SPRING ON THE CALENDAR
Snow On The Ground
water in the madison
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.. The spawn is in high gear on the Madison River. The tailwater below Hebgan Dam is fin to fin with with sex-crazed Rainbow Trout. PPL Montana has started lowering the reservoir in anticipation of Spring runoff. The finny friends are crowding the raceway at Henry's Lake. Bears are awake and roaming around.
.. And, it's blowing up a mini-blizzard outside. {check the IMAX Webcam.} We're about to get a "backside dump" from a nice bit of moisture - good enough for now - more needed... Our recent taste of Spring weather is but a dim memory as the snowplows return to the streets of West Yellowstone.
.. We call it Spring because the temperatures are above zero. We call it Spring because all the psyches in the neighborhood are feeling it. We call it Spring because there is a bit more light during the day.
.. Save for the occasional day or two, however, it's still winter. The lakes are still frozen, (though slushy.) The rivers are running a bit higher, (though bounded by snow.) The rain has made it's appearance, (but quickly turned to snow.)
.. Mom is at her capricious best this year: sunny and warm, (45 degrees,) followed by overcast and snowy, (0-10 degrees.) It's not too bad. It's still April and there will be snow well into June, (despite the travel brochures.)
.. Fishing is good between the lakes, BUT the neighbors are leaving the spawners alone. It's mostly license plates from afar that dot the parking spaces along the road by the tailwater. The neighbors are still fishing the estuaries and doing very well.
.. A few, (those with money for gasoline,) are venturing down-canyon on the Gallatin River. A few are traveling to the lowland Madison River. The travel is worth the effort... It really is Spring down around Gallatin Gateway and at the hallowed ground surrounding the Madison River at Beartrap Canyon.
.. Nymphomania is in full swing and the overwhelming choice right now is the bead-head Gold Ribbed Hare's Ear. A distant second is the Yellowstone Badger and Prince Nymph. Very slow drifts; deep and in the seams for the river fishers. Estuary fishers are still using San Juan Worms and olive colored Woolly Buggers.
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