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.