Got Flies ?

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Off Topic

BILLION $$$ WAR

Sailboat Race

two years to go

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.. The boats are faster than our old fishing car. The sail boats competing in the 36th AMERICA'S CUP CHALLENGE, in 2021, are just now taking to the water for trials and shakedowns, [HISTORY.]

AMERICA'S CUP

.. The most recent integration of computer technology and aqua-dynamics have brought these boats to the point of flying on the water.
.. Many years ago, (in another life,) we were the proud owners of a hole in the water that we poured all of our extra cash into. A telling experience and a lesson well learned.
.. Long ago we did venture to Perth, Australia to see TEAM USA finally lose the Cup - for the first time since winning it in the first race in 1851.
.. The trophy cup, (named after the ship AMERICA,) has a history almost as storied as the race to possess it, [CUPL.]
.. Peripheral to our interests, now, is this competition that has expanded to include some competitors of the economic giants of our world - both countries and corporations.

JUST FLYING ALONG

.. For the cynical; the history of the race can be viewed as the recent history of our economic expansion around the world. We're waiting for the first competitive entry from China. A large and, largely unknown stage for international competition on multiple levels. SUCH A DEAL!
.. The competition has progressed to the point that 'mules' and complete test boats are built - just to test new ideas for the formula. The one design formula is supposed to allow competition to be equalized among the boats. It is analogous to FORMULA ONE racing.

CHECK IT OUT

.. BUT, and it's a big but - some teams always manage to find loopholes and fudgefactors that give them the advantage. Thus the technology and skills are advanced.
.. The next challenge will be in boats using the foil cant system, [FOIL.] Many of the current test boats, (costing hundreds of thousands of dollars,) are on the water [WATER.] Such is the nature of testing and perfecting concepts and, hardware and, software, [CLASS RULE.]
.. We've come a long way in the last 170+ years. Big business is required for big sports, (NBA, NFL, PGA, etc.) Now we can watch.

AMERICA

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.. It's a soft and drippy day. The kids from the 'hood' are streaming in from a morning of torment for themselves and the fish. Report tomorrow.

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WALLPAPER:  It's not beluga but tastes pretty good; Osetra Karat caviar, crème fraîche, scallion tips on baby blini

Easter In The Park

WET AND WILD

Wind, Rain, Snow

a wet wonderland

WELCOMING COMMITTEE

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.. Such a magnificent three days in Yellowstone National Park. All the splendid vistas and all the quixotic presentations of weather have been on display. It's presenting us with a soft drizzle at the moment.
.. Of course the casual visitor wants it to be bright sunshine and no breeze with billowing clouds in blue skies. That happens.

MYSTERIOUSLY SOFT AND GRAY

.. The majesty of the place is however, in fact, it's diversity from minute to minute and, place to place and, day to day and, season to season. To be able to experience rain and snow and sun in the same day is a wonder in itself.
.. The neighbors appreciate this. They revel in it. They giggle at the idealizations of the casual visitor. They wonder at the foreign thought and superficial attitudes that decry an overcast sky or a bit of precipitation. My my.

THE WAY IT SHOULD BE ?

.. There is still snow on the ground. FOR SHAME! How could they!
.. There is bison shit smeared all over the wet roads. You think that 'they' would do something about that.
.. The damp and wet conditions have stifled visitation at the North Entrance. There is even some mud on the roads and Parade Ground Trails, [see it here.]
.. Heaven forbid that shoes should get dirty on the way to the wet picnic benches. OOPS - forgot the poncho and drop cloth.

LIGHT GREEN NOW

.. It's not too surprising that the ungulates find the wet meadows where green is ready to eat. Some find them sooner than others.
.. Wet feet do not seem to be a hindrance. Ah, diverse meadows.
.. Not all the roads are open right now [LINK-R] but they will be - more or less.
.. The park's roads meander through a wide range of elevations. They are built on a wide range of substrates. They follow a wide range of game trails and early stagecoach routes.

FOOD FOR SOME

.. The freeze/thaw cycles throughout the year cause upheavals and down-warping. Potholes, rips, tears, lumps, bumps, humps and breaks propagate throughout the year.
.. Road construction is a given. Just another thing to whine about for the perfect world folks.
.. Where there is no grass there is still food for some critters. It's fact of life that death occurs in Yellowstone National Park.
.. People die. Animals die. Plants die. The death feeds the life. The sun and, the snow and, the rain all feed the life. Such a wonderful place - rain or shine.

OLD FAITHFUL CABIN

.. The park concessionaires and NPS personnel are busy getting rid of the many  'inconveniences' in preparation for the onslaught of visitors that will come to "do the park." Ought to be able to see it all in a day or two.
.. Golly gee wiz. The damn roads and, construction and, crowds and, critters and, trees in the road cause slow travel; sometimes even delays.
.. Of course there was never a plan to get out of the car, (SUV, MOBILE CONDO, CAMPER VAN, etc.) A leisure pace seems foreign to the mentality of the casual visitor to the park.
.. One thing is certain - this park, (despite concepts to the contrary,) is not your typical city park. A day in the park can turn into a lifetime - and never experience it all or, even1/2 or, less.

QUIET FOR NOW ON OPENING DAY

.. The rivers and streams between the West Entrance and both Mammoth and Old Faithful are clear cold and at bank level.
.. Color is just beginning to creep in, [ MADISON, FIREHOLE.]
.. The Madison River at Cameron is setting new records every day [CAMERON.]

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WALLPAPER:   SOME PINK GOOP ON THE DONUTS

Strange Bunnies

BUNNIES LAY EGGS

In Colors

visual proof

FROM THE EASTER BUNNY

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.. SEE !

Film At Eleven

GATES OPEN

Sun Coming

we'll let you see

COME JOIN THE THRONGS

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.. Yellowstone open today.
.. It's early. The kids will be here for coffee and hot dogs, (strange tradition.) Then off to see the sights in wonderland.

RESOURCES

YNP WEBSITE
ALERTS
MAPS
CALENDAR
FISHING

WEST ENTRANCE WEBCAM

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.. Best that we smash some sliced meat between some bread and fill a flask or two. We'll call it lunch and then ice cream at Old Faithful, (another strange tradition.)
.. Off we go - soon.

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WALLPAPER:  HOME MADE - HOLES AND ALL

Hot Right Now

OLDIES

But Goodies

in a trout's eye

WALLPAPER:  BUNCH O' DUSTERS

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.. A couple of the neighbor kids are busy replenishing their supplies of Feather Dusters.
.. It's an old favorite in our neighborhood. It's not touted by the counter help at the local feather merchants - probably no cheap commercial source.

ORIGINAL FEATHER DUSTER

.. Ever since Wally Eagle started tying them they have been in all the neighborhood fly boxes, (STORY HERE [scroll down].)
.. The original pattern was made from a feather duster that Wally used in the fly shop. It's colors were constrained by the ostrich feathers in that one item.

PINK FEATHER DUSTER

.. Of course, over time, our local mob has modified the little darling and we now have a wide variety of variants.
.. As the kids tie, they try. Right now the pink variant is red pink hot. Call it an egg. Call it an attractor. Call it what you wish: it's doing a job in the local waters.
.. The yellow vatiant will come into it's own in a very short time and is often used as a dropper behind the early caddis hatch patterns (late mom's day this year.)

SULFUR FEATHER DUSTER

.. Large pink ones are often dropped early below a stonefly pattern: even below giant Salmonfly patterns.
.. We seldom mention this pattern because it is often taken for granted as 'in the box.'
.. But, as right now, when it is bending rods, twirling reels and, clicking clickers - we let you in on the action.
.. It is being used at the edge of the ice and along the rip rap on Hebgen Reservoir. It is scoring very well in the spawning areas Between The Lakes.

RUBBER BAND CADDIS

.. Even the kids with the sled have reported exceptional action at the South Fork Estuary.
.. Some success was also noted at the frozen springs near the mouth of Grayling Creek, This is tough to get to but highly productive this time of year.
.. You can get fairly easy access if you enter at the old Grayling Creek Post Office Site.

GRAYLING CREEK ACCESS

.. You can park at the turn out and take the trail by the NO TRESPASSING sign.
.. The cattail/willow marsh is still partially frozen and you should not step in any open spaces.
.. Drop a feather duster below something that floats very good and let the gentle currents from under the ice carry it to the fish.

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.. Tomorrow is GOOD FRIDAY. Even though Germany forbids dancing and horse racing we should not worry. The West Entrance of YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK will open it's gates.
.. It looks to be a postcard day. Bright blue skies with billowing white clouds will give visitors many opportunities for "THAT PHOTO."
.. It should be 60°F by early afternoon - and there is a predicted high of 65°F around 5:00 or 6:00 PM. We ordered it up just for y'all.

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.. We should spend the rest of the day in productive chore elimination routines. It is Spring and there is much to do. However a mosey through town and to the gossip spots is in order. Besides that, there are some groceries to gather up.

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WALLPAPER: CHICKEN FRIED STEAK

WALLPAPER: COUNTRY FRIED STEAK

Just A Little Bit . . .

OF RAIN

Of Snow

of catching fish

FINALLY: EMERGENCE OF THE KITCHEN GARDEN

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.. Our typical Spring mix of rain and snow and hail and graupel is continuing. The kitchen garden is exposed and there is some green from new rhubarb leaves and old strawberry plants.

NEARLY CONVERTIBLE WEATHER

.. Cleanup will wait for another 10 days or so depending on Zeus. The onion sets and other seeds are here and bursting their packets to get in the ground.
.. The neighbors, (those with multiple vehicles,) have rolled out the summer cars and are anticipating the opening of Yellowstone National Park.
.. By the bye: opening day for the West Entrance is April 19, 2019. You can watch the hoards on the West Entrance webcam HERE. The OLD FAITHFUL streaming webcam is RIGHT HERE.

URINE STAINED WOLF

.. For some strange reason the Madison River between Quake Lake and Ennis is surprisingly clear. Even the silt plumes from the West Fork are only lightly stained.
.. Fishers of the lowland river are floating and wading and doing well. With subsurface visibility up to 4' the big nymphs with heavy leaders are choking the gullible trout.

THE SNORTLE

.. This is the time of year that fisher folk begin to think of some salmon flies. They really should be fishing the nymphs. As the water warms and rises the triggers for movement are engaged.
.. Both the Rosy Wolfee and the Snortle have been excellent producers with a deep drift from the boat.

GREEN GOLD MATUKA

.. The wade fishers are still doing well with rapidly , (downstream,) stripped streamers. Aim for the eddy water by large rocks and boulders. A Matuka of your favorite dark olive color is a good bet.

SPARSE DARK SPRUCE

.. Up here there is still a bit of snow on the ground. It has not stopped the energetic neighbors from testing the waters of Quake Lake near the outlet.
.. Gingerly navigate the boulder field to the water's edge. Rig up a short stout leader and sink tip. Big streamers with big nymph followers will jiggle your chain and clicker.

BEAD BELLY WORM

.. San Juan Worms are excellent in the protected current swirls near the shoreline right at the outlet. WATCH YOUR FOOTING!
.. Two of the strong legged neighbors took sleds close to the South Fork Estuary and post holed their way to the water's edge.
.. Snakes of the spawned out variety were encountered. A couple were brought to hand and quickly released. There is still some color left in the fish but not much fight. Wait a couple of weeks for this part of the neighborhood.

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.. The Post Office is crowded with the folks of the dalliance persuasion. Today's postmark is required or your tax filing is deemed late.
.. The coffee is gone. The dishes are done. The errands are run. The couch and a day of binge watching beckon. Just what, will come to us.

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WALLPAPER:  FOLD OR, ROLL YOUR OWN CREPES

Go Katie

PHENOMENAL !

READ IT HERE

Be Bear Aware

ON THE MADISON

Or Near Enough

escaped one

RIGHT THAARRRE !

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.. It's in the news. You can read about a summer resident that was attacked by a grizzle bear. Knocked down. Used a quick draw technique for bear spray while face down with the bear on his back.
.. Sprayed the bear. The bear left.

NEWS RELEASE . . .  courtesy FWP

  A 17 year-old male was attacked by a bear south of Ennis on Sunday. He fortunately survived the attack with relatively minor injuries.
  The teen and his family were visiting their cabin in Wolf Creek, about 30 miles south of Ennis, on the east side of the Madison Valley. He was out looking for shed antlers in the area.
  According to the teen, he was walking down a hill around 2 p.m. when he heard a “thump” behind him.
  He turned around to see a bear charging at him. The teen was carrying bear spray, but he was unable to deploy it immediately because of the bear’s rapid approach. The bear pushed him up against a tree and held him there momentarily.
  When the bear let go, the teen fell over and attempted to crawl between two trees and protect his head and vitals. The bear then pinned him face-down on the ground.
  The teen, who was wearing a hoodie and a backpack, said he was able to reach over his shoulder and spray the bear with bear spray, and the bear left.
  The young man began walking out and made radio contact with his family. He was treated for his injuries at Madison Valley Medical Center and later released.

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.. We're under a "Hydrologic Alert." & a "Winter Storm Warning."That just means that the current wet stuff coming down is warm enough to enable some downstream flooding. Check it out HERE.

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WALLPAPER:  CINNAMON BREAD WITH ZANTE CURRANTS

Local Celebration

WHAT A PLACE

Friends & More 

quick - - imbibe

WALLPAPER:  EARLY START - 18 MORE TO GO

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.. This is an interesting little village. It has often been described as a drinking town with a fishing problem. That could be true.

YOUR CHOICE

.. We have more Chinese restaurants than Pubs. We have more Pubs than Fly Shops. We have more Fly Shops than Churches. And, so it goes.
.. This is "NATIONAL BEER DAY." Just another commercial hook to bring a product or service or celebration to the fore and add a 'hook.'

NOT MUCH OF A CHOICE

.. We're hooked. The beer distributors have curried great favor with the pubs and grocery stores and convenience stores.
.. Visitors from afar can request their favorites from back home.
.. Our neighbors enjoy the day. There is no need to pretend a thirst. There is no need to seek out dim corners for sharing fish tales or consummating a tryst.
.. Today is a day to celebrate suds. From Guinness® on tap to Bud in a can this is a day of no excuses. Chug it down and swim in the soft glow for a day, (or more?)

CHOOSE A BAR

.. We even have a couple of real bars. Not the favorite pubs of the Western United States but real - genuine - bars.
.. They feel like bars. They make no pretense to being a pub. They are a bar. They have quite a few local habitues. But of course, they do serve beer as well.
.. We even have a pub in a barn that serves food with your beer if you should so choose. It's quite popular with visitors because it is filled with cute western bits of decor and features an outside drinking area.

CHOOSE A NOISY BARN

.. It's a place to pretend you are in the old west - if you can ignore the traffic noise from the state highway just 10 feet from the front door and outdoor patio.
..  It's comforting to know that there are choices in cuisine, religion, tap rooms and, roadhouses.

SORT OF IRISH PIZZA

.. We're too far north for a cantina but, despite the distance, there is an Irish flavored dive. Founded, long ago, by real Irish folks - though long since sold and re-sold.
.. There are places that cater to our Hispanic population, our fishing population, our working Anglo population, our casual drinking population and, our hard core drinkers and fighters.

PICK A FISHY PLACE

.. There are even a couple of pubs that aim their ambiance at the wayward traveler that happen to alite here for a cold one.
.. On occasion we visit a few of these retreats. We pretend that we're in the place for the usual.
.. We fool ourself into the belief that it's the neighborly thing to do. It just might be.

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.. Some Springtime news is beginning to filter out of that mysterious park which forms the eastern boundary of our little village.
1) Free Springtime bicycling, walking and such is available over 49 miles of park roads. From the West Entrance to Mammoth is currently plowed and open. Going to Old Faithful will soon be plowed completely dry.
2) The bears are out early and very widespread. Sightings at: Canyon Village, Fishing Bridge, Mammoth Hot Springs, Swan Lake Flats, Norris Junction. Tracks at Old Faithful and Fountain Flat.
3) Yellowstone Park Fisheries 'PUBLIC MEETINGS' have been scheduled: 
-- the Bozeman meeting is 7pm April 29,
-- the West Yellowstone meeting is 7pm April 30.
-- Location and topics will be announced soon.
>> Keep up to date with Yellowstone National Park news releases HERE.

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WALLPAPER: MR. GERMAN'S ORIGINAL CHOCOLATE CAKE