Gentle Entry

RARE BLUEBIRD DAY

Windshield Survey

bugs and noses at the surface

WALLPAPER:  MT. HAYNES

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.. The Spring bluster that usually greets the early visitor to Yellowstone National Park has been, (so far,) noticeably absent. The clouds are sparse, wispy, and white, and the wind seldom accelerates above a breeze.
.. The large fauna, (save for the bison,) have already started to move out of the river valleys and there are enough green grass shoots for grazing geese.
.. The west side rivers are at their low pre-runoff discharge levels. Water levels at the bank are below the grass. Mud, erosion, and silt plumes are not apparent. "Clear And Cold" is the local vernacular for this stage.
.. Discharge rates on the Madison River are currently at about the median for the season but have fluctuated widely based on local rain. Minimums have dipped to over 100 cfs below median on occasion. Temperatures are high and have reached 65° F.
.. The Madison River is, at present, slow enough to have braided foam lines in mid stream and scum slicks along the shore. Fish noses are in the back eddy scum pools. There are small fish rising at the heads and tails of short shallow riffles.

COLD SPRING DISCHARGE ALONG THE MADISON RIVER

 

.. The streamside discharge of the hot and cold springs is low and some are just damp spots. Those cold springs that are flowing have schools of small fry in the discharge channel and near the shore of the main stem of the Madison River.

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.. The Firehole River below Old Faithful is approaching record lows for the season and has already spiked to near 70° F. It is very clear and way below bank level.
.. Hot spring discharge is typical and cold spring discharge is very low. Fish are in mid-stream and splashing. Could be caddis already - didn't see any, though. The small cold water tributaries are dwindling to slow trickles and the perennial tributaries are at minimal levels for this stage of runoff.

LOW AND SLOW FIREHOLE RIVER

 

.. Midges are present on the water. Noses, at the surface, are in mid-stream and slow to submerge. If the weather continues to be warm the catching on the Firehole River should be limited to early and late in the day.
.. Snowpack on the west side of the park is very low and the snow water content is just a wee bit below expected levels.
.. Above Kepler Cascades the river is full of splashing Brook Trout. it is clear and cold and would be perfect for 100-fish days for those that count. Memorial Day is May 25, this year.

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.. Nez Perce Creek is at seasonal discharge levels and cold. The closed signs are up in honor of the bears. The trail to Mary Mountain is dry and dusty and there is less green showing on the ground than on the Firehole River or the Madison River.

NEZ PERCE NORMAL - FOR NOW

 

.. There are fish along the bank at the confluence with the Firehole River and there are midges in the air.

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.. In National Park Meadows things are looking low but stable. The Gibbon River is where it usually is for this time of year. The meadows are dry and golden but the Gibbon River is at the grass on the banks and shows just a slight bit of color in mid-stream.

DRY AND DEPENDABLE GIBBON RIVER

 

.. The roads are clear and snow-free. Riverside Drive is open. Bear closures are at the usual places. The Old Faithful parking lots are filling up more rapidly than usual for this time of year. The temperature curve has affected both the rivers and the visitation. No significant cold temperatures are in the near term forecast. Rain should be a genuine player in the condition of the rivers over the next month -DUH!
.. The Gallatin River is cold and productive. See you there.

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FIREHOLE RIVER WARMING UP