DIGGING A HOLE
In The Snow;
wireless, slow
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.. We're experiencing the results of antique infrastructure. Poorly routed cables are negatively affected by "The Plumbers Winter" conditions. Very little snow cover and deep frost penetration have conspired to disable our normally superb Internet connection. It's going to take a backhoe to fix it... Our aged laptop is in excellent shape, the wireless connection works well - just slow. Uploads are painful and stuttering is common. Just 5 years ago we'd be thrilled with the performance; today it hurts. So be it. We can now empathize with the bookmakers in Vegas after a bad call on the big game. So be that too.
.. Catching on the tailwater below Hebgen Dam and between the lakes has picked up with the continued warming weather. The cool nights have kept the experience from being insanely perfect; it's just pluperfect. So be it.
.. Slow drifted nymphs are producing well in the afternoons. Dark water and light-dark seams are the places
right now. Depth seems unimportant at the moment... The last couple of days have shown a bit of increased exuberance on the part of the fish. Larger fish are less lethargic and can be taken on the Yellowstone Winter Grub.
.. A few of the neighbors have also ventured over the hill to the Madison River around Slide Inn. Small streamers and nymphs in bits of slick water near the banks can prove to be rewarding in the bright sun.
.. If the warm weather continues look for the catching to keep pace. So far, the 'Winter' has been rather gentle and the snow-pack has been disappointing. It's so warm that bears have been seen in the Paradise Valley and near the Idaho border on our South Plateau.
.. Speculation, though a bit premature, has the neighbors worrying about the possible catastrophic Spring runoff and a long low warm Summer. We'll wait a while before crying in our beer.
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