Roller Coaster Spring

THE WARM, THE COOL

Little Rain, Little Snow

it's all so good

WALLPAPER: FOGGY SNOW AND RUN OFF

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.. This time of year we're allowed the privalige of experiencing three season days - no real Summer yet.
.. We've had a couple during the last week. However, it looks like the roller coaster is slowing. The coming week is looking like a real Spring week. We may hit 60° F once more.
.. The Gallatin River seems to know that Spring time is here. It is displaying the warm hues of pre runoff in a fine fashion. We took a couple of fish at Snowflake Springs yesterday. We then trundled down the canyon to investigate some spots where the snow has recently receded and allowed fair access. No dice.

GALLATIN COLORS

.. Taylor Fork is not churning too wildly yet but, there is enough sediment to see a color line and silt plume. Took a baby flying fish there and continued down canyon. Reminiscences of changing baby diapers.
.. The further down canyon we trundled the more glorious the brown hues of the water grew.

AND SO IT BEGINS

.. In-water visibility is down to about two or three feet in the main current. It's a little better near shore.
.. Honking and squiggling giant streamers should work for a few more days.

.. Lateral line fishing can awaken the denizens of the deep if done correctly.
.. Dark, (like black and deep purple or olive,) with just a hint of flash, Herky-jerkey strip downstream near shore is what the neighbors do.
.. The sun should shine a little today and we are headed to Hebgen Reservoir. We'll pass on the Hebgen Tailwater. The migrant fishers have tromped down most of the redds and are calling it good sport.

HEAVY FEATHERS

.. The disturbance of the spawning run in the tailwater does more to diminish the downstream trout population than does any malfunction of Hebgen Dam.
.. Local guides and feather merchants turn a blind eye to this merchandising opportunity while hurling scathing remarks about the problems with the dam. Lucre wins.
.. It's a good thing for the redd stomping population that the lowland Madison River fishers are only concerned with their favorite fishing hole. The whole river never enters into their cerebral cortex.
.. We're headed out in search of some easily accessible shoreline with a bit of open water and ravenous fish. Perhaps this is the week.

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WALLPAPER: THE OTHER COLORS OF SPRING