EARLIEST MONTANA OPENER
'Sno Betta
madison hot & heavy
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.. If May first had been on a Sunday, we'd still be waiting for
Montana's general season opening day... The Montana law states that the general fishing season starts on the third Saturday in May. May first was on a Saturday - - soooo. Earliest possible!
.. The last four days were postcard makers. It looked just like summer. Sadly, it's about to change.
.. In the coming week or 10 days the sun will
be scarce, the rains will appear, but the temperatures will stay moderate... It looks like mud will happen in the very near future.
.. Some places in Montana have recovered from the sparse winter snows.
.. Not, however, the Upper Madison or the Upper Yellowstone. The coming rains won't help. Check the SNOTEL site HERE. It's grim.
.. Down in the valley the fishers are wrapping up the four most fantastic days of catching on the Madison River in recent memory.
.. A midge storm coupled with low and clear water means that the whole fly box worked: Rubber Legs Stone Flies, Nymphs of all sizes and shapes, $3 Dips, etc... The fishing access at $3 Dollar Bridge and Reynolds Pass were car crowded. The folks from far and wide had a field day. Gadzooks, it was grand!
.. Believe all the stories that you hear - it was that good... Over the weekend Yellowstone Park was flooded by early visitors. The buses, mobile condos, motorpickles, and bicyclists were in abundance.
.. A few bears are still down low, and gawker blocks started early in the day.
.. Road delays at the Gibbon River Bridge are at least 30 minutes. The lines are long and the visitors grumpy.
.. The streams on the west side of the park are beautifully fishable right now. We anticipate some changes. Warm rain and the anticipated moderate temperatures should put discharge at a touchy level for the May 29 opener.
.. Lunch time: 1/2 a broasted chicken, Cole slaw, potato salad, iced tea, molded jello, sponge cake and coffee.
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