Hopping Along

HOPPER EXPLOSION

The Ant Invasion

watch fires and bears

WALLPAPER:  FAVORITE HOPPER

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.. Fire season and Fall fishing have arrived together this year. Both have held the interest of the fishers and the news folks.

..Despite the cooler weather and a few scattered showers, the Bacon Rind Fire continues to impact both fishing and back country access in the northwest corner of Yellowstone National Park.
.. Winds associated with the impinging cold front have blown up several hot spots and fire crews are back at it.

HAND CARRY IT

.. There will be a community meeting at 7:00 pm on Wednesday, August 29th at the Community Protestant Church at 505 N Electric Street, West Yellowstone. Fire managers will give an operational update.
.. Trail closures for fire areas and bear management areas are posted on the park website and should be followed.
.. These closures impact both fishing access and back country access!!
.. Be sure that you travel with companions and sing loud and ribald songs. Also be sure that your bear spray is fresh and carried in your hand - not your backpack.

 RESOURCES

>> INCIWEB FOR BACON RIND FIRE,
>> BACON RIND FIRE CLOSURE MAP  -  YNP,
>> TRAIL CLOSURES  -  YNP,
>> BEAR MANAGEMENT CLOSURES  -  YNP.

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RED ANT

.. Terrestrial activity seems to have accelerated with the last few cool days. Perhaps there is a seasonal urgency being felt by the creepy and crawly and hoppy critters in our neighborhood.
.. Some urgency is noticeable in the neighbors. We need some smokers and they are not biting.

BLACK ANT

.. Ants on the ground, in the air, and in the water are spicing up the catching on the west side rivers of Yellowstone National Park.
.. They can appear as if by magic, descend upon a locality and then, vanish without any warning.
.. Be sure to have some ant patterns that can be fished on top and underneath the water. Careful observation of fish noses will give you a clue about how to fish the little stinkers.

FUNNY HOW GRAY THEY LOOK

.. Right now the hoppers are prolific but are sleepy until the warm part of the day. We missed the final molt of the grasshopper nymphs and have been surprised at the size of the largest species. They do grow fast.
.. Montana has several hundred species of grasshopper. About half of them can and do occur in our neighborhood.
.. The neighbors differentiate them into two classes: "Big'uns" & "Little'uns." Right now the little'uns are the most numerous. They are also the first to plunge themselves into the rivers during early afternoon.

EASY HOPPER

.. Usually by 2 - 3 O'clock both sizes are hopping around in the meadows and grass lines at the river's edge.
.. Depending on how you prefer to fish, (up stream, across stream, down stream,) an excellent strategy is walk the bank in the opposite direction and chase the hoppers into the water. Then just turn around and pick off the fish noses that appear.

THE TURCK TARANTULA

.. Most fishers use purpose tied "Hopper Flies." A few of the more successful neighbors use other sorts that seem to appeal to the fish more than the fisher.
.. Muddler Minnows, Large Madam X, and Silli Stimulators are all being used right now - AND taking fish. Several sage neighborhood fishers are using the Turck Tarantula. It was devised by Guy Turck and has won several "One Fly" competitions in Jackson, Wyoming  -  just sayin'.

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SIZE 28 FAN WING ROYAL  COACHMAN

.. We're looking forward to the dreary and drizzly day that is predicted to visit with us tomorrow.
.. High temperatures may not reach the 60's. If so, there may be the best Autumn hatch of ephemera in years.

NEZ PERCE CREEK IN THE FALL

.. The conditions are right and the counter help hasn't even the slightest clue. Get out your best delicate floater and pick those slow slick spots that the guides save for themselves.
.. Right now it's early evening. The wind is blowing fiercely. We are headed straight to slumberland. Morning should bring some fog, a spinner fall, and a squadron or three of very tiny flies - hopefully.
.. The neighbors have kindly tied some size 28 flies on short tippets for us. That, we can manage.

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WALLPAPER:  MEGA BLT SANDWICH

Yellowstone Bear Attack

BEAR SPRAY RESCUE

10-Year-Old Safe

human attack too

Counter Assault Bear Deterrent

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.. The National Park Service reports a bear attack incident. A 10-year-old boy was knocked down near Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park.
..  The sow grizzly charged from the undergrowth and began to maul the downed child who had run from the bear.
.. The child's parents sprayed bear spray in the face of the bear and it dashed away.
..  The Spring Creek and Divide trails are temporarily closed.

RESOURCES

>> Yellowstone Park Announcement,
>> Bear Safety Page,
>> KIDK 3, Video.

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.. A man attacked a woman in Yellowstone National Park in the restroom at Mammoth Hot Springs cabins' community restroom.
.. The assailant wrapped toilet paper around his head and used bear spray to assault the victim and her boy friend that tried to protect her [[Casper Star-Tribune.]]

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ROYAL COACHMAN BOMBER

.. The Bacon Rind Fire has been knocked down by cool weather and some light rain. It is currently being monitored by interagency fire teams.
.. The Madison River has cooled down to the point that fish are, once again, becoming willing dance partners.
.. Early morning spinner falls, (the likes of which we haven't seen in a few years,) are sucking fish to the surface.

SURFACE STREAMER - RED FOX RUNNER

.. Late afternoon caddis are making their appearance on the bright smoky days.
.. Catching in the dark, (until sundown,) has been productive near undercut banks with large splashy surface flies. Keep them on the top and rapidly strip downstream for best success.
.. If you keep the rod between your legs while rapidly stripping with both hands - be sure that your knees are tightly locked together - wham, bam, . . .

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RIBS, CORN MEAL CHILI, COLD CHEAP BEER

OH DAMN !

NEIGHBORS PISSED

Sudden Growth

moving toward highway

BACON RIND FIRE AREA MAP

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.. We have fires every year. It's a fact of life since we live in the lodgepole desert. They are caused by lightning and by humans. They come and they go. We're accustomed to them.
.. The lightning caused Bacon Rind Fire has been sputtering for about a month now with very little attention.
.. Over the last few days and, with the intemperate - unusually high temperatures it has rapidly flared up and moved from the sagebrush flanks of the valley and into the  lodgepole pine forest.
.. The fire is currently sized at near 2,000 acres and:

". . . has been spreading by group torching, short crown runs, and long-range spotting. The fire is continually flanking and backing towards Hwy 191.
     Fire growth was seen to the south towards Bacon Rind drainage on 8/15. There were no delays on Highway 191 yesterday. Fire growth is expected to continue today as temperatures continue to increase."

GROUP TREE TORCHING

.. Both the USFS and the NPS have issued closures. So far Highway 191 has remained open with some delays and pilot car traffic allowed.
.. Yellowstone National Park has closed most of the northwest corner of the park's back country trails.
.. Currently some Gallatin River access is allowed. Check the resources below for updated access and closure information.
.. This is the time of year when we fish the Gallatin River, Fan Creek, and Bacon Rind Creek. Access to many of the catching areas is restricted  --  double damn.
.. With the increased wind and continuing heat wave we should anticipate that this fire will continue to spot and grow.

DON'T FISH HERE

RESOURCES:

>> INCIWEB  INCIDENT PAGE,
>> FIRE CLOSURES WEB PAGE,
>> YELLOWSTONE CLOSURES,
>> FOREST CLOSURES.

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.. Happily there is no closure anticipated for Notellum Creek, nor any for the Notellum Beaver Ponds.  We're headed there with a fresh canister of bear spray. Left the neighbors to tend the ribs!

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WALLPAPER:  GREAT BEGINNINGS

It's That Time

VISIT NEXT WEEK

Fish Early

fish late

IT'S A SCORCHER

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..  Briefly: west side rivers at the tipping point, Lamar River system is giving up fish, mid day is very hot, critters that can move have moved up, fire danger is very high.

FIRE WEATHER WATCH

Alert:	...FIRE WEATHER WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING... * IMPACTS: Low humidities, hot temperatures, wind shift with a cold front, and dry thunderstorms with gusty and erratic outflow winds will create erratic fire behavior and new fire starts. * AFFECTED AREA: In South Central MT...Fire Weather Zones 123...124...125...126... 127...128 and 129. * COUNTIES AFFECTED: In Central MT...Golden Valley...Musselshell...Wheatland. In South Central MT...Big Horn...Carbon...Park...Stillwater Sweet Grass...Yellowstone. In Southwest MT...Gallatin. * TEMPERATURES: 95 to 105. * HUMIDITY: 5 to 15 percent. * THUNDERSTORMS: Isolated dry thunderstorms possible Saturday afternoon and evening. Thunderstorm activity and the potential for strong erratic winds will increase Sunday afternoon and evening. * WINDS: South 10 to 20 mph. Higher gusts near thunderstorms.
Instructions:	A Fire Weather Watch means that critical fire weather conditions are forecast to occur. Listen for later forecasts and possible Red Flag Warnings.
Target Area:	Beartooth Ranger District Custer National Forest Crow Indian Reservation, Big Horn Canyon Rec Area Gallatin National Forest Golden Valley County, Musselshell County Stillwater County Wheatland County, Sweet Grass County Yellowstone County

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.. Shade is our friend. Shade is the friend of fish right now. Keep this in mind and both fishers and fish will get through this historic heat wave.

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WALLPAPER:  SMOTHERED WAFFLE

We Did Wonder

IT SMELLED FUNNY

It Looked Funny

what's going on ?

GOT GUNS?  GOT SPIES?  GOT CONTACTS?

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.. Back in January of this year, [LINK-1,] we came across some interesting news. We re-posted that note again last March, [LINK-2,] and noted that the media had caught up with the interesting circumstances.
.. Finally the news and the circumstances have come to fruition with a possible spy case. The National Rifle Association has remained mute about their association with a couple of suspicious Russian citizens, [LINK-3, LINK-4.]
.. We will wait and see if other, (fly fishing ?) sporting corporations and organizations have the same sort of affiliates.

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WALLPAPER:    WAFFLE WITH STRAWBERRY CONFIT

Idiot Toreador

TURON MENTALITY

A Daily Sight

check brains at gate

..

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.. Come visit Yellowstone National Park. Tourist mentality on display.

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USE THIS ONE

.. Briefly: fish Soda Butte Creek, fish Lamar River Canyon, battle elbows on Slough Creek, retreat to Obsidian Creek.

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.. We're being swallowed up by community responsibilities. Fishing and catching in the backseat. Sorry 'bout that.
.. Fishing report >> https://www.arricks.com/blogs/fishing-reports

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WALLPAPER:  FISH HERE TOO