BETWEEN SUMMER & WINTER
It's Hopper Time
and other such
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| HOPPERLAND ON THE MADISON RIVER |
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.. We, like so many other fishers, remember a day or two when any hopper imitation cast anywhere in a stream drew blinding strikes from eager trout. We remember spectacular splashes and refusals that caused the world to move.
.. We remember days when hoppers fell from the sky like so many hail stones in the golden meadows of many rivers. There were so many fish noses that we wondered where they were on other days.
.. What we have chosen to forget is that there is a wealth of fish food right now; hoppers are only the most apparent. Beetles and ants and caddis are more abundant. And that's what the trout are eating.
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| Mountain Pine Beetle - Trout Food |
.. The neighbors are still practicing with their streamers. There are no verified reports of big lake-run trout. Nice resident fish are willing to take the streamers: bless their pea brained souls.
.. The Madison River is being shunned by the knowledgeable fisher folk. That is just fine with us. There are lots of hoppers and mountain pine beetles there. There are, also, still fish in the river despite the considered opinion that it's not fishable right now. Flows are above seasonal averages and mornings and evenings are providing fish for the few neighbors that know the river.
.. Until things get sorted out about the bear attack the whole Mary Mountain Trail is closed and that rules out Nez Perce Creek, for now. However, the Firehole River above the cascades is tree lined, cool and full of nicely colored Brook Trout; still begging for dance partners. Both Iron Spring Creek and the Little Firehole River have very substantial numbers of willing fish. Walk a way and catch some fish!
.. It's time to catch the spinner fall at 7-mile bridge. Maybe there will be a neighbor there to help eat our pie.
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| THE ROAD TO TROUT |