Just One More

ANOTHER MAK FLY

Cute Little Thing

neighbors using it now

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 MORE ENTERTAINMENT

.. The neighbor kids down the block are on a YouTube tear. They keep us entertained with contemporary insight and gifts of fluff. Thanks folks.
.. This midge pattern grabbed them in the soft parts and they are fishing it right now down Between The Lakes.

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.. Another day of melt down: 35°F is not our typical late January number. Should have a couple more days of tropical heat before the February freeze hits. We'll see what goes down.

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WALLPAPER:  MEATBALL BREAKFAST

Winter Entertainment

MORE FROM MAK

For Worm Fans

typical visitor video too

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.. Just a little red thing to add to the worm conversation. This is an easy and simple pattern. It can be tied larger than mentioned and, one of our neighborhood fishers is tying in size 4 and 6. Could this replace the San Juan sort of worm? We'll see in a few months.

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.. Here's a time waster for when the pizza delivery is running slow or you have a late night moment. A brief remembrance of last summer and, visitors trying to cherry-pick the best of the Madison River.

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WALLPAPER: SOME ITALIAN MEATBALLS

The Paradox Of Choice

NEED ANOTHER ROD ?

Which One ?

maybe get two ?

WALLPAPER:  A WONDERFUL SELECTION

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"The paradox of choice is an observation that having too many options to choose from, rather than making people happy and ensuring they get what they want, can cause them stress and engender problematic decision-making."

PICK A ROD, ANY ROD

.. Here we are in mid winter and it's warm. Snow is coming and melting at the same time.The mind wanders to springtime fishing and what gear to get ready. We think about our hoard of rods, reels, lines, flies and other accouterments that need to be readied for the opening.
.. Aha! Selections in this day and age are greater than ever. We think that there are more types of gear than at any other time in history - certainly more than in recent memory.
.. What a wonderful world. Enormous amounts of gear and accessories. Enormous amounts of manufacturers. Enormous amounts of vendors. Enormous amounts of experts. Enormous amounts of destinations and locations. Zowie - boy we are blessed!

Autonomy and Freedom of choice are critical to our well being, and choice is critical to freedom and autonomy. Nonetheless, though modern Americans have more choice than any group of people ever has before, and thus, presumably, more freedom and autonomy, we don't seem to be benefiting from it psychologically, ( — quoted from Ch.5, The Paradox of Choice, 2004)

.. We see this frequently. Which one to buy. How much to spend. Maybe we should think about it for a while. We'll ask the neighbors. We'll ask the counter help. We'll search the web. We'll read a book or two. Etc., etc.

PICK A REEL, ANY REEL

.. From 'Choice Overload' to 'Buyer's Remorse' there is a range of anxieties that can result from our selection of gear. Hell, there is even the on stream penis fly rod envy. The glance askance toward the tackle in the parking lot, the walk to the stream, and other opportunities.
.. We even note the concept, (rapidly growing over the last decade,) that 'BETTER' gear makes a better fisher. To cite the photographer's insight. "Question: what camera is the best camera? Answer: the one that's in your hand!)
.. Better fishers are made by fishing. Better casters are made by casting. Long ago, (in San Diego,) we saw a famous fly fisher cast the full length of a fly line by using a plumber's friend, (that bathroom plunger we all know and love.)
.. We would suggest that all of us have all the gear that we need. We often wonder if we confuse what we need with what we want. Ah, the curse of affluence!

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NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS

.. We have mud instead of packed snow leading into the winter fishing spots. The combination of snow, rain and high mid day temperatures provides goop on the trail and slush on the roads. Of course, night time temperatures bless us with some black ice and slick roads.
.. The mid day rush to the grocery store and the Post Office is a wonder to behold. Folks are even walking around town and, of course, some kids are wearing short pants. The high country snow pack seems to be building and avalanches are frequent.

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WALLPAPER: GENTLE CARAWAY RYE

Participation Government

TAKE THE TIME

Call Your Senator

if you even know

WALLPAPER:  ALL IN

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.. Public participation in the impeachment trial is a simple thing. Just call your senator and express your opinion. Believe it or don't: the truth is that senators take account of the opinion of constituents that take the time to call.

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WALLPAPER:  BEEF WITH VEGETABLES SOUP

A Week Of Warm

IF SNOW COMES

We'll Take It

end of january ??

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.. This is a wonderful gift from the weather gods. As long as we get a couple of inches, (or more,) each day the snow pack up high will be adequate.
.. The fishing neighbors are fishing, the sledheads are sledding, the shoppers are shopping and, a few school kids are wearing shorts. Life is good.

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WALLPAPER:  RIB STEAK WITH APPLES, POTATOES & AND BUTTER

Famous Canids

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.. Worth the watch - only 13 minutes.

Mark Your Calander

FOURTH ANNUAL

Date Changed Again

for our three day invasion
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WHAT A SILLY FESTIVAL AND OH SO MUCH FUN

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CARBON UKULELE

.. Once again the dates for the West Yellowstone 'Ukulele Festival' have changed. It's still in February but is moved to the 'President's Day' invasion. It should be a merry time for all visitors.

PLANT 'EM SHALLOW

.. The official holiday is Washington's Birthday. The various spellings of,  (President's Day, Presidents Day, Presidents' Day,) have arisen since about 1950 when the Associated Press started using the spelling without the apostrophe. Their reasoning was that because it uses an attributive noun and the holiday is meant for all presidents as well. With the apostrophe after the 's' it shows that its meant to celebrate the presidents as well but the day belongs to them.
.. There are several new local and regional groups that will be performing. The schedule, in the past,  has fluctuated with the whim of the organizers and performers. Be prepared for the jungle telegraph to keep you informed.
.. The ice rink is solid now and the sticks, chairs, kids and parents are carving noodles all over.

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.. Got some snow. Getting a wee bit more. Adequate pack for now - temperature permitting. Fingers crossed. Never worried in the recent past. Oh well.
.. Mark your calendar !!

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WALLPAPER:  PRESSURE COOKER ROAST BEEF & VEGETABLES

Chastised

NEIGHBORS WRATH

Apology Tendered

here's two more winners

WALLPAPER:  PRICKLY CARROT

WALLPAPER:  SPIDER MIDGE

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.. At the warm corner of a less visited watering hole we gathered  to warm ourselves. In addition to mundane topics we elicited some stories and insight into the success of the hardy folk who had just returned from the frozen nooks and crannies of the South Fork Estuary.
.. In the most collegial fashion they gave up their prized knowledge. They shared places, techniques and, fly choices. They are pleased to invite other folks to enjoy the wonders of easy catching during this brief early winter window of opportunity.
.. We agreed to share the patterns of the successful fly selections (LINK.) Of course our age degraded neurons omitted a couple of fly selections used in their catching frenzy. We were reminded of this lapse and, did then  - and - do now, apologize. The flies above accounted for their fair share of the snakes returning from sexual shenanigans to Hebgen Reservoir.
.. Some Baetis nymphs are a reddish orange color. We suppose that the Prickly Carrot could be taken for one of those. That was the rational for the pattern offered by it's originator: sizes 14 - 10.
.. The Spider Midge  is a multi purpose pattern. In the summer it works as an ant or spider imitation, In the winter it works as a midge and a snow fly: sizes 18 - 12.

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.. As our weather teeter totters between snow and fog we continue to hold out some hope for more snow and less cold or warm. Right now the fog is thick as the air continues to warm to temperatures above freezing.
.. The oh-so-wise and, learned weather mavens have promised more snow. We'll see.

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WALLPAPER:  MAYONNAISE GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH

That Time Of Year

MORE TYING

Less Catching

a lot of squinting

WALLPAPER:  SPIKII THE LITTLE GOLDEN STONEFLY

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.. We are watching the white stuff falling out of the sky. It's a blessing and is sure to be appreciated by the ski crowd, the sledheads, and, the fly fishers around here.

BEAD HEAD SHOP VAC

.. Some of the young folks are taking sleds to the mouth of the estuary of the South Fork of the Madison River. The spawn is about over and the snakes are returning to Hebgen Reservoir. The ice is creeping toward the river and soon it will not be legal to fish and catch over  there. But, as long as the estuary extends into the reservoir beyond the natural shoreline the trouts are fair game.
.. As the discharge slows into the reservoir the debris and flotsam hangs in the water before sinking. Trouts enjoy these slim - but easy - pickings. small twigs, leaf bits, nymphs, and other debris are all indiscriminately gobbled up by very hungry sex ravaged trout. Some fishers know about this.

SCALAWAG

.. The neighbors are mostly using one of three patterns: Spikii, Bead Head Shop Vac and, Scalawag. These can be seen and are very attractive in the debris fall from the discharge into the estuaries.
.. These patterns are easy to tie and require only a modicum of squinting, (sizes 10 - 16.) This is a good thing!

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..  Over the next couple of warm days we could get 6 or 7 inches of very dry fluff. It will make for good snapshots and stories of buried snow machines. It will also make tender cornices that will trigger avalanches. SLEDHEAD beware. Some skiers head that high up the mountains too. There are some new trucks parked around he Gallatin County Sheriff and Rescue building.

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WALLPAPER:  ROAST BEAST SANDWICH

Coming Soon

UKES A PLENTY

West Yellowstone Ukulele Fest

bring plastic or wood

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., Next month is the West Yellowstone Ukulele Festival.  We'll Keep you posted. Here's a few teasers to sate your hunger.

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A MIDGE OR TWO

.. We've entered the 'more cold than snow' part of winter. Pubs are places to relax and warm up. The "D" word is still being whispered.
.. The sturdy neighbors of the younger persuasion are enduring clogged guides. Some have ventured way down to lowland Ennis on the Madison River. Catching is excellent and midges are working overtime in the soft backwaters. Yum, Yum.
.. The weather forecast is for dribs and drabs of snowfall. The anticipated 1" to 3" per day is welcome but not overwhelming.

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WALLPAPER:  QUICK AND EASY LUNCH

On The Edge

THE "D" WORD

Pray For Snow

or use voodoo

DROUGHT MONITOR

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Might be too early to panic . . . BUT!

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WALLPAPER:  BE PREPARED

Big Thank You

MEMORIES

Childhood Glutton

try it this way

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.. We have memories that lay dormant for decades. Then, BOOM, they are triggered by some event. That just happened and, we are surprised and thankful.
.. A big shout out to the tribe over at Chi Wulff. Thank y'all for he post about Muffuletta sandwiches. Although we've only been to New Orleans once and, briefly at that, we sampled the sandwiches. At that, long ago time, our childhood memories were not as dim as now.
.. The Muffuletta post triggered those dim memories in blazing neon. Thanks folks! We're not of Sicilian heritage. Reggio in Calabria is close enough. So what?!
.. As a wee child we developed a taste, (more like obsession,) with the way the relatives made the sandwiches. Begging for more was not beneath our countenance. We would gobble as much as was allowed - more than most, indeed.
.. With those memories still bright in the head we suggest a sandwich most like the one we remember. We're on the way to the grocery right now. We'll bake the bread this afternoon. The olive salad will marinate over night and, tomorrow our glutton self will take over. Burps and Farts be damned!

Great Video = CLICK HERE,  try it this way.

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USE THIS ONE

..  Got a bit of snow. A bit more on the way. Neighbors have succumbed to the joys of easy catching between the lakes. Soon the redds will be visible and it will be time to find other places.
.. Hopefully the high country will continue it's steady march toward an adequate snowpack - maybe even more.
.. This is the time of year that prognosticators begin to look to the hills from whence cometh out streams.

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WALLPAPER:  FINALLY SOME SNOW TO SHOVEL