Pete & Tom

NEW LOOKS, FINE OL' SITES

Click On Over
of gear whores and crystal balls

.. Pete over at FISHING JONES has revamped the blog again. Apparently not receiving the support he anticipated from his ISP. It's been just about a year since we noticed the other change in format.
.. As blogs come and go, (and sometimes come again,) Fishing Jones has provided a constant source of entertainment and information. We wish Pete better luck with his new ISP. If you'd like to see some fine photos -- check his Flickr Photostream.

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.. Tom over at the TROUT UNDERGROUND has taken the time to pen a note about his gear whore policy and glance into his crystal ball about the future of fly fishing media.
.. From the early days to the present this blog has also been a source of insight and delight. The transformation to commercial blog has not dampened the wit or wisdom.

"I don’t know about you, but 50 degree water has a chilling affect on the ego and a relaxing affect on the mind."

.. Tom sees the 'plain ol' blog' as a dead end and views the future of blogs as traffic magnets for larger entities. Guess we'll have to fold our tent.
.. We, prompted by his post, take this opportunity to announce our very own gear whore / advertising policy:
1} send lots of money, you will not be acknowledged,
2} send lots of gear, we'll keep it and you will not be acknowledged,
3} send lots of requests for ad space, you'll join our spam file,
4} send requests for link exchanges, you got it figured out by now?
.. As we fade into oblivion we leave you with this sage insight:

"The world is shifting beneath our feet - and some days it feels like it’s spinning faster than it did ten years ago - and like everyone, I’m trying to make sense of it."

.. As Tom would say: "See you in the welfare line."

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A Sight For Sore Souls
( wallpaper edition - 2272 x 1704 )-------

The Lamb Roars

THE BIG MELT IS ON

More Snow Will Fall

but it will disappear
brief fishing report(1458x1600)

.. Just as we were beginning to feel the claustrophobic crunch of a gentle winter, the temperature spiked. Forty-seven degrees above zero is not a record for the first of March; but it's a welcome surprise.
.. The neighbors have taken the opportunity to go shopping at the few stores that are still open.
.. It's nice when the visitors thin out for the thaw. There are places to park. The sidewalks begin to clear. The fashion statements sprout like weeds, and everyone takes the opportunity to show off their "tanning-bed tans."
.. We snapped a few pictures on the way out of town. The empty streets are a sight the neighbors love and the Chamber of Commerce despises.
.. Puddles bring hope and optimism. Spring in the high country is not so much the weather as an attitude.
.. We know there will be more snow. We know that there will be more rain and sleet.
.. We know that the thermometer will still see some silly temperatures. But we also know that our behavior is about to change. The neighbors have a saying: "If it aint spring, it ought'ta be!"
.. The work of cleaning up the town will take about 6 weeks. It's a spring ritual.
.. The ignorant folks, (visitors and neighbors alike,) believe that if the snow covers it -- it's gone.
.. What is "IT ?" Beer cans, cigarette butts, old newspapers, maps, mittens, gloves, cell phones, etc., etc. This is the price we pay for inviting people to our town. This is the price we pay for ignoring stupidity, gross negligence, and visitation inconsideration. We endure because it's spring -- or ought'ta be.
.. As the snow matures to slush, and the sun returns from it's vacation, a few of the neighbors are already doing "Summer Things."
.. Saddle up the horses, (those that stay here.) Get the convertible out of the garage, (if you have one.) Find the shorts, (or buy some new ones.) Go fishing, (or pay the piper when the snows return.)
.. We went fishing. There's a friendly gas station that sells licenses - we got ours. The day was glorious. There was just a gentle intermittent breeze and the sun was blindingly reflected off the fresh snow.
.. The ice fishers on Hebgen Lake are still dragging in large trout and whitefish. Trout to 23" on worm bits or maggots are the norm. Bigger whitefish are also taken on the same -- or with a meal worm.
.. We got to the first bend in the Madison River below the dam about 3:00 PM. It was dead still and, surprise of all surprises, we were the only ones there.
.. The snow flies were already in the air and in our grill. There was time to chat with the dam keeper, and get an update on the head gate monitoring program.
.. We donned our summer togs, (there are June days colder than 47 degrees,) and made new postholes in the well worn trail.
.. We rigged up with a floating Feather Duster (size 16,) and a ragged Yellowstone Badger (size 12,) for the subsurface takers.
.. We never bothered to use any other flies. The new redds are still visible and we fished from the shore, or very shallow water. The fish were eager and took both flies willingly. Pray for sun!
.. We note that the Montana Department of Transportation has their signs up with the "Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers" message.
.. Thanks go to Butch and Jake for their heroic efforts in getting these signs up for this year's visitors.
.. That's gotta be a thankless task in a winter storm.

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Sunday Not Funnies

OUCH !!

Winter's Toll

IT'S NOT CABIN FEVER

What Is It ?

town fever

.. The neighbors are becoming a bit too familiar. They are going to restrict my libations for saying it.
.. We haven't had much of a winter yet. The snow is low and the temperatures aren't. Visitation to Yellowstone National Park is sparse, (down about 20%,) and visitors to the neighborhood don't stay too long, (bless 'em all.)
.. Fishing the Madison River between the lakes has been better than it usually is most winters. Catching has been even better. And, it's getting to be time to think of staying out of the water and letting the next generation have a chance.
.. It's not been a winter, so far, that restricts one to the couch. It's not been a winter that wears out the remote. It's not been a winter that demands penguin behavior or anything close. It's been a winter where the loaders are parked too much to earn their keep.
.. So far it's been pleasant. More sun that in recent memory. Sunsets as they used to be. Sweater and shirtsleeve days outnumber the parka parades. Cars start with little trouble, and don't need to be plugged in very often. What's not to like?
.. The 'cold' has come and gone in a day or two. The mush in the streets is frequent - given the sun and days in the 20' and 30's, (and even 40's.) Puddles of water spread and get icy just after sundown. Last night was a bit on the chilly side, (-33,) but today was still and very sunny.
.. Yet, as nice as it's been, and as good as this town is in the winter, -- winter is still a mental constraint. There's no swimming in the rivers. There's no tubing to be done in skimpy clothing. A walk is not just a walk. And, perhaps the most mental of all for us; we can't just dash to the river for a couple of hours of sport.
.. There are folks up here who can ski everyday and call it glorious: we can't. There are folks up here who can cruise the 700+ miles of groomed national forest trails every day and call it wonderful: we can't.
.. We do cruise the forest trails a few times each winter. We do ski a bit more often. But it's the little things that begin to wear.
.. Constantly scraping the windshield, parking in the sun, avoiding the icy spots, walking in the street, hauling wood, shoveling snow, adjusting the thermostat, keeping the tires at the correct pressure, opening the frozen fuel cap door, dodging falling cornices from overhanging roofs, perpetually sweeping and vacuuming the frozen debris from the floor, are constant and continual chores and habits. It's all just a list of small nuisances, but they do add up.
.. Winter shoes and pac boots take a chunk of time out of the day as they are donned and removed. An extra layer and a heavier coat do the same. It just slows a body down.
.. We don't just 'go to the store.' We plan, prepare, dress and then go. Most of the neighbors walk around town in the winter. It's only the rich and inconsiderate, and visitors, that drive from block to block. Funny; that takes just as long.
.. The pace is slowed by the conditions and it's not all together unpleasant. But the summer folks are gone, (a mixed blessing,) and the faces in the pubs are fewer and more than familiar. The Chamber of Commerce population figures are a maximum summer number, not a year-round population number.
.. The post office, grocery store, hardware store, gas station, library, etc. all hold the prospect of another encounter with the same folks. "I'm following you" is a common greeting amongst neighbors in the winter. It's not a coincidence - it's an inevitability.
.. It's not a real cabin fever - it's more a town fever. As nice as our town is - the confining conditions begin to become apparent by this time of the year.
.. We could leave, (many do,) - but we won't. And, as familiar as they are - the remaining folks are still our neighbors. And as much of a nuisance as it is; Winter in West Yellowstone is still better than Winter in 100,000 other places. And, of course it's the neighbors that make it so.
.. We just wish the snow was a bit less mammaform.

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Not Just Another Pretty Bug

TIE ONE ON - AND AGAIN

Simple, Big, Fast, Fun

a gross should do
Darby Bridge courtesy of Fly Fishing Always
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.. We've tied a couple dozen gross flies by now, and we're about done. We always save the best for last. Joe shows us, (& Todd,) how.

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.. May you catch an early hatch on the Bitterroot River.

Tomsu Skwala courtesy of River Road Creations, Inc.
(see Tony's instructions)

February 24, 1969

JOHNNY IN PRISON

It Seems Like Yesterday

my how time flies
( hi to Alice & Dave )

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..

1. Johnny Cash - Big River
2. Johnny Cash - I Still Miss Someone
3. Johnny Cash - Wreck Of The Old 97
4. Johnny Cash - I Walk The Line
5. Johnny Cash and June Carter - Darlin' Companion
6. Johnny Cash - I Don't Know Where I'm Bound
7. Johnny Cash - Starkville City Jail
8. Johnny Cash - San Quentin
9. Johnny Cash - San Quentin
10. Johnny Cash - Wanted Man
11. Johnny Cash - A Boy Named Sue
12. Johnny Cash - (There'll Be) Peace In The Valley
13. Johnny Cash - Folsom Prison Blues
14. Johnny Cash with the Carter Family - Ring Of Fire
15. Johnny Cash with the Carter Family, the Statler Bros. and Carl Perkins - He Turned The Water Into Wine
16. Johnny Cash with the Carter Family, the Statler Bros. and Carl Perkins Daddy Sang Bass
17. Johnny Cash with the Carter Family, the Statler Bros. and Carl Perkins The Old Account
18. CLOSING MEDLEY: Folsom Prison Blues/I Walk The Line/Ring Of Fire/The Rebel-Johnny Yuma

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.. Hey guys: Them were the days.

In'N'Out

QUICK DASH TO YELLOWSTONE

It's Still There
photos courtesy of Mike Bryers