Hot Fishing

90° F at 7:00 PM

Dead Fish Near Shore

colorful hatches seen

WALLPAPER: DATE WITH A 21 YEAR OLD SWEETHEART

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.. Down low and far away there is a mighty and free flowing river.
.. It's origin is high in the Absaroka Mountains' Yount Peak and it travels through the south central wilderness of the Thorohfare in Yellowstone National Park.
.. It is the only undammed major river in the lower 48: all 692 miles of it.

THE BLUE HATCH

.. The Yellowstone River near the north boundary of Yellowstone National Park is a world famous trout fishery.
.. The place names of Paradise Valley, Yankee Jim Canyon, Black Canyon, Point of Rocks, and Grey Owl are in the lexicon of fishers far and wide.
.. Some of our neighbors will brave the journey through the park on a regular basis. Some others go the long way 'round to avoid the hassle. Some go frequently. We go infrequently and sporadically.

THE YELLOW HATCH

.. Right now the hoppers are dense and small. The fish are brooding and difficult. The bugs are everywhere and popping with gay abandon.
.. The sky is nearly cloudless. The days are hot. The breeze becomes wind around 2:00 PM.

DEAD  TROUT

.. The air temperature is in the range that Dante Alighieri would appreciate. The fish cooperate on an occasional basis. 
.. The water temperature is beginning to rise. At two places where we stopped to fish the boulder hides we saw quite a few dead fish - trout and mountain whitefish.

THE PURPLE HATCH

..Fishing the river from a drift boat in these conditions can be a divine comedy or a sublime joy. We've experienced both.
..The river is still high enough that a strong and experienced captain is necessary.
.. Fishy waters are nearly everywhere. Good fishy water is scattered variously along the river.

THE ORANGE HATCH

.. Exceptionally fishy water requires that the captains know the river and that they know how to get to it.
.. Strength, cunning, river savvy, and experience all come into play.
.. We're lucky that our neighbor still  has bulky shoulders and over a quarter century experience in matters of this river.

GREEN DRAKE

.. Dry fly fishing for the famous, free rising, cutthroat trout is a tradition we generally avoid.
.. The necessary flies are way too small. The hooks are way too wee. The hook eyes are dinky and hard to see, (even with cheaters,) for aged human eyes and twitchy hands.
.. On the other hand, when there are Green Drakes, Hoppers, Sizeable Caddis, and some pudgy PMD's, we'll take the plunge.

ANOTHER GREEN ONE

.. The river demands nothing special in terms of flies or techniques. Pick your favorite and fish it the way you would do so on your home waters.
.. With a good boat captain you should not need to cast too often or too far.
.. Long drifts over holding water are easily accomplished if the captain is doing his job.
.. It's possible to plunk your fly down and have the captain steer the boat so the fly is drag free and hits the slicks, pillows, seams, and such without you having to do a thing. Good captains even see the fish coming to the fly before you do. What an easy day on the water!

FISH THE BOULDER BARS

.. The Yellowstone River has a vigorous runoff phase.  It produces gravel bars the size of Boeing 747's.
.. It produces boulder bars the
size of freight trains.
.. The river has side channels that are the equivalent of main channels in other streams. The islands in the river are the size of many small countries and the fishing and catching is as varied as any.

FISH THE BOULDER HIDES

.. There are places where the fish pod up and enjoy an existence of such luxury that they all become fat.
.. These places are deeply scoured channels, dark holes, undercut shore lines, and boulder fields with boulder hides large enough for Moby Dick.
.. It behooves the fisher to park the boat and explore these wonderful places on foot. The rewards can be spectacular.

LOCAL INFORMATION

.. As we speak the weather is holding in a warm phase with minimal rain from the thunder boomers. This will change; of course.
.. Local information from resident fishers is a must for successful catching that the river is famous for. It borders on stupidity to blindly tackle this glorious river.

SCENIC WONDERS ABOUND

.. Of course even the rare fishless day is full of spectacular scenery and many photo opportunities.
.. The Kodak moment is a near constant entity. Some folks take a boat ride just to capture the valley with the pixilated electrons that can fill a book. Your choice.

RED QUILL CRIPPLE

.. We've returned: exhausted we are. Happy indeed.
.. Brunch is going to fill the cavernous void that a couple of long days on the water have produced.
.. Sleeping late is an added side benefit.
.. Then maybe a nap.

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WALLPAPER:  PASTRAMI DONE RIGHT