Gettin' Any ?

 SO FAR, SO GOOD

Madison Up

gallatin down

OFF TO A GOOD START

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.. Well it looks like La Niña has kicked some snow toward our corner of the world. We've had the snow depth like days of yore. It's been dry snow and blows around for days after the event. We'll take it for now. Hope it continues.

.. The last few gentle winters have allowed Yellowstone National Park to replenish it's flora and fauna to "Postcard Splendor," Both the bison and wolf populations were at record numbers last fall, Since then about 20 of the wolves have been eliminated by hunters and 900 bison are slated to be culled (LINK  1, LINK 2.)

.. Catching along the open water edges of the legal estuaries has been exceptionally good. Snow machines are required to get to the good spots. Just about any bright sunken fly will deliver dance partners. All size  fish are on the bite.

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WALLPAPER: AMERICAN STANDARD BREAKFAST

Follow-on Work Continues

 DAM TROUBLES CONTINUE

FERC Report Filed

cold weather slows catching

HEBGEN SPILLWAY PROVIDES SOME RELIEF

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.. Northwestern Energy has filed a report with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The report details the problems with Hebgen Dam and the failure of contracted water flow in the Madison River.

.. Thanks to Anaconda Foundry Fabrication Company, {LINK,} The failed part in the dam was quickly fabricated and delivered to Northwestern Energy within 24 hours.

.. The flow in the Madison River is within contract specification at present - HOWEVER - additional work is anticipated on the dam gates and other internal structures. We will keep you informed.

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.. Our gentle transition to winter has kept catching on the lowland Madison River at a good clip. 

.. All good things must come to an end and the snow is beginning to pile up. Temperatures have finally fallen to seasonal norms and the school kids have grudgingly put on their long pants. Our snow pack is not where we would like it.

.. As previously noted {LINK,} La Niña is upon us. We are hoping that the anticipated warmer and wetter winter will ensue.

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WALLPAPER:  STANDARD SALAMI SANDWICH

The Slow Drip

LOW SNOW HIGH WATER

RAPID DISCHARGE

temperatures spiking

WALLPAPER: THE MELT IS ON

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., Very simply: snow pack down, discharge up. Looks like low water and easy fish finding coming to the neighborhood.

.. We're in the wet and rainy season. The snow that falls is just small flakes and a slight dusting. The charts and maps tell it all.

MORE THAN JUST A BIT LOW

.. The weather gods have blessed other areas more than our neighborhood. The recent warmup has also accelerated the low level melt and the rivers are running fast and warm.

.. The Firehole River is flirting with record discharge rates and has already spiked to near 60°F. The Madison River has hit over 50°F and the discharge is in record territory. 

.

.. This is not a terrible situation yet. This could rapidly become a terrible situation if the rains are warm and heavy. We'll keep you posted.

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WALLPAPER:  CHICKEN DONE RIGHT

Finally Here

GOT SOME

Still Down Some

watch for the warm up

LOOKING GOOD  --  FOR NOW

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.. The meager snowfall of the last two weeks has given our fish some hope for the coming summer.

.. The Pacific Ocean temperatures plus the polar vortex outbreak has allowed the Pineapple Express to take aim at our Pacific Northwest.

RARIN' TO GO

.. All we need now is the Gulf Of Alaska Low to reform and we will get some regular pulses of precipitation. Hopefully it will be snow instead of rain.

.. The snows have been relatively dry and contain just a small bit of water content.

.. It's perfect for challenging trees at speed and ripping donuts in the town intersections.

.. We are not holding our breath - BUT this year's winter snowpack may turn out to be O.K.

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WALLPAPER:  Ragù alla Bolognese and Spinach

The Coming Attraction

 FINALLY ARRIVING

End Of Fair Weather

early snows dwindling

..

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.. Our perfect fishing weather is coming to an end. It's just about a seasonal bullseye. We have enjoyed the last few weeks while lowlanders and new arrivals have moaned about brief snow piles.

.. What ever you need to do without multiple layers  --  DO IT NOW. Roll up the hoses. Shutter the windows. Stack the wood. Check automobile fluids. Winter is bearing down on us. We're pleased.

BIG DIP AHEAD

DEADLY ACCURATE BOOM STICK

.. Soon we will be tucked snugly in our igloos. Covid-19 will be stalking our every foray into the real world.

.. The neighbors are relieved that the knuckle dragging, mouth breathing visitors are vanishing. We're lucky so far: no Covid-19 related deaths. Three of the neighbors are out of town in intensive care. We wish them well.

BACK IN THE DAY

.. We are looking forward to this coming isolation phase of our socioclimatic calendar.

.. We'll tie a few flies. We'll attend to the rods, reels and, lines. We'll mend some clothes. We'll drag some hunting gear out of the vault and clean, oil, polish and coat some handsome stainless, blue and, camouflage metal.

..There is still time to torment a few trout. The big bend at Snow Flake Springs on the Gallatin River has quite a few submarines enjoying the food laden debris from the discharge.

NEEDS ATTENTION !!

.. The boat ramp area at upper Quake Lake has some cruising pods of pre-spawn fish that are aggressive and willing dance partners. Just down-lake a bit the delta gyre where Beaver Creek debouches into the lake has cruising monsters on their merry-go-round. They too are gobbling up sticks and other flotsam from the discharge.

.. We now mention the verboten words: Duck Creek  &  South Fork of the Madison River. Each year about this time we incur the wrath of the neighbors for this mention of our home waters. But, fish are there and very rambunctious. We're headed out now.

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WALLPAPER:  HALF-KETO BREAKFAST PLATTER

Trending

 EMERGENT FLY FISHERS

Drive To The Water

ignore walking

GOT IT ??  FLAUNT IT !!

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.. It's late fall in the neighborhood and the gentlemen sports are here in droves. Vehicles that cost as much as condominiums, (and of approximately the same size,) are sprawled across several parking spots on our streets. Dressed to the nines they only lack jodhpurs for the proper effect.

.. We're a bit jealous but not at all envious. We're here all year by choice and love it. Right now the fishing is great and the catching commiserate with angler skill and persistence. What more is there to ask?

.. Deeply presented flies are dredging up some spectacular submarines from the Madison River. The key is good mending skills and the "it 'em in the nose" approach. Not much more to say.

.. Other places to score nicely are: Firehole River above Old Faithful in the canyon and along the Lone Star Trail, Duck Creek in bear/moose country, Gallatin River above the meadows, and of course Notellum Creek.

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WALLPAPER:  FALL BOUNTY

Timely

MAK FLIES SCORES

From Afar

tie it large

..

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.. We're sure that a size 14 hook will work in June, July, August and September. Right now a size 6 or size 8 would be more appropriate for runners in the Madison River above Hebgen Reservoir.

.. The tonal combination is strikingly similar to yesterday's fly.  Go figure. The neighbors are out right now with a handful of them. Film at 11:00.

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WALLPAPER:  MR. GERMAN'S CHOCOLATE CAKE

 

Stranger Than Fiction

 WORKING NOW

Try It And See

don't tell the pros

SILVER GHOST NYMPH

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.. Apologies for the image. The angler wouldn't give us one and we only had a point and shoot camera. He called it a 'Silver Ghost' and it is tied on a size 4 hook.

.. Floated just below the film and took several nicely sized runners. Dead battery. That's all folks !!

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WALLPAPER: POTATISBULLAR + BACON + LOGANBERRIES

He's Back !!

 ASSAULT ON ACCESS

That's Your Access !!

multimillionaires united

SLUGGER IS BACK IN TOWN *

 

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.. With more than 300 million dollars in his back pocket, Greg Gianforte the "AT LARGE" Montana representative from sunny San Diego, wants to be our governor. It is our opinion that this carpetbagger believes that folks from Montana are fools and idiots.

.. We believe that Gianforte has been trying for years to sell our public lands, (just like Senator Steve Daines and Ryan Zinke.) This creationist unholy trinity is centered in Bozeman, Montana, (of course,) and, we firmly believe, is a thinly disguised real estate cabal.

.. You can check their bona fides: supports William Perry Pendley, in bed with the Charles Koch Foundation, gives $$$$$ to the Foundation on the Economy and the Environment,  gives $$$$$ to Heritage Foundation, and other sundry crusades to remove resources and access from our public lands and waters.

We could go on about this convicted "punch them in the face Californian"  --  BUT  --  check the resources below to see how your access to fishing and hunting in the last best place is being threatened.

>>> OUTSIDE <<<

>>> REMEMBER THIS?? <<<

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THE SNORTLE IS WORKING

. The breezes were blustery yesterday. We are in for a week of mixed weather and some temperatures on the coolish side. Big fish are being tormented on the lower Madison River, (all the way to Hebgen Reservoir.)

THESE WORKED YESTERDAY

  .. There are reports of submarines in the Firehole River Canyon, right near the entrance road. Although large streamers are the common ammunition for this invasion of runners some very large nymphs are also scoring big in the dance exhibitions.

.. We're on a fools errand today. Pub table, (outside,) rumors have it that there are bugs on the surface below Biscuit Basin on the Firehole River  --  we'll see.

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WALLPAPER:  LEMON CURD TURNOVERS

* courtesy 'cleveland - dot com'

Mark Your Calendar

 BIG DOIN'S COMIN'

A Death In The Family ?

some new data revealed

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.. Future tourists to Yellowstone National Park may find a forest where Old Faithful is now. Recent data collected by the U.S.G.S. combined with previous data suggests a timeline for the cessation of eruptions in the Upper Geyser Basin, (yes even Old Faithful.)

.. Radiocarbon dates on wood from the geyser mound combined with lengthening eruption intervals point to a cessation of eruptions in the near, (geological,) future. Our current, (and trending climate regime,) is most like the Medieval Climate Anomaly [LINK.] That was a time, about 800 years ago, when the North Atlantic Ocean was warmer than it is now.

All manner of human historic events occurred during that time: Norse discovered Greenland, Norse discovered North America, prolonged droughts affected the Great Basin and the Native Americans living there, Chico Canyon and Pueblo Bonito in the southwest were abandoned, etc.

RESOURCES

>> Live Science,

>> Fox News,

>> Wikipedia,

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WORKS GUUD

.. Very Big fish this year in the Lower Madison River. Avoid the Conga Lines. Cover lots of water. Bundle up. Bring warming libations. Mash a sandwich or two. Don't give up. Use big flies.

.. The dense run of big fish seems to be a bit later this year. Global warming or reduced pressure or just plain magic? Get out there now!

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WALLPAPER:  FOR THE KIDS

.

Rebound

SLEEPING WEATHER

Hopper Torpor

large pods sighted

WALLPAPER:   MADISON SMOKE AND SUNRISE

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.. So then, we received a blessed couple of days of sleeping weather. It slowed the terrestrials, surprised the dudes and newcomers, wilted the pansies, and - best of all - soothed the souls of our overextended front line workers.

.. As previously mentioned, both fishing and catching have been very good. All of our local streams and rivers and lakes and ponds have settled into their seasonal excellence.

BY THE NUMBERS

LITTLE FRIENDS

1]  Firehole River. The canyon above Old Faithful showing some early spawners. The gentle water on the Lone Star Geyser Trail has the most beautiful brook trout in the park. They are just lighting up now and taking anything that you throw. Biscuit Basin is becoming cool and look for Baetids after this weekend - otherwise hoppers late afternoon and soft hackles all of the time.

2] Madison River. Small streamers everywhere, hoppers and other terrestrials in the afternoon warm meadows, exploration of the last 3 miles for the adventurous seeking early runners.

BIG EYES

3] Gallatin River. Spawners above Bighorn Pass trailhead. It's a trek but, with good legs, worth it. Hoppers and ants when warm in grassy areas. Spawners nosing around Bacon Rind confluence. Small spawners near other tributaries. Soft hackles and small streamers working. Small fish all through Grayling Creek.

4] Hebgen Reservoir. If its warm and, with no wind the calibaetis are still there. Cool morning in all tributaries will find clouds of tricos. Below the dam is full of hungry resident fish and, Quake Lake near the outlet has pods of streamer-hungry fish, (near the trees.)

SELDOM FISHED

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.. Coming  attractions: Saturday rain, Sunday heavy overcast, Monday broken clouds and warming. This is coming on a perfect weekend!

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WALLPAPER:  QUICK TOSTADA