  suggest that it's really private ownership and stewardship that enables our great fishing and hunting in this state, (LINK.)
.. In addition to all the rich folks from out of state moving in to buy legislators we now have billionaires and rock stars telling us that they should own the public's resources for our own good.
.. It's time to do some more homework and gear up for the next legislative session. Developers, Real Estate Agents & Brokers, and Land Speculators are watching very closely. With all the money flying into Montana it's not going to be easy - it never is.
Interesting resources:
** A River Runs Through It, (COX LAND THAT IS !)
** PERC, (LET US DO IT FOR YOU !) [Bozeman's gift to wealthy land owners.]
** In The Beginning, (Original debate and results.)
** The Company Line, (The way FWP sees it: currently being revised for the Madison River.)

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FREE MARKET ENVIRONMENTALISM - HOW ABOUT THAT !!!

Countdown

PERFECT BLUSTER COMING

Today Was Too Nice

. . or forever hold your piece . .

THE SUN SETS OVER ANOTHER SEASON IN YELLOWSTONE

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.. Just a note to remind you that if you're not here, it's too late. Although Yellowstone National Park closes "officially" at 8:00 AM on Monday, November 5, 2012, you can't fish on Monday . . . or so we've been told.
.. Today was way too gentle for a November day. Happily, the bluster will pick up this evening and should be full blown by Sunday.
.. The neighbors and remaining visitors that fish are catching with astounding regularity. This year the west side rivers are showing off for the late season faithful. There are little bugs all over the surface of the Firehole River, (the Madison River, Nez Perce Creek, the Gibbon River, and the Gallatin River also!) But it's the Firehole River that is really alive with hatches. It's living up to what the neighbors call "the river of no tears." If you're not catching fish - - - your fly is not in the water.
.. Like a broken record, (now there's an anachronism,) we continue to note that the runners are showing off all the way to Gibbon Falls and are taking any fly that is outsized, splashed in their face, or swims by with a bit of action.
.. We wish every year had ended this wonderfully.

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THE LOWLAND MADISON IS STILL DOING NICELY  --  THANK YOU.

Montana For Sale ??

DID YOU SEE FRONTLINE ?

So, You Think Stream Access Is Important?
what about political access ?

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try this link:

====>http://mtcowgirl.com/2012/10/30/watch-frontline-expose-big-sky-big-money-online-here/

.. Unless, of course, you happen to believe that PBS is a communist, pinko, stupid bit of wasteful, government fluff.
.. Do you know what a 501 (c) (4) is? Is Montana being bought. Get in on the bandwagon.
.. Quickly send lots of money to the newly incorporated, independent, issue oriented, 501 (c) (4), organization entitled:

 "BLOG AND DEFEND AMERICAN SOCIAL SYSTEMS"

.. This organization is designed to provide issue oriented information about the secret workings of fly fishing - - - among other things.
.. All donations are exempt from reporting to any governmental agency, (local, state, federal,) and are confidential and may be used anywhere at any time for whatever issue is at hand. You can just sit back and watch your money at work  - view the results with impunity and anonymity.
.. Yea team !!

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Do It Right Now

BIG FISH FISHING

Little Fish Fishing

it's all good for five more days

Fishing With Bobber & Spinning Rig Is legal If There Is A Fly At The End Of Your Line.

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.. Join  the fun. Drive in the slush, and ice, and sleet, and rain, and snow, and enjoy the clouds and sun and wind and everything about the next few days. Soon we'll be counting down the 200+ days until we enter the fray of swollen rivers, mud, and potholes. All too soon this year will fade. All too soon the fish will grow and the pain subside.

.. The bite is on like in days of yore and even the Chamber of Commerce can't find words glowing enough.
.. The snows have come: wet, intermittent, slushy, and warm. This is typical for the Fall to Winter transition. It's a bit late this year but not out of the window.
.. The good thing is that the roads in Yellowstone National Park are mostly clear of the white stuff for propitious amounts of time. BUT: be prepared with tire chains and/or snow tires. A couple of more days of balmy 40's and 50's then some grunge for the weekend. How usual.

.. We're in the standard "Late Fishing Frenzy" mode. Folks are anxious and antsy about getting in a few more days of fishing. The fish are agitated and vigorously perusing their sexual mandate.
.. Park staff is eager to leave their summer posts and get gone to warmer climes.
.. Seasonal counter clerks, some on commission, are busy selling wash tubs for nets in an effort get the necessary gas money for a quick getaway on November 6. The scene is hardly that of the post cards portraying the idyllic fishing behavior that is rumored to exist in Yellowstone National Park.
.. There are places where fish are easy to catch. There are places where big fish can be caught. The two are seldom the same. Plan on wearing your cocoon outfit. Plan on cold fingers and the occasional frozen guide, (of the human and chrome and tungsten variety.)

.. There is fantastic surface action on the Firehole River with the Baetis imitation of your choice, (when the little darlings hatch in the dreary overcast fog.) Try BWO and CDC patterns in the smaller sizes = 16 - 20. We like the dinkers tied for the guys at Buzz Basini's shop.
.. When the bugs are not on the top the fish are still eating at a glutinously rate. Use a drowned Baetis and a Prince Nymph of the appropriate size, (= small!)
.. Of course the head hunters of the Madison River are out in force. Many are sporting double fisted Spey Rods that are useful for casting to the pools a full 30 and 40 feet away. It's not a herculean effort since the rod usually covers half the distance to the fish.
.. Most of these fishers have perfected the art of walking right through the deep dark water and kicking the fish in their belly. This is a technique rumored to produce greater spunk and fight in the submarines hiding in the deep spots.
.. Many of the neighbors are seeking fish away from the crowds. Up on the Gallatin River, (which is way too cold to fish,) there are places where only the bears and fishers go. The bears run from the boisterous neighbors and their raunchy limericks. The fish seem to run toward the screaming noises.
.. Try it: "There once was a bear from I stuck it . . ." etc. Best sung in a loud and lilting contralto.
.. Or, the neighborhood favorite: "Here bear! Hear Bear!" it seems that the bears do things opposite from folks.
.. We've been fishing and catching in none of the above mentioned places in Yellowstone National Park. They are not places worth mentioning because folks just don't fish there. So we do.
.. We like the idea of catching several dozen brightly-colored feisty Brook Trout that willingly come to whatever bits of fluff we happen to have. We like the idea of being shielded from the biting winds by a tunnel in the Lodgepole Pines. We enjoy getting in the car with no waders and no cold, wet boots. We enjoy getting home and popping a cold one without the hassle of undressing and re-dressing. We seem to have weird priorities. It must come with age and decrepitude.

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FISH THE WEEDS !!

By Request

VERY SIMPLE RECIPE

Rare Ingredients

bring those earth-shattering appetites

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So, O.K., guys and gals here it is:

HUCKLEBURGERS FOR BREAKFAST

* Very fresh ground, freshly-butchered and larded beef;

  -- 4# of sirloin is our base,

* Wild Huckleberry Syrup,

  -- 1/8 cup per pound,

* Wild Huckleberry Barbeque sauce,

  -- For basting while grilling & dressing,

* One extra large egg,

  -- Beaten with a dash of warm water,

* Worcestershire Sauce,

  -- Add to taste, (about one teaspoon per pound.)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

.. With all ingredients at room temperature: in a great big bowl mix the ingredients with your hands. Squeeze the goo through your fingers until it is well mixed and of a uniform consistency. Form patties by hand, roughly 1/2 pound each. Lay patties on waxed paper, (or foil if you must,) for 10 - 15 minutes, (or longer,) until a soft dry rind is formed.

.. Carefully salt and pepper top. Softly place seasoned side down on the grill over embers of dying wood fire. Baste lightly with Wild Huckleberry Barbeque Sauce. When the fat hits the fire with regularity gently turn the patties.

.. Salt and pepper and baste again. When the fat hits the fire again, carefully turn & move the patties to the edge of the heating circle. Peek inside with a pair of forks to see how red and juicy they are. Serve with lightly toasted premium buns and Wild Huckleberry Barbeque Sauce as garnish. (add lettuce, tomato, sweet onions, or beets, to your own personal taste.) Added ingredients tend to mask the delicate flavors of the Wild Huckleberries.

.. Beer is a great accompaniment to any and all burgers. We use cold black coffee with a dram or two of: Galliano, or Sweet Vermouth, or Jameson Irish Whiskey or Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey, or a fine Scotch Whiskey. Some folks even add clotted cream and sugar . . . .
.. Believe it or don't: this breakfast guarantees phenomenal success during a full day of fishing. Catching is optional.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 

.. There's a bit of snow on the ground and the fish are frisky. Baetis of some mysterious sort are still popping on the Firehole River and a new wave of submarines has entered the Madison River in flotilla force and is rapidly moving up stream at flank speed!

SNOW FUN

BREAKFAST BBQ

Have A Huckleburger

it's our own silly tradition

THE BEST BREAKFAST THIS WEEK.

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.. It's not mainstream. It's not fancy, exotic, elitist, or designed to "WOW" our visitors. It is, nevertheless, a damn good hamburger - even if we do eat it at the crack of dawn - in the snow.
.. One of our neighbors owns a little spread just west of town. His annual gift to the neighbors is a bit of freshly butchered choice Angus beef. We always select the hamburger because it's ground together with enough fat to be tasty and produce little fire-popping explosions - you heart healthy folks can cast aspersions as you wish.

LOOK !!!  A wood fire.

.. Juicy, not crispy, is the way we still cook the meat. Pinkish and with lots of carcinogenic wood smoke from the embers that were a fire, not some sort of pressed dung and mastic in little marshmallow shaped turds.
.. In celebration of the Last Week of Fishing in Yellowstone National Park we get up before the dawn cracks. Have some coffee, stomp our feet in the snow, talk about the balmy weather, and start the fire, (we do use gasoline instead of "fire starter" - for shame.)
.. By the time the coals are ready we've become warm and hungry and, have added some "juice" to the coffee - it's another bit of silliness we've concocted.
.. The burgers are served with plebeian accouterments such as salt and pepper and WILD HUCKLEBERRY BARBEQUE SAUCE. This morning we also had some home made french fries and sliced tomatoes. {{Wonder of wonders, there were decent tomatoes at one of the markets in the village.}}
.. Now it's time to load the caravan. We've decided to fish at the same spot this year. That should raise some eyebrows among the traveling hoards that are not visiting the park to fish. We'll monopolize the good water, commandeer the best pull-outs, and become, (for one glorious day,) the absolute asses that we despise and deride for most of the year.
.. Film at eleven.

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Today's Lovely Fall Colors - (as seen at breakfast.)

End Of The Line

FORGET "PRETTY" DAYS

Welcome Fishy Days

bring your "A" game

THEM WERE THE DAYS. THAT'S STILL THE PLACE!

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.. It's finally hit! What would be called winter in much of our country is now fall in the high country. The neighbors are dancing with glee. Fishing is spectacular in the snow and rain and sleet and grappel and hail. We finally get to wear long pants again.

My What Big Eyes You Have.

.. Some very large streamers and other monstrosities are sprouting on the short, heavy tippets of the fly fishers around here.
.. There are some peculiar habits and attitudes that come to light when the fishers seek the submarines of Fall. One of the most peculiar is the need to tie half of a chicken to the end of the line and call it finesse.

"Cute" little fly.

.. Interestingly the same attitude is called forth when presenting itsey-bitsey flies to the same fish. Right now the fish are eating both extremes and everything in between.
.. We suspect that almost all fishers on the west side rivers in Yellowstone National Park believe, in their innermost being, that they are finessing the fish to hand - no matter what fly they have chosen. We'll let them have it.
.. As is usually the case for this time of year, the neighborhood kids are preparing their Halloween costumes. Most of the costumes are designed to fit comfortably underneath a snow suit. Fishers should take note.
.. There's just a couple weeks left for legal fishing in Yellowstone National Park. Make the most of it. There are surface bugs galore, there are nymphing opportunities everywhere, there are the famous runners of the Madison River, (and other places for those that know,) and there are sheltered roadside pull-outs for telling lies and warming fingers.
.. Grab a double handful of the high country Fall and wade right in. Displace as many fish as possible - it's the social thing to do. Bring a hip flask if you're driving a BMW. Bring a thermos of amber liquid if you're not. If you are serious about this circus you should bring at least an 18-pack per person. Some jerky and stale bread will distinguish the dedicated from the counter crawlers.
.. Remember to fish the shadows. Remember to fish the dark water. Remember to fish the shallows. Remember to fish the seams. Remember to fish the pillow and the cavity. Remember to fish the rocks and downfalls. As a matter of fact - fish it all, you may just stick a fish that hasn't been walked on.

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The Gallatin River is low and the trout are in the dark water. Mostly!