Potpourri #9

GET AIRBORNE

The New Jersey Heritage Trout

Simms Steps Up
Annual Statistics Report

fishin' in the snow

.. The web and feed readers are a near fatal combination. Open one up and add some feeds: add a few more, another few for fun, and BINGO! it's a full time J.O.B. Our selection of feeds is not overwhelming quite yet, but it takes a bit too much of our fishing time, nonetheless
.. The less interesting things we digest ourselves, the rest we pass on to our visitors. Here's some of the recent things that used up a few billion electrons.

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.. Friday's breakfast meeting was so full of insight that truth had no chance. The main topic of conversation, as usual, revolved around the pictures in THE HORSE'S MOUTH. We like the sailing, the surfing, and the fish photos. We really like the wahines.
.. This week is no exception and we've borrowed two of their pics. Flying carp, flying fish, and even fly fishing take on new meanings with the one image: spectacular becomes freshly defined with the other.

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.. From HDW comes news of the genetic research that has discovered some of the east coast's finest of aquatic treasures -- native, indigenous, Brook Trout.
.. The post is an excerpt from the New Jersey Star Ledger and details the research, importance, and location of these jewels of the east. The Brook Trout is the State Fish of New Jersey and nine other states. Most of the New Jersey "Heritage Trout" are in the headwaters of just a few creeks in that state.

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.. The Simms Company, of Bozeman (Shameless Montana Plug,) sent out a recent news release that takes aim at three of the most damaging invasive species in our waters.
.. They detail some steps that anglers can take to reduce the spread of these environmental pirates. Simms is a partner in the Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers project. One of the products developed by Simms is the material used in waders and wading boots that reduces absorbency. This, combined with careful design, helps fishers clean their 'wet gear' and aid in the campaign. The text of the news release and the tips for anglers can be found HERE. It's worth more than just a click.
.. For those that don't know about it, Simms has a custom shop that will use your specifications and sizes for truly custom waders. They have added 'boot foot' waders to their custom shop line. Boot foot waders have fewer nooks and cranny's for the invasive species to hide in and are easier to clean. The Simms Custom Shop is well worth a visit.

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.. Feed readers are funny things. Ours coughed up a post from October, 2005. The delay is unexplainable. It's from a source that we deleted a couple of years ago, and haven't heard from since -- until now.
.. In the interest of full disclosure we will admit to previously seeking pictures of the distaff angler in action. Happily, this feed returned one of them. Just a bit late, though. Here's the picture and the SOURCE.

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.. Despite the perfectly prepared Breakfast, and the invasion of near truth into fishing patter; and with the continuing snow and violent breezes, we managed to visit the legendary Hebgen Tailwater. Know locally as 'Between The Lakes' this bit of water is open to fishing all year long -- if you can get to it. During winter months it is heavily fished in the most accessible section that runs along the road from about the discharge pool to the mouth of Cabin Creek.
.. Local fools and die-hard use sneaky and devious tools such as snowshoes and skis to penetrate the better water around and below Campfire Lodge. They are most frequently rewarded with good fishing, beautiful scenery, and eager fish.
..We have neither the legs nor youth for this sort of adventure anymore. But old age and guile do have their advantages. We followed some snowmobile tracks to the edge of a nice stretch of water below the lodge. Only a few times did the compacted snow give way and dump us on our fanny.
.. We danced with a few eager fish and enjoyed the exhaustion more than we have in quite a while. The fish were responding to nymphs of all sorts but only in the sizes of 14 - 18. This is a truly devastating situation for old frozen fingers. The fish are willing, the fingers are not.
.. Shop Vacs were the fish's favorite, followed by the usual assortment of Feather Dusters, Montana Dusters, Yellowstone Winter Grubs, Prince Nymphs, Hellifiknow's, and Yellow Woolly Worms. Streamers were offered, none were taken. There was some vigorous midge activity but it was confined to our nose and ears.

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.. At the end of the first quarter of each year we've taken to reviewing our statistics and posting results for the year. It's that time. With no further ado here are the summary statistics.

click on image for larger view

The Slowly Falling Autumn

THE WEATHER OUTSIDE'S DELIGHTFUL

Bears Doing Bear Things

Elk Doing Elk Things

Cutts Getting Attention

prescribed burn announced
FISHING REPORT TOO

.. The gentility of the weather has produced a bumper crop of visitors to Yellowstone National Park. The glorious Fall weather is occasionally punctuated by a snow flurry or cold shower - often accompanied by a bit of a blow. All-in-all it's just too nice to be the middle of September, (we're waiting for October's revenge.)

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.. The fourth grizzly bear attack occurred yesterday. This one was in the park. As we noted earlier the bears are restless this year - numerous too! Click over to The Seattle Times or the Bozeman Daily Chronicle for the story and the YNP page for the press release. Just before you get your fresh leader and specialty flies you should get a big canister of bear spray. Wear it where it is quickly and easily grabbed - not in your back pack. Get the big one and practice how to use it. Portions of Yellowstone and adjacent Forest Service lands have been closed to human entrance because of the attacks. It's interesting to note that no report of the attack said anything about bear spray. Despite the video below, karate does not work!!
.. Bears are not the only cranky animals in Yellowstone. Elk and bison can also do serious harm to humans during the "Testosterone Season." The video clip below shows how not to view animals in Yellowstone.

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.. If you are planning to fish in the Norris area on Monday, be advised that a 65 acre prescribed burn will take place southeast of Norris. This could affect your eyes if you're planning to fish the meadows around Wolf Lake or Virginia Cascades. Additional information and instructions for the press are included at the NPS site. The fire in the Cascade Corner continues and is not of any immediate danger to fishers on the Bechler River or Boundary Creek. However some backcountry trails and campsites are closed.

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.. West Slope Cutthroat continue to attract the attention of concerned citizens. New West reports of an effort by the Bonneville Power Administration and Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks to begin restoration of Cutthroat populations in the Flathead River Basin including parts of the Bob Marshall Wilderness. The restoration effort will take place over the next 10 years and use rotenone to kill the entire aquatic population of fish in several stream segments and lakes. A large population of Whitefish and Bull Trout, (a threatened species,) will also be killed. We anticipate that a similar effort will take place in the future on Slough Creek in Yellowstone if fishers continue to release Rainbows and the hybrid Cutbow population continues to grow. The online version of the Yellowstone Fishing Regulations, (pg. 16,) says:

Non-native rainbow trout also interbreed with native cutthroat trout, producing hybrids. Once this happens, a cutthroat population can be restored to genetic purity only if all fish are removed from a stream and genetically pure cutthroat are reintroduced. To reduce hybridization in the park’s cutthroat trout waters, anglers are encouraged to harvest rainbow trout.

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.. Hebgen Lake and Quake Lake continue to provide great catching as does the Hebgan Tailwater. The morning gulper fishing is still rewarding but the Callibaetis are thinning out. Late afternoon at the narrows or in the Madison Arm are still a viable proposition with hoppers - (we're surprised and delighted at this.) Midges and a few Caddis continue to keep the area around Campfire Lodge a viable proposition throughout the day. From Awkward Bend to the Choice Hole eagar fish are taking both the small Caddis nymphs and dark green Woolly Buggers. The fish seem to have moved from the edges to mid-channel as they move up from the lake.
.. Some small pre-spawn fish have moved into the South Fork of the Madison River and are podding up in the estuary. The neighbors with worms have found the fish in the estuary but the willows make access difficult upstream. Small streamers and Hare's Ear or Prince nymphs should gather up some nice 12" - 16" fish. There is no sign of the run above the highway.
.. The Madison River between Hebgen Lake and Baker's Hole is jam-packed with parked fish that are slow in moving further upstream. The neighbors are reporting some fish to 20" - all Rainbow Trout so far. Besides worms, Thunder Creek, Dark Spruce, Yellowstone Spruce, and black Woolly buggers seem to be the ticket to dance in this segment. There is the beginnings of a Caddis hatch at about 4:30 - 5:00 around Baker's Hole - sparse at best; the afternoon winds may make it hard to see the bugs and the rising fish. Size 16 Elk Hair Caddis on top with a size 14 Rock Worm dropper is an excellent prospecting rig.

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.. Salubrious weather and low flows continue on the west side of Yellowstone National Park. The Madison River from the park line to 7-mile bridge has some medium-sized Rainbows that are causing a rustle in the pubs. The early morning Trico spinners are getting very sparse and the evening Caddis are even less apparent. From National Park Meadows to 9-Mile Hole is a desert during the mid-day heat, (rightly so,) and only two fishers were seen in this six mile section today - wonder why.

.. The Gallatin River can be fished all day if you choose. Cover a lot of ground and prospect with a hopper - dropper rig during the heat of the day. Sometimes a pair of drowned hoopers of different patterns will produce. Stick with the smaller hoppers and beetles.
.. The best fishing on the Gibbon River continues to be above Norris Campground. Afternoons with a 3-weight and a box full of terrestrials and attractors will provide you with many dances if you're willing to stroll from hold to hold. It's a wonderfully pleasant way to enjoy this sterling little river. Be sure to look around and watch for bison and bears - a few bars of your favorite drinking songs will go a long way to keeping you safe. The riffle and run waters of the canyon are holding some nice Brown Trout, as is the pocket water around Chocolate Pot Spring. Again nothing fancy other than your approach is needed.
.. Slough Creek is producing excellent fish in from the late afternoon to the evening. It is clear, cool, and low. Terrestrials are present and will move fish -- BUT -- don't be sloppy. The big fella's are not likely to be taken with the same poor approach twice. There is a growing hatch of BWO's and midges to accompany the still present hoppers. Soda Butte Creek, in the confluence meadows, is full of late-blooming hoppers - as is the Lamar River from Buffalo Ranch to Cache Creek. A little color creeps into these waters from afternoon showers, but so far the rains have been light enough to allow pretty good fishing, (we know it won't last.)
.. For those willing to work for fish the Yellowstone River, in it's popular sections, will yield 15" - 20" Cutts on well presented Baetis imitations. Prince & Gold-Ribbed Hare's Ear nymphs will produce good fish if you are very attentive. Keep the flies on the small side, (16 - 20 on top and 12 - 16 below.) One area that has gathered up a dense population of fish is the area immediately downstream from Tower Creek. There are also fish to 18" in the lower stretches of Tower Creek.
.. Down south, Jack Dennis reports that the lakers are podding up for the spawn in Lewis Lake. The reports for the Gardner River system from Parks' Fly Shop suggest that if you pick your place, day and fly you should be amply rewarded. Give them a call and tell them hi for us.

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.. From Protect Your Waters comes good news about the battle against Rock Snot. They also bring us a bit of bad news about the two species of Asian Carp that have invaded the Upper Mississippi River Drainages. These flying carp would be a bit more entertaining were it not for the impact that have on indigenous fish -- and fishers. The Tunica Times has an excellent article about the impact in Mississippi on the lower river. And there is yet another video of flying carp produced by the Illinois Natural History Survey, Great Rivers Field Station.
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Back In Action

THE ELECTRIC DRAGON WINS AGAIN
Bikini Wars & Taste
Extreme Aerial Bowfishing
fishing report too

.. We resorted to in-home repair and fumigation to return our electric dragon to prime condition. However, that's no guarantee that the posting will improve.
.. We are a bit surprised that the Bikini Wars are returning. Get Outdoors is all weepy because an obscure post at MarineNetwork.net selected three babes that were not in keeping with the high cultural and aesthetic standards of the Bay Area.
.. We note that physical attributes and beer seem to cloud their minds as well as ours. Interestingly, the finest assortment of real-live-fishing-wahinies is in their backyard. Each Friday, and frequently more often, there are gorgeous women posted at The Horses Mouth.
..We've done the research for you; just click here to see real fishing, (and other types of,) wahinies. It makes our day; it's become a Friday ritual - just before biscuits and gravy.
.. We are aghast to learn that the new 'sport' of EXTREME AERIAL BOWFISHING is rapidly gaining adherents along the Illinois River. Just what are those poor invasive Asian Carp going to do? For a video clip of just how they do it in the Midwest visit the CHICAGOBOYZ site.
.. Steve Carson at THE FISH SNIFFER has discovered an excellent fishery in Northern California. It seems that the Sacramento River holds trout - "who'd'a thunk it?" We wonder if there are any fly fishers in the vast underpopulated wasteland of Norcal. We'll search the web and report back.

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.. Hebgan Lake is still fishing well near the shore. Just about any location with some structure and a bit of mud nearby will produce trout to 14" with ease and if you're good with a streamer, (the neighbors are using dark purple Woolly Buggers - size 4 - 10,) there are still some giants in the 16" - 18" range at The Narrows, and the South Fork Estuary.
.. Between The Lakes there are still a few large fish and some late spawners. We'd leave them alone for one more week, and then fish from shore.
.. Cabin Creek is down a bit with a bit of color. Use general attractors for these fish in the shallow riffles and try caddis nymphs, (Jacklin's Rock Worm, Hare's Ear, Prince,) in the deeper pools.
.. There are still a few nice fish in Beaver Creek. Discharge has slowed and the water is clear from Quake Lake to about 1/2 mile above the road. Caddis can be found hatching in the warm evenings, (sizes 10 - 16,) and on the cool days try a small brown or yellow Woolly Worm, (size 12 or 14 - sink it or float it.)
.. The weather and dirty water are making the Yellowstone River near Gardiner an iffy proposition right now. Check with Park's Fly Shop for updates. Fishing should bust loose there by next week, or shortly thereafter.
.. Unlike the west side of Yellowstone, the south side is still having a near normal runoff event. The Snake River is it's normal rambunctious self and fishing will be difficult for another week or 10 days.
.. Visit Jack Dennis' Shop for first hand information and tips on flies and locations. Right now the best Snake River fishing is right below Jackson Lake dam. Attractors like Humpies and Elk Hair Caddis will work to rising fish, use Prince or Pheasant Tail nymphs if you're of that persuasion.

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.. The Firehole River continues to perform admirably and predictably. When the clouds are low and the morning fair PMD's are on the menu. As the day brightens surface action continues to just about any size 12 - 16 fly. Nymphs are working in the riffles and, if floated through the shallow pools. Stoneflies are present but not overwhelming yet, use a Yellowstone Cinch or a Yellowstone Morning Glory on the top, and a Yellowstone Winter Grub down below. Spice things up with a Feather Duster or one of it's variants and you should do fine. The Canyon Section is heating up to Salmonflies, and the meadows below Biscuit Basin are producing good evening caddis hatches.
.. Nez Perce Creek is fishing very good from the confluence with the Firehole River to about the Bridge Ford. Walking along the faintly visible Mary Mountain Army Road is pleasant and salubrious. Few people go as far as the ford, and the eager fish along here are most happy to please. During this stroll it is advisable to keep fingering your bear spray as you sing the most off-tune song you know.
.. The fish in this stretch are not big, and a 12" fish will seem like a giant compared to the usual offerings of eight-incher's, (despair not; on a good day it's lightening fast action.) The section above the road is running a bit cool for this time of year but is fishing well. The Hotel Run has some nice fish to 16" and the PMD's have been later in the day than on the Firehole River. There is a very heavy caddis hatch starting about 5:30 - 6:30 PM and continuing until dark:30, (about 9:45.) By the time most of the visitors have hit the pub, the surface of this stretch is dimpled with eager fish - don't let on that we said anything.
.. The Madison River continues to shine. Because of the low runoff this river has fished better - earlier, than recent memory recalls. Just about any stretch is fishy. From 7-mile Bridge to National Park Meadows the Salmonflies are popping - but probably not for long. Consistent hatches of PMD's are still in the offing on gray mornings, the Caddis seem to be an all day and most of the night affair right now. A few BWO's are present if you're lucky enough to bump into them. Below 7-mile bridge the long riffles continue to fish well to generalized stonefly imitations, many of the neighbors are using Rubber Legs and Woolly Buggers to good advantage. Large, (size 6 - 10,) bead head Prince Nymphs are also worth flinging.
.. The Gibbon River is still a bit cold, but warming rapidly. It's just perfect for our annual Grayling quest. Right now the Brookies around Virginia Cascade are very hungry. There are Grayling here too. We're on our way now. Report on this and Obsidian Creek to follow.

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.. Visitors to West Yellowstone should avoid the south end of town at all costs. The new 300-unit time-share, and the new 80-room motel have construction debris strewn out all over the roads. Traffic is snarled in the vicinity of McDonald's and the Grizzly discovery center. Wander this way at your own peril.

ATTACK OF THE KILLER CARP

FACE SMASHING CARP ATTACKS ANGLER

FISH FIGHT BACK
All Waters Threatened
is your river safe?

From "Stop Hitchhikers" comes a report of impending doom to the Great Lakes, The whole Mississippi River Drainage, and the possible demise of all fish in the United States:
-- EXCEPT CARP! --
Read the announcement HERE.
Read the story HERE.

Beware Of Flying Carp

Prepare For The Attack

via: Scattershooting