The View From Bozeman

WATCH THIS SITE

Best Fly Fishing Yellowstone.com

.. It promises: " . . . interviews with top guides, outfitters, retailers, and industry experts, the most essential information about the main rivers in Yellowstone (distilled) down to a page or two, provide continually updated information about the rivers in Yellowstone, including discussion of flows, current hatch data, the hottest flies, special changes – weather or management induced changes in access or regulations."

.. The home page gives a complete introduction to the site and provides an "How To" link for using the site. The Blog portion of the site looks interesting and should attract a good following.
.. With Yellowstone's thousands of miles of shoreline, the more information - the better. It being August, we are eagerly awaiting the Bechler River and Falls River updates.
.. Yellowstone fishing continues to be tough in those rivers with low flows and high temperatures. The slight cooling of the last week has not reduced the slime on the Firehole River, nor has it enhanced the catching on the Madison River.
.. The cold waters of the Gallatin River are productive, and continue to attract savvy anglers on the west side of the park. However, we suggest avoiding this river because of the current nuisance factor. The hoppers are so thick that they clog the radiator on your car: they also get in your ears and nose and mouth. It's hardly worth facing the hoppers to catch the willing fish that are engorged with them.
.. And, the flying ants are so numerous that they will splatter on your windshield to the point it's nearly impossible to see the pull-outs that are so full of cars that it's hard to find room for your own.
.. Only dedicated anglers will face the enormous shoals of fish so eager that they jump into your net with little or no provocation. It's true - the nuisance factors are so high that we suggest that you avoid the perils of the Gallatin River until the year 2009. Consider yourselves forewarned.
.. A couple of often overlooked areas are fishing very well right now. Head-hunters and braggarts need not bother with the Gibbon River.
.. If eager fish in the 6" - 14" range are in your sights try the area around Virginia Cascades. These eager fish are enjoying good hatches and cool water. There is nothing exotic about this fishing - just be a bit stealthy in the thin water. Both along the road and in the meadows around Wolf Lake there are fish just eager to entertain.
.. This is fun fishing at its best and a single fly box and a bit of tippet material will be all the gear that you need. Use the general attractors and terrestrials in sizes from 8 or 10 to 16-20. You will enjoy a gently walk, a pleasant and friendly stream, and fish that are as bright as you remember - maybe even a Grayling, (we've still not caught ours yet.)
.. If your legs are a bit better than ours take the trail to Trout Lake. Pick one of the ever more plentiful overcast days and you can almost be guaranteed a pleasant day of fishing - don't forget the bear spray.

.. Hebgen Lake is hosting a gulper frenzy. The dog days have ushered in cool, still, salubrious mornings that are just begging to be taken advantage of.
.. This is the time of the year that we refer to the fine article in Fly Fisherman: Callibaetis. Click on over there for a fine primer -- and a list of good lakes for the gulpers of the west.
.. Take the road to the Madison Arm Resort and be sure to stay on the roads that are not closed. The drive through the burned area of the Madison Arm Fire is far more dusty than usual but the trip is worth it. Right now you don't need a tube or a boat. The hour after the sun hits the water is the time to stroll the banks and cast to fish in the clear, still water.
.. The other side of the lake is also active, and depending on the wind direction can be expected to produce hatches until the early afternoon - of course success in catching is still dependent on wind for the later hours.
.. For a peek into the mind of a Bozeman Valley fisherman click on over to Trout Ball. Among many interesting items is a 2006 article about the nude fishing in the East Gallatin River . . . not for the faint of heart.
.. Over at The Horse's Mouth there is a picture that could change your mind about fishing from a pier. Then there's the snapshot of the Junior Bird Girls that could change your mind about Kite Boarding.
.. Over at Carp On The Fly we're informed that JJ is walking - there are indeed things more important than a fish on a hook! Good going JJ!
.. As Thee Hooked Whitey reminds us there is evil all around. Check the note about BP & Lake Michigan.
.. New West has an article by Montana State Senator Jon Tester about the continuing influx of people into Montana, (particularly Gallatin County,) and their actions and ideas about property rights. He doesn't mention the fact that it's his neighbors that are selling the land he's worried about. It's really hard for us to be indignant about folks from "other places" buying agricultural land when it's the folks from right here that's selling it to them! The extensive comments are well worth a read.
.. Well, it's 5:00, foggy and still as a church mouse - time for biscuits and gravy.

..

Our Fish Love The Snow

'SNOWTIME TO STAY INSIDE

Party Politics & Fishing In Montana
Snow And Cool Days Slow Rivers
Nymphomania Continues

.. We're very concerned about the state of our state, and the lack of constitutional concern shown by our law makers. SB78 is effectively dead, and it's been a miserable death, and it's strictly party politics and interest groups that have killed it. The stage is now set for a continuation of the "access vs. fencing" issue.
.. Mark Henckel of the Billings Gazette has a fine article about this sadness. His understated prose barely veils the outrage that he must feel. It comes across like lightening.
.. We fear that the outrage he expresses on behalf of the citizens of Montana will be lost on the politicians that supposedly serve them. Visit Billingsgazette.com for the article - and the amazing responses from the good citizens of Montana. It's no wonder that the legislators don't read these comments. And it's a shame that the rich landed gentry and greedy interests of this state don't understand what the word neighbor is all about - of course they just got here.

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.. Well the brief and very warm weather has come to an end. Perhaps it's in time to slow the raging runoff that is now beginning. Rivers are again above seasonal norms and averages. The slight slowing of the discharge is shown in the USGS charts, but we fear that it's going to be tough fishing for a bit.
.. Mark Henckel, (the same,) has noted the rapid coloring of the rivers and has an extensive state-wide report that is worth a glance.
.. The Firehole River has been running at over 300 cfs above average, the Madison River near West Yellowstone is charging along at over 400 cfs above average. Upstream the Gibbon River is also going quickly at more than 150 cfs above average.

.. A sure indicator that the melt is well advanced is the discharge from Yellowstone Lake. The Yellowstone River at its exit from the lake is now at about 350 cfs above the 77 year median flow.

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.. Despite the recent 50 degree temperature swings, and despite the rapidly increasing runoff, and despite the nasty wind that has howled for two days; there is still some excellent fishing to be found in the neighborhood.
.. The Madison River between the lakes, (see map below,) is still fishing well. This tailwater fishery is now full of spawning trout and we urge you to avoid the easy targets. Avoid too, wading in the shallows: each step could kill 500 trout.
.. Nymphs of various sorts are producing fish with regularity. Campfire Run and Awkward Bend are fishable from the shore, have some deep holding water, and the sort of substrate that is made for a nymph fisherman. Some caddis have been spotted and are in the 12 -14 range.
.. The Flashback Quill Nymph is admirably suited to the current conditions. Fished in tandem with an elk hair caddis it is a 'go-to-rig' for the current water conditions. Use a rather large and bushy elk hair caddis, (as much as a bobber as a lure,) and vary the depth of the nymph so that it is just above the bottom. A simple skank-slip will allow you to cast and adjust without too much trouble in the Awkward Bend stretch of this tailwater.
.. Recipe:
Hook: Size 18 or 20 nymph hook
Thread: Black
Body: Black thread or peacock quill
Tail: Pheasant tail
Ribbing: Fine silver wire
Head: Peacock herl/large tinsel flash
.. Speaking of caddis: click on over to Thee Ass Hooked Whitey for a look at an amazing bit of sculpture disguised as a caddis fly.

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Death Of A Blog

WHEREIN THE FOUL HAVE FALTERED
Last Post Smells Like Daisies - Appropriate!
such is the life of filthy lucre
this is no april fool

Don't Click Here!

gotcha

AHW TIME in Yellowstone

HAVE A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR

TIME WARNER IS WATCHING

AHW To The Rescue

who'd 'a known?

.. After some rest & refreshments; and whilst reviewing blog statistics for the past year, a note of concern slowly crept into our Psyche.
.. TIME, (the magazine - and all of its corporate power,) is watching us! And, not afraid to show it.
.. Of the last 100, or so, visitors from around the world: visitor # 14,402 this year was a spy from the legitimate media. They were probably looking to see if we did right by their person of the year.
.. Additional snooping in the statistics showed that there was an unseemly number of referrals from AHW. Using all of our powers of investigative reporting we sneaky-footed to the "BLACK DOMAIN" and discovered that verily there was another blog worthy of note. A blog that, indeed would probably qualify for the cover.
.. Not wanting to offend Mr. Richard D. Parsons ** a talented lawyer, or others in the Hallowed Halls of the legitimate press, we have emended our post about fly fishing blogs.
..The magazine cover should really have featured a representative blog of sterling quality, innovative reporting, blinding insight, herculean prose, and mass appeal.
..To correct this error we show below the way TIME should have done it!

AHW TIME
We should'a stolen a fish for the cover.

**Before joining Time Warner, Mr. Parsons was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dime Bancorp, Inc., one of the largest thrift institutions in the United States. Previously, he was the managing partner of the New York law firm Patterson, Belknap, Webb & Tyler. Prior to that, he held various positions in state and federal government, as counsel for Nelson Rockefeller and as a senior White House aide under President Gerald Ford. Mr. Parsons received his undergraduate education at the University of Hawaii and his legal training at Union University's Albany Law School.