CWD Is Here

HOW'S YOUR DEER ?

Increase In Incidence

can you eat it ?

Courtesy   The Missoulian

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.. As the booming and banging season comes to an end it looks like Chronic Wasting Disease is on the rise in deer populations.
.. Read about it HERE. We expect monitoring next season as it spreads out of Yellowstone National Park and Grand Teton National Park.

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WALLPAPER:  A PAIR TO DRAW TO

The Soul Of Mississippi

Mars - Success

PICTURE ONE

PICTURE TWO

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.. We have insight.

Ship Of State

LEST WE FORGET

Executive Tutorial

 APROPOS OF TURKEY DAY

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QUICK STUDY

Damn Radical Environmentalists

"I will lay this [[fire]] on the foot of the environmental radicals that have prevented us from managing the forests for years, and you know what, this is on them." . . .(LINK)

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.. It must be true because God is punishing the liberals in California.  Don't believe it? READ THIS.

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Historic Invasion

Fire Fighter

The Other Season

LESS CATCHING

More Fly Tying

how many gross ?

WALLPAPER:    REMEMBERING  TWISTY

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.. There comes a time in the historic saga of each fly fisher when sensibility departs and capricious whimsy invades the neurons between the ears.

From:  R&R FLY FISHING

.. The thought arises: "Why not a specific fly for every specific fishing situation?" What an amazing thought this is. It falls in line with other personality traits of the dedicated fisher: creative stories, denial of skill, elevation of luck, acceptance of expert advice, denial of personal experience, embrace of merchandising hype, etc.
.. This leads to a few interesting results: more fly boxes, more books, more lessons, more patterns, more supplies, etc.

photo by:  HOLLY GRAHAM

.. Happily, this leads to more sales in the dusty aisles of feather merchants and, expanded creativity of both amateur and professional fly tiers. This engenders foraging trips to hobby stores for new and unique materials and the expanded array of 'must have' materials and techniques.
.. It's a small wonder that folks a century ago even caught any fish. Poor sods they; without the advantages of plastic, super glue, and U.V. techniques. We weep for them!

DOWN WING FEATHER CADDIS

.. We keep our self busy helping this affliction and spin up a few gross of the flies during the cool weather season up here.
.. Right now there are some "new," "exciting," "innovative," "hot," "awesome," "really sick," patterns that need to be cranked out.
.. We're hard at it. Of course our enthusiasm will dwindle shortly but, for now it's gung-ho forward into the depths of the new wave of obsession from our neighbors and affluent visitors.

ORANGE HACKLE FUZZY ADAMS

.. The requests call for a half dozen gross of the little bits of fluff. Far less than a 'real' fly tier will accomplish in five or so months.
.. We will slog along, (on and off,) as the inclination strikes. It's a simple way to pass the time and ignore chores that need to be done.

FUZZY WORM

.. We praise the creativity of commercial merchandisers in the fly fishing business.
.. For the last two centuries they have been rebranding old stuff and selling it as new stuff.
.. "All that is old is new again:" to coin a phrase. Techniques, materials, equipment, language, phraseology, clothing, etc.; are all recycled in glossy catalogs, commercial blogs, and sycophants of the printed page.
.. Bless them all. It provides a bit of harmless diversion for most of us. Certainly for those with no historic perspective it provides great ego satisfaction.

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.. Well, the estuaries are beginning to slow down. Snow melt is rapidly dwindling and ice is to be spotted here and there.

THEY EVEN CAME SNELLED !!

.. This is the season of "THE NEIGHBORHOOD."
.. Hebgen Reservoir is open year 'round for catching. Most of the contributory streams are closed to fishing.
.. Interestingly, stream flow continues well into the lake water.
.. There are large fish of the tout persuasion in the lake, (and from the streams,) that enjoy the edge of the flowing water as it enters the reservoir. A snowmobile is required in some locations.

MIDNIGHT SOFTY

.. 'Jeep Trails' have not yet been closed. You won't hear about it - BUT - spectacular catching is currently underway in the reservoir. Just be sure not to wet your line in the rivers and streams!

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WALLPAPER:  COFFEE AND DANISH

Not Celebrating

HUMBLE APPRECIATION

Heartfelt Thanks

genuine gratitude

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.. It was yesterday on the calendar. Today is the "celebration." Most folks call it another holiday and the excuse for a long weekend. So it has become.
.. Too many folks misunderstand the genuine sacrifice of our men and women at arms. We pause to remind our self and post this here.

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WALLPAPER:  HUNGARIAN SWEET PAPRIKA

Crossing The Wide Missouri

JUDGE SAYS WAIT

Reject Presidential Finding

more studies needed

Courtesy Photo:   GREAT FALLS TRIBUNE

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.. "U.S. District Judge Brian Morris issued an order Thursday blocking construction of the $8 billion Keystone XL Pipeline until further environmental analysis is conducted."
..  Read all about it HERE.

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WALLPAPER:   HAVE A SLICE

Happily

BEEN TWO YEARS

Sails Are Nifty

back to norris

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THE BLOND FEATHER DUSTER

.. On a personal note: caught our grayling. In the meadow by the Norris Campground entrance road. On a floating nymph. A blond Feather Duster. Great way to close the season.

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WALLPAPER:  RASPBERRY SHORTCAKE

A Different Sort Of Trout

JUST CRUZING

Loosely Schooled

an apex predator

WALLPAPER:  BETTER WET THAN DRY

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.. There is a place about 13 hours by road from West Yellowstone. It's a place where there are cobbled beaches. It's a place where there are sandy beaches. It's a place where rivers meet the ocean. It's a place where tidal flats and muddy estuaries blend together.

FEISTY LITTLE FISH

.. There are canals, boat ramps, docks, breakwaters, sea walls, and storms. It's a place where a trout can make a sumptuous living. It's is, of course, the Pacific coast of northwest North America.
.. The trout is, of course, the sea run Cutthroat Trout. Sometimes called the 'coastal trout,' 'estuary trout,' 'salty trout,' 'rain forest trout,'and other local monikers.

THE FUZZY WORM

.. These fish are driven by the availability of food. Food that is responsive to tides, sun, clouds, substrate, salinity, etc. Their behavior is complex and generally predictable while specifically  seemingly capricious.
.. There is even evidence to suggest that within a single population there is a variability of behavior that suggest diverse movement behaviors are a normal pattern.

THE STEAM FLY

.. Although not as social as trout in lakes or steelhead in the ocean, these fish can congregate in good numbers wherever food is availble.
.. There have been research results that suggest that by the age of two any individual fish has probably, established a 'home' territory. These territories overlap and can lead to the appearance, (during feeding,) of loose schools.

THE FIRE_N_SMOKE FLY

.. There are very few absolutes when fishing for these fish. Flies are variable. Water depth is variable. Food sources are highly variable, takes can occur from top to bottom at any time.
.. There are a couple of near absolutes: not a shallow sandy bottom, not too often in the brightest light, spawning occurs in fresh water streams.

THE FIRESTORM FLY

.. Typical river and stream trout gear is just fine for most situations. Care must be taken to rinse your equipment. Take a shower with it and run all your line and backing through your fingers. Corrosion happens quickly and irreversibly.
.. Smolts can migrate to the sea at any age or first year to sixth year. Some migrate upstream to spawn others  move in and out of streams for their entire life, (up to eight years.) Adult fish can eat insects, crustaceans, fish, annelids, etc.
.. There are many traditional, (gaudy,) flies for the sea run Cutthroat Trout. These frequently mimic Steelhead and Salmon flies in any given locality and region.

THE HAYSTACK FLY

.. There is currently emerging a class of flies that resemble typical stream and river flies. Given the feeding habits of these fish it does not seem to matter which class of fly is used.
.. Of course presentation is often the key to catching, (beside finding the fish.) One of the general rules is "the deeper the wigglier."
.. The ocean beckons. Listen to the clarion call.

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.. Just a day or so left to gall a trout in Yellowstone National Park. The snow has thinned the herd and there are places to park and, water to fish.

THE BEAD HEAD SOFT HACKLE

.. Your favorite rod and a few soft hackles will drum up all the dance partners that you can handle, (keep 'em wet.) No need to even get in the water. There are many eager and anxious fish just waiting for you.

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WALLPAPER:   3 RODS, FOUR TO NINE WEIGHT