Weekend Prognosis, etc.

TURNING POINT

Hopper Time

- stout reflections -

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.. The neighbors know that when the hoppers arrive it signals the impending start of Fall Fishing in Yellowstone Country.
.. Soon we'll be asking the question: "Will it be warm enough for the hoppers to be a factor in fishing?"
.. Already the meadows are beginning to show a bit of golden threads among the green. The bison are nervous and covering the world with clouds of dust. It's a week or two early this year but the turning point is here.
.. Already, it's possible to sleep under the sheets with the window open. Already, it's possible to anticipate a bit of frost on the windshield. Already, it's noticeable that the fishing light is dwindling. Already it's time to check the deer hair mouse fly supply, (we like the one from Fantasy Fly Company.)
.. This weekend, given our wonderfully cool summer, should provide perfectly glorious fishing.
.. There are still a few good mayfly hatches, there are spinner falls, there are caddis everywhere, hoppers are hopping, terrestrials are dropping, the clouds are scudding along with merry abandon, and the sun is setting further to the south.
.. The rivers are accessible. The lakes are low. and snow melt is finally dwindling. The only down side is that, with Fall just around the corner, the drying forest increases the possibility of fires. This sort of damp cool summer, (so far it has kept the fire possibilities low to moderate,) - is a good thing in the high country.
.. The hoppers in most of Yellowstone National Park, and on our block as well, have finished their final molt. They have begun to commit suicide in creative ways: drowning, windshield impaling, Harley splatting, etc. This bodes well for the fly fisher. We suggest that fishing will be excellent all weekend long - elbows be damned!

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.. The BBC reports that Guinness Stout may have medicinal value.
.. Some lucky dogs were tested in a medical experiment, (PETA ALERT!) and found to have better clotting resistance than the unlucky dogs, (PETA ALERT!) that drank lager rather than stout.
.. Of course the leprechauns in the neighborhood have always maintained that Guinness Is Good For You.
.. The research team from the University of Wisconsin, (of course,) concluded that a pint of the black goo will do the same for you as a slug of aspirin. It appears that the alcohol combined with the antioxidants in Guinness is just as good as the aspirin. MY MY!

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