The Turning Worm

SEASON OF SWEETNESS

A Double Delight

submarines sighted

SWEET STUFF FOR THE NEW YEAR

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.. We have, in our village, only one Jewish family. There is a fly fisher among them. This is a signal moment in time for these neighbors. Rosh Hashanah, sometimes called the Jewish New Year, coincides with the dawning of "Runner Fever."
.. Pods of large fish have been sighted in the estuary where the Madison River debauches into Hebgen Reservoir. This is the pre-spawn ritual for sex charged trout.

WORKS IN ALL WATERS

.. This is a season of sweetness for both the Jewish family and, fly fisher folk.
.. Sweet food is the theme of Rosh Hashanah meals. Sweet fishing is theme for fly fishers. Indeed; the worm has turned.
.. Flies that are hawked by the feather merchants are often called "sweet." There are many "best flies" in the various vocabularies of counter help in our fly shops. For some inexplicable reason the best flies and, those not best all work to take fish.

BAKER'S HOLE BUGGER

.. In the dark corners of our pubs, secrets are shared. Secret flies, secret waters, secret techniques, are shared in muted tones.
.. The truth of the matter is that the underpinnings of all these secrets is that; "JUST HIT 'EM IN THE NOSE."
.. A combination of fly, leader, line and, depth in the water column will succeed if the fish is bonked in the nose. The key, despite the hyperbole of the counter help, is finding the fish and presenting the fly.

PHEASANT AND BLUE

.. Fly selection is always a combination of personal choice and marketing hype. We've enumerate the most popular flies used in the neighborhood HERE.
.. One perennial favorite of the counter help and, our visitors, is the Baker's Hole Bugger. It is a representative of the class of big gaudy streamers used around here. These flies and patterns are ubiquitous and highly variable. Use any of them. They are all the best.

BRINDLE AND HEN

.. We would suggest that the coming snow and heavy overcast weather will bring forth elbows aplenty along the hides and dark water of the Madison River.
.. Cover all the water! Get down! Move, move, move! Arrive early and stay late! The fish are moving based on shadows, water depth, fishing pressure and, pure caprice.
.. There are really no secrets. There are, however, less fished places that regularly hold fish. These places are just not mentioned frequently.
.. If you should choose to indulge in 'runner fever' and, choose ask for advice from the local counter help -- be sure to ask them when they last fished where they are sending you. It may be a bit dicey, BUT, ask how they know what they know.

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COMING ATTRACTION

.. The neighbors are busy with patching waders, wringing out wet woollies, building gourmet bologna sandwiches and, deciding where the fewest elbows are likely to be. It's tough work but someone has to do it.
.. A few young'uns are headed to the spawning canyon of the Firehole River. For those in the know, it's the steep little canyon just beyond the bridge above Old Faithful. It's an easy 300 yard walk in and, it feels like five miles coming out. Big fish aplenty and little to no fishing pressure.

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WALLPAPER:  SOME LIKE IT RED