do bison fish?
the heat is back!
hitchhike to idaho
.. A bunch of warm days are scheduled by the weather forecasters. Get out your hatch charts because they'll work for the next week or so. If you need a hatch chart for this area check the following:
..1) - MRO Hatch Chart,
..2) - Bud Lilly's Hatch Chart,
..3) - Jackson Hole Trout School Hatch Chart.
.. Gallatin River: Low flows, low clouds, morning fog, and cool temperatures make this the best place, right now, for consistent catching. Seasonal hoppers, (10 -14,) beetles, ants, spruce moths, and evening caddis make this the preferred river destination for the neighbors.
.. Fan Creek: first meadow is holding some nice cutts - to 12" - if you'd care to walk. Use Wulff's Humpies, Ants, and Beetles, (nothing bigger than 12.) There is a small mayfly hatching about 10:00 AM- 2:00 PM and the spinners are on the water at the same time that the caddis hatch - about 6:30 PM. It's not easy, but it's consistent.
.. Bacon Rind Creek: harboring some Gallatin River refugees. It is low - but cold. Check the confluence silt plume and fish your favorite terrestrials. Don't thump around the brush - you'll see wakes that are unbelievable.
.. Pebble Creek: low and cold. Try the riffle and run section across the road from the campground. Ignore the cars and fling a few ants and beetles, (12 -16.) Walk down to the confluence in the evening for a pretty consistent caddis hatch, (12 -14.)
.. Madison River: low and tepid conditions mean early morning or late afternoon fishing. Try large nymphs on the sections between Barns Holes and 7-Mile Bridge. The water weeds are getting thick at Grasshopper Bank. Wait until nearly dark for the caddis, (14 -16.)
.. Yellowstone River: flows at the lake outlet are down to 1,200 FPS, (that's 500 FPS below the 76 year average.) The fishing is really slow, but the rewards are "BIG." We don't know where the little fish are. This is hunting at it's finest... Pick a spot and watch for rising fish - walk the bank with a good pair of binoculars. Sneak into position and provide the critter with a very, very long and very, very perfect drift. Most folks are taking 18" - 22" Cutts. The fight is mostly current, and the fish take quite a bit of reviving. We don't recommend fishing the Yellowstone for another 2 -3 weeks. If you must, however, use large hoppers, (8 - 12,) and Pheasant Tail Nymphs, (12 -16,) or if you're lucky there are some PMD's, (14 - 16 - 18.)
.. The Firehole River is cooling down - wait another week or so and things will start to happen. The shade and deep undercut banks will be the first to produce. Plan to fish between the bridges in Biscuit Basin or around the Confluence with Nez Perce Creek. If we get some snow and cool weather - September 8 -9 -10 looks to be the time to return. The little fish in the shady sections of the Lone Star Geyser Trail are still eager and entertaining. Beetles & Ants, (12 - 14,) will work here. There is a pretty good late afternoon caddis hatch about 1/2 mile from the trail-head parking lot, (size 10 -12,) use a bead head dropper for insurance.
.. The Lamar River is at it's seasonal best right now; and, if you choose to cross the bridge and visit Cache Creek you will be rewarded with some fine catching. Just don't do it after a thunderstorm! Attractors like Humpies, Adams, Yellowstone Morning Glory, and Foamies will all work wonders in this little fished ares. A word of caution - the bison are getting testy!
.. The finger-size Amur Goby, a native of Asia, has been found in relatively small numbers over the past two years in the Columbia River and a Clark County tributary. This poses a potential threat to the Pacific Salmon that are already under seige. LINK.
<- Silver Creek
.. Protect Your Waters directed us to a new press release from the Idaho Department of Fish & Game. In the release, Jeff Dillon, Regional Fisheries Manager, Southwest Region, notes that invasive species are a real concern for Idaho fisher folks. Although Silver Creek has recovered nicely from the Spring Floods, there is still the problem of New Zealand Mud Snails. It looks like these things are coming to a river near you!
.. MidCurrent, (of course,) directed us to an article in the Manchester Journal. Paul Shullery provides us with an excellent precis of the last 150 years of Orvis and it's business expansion under the leadership of Leigh Perkins and family. He notes that Orvis "has come to represent more than just fly fishing-Orvis symbolizes a lifestyle." Link.
.. And, a final fishy note: BEWARE OF WHAT FISH YOU ORDER AT A RESTAURANT! Read about it HERE. Listen to it HERE.
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A Water Buffalo ?
A Water Buffalo ?