YELLOWSTONE KILLING RARE FISH

Yellowstone Cutthroats Sacrificed For Westslope Variety
this all started with imported fish



-- The National Park Service is going to poisen a small population of Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout in Specimen Creek and introduce West Slope Cutthroats into the stream.
-- This action is being taken because Todd Koel, (Yellowstone's fisheries manager,) believes that: "We need to work proactively to restore westslope cutthroat to Yellowstone." He outlined his position to Scott McMillion in a Bozeman Daily Chronicle article on May, 09, 2006.
-- Interestingly, this is the same justification that Yellowstone fisheries "experts" used for hatcheries in the park, introduction of von Behr Brown Trout into Yellowstone waters, introduction of McCloud River Rainbows into park waters, introduction of Loch Leaven Brown Trout into the park.
-- These "experts" need to take a close look at just what they are doing. If it is justifiable to remove a native species from it's home range for any reason - then why is it not justifiable to remove introduced species and replace them with natives?
-- Let's start with the Firehole River. The falls are a natural barrier and there were no fish above the falls before Yellowstone "experts" planted them there! Poisen the Firehole, get rid of the mud snails, introduce some westslope cutthroat and close it to fishing for 10 years!
-- The so-called "environmentally sensitive" fly fishers would never stand for it. The so-called "environmentally sensitive" fly shops would never stand for it. Their true colors would show up instantly. They would rather catch foreign fish than restore and preserve native fish.
-- Don't let Yellowstone "experts" fool you - they don't have the courage of their convictions any more than do the commercial purveyors of feathers and fluff. Money is more important to the merchants, and entertainment is more important to the fisher's, than are the native trout.

Read More:
Bozeman Daily Chronicle

YELLOWSTONE OPENER IN JUST 18 DAYS

TIME TO COUNT FLIES
Lay In A Supply Of Different Patterns
-- By now you should have decided which destination to aim for on opening day. This will affect the selection of flies that you have on hand, and the numbers of each. Generally the destination of choice for the Yellowstone fly fisher is a clear stream with some warm pools to encourage hatching of flies.
-- Although the Firehole River is the most common destination for west-side fisher folks, there are other appealing locations as well. The Madison River and the Gibbon River are also potential targets, as is Nez Perce Creek.
-- Although river flows are high, the melt has been dampened by cool weather and the increase in flows has not hurt much, (except the Madison below the West Fork.) The traditional advice is to have lots of streamers and nymphs for opening day in the high country.
-- This means at least a couple of dozen of each of the following: (click on name for recipe)
Yellow Spruce Fly / Yellowstone Winter Grub / Montana Duster (yellow) / Montana Duster (pink or salmon) / Prince Nymph (bead-head or otherwise) / Little Sinkers / Elk Hair Caddis / Yellowstone Cinch /
Yellowstone Morning Glory.

-- Fishing is still good for Rainbows in the tailwater fishery below Hebgan Dam, and at the edge of the ice on Hebgan Reservoir. Yse big streamers - they are after "groceries" this time of year.

Check Stream Flows

Yellowstone has aesthetic fishing

YELLOWSTONE FISHING
INFLUENCED BY AESTHETICS
TROUT MORTALITY
NOT AN ISSUE
EASE & VISITOR
EXPERIENCE MAIN FACTOR
BARBED HOOKS TAKE A WALK!
-- There is no biological reason to believe that a barbless hook is going to increase the chances of a trout's survival. There is a public perception that it does. So; as noted previously, here, Yellowstone National Park has changed it's fishing regulations to require barbless hooks.
-- As soon as the stiletto effect, (and it's deep infections,) becomes widely publicized; fly fishers, the public, and the powers at Yellowstone National Park will probably change the rules again.
-- We'll keep you posted.
Read More:
Helena independent Record
Midcurrent

YELLOWSTONE CUTTHROAT FEATURED IN LAWSUIT

FINALLY SOME ACTION
this native deserves some respect



<--nps illustration



-- As soon as the USFWS decided that there was no need to heed the advice of Yellowstone Park fisheries experts it became apparent that something had to be done. It has been. Even if the federal government fails to act on the advice of it's own experts, other sane people, groups, and organizations will.
-- Listing, as endangered was recommended last year and first reported widely in the press. The responsible agencies ignored the warning. These are the same agencies that do not see whirling disease as a threat to native trout.
-- Now the Biodiversity Conservation Alliance, the Center for Biological Diversity, and the Pacific Rivers Council announced they would challenge the USFWS's decision not to extend 'endangered species' protection to the cutthroats.

Read More:
Billings Gazette
National Parks Traveler
Kempthorne

YELLOWSTONE PARK NEWBIE GUIDE

WHERE TO START?
newbies start here

- For those of you that have been asking for advice about visiting Yellowstone National Park for the first time, here is a starter guide to Fly Fishing Yellowstone.
-Yellowstone Fly Fishing can be intimidating. So much good water, and so many hatches, and so much advice can be a confusing thing for the first time visitor. For those of you that have been asking, here are the places to look to get you started.
- The Total Yellowstone page is a commercial site that is almost current, and very extensive, but it is not a Fly Fishing site. It has some hatch charts for the various popular rivers. Click HERE to begin the newbies tour at the Total Yellowstone Page.
- On the west side of Yellowstone National Park is a cluster of excellent fly fishing shops, each with an array of expertise and information. No other place offers the range of expertise in such a concentrated assemblage. Search these for fly fishing reports and other Yellowstone Park information:
----------- Eagle's Store: S.P. Eagle was the first licensed fly fishing guide in Yellowstone National Park. This family and store are legends in Yellowstone. The store is on the National Register Of Historic Places, and sits on the site of the original store that founded West Yellowstone. They will be celebrating 100 years of Yellowstone Fly Fishing in 2008!
----------- Jacklin's Fly Shop: run by world renowned fly tier and casting instructor Bob Jacklin. He got his start at Eagle's Store and has developed both an Idaho and Yellowstone following. Excellent guides abound in this little shop.
---------- Madison River Outfitters: 'MRO' to it's friends. This shop has continued to grow and develop a loyal following for those who fish the Madison River and other west side destinations.
--------- Arrick's Fly Shop: attracts the younger crowd. This shop has an excellent supply of materials and equiptment and guides with expertise on some of the more popular west side destinations.
-------- Bud Lilly's Trout Shop: A 50-year-old tradition established by Bud Lilly, who got his start at Eagle's Store. This is the traditional "first stop" in West Yellowstone, Montana. This shop has a staff that fishes and an excellent selection of local flies.
-------- Blue Ribbon Flies: "Craig & Jackies Place" to it's friends. Don't expect to find this world famous fly tier in the shop on Thursdays; he'll be on the river(s) somewhere. Craig's vise has given us some of our favorite flies.
- This should get you started if you enter Yellowstone National Park from West Yellowstone, the traditional hub of Yellowstone fly fishing.
=========>OR:
-There can be good fly fishing advice and information if you enter Yellowstone from the North.
----- George Anderson's Yellowstone Angler: is located in the paradise vally and has an excellent shop and very knowledgable guide staff.
----- Dan Bailey's Fly Shop: a pioneer in Yellowstone Fly Fishing, and a mandatory stop if you are anywhere near Livingston, Montana.
=========>OR: for a change of pace try this:
------- Fly Fish Magazine: the view from outside.

YELLOWSTONE PARK HEATING UP - HERE COMES THE SUN

ONLY ONE FOOT OF SNOW
so far - a gentle melt

IRON SPRING CREEK

BLACK SAND BASIN




-- So far the weather has been excellent for the fly fisherman. Only a little color in the downstream sections of the Madison River and the Gallatin River. There have been no warm - torrential down-pours, no warm and drippy drizzles, and early hatches have been prolific. The stream flows have been a bit higher than normal, but the gentle rise in water levels has been slow and steady.
-- With just 24 days until Fly Fishing in Yellowstone opens the outlook is favorable for a productive early season. Fly fishers fly boxes should be organized by now, or within the next week, or so. If you haven't been fishing outside of Yellowstone, it's time to get the gear together too. Lunch, a flask, and a slicker should be planned for.
-- The tailwater fishery between Hebgan dam and Quake Lake is fishing very good. Access is almost easy, and there are still a few spawners hanging around. Mostly Rainbows, and they are eating rubber legs, and Montana Dusters, (see below,) in pink and salmon.


Montana Duster


Click For Recipe


Good spots for opening day will be posted starting next week - weather & water considered!

THE YELLOWSTONE PARK VISITORS

Foreign Fish Are The Basis For Yellowstone Fishing
visitors of all kinds abound

Read it here!!!
http://greateryellowstone.org/press/article.php?article_id=1238