Y'all Come

A COSMOPOLITAN POPULATION

Elbow Knocking Expanded

many hero photos and tales tails

WALLPAPER:  THE GATHERING

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.. The congregation of faithful Fall fly fishers has finally convened at the holy places for social networking. Some fishing takes place and some catching is inevitable. Runners bring it about.

The LONG long rod

.. For the moment the catching is so good that even the counter help at the local feather merchants are bragging and showing hero photos on their cell phones.
.. We've had a couple of days of postcard Autumn weather and we may get in one more before Fall returns to winnow out the fishers from the poseurs.
.. Long and limber 2-handed rods are becoming de riguer in the Fall on the Madison River. Of course this guarantees that spacing in the conga line is extended to nearly sensible distances.
.. The wind and gentle expertise of the fly flingers also guarantees  that the mating of fly lines is a regular occurrence. Just another opportunity to exchange cell phone numbers and ring tones.
.. The fish density seems higher this year than in the last few years. Certainly the fisher density is up. The capricious fish refuse to conform to counter help expertise and continue to accept a very catholic assortment of flies and presentations.
.. Pub chatter confirms that, despite the latest and greatest bin stuffers, the San Juan Worm and Partridge Soft Hackle are standout foolery for big fish. Part of this success may be due to fishers from afar feeling comfortable with their own fly boxes and assortments.

TO FIDDLE OR NOT TO FIDDLE . . . .

.. In a purely unscientific conclusion we and the neighbors have concluded that the ages of the population of runner hunters has increased significantly over the past few years.
.. Their dogs have gotten smaller and yappier. The dogs are frequently seen on the end of a tether, dragging sweet little old ladies into the bushes or oncoming traffic.
.. All the famous and traditional waters are full of fishers. They are not necessarily full of fish. Despite the guide books and local lore, (perpetrated by experts that are not seen fishing,) our rivers change from day to day, month to month, year to year, and certainly decade to decade. You don't suppose that this affects the preferred parking places for tired, up-streaming, fish  --  do you??

PICTURE POSTCARD WEATHER  --  POOR CATCHING

.. Of course eroded trails, degraded banks, dusty parking lots full of campers and BMW's, and hearsay information helps to extend the lore. All it takes is a single visiting head hunter touting how big the fish was in a legendary place on the rivers  --  bingo the mystique is enhanced.
.. Our long term village residents have really enjoyed fostering the myths surrounding named runs and locations. Eventually the new deep spots and shadowy hides will filter through to the counter help. Eventually new names will become common jargon. As common, indeed, as Baker's Hole and Barns Holes, will be the whispers.
.. Don't take this wrong: we took a hero fish at Barns #1. Then again, we were up in time to see Venus in the east. We were leaving just as the caravan of shiny cars was arriving.

CONGENIAL CATCHING AT IT'S FINEST

.. We took a giant trout, (Rainbow, no less,) at the old 9-Mile Hole. The parking lot was empty, the sun was way down behind the plateau and visiting fishers and guides were having a lovely prime rib dinner in town.
..We were privileged to fish with a neighbor that was born and raised here. We went to the Sucker Hole and the Local Hole. It was 12:30 PM and "squinty bright." We took a dozen or so fish at each location. We were home in time for a late lunch and work.

PHEASANT AND BLUE: HEAVY HOOK IF YOU ARE SERIOUS

.. The locations are not secret. There are trails to each one. Walking for 10 minutes was involved.  Over the last few years this water has gained currency with the neighbors because of the recently changed discharge patterns of the Madison River.

.. We saw no one. We heard no vehicular traffic. We parked with ease. We exchanged no phone numbers, tall tales, or ring tones. We were between two crowded popular runs. We were in Yellowstone National Park. We only suggest that the fish are even where the fishers are not.
..A few things need to be mentioned should you seriously want to take home a hero photo: use hooks heavy enough for the hoped for fish, sharpen the hooks, check leaders and tippetts for scrapes and nicks.
.. Wade softly, watch your shadow, present gently, avoid splashy line work, wear polarized glasses, think like a sex crazed fish and prospect accordingly.
.. Venus is fading . . . . .

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WALLPAPER:  IMPORTANT ACTIVITIES