Frightful Weather

GOOD FISHING WATER
HAS RETURNED

It's Not Cold - It's Bitter

not quite ice-out

.. The neighbors, bless 'em all, have squiggled themselves into the perfect fishing situation. No crowds, plenty of willing fish, strenuous access, shelter from the breeze, bears to watch, and beautiful scenery. What more could you ask.
.. The ice is beginning to recede from the tail end of Quake Lake. Although ice-out on the lakes is certainly 2-3 weeks or more away, there is a bit of open water near the outlet of Quake Lake.
.. Of course the 'worm guys' found it first; just about 24 hours in front of the 'gear guys.' Fly fishers were a bit slow on the uptake, but are finally there to join the fun. Worm bits and a small split shot will gather up 20" trout about a foot from the ice and in the top three feet of water. A 000 golden Mepps or Roster Tail with an intermittent retrieve will also work wonders.
.. The "fly guys" are using small streamers, ungreased, and on a long heavy sinking leader. Little Brown Trout flies are the first choice right now. The Hellifiknow is also taking good sized fish.
.. The trout are podded-up, (is that a word?) at the edge of the ice and eating all bits and pieces of crap exfoliated from the edge of the ice. It is still possible to reach the edge of the ice with a hearty roll cast, or a well placed reach cast.
.. Once the fly is on the ice, wait a minute or a bit more. It's hard to do because the monsters will come up to see what's the fuss. About the time the fish begin to settle and disappear from view, slowly drag your offering into the water and let it sink. If there are no takers immediately, slowly, (repeat, SLOWLY,) retrieve the offering keeping it's depth at the edge of your vision. Hook-ups are about one in three casts for the "fly guys" sometimes better for worms and gear.
.. The worse the weather, the better the fishing. At this time of year 20" Brown Trout and 22" Rainbow Trout are common. You will need some Alpaca Knickers to fully enjoy this form of brutality.

Yellowstone Hatch Charts Redux

PLANNING = PLANNING

Now Or Panic

no tie? - just buy !

.. We've had some requests for a hatch chart. There are many for Yellowstone Country, and no need for us to clutter the landscape. Here's our reprint of a post about the ones we use when planning for trips, or planning for tying. There are many more out there. These are just the ones we use.

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(NB there is nothing sacred about hatch charts.
They are even correct some of the time.)

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WHAT IS THAT BUG ?
When Is That Bug ?
what's its first name ?



-- As the season in Yellowstone National Park gets rolling, and more rivers and lakes open up, it's nice to know what the trout are likely to be eating. Hatch charts are one way to help in planing a trip, or planning what patterns to tie for your visit.
-- At best the charts are indicative; at worst they are entertaining. There is no substitute for on-the-ground information, (check the sidebar for links.)
-- The standard reference is "Fishing Yellowstone hatches" by John Juracek & Craig Mathews. This is no 'coffee table' prize. This is an excellent reference that will be worn out if you fish the area regularly.
-- There are some excellent on-line sources as well. We've listed them below so that you can visit and bookmark them. Like all things fishy, they are weather and condition dependent. Pay no money & take your choice, all will provide insight for your fishing delight.

Bud Lily's Hatch Chart
Madison River Outfitter's Hatch Chart
Total Yellowstone Hatch Chart
Dan Bailey' Hatch Chart

-- These will get you started in your planning and fly tying.

Get The Lead Out

NPS CLARIFIES LEAD POLICY

Well - Sort Of !

now what ?

.. A National Park Service News Release on March 10, 2009 stated it's position on lead shot for fishing, and bullets for it's officers. On March 18, it issued a clarification statement. Of course, this clarifies nothing. It's time for the NPS to be crystal clear about what it means.
.. The NRA has an article about the confusion and the need for a clear statement. There are 61 properties managed by the NPS that allow hunting. There are many more that allow fishing.
.. Yellowstone National Park has a 'no lead' policy in place for it's fishing tackle. It's unclear if the new clarification will rescind this ban.
.. The National Park Service has stated that the initial press release was intended to let the public know that the NPS was becoming 'lead-free,' and that the ban applied only to NPS personnel and operations, according to an article in The Outdoor Press Room.
.. The Washing Times has a note about how the American Sportfishing Association is just plain riled about the implied ban. It seems that they feel that the ban was made without the transparency promised by the new administration. . . . . . . Oh, get over it.
.. Let us be perfectly clear about our position. No lead of any kind for fishing of any kind. There, that's done. Now lets let the NPS be as clear.
.. As to the other concerns, 1] lead wheel weights will be hard to replace, some are coated - though, 2] solder is going to be a real problem, especially in roof preservation and restoration, 3] dispatching of sick or wounded animals should be expeditious and humane, lead or no lead, and so it goes.

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Oh what a tangled web we weave, When first we practise to deceive!
Sir Walter Scott, Marmion, Canto vi. Stanza 17. Scottish author & novelist (1771 - 1832)
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.. Come on NPS, be clear and precise. Thank you.

Time Capsule

OUT OF THE PAST

"Bear With Me"

.. Via National Parks Traveler, comes this YouTube gem. 'Them Were the days.'

..

Small Monsters

THEN AND NOW

Denizens Of The Deep

and, a montana record too

.. From the Burgess Shale in the Canadian Rockies of British Columbia comes news of a predator that lived 505 million years ago.
.. The fossil was first described about 100 years ago. It's fragmentary nature left it to rest in the 'unremarkable' category for nearly a century. It was misidentified as everything from a jelly fish to a sea cucumber.
.. Recent re visitations of the fossil, in the dusty drawers of the Smithsonian Institution, and a new specimen, have revealed it to be a monster predator from the Cambrian.
.. This thing was a giant among the life of the time and is, in fact, a member of the largest living group of animals the arthropods.
.. The Hurdia, (sp), probably fed on other, smaller predators and marine worms. Details of this monster were published in yesterday's issue of Science; a synopsis is available HERE. Although size doesn't matter, this thing may have reached a whopping 16 - 18 inches.
.. A similar predator was recently caught by a Montana fisherman. The Pygmy Whitefish, Prosopium coulteri, (Salmonidae), tied a state record and weighed in at 3.7 ounces.
.. These predators usually grow to sizes in the 6 - 8 inch range and are preyed upon by other fish.
.. The Pygmy Whitefish usually preys mainly on zooplankton. A July-Dec. Flathead Lake study showed these foods to be important; Daphnia Thorata-70%, Epischura-13%, Organic debris-10%, and chironomid larvae-6%.
.. The invasive shrimp found in many of Montana's cold lakes are now a new food source for the Pygmy. They are growing larger because of the change in diet and we can look for the state record to be broken again in the near future.
.. The current record has stood the test of time, as the previous record was set in 2005. You can read the whole thrilling story of the battle with the fish in the Montana Standard.
.. The fisher that caught the monster has revealed the technique for taking the trophy: a glow hook and maggot. Eric Tullett, of Kallispell, Montana is justly proud of the catch.

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.. Pygmy Whitefish images courtesy of Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks.

You Won't Believe It

WE'RE SPEECHLESS
..

OH NO, Mr. Bill

SCUTTLED AT THE END

HB-455 Probably Dead

Big Sky Rivers Act Flushed

.. As we promised, we've monitored this bill. Sadly, for Montana's streams, the big money and thoughtless greed of real estate interests have dumped it in the toilet.
.. Votes in the House Local Government Committee and executive actions seem to have doomed the bill.
.. Thank your local real estate developer the next time you see them. Now rivers such as the Yellowstone, Gallatin, Madison, Jefferson, Smith, Missouri, Clark Fork, Blackfoot, Bitterroot and Flathead will soon have their banks covered with palaces of the rich and invasive.
.. Major development of condominiums and luxury retreats will sprout like the riparian vegetation that is there now. Stream access will fall to "property rights" defenders, and soon Bozeman will look and smell like Central Los Angeles, or Downtown Milwaukee. The invaders should feel right at home.
.. No 250 foot setbacks will be enacted. "Local Control" added to the bill did not satisfy the plutocrat's of development. Their watch words seem to be: "IF IT'S THERE - BUILD ON IT!"

READ THE UGLY DETAILS HERE.

.. Best get to the Gallatin River before you can't see it!