MADISON ??

.. Just a brief note:
-- Surprise of the early season: the Madison River is low, slow and clear  --  for now. Soft hackles, PMD's,(??,) and olive green Woolly Buggers, (rumors of very small caddis keep surfacing!) It's a good thing.

THANKS !

PERFECTION

FLOWS DOWN

Water Clear

trout frisky - bugs hatching

LOTS OF SNOW AND RAIN

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.. Get here now. The snow is sticking to the ground. The roads are clear and wet. There are smashed bugs on license plates from around the globe. Fishing in Yellowstone National Park opens tomorrow. The permit fees have jumped again - it's still a bargain.
.. Temperatures will be on the brisk side - they may hit 40° F in mid-afternoon. Snow will turn to rain but the catching promises to be so good you'll only have a runny nose to remind you of the weather.
.. Bring your bear spray! BRING YOUR BEAR SPRAY !! Do keep it in your hand. Don't keep it in your pack. Don't keep it in it's holster. Fish with and watch out for your buddies! Ignore this and die!
.. Check out just how fine the west side fishing is going to be:
==> FIREHOLE RIVER DATA,
==> MADISON RIVER DATA,
==> GALLATIN RIVER DATA,
==> GIBBON GAGE BACK ON LINE,
==> WEATHER.
.. We've got some new ring tones to trade - see you in the elbow jungle!

Grayling Creek Polluted

10,000 GALLONS

Fertilizer In Creek

truck destroyed on road

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.. You'll hear about it sooner or later. A double rig jack-knifed on the road next to Grayling Creek in Yellowstone National Park yesterday afternoon.
.. The tractor ended up headed the wrong way and the first trailer blocked both lanes of traffic. The "pup" trailer sheared it's kingpin and tumbled into Grayling Creek disgorging it's load of liquid fertilizer into the stream. Search the web if you're interested in the results. Read all about it on the neighborhood blogs.
.. We may just fish it on opening day. There will be very few elbows.

LOOK __ SEE !!!

PLEASE CHECK THIS OUT: (LINK) It's in your best interest!

Are You Set ??

MIXED BLESSING

Temps Down - Flows Up

trees and trouts happy

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.. So now, have you got your long johns back out of the mothballs?
.. The neighbors explain to visitors that this is the time of year when we get: "Summer by the day, Spring by the hour, and Winter in between."
.. Fishers looking to the Firehole River for Saturday's opener will note that the water temperature, (which had been hovering in the high 60's,) is now in the low 50's. The discharge rates are, however, a bit above seasonal average.
.. When you get to town check with one of the local fly shops for the very latest in weather and water conditions. They are easy to find, just follow the map below.

1. Blue Ribbon Flies
2. Madison River Outfitters
3. Bud Lilly's Fly Shop
4. Arrick's Fly Shop
5. Eagle's Fly Shop
6. Bob Jacklin's Fly Shop
7. West Yellowstone Fly shop
.. You can also check their fishing reports for the best current information by clicking on the links below:
==> Blue Ribbon Flies
==> Madison River Outfitters
==> Bud Lilly's Fly Shop
==> Arrick's Fly Shop
==> Eagle's Fly Shop
==> Bob Jacklin's Fly Shop
==> West Yellowstone Fly Shop
 .. These folks are fishing daily and know the neighborhood waters very well. If you are going to fish other than the west side rivers check the report at Parks' Fly Shop.
.. One thing we know for sure: Summer, Spring, and Winter will make their appearance during the next 72 hours. P.S. The Gibbon River Gage is working.

.

Are You Ready?

BRING A PONCHO

Bring Your "A" Game

bring it all

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.. Mom has a special greeting planned for opening day for fishing in Yellowstone National Park = special fly fishing weather.
.. There are all the bugs you need on the water. There are all the bugs you need in the water. There are all the bugs you need at every local feather emporium. Bring it all.
.. The early warm-up and salubrious weather has spent our snow pack and the rivers have run off - so to speak.
.. The Madison River is a bit off color and a bit below seasonal average discharge rates. It's going to yield some fish on the opener.
.. The Firehole River is just a smidgen above seasonal discharge average and will be the place to gather and swap ring tones. It's already hit 70° F this year and is running at about 65° F today. There's even ants and other terrestrials around in the meadows.
.. The Gibbon River is it's usual self and pretty as a picture. Discharge rates have already slowed down and the temperatures are in the catch some fish range = 56° - 60° F.
.. Nez Perce Creek has some bears. Read the regulations and the signs. Explain the rules to the bears.
.. Should you choose to ignore the local feather merchant wisdom you could find yourself alone and knee deep in eager fish on the Gallatin River.
.. If you need advice on the "right" fly or just exactly where to fish you should click on a link to the fly shop temple of your choice in the sidebar. They will provide you with the best conventional wisdom available.
.. Visitation is already on the upswing and gawker blocks are commonplace - sigh!

White Stuff

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO NOON MDT SATURDAY FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 5500 FEET...
THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN GREAT FALLS HAS ISSUED A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 5500 FEET FOR SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO NOON MDT SATURDAY.
* TIMING AND MAIN IMPACT: RAIN WILL CHANGE TO SNOW FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 5500 FEET THIS EVENING. A LIGHT SNOWFALL IS THEN EXPECTED OVERNIGHT AND INTO SATURDAY MORNING.
* SNOW ACCUMULATIONS: TOTAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF 2 TO 4 INCHES ARE EXPECTED FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 5500 FEET...WITH UP TO 6 INCHES POSSIBLE NEAR RIDGE TOPS.
* VISIBILITY: VISIBILITIES WILL BE REDUCED TO LESS THAN ONE MILE AT TIMES IN FALLING SNOW.
* ELEVATIONS: FOR ELEVATIONS ABOVE 5500 FEET.
* OTHER IMPACTS: THOSE RECREATING IN THE BACK COUNTRY SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR WINTER LIKE CONDITIONS TONIGHT. MOUNTAIN PASSES COULD BE SNOW OR SLUSH COVERED AT TIMES OVERNIGHT AND INTO SATURDAY MORNING.
* LOCATIONS AFFECTED INCLUDE: BATTLE RIDGE PASS...BOZEMAN PASS... TARGHEE PASS...WEST YELLOWSTONE...BIG HOLE PASS...CHIEF JOSEPH PASS...MONIDA PASS...BOULDER HILL...ELK PARK PASS...HOMESTAKE PASS AND RAYNOLDS PASS.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...
A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SNOW MEANS THAT PERIODS OF SNOW WILL CAUSE PRIMARILY TRAVEL DIFFICULTIES. BE PREPARED FOR SNOW COVERED ROADS AND LIMITED VISIBILITIES...AND USE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING.
FOR SPECIFIC ROAD AND TRAVEL CONDITIONS IN MONTANA...DIAL 5 1 1.
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