• PARTNER: PROTECT YOUR WATERS
  • Go To: THE FLIES OF YELLOWSTONE
  • Go To: YELLOWSTONE FISHING WEATHER
  • Go To: YELLOWSTONE FLY FISHING MAPS
  • Visit: Moldy Chum
  • Visit: The Horse's Mouth
  • Visit: Chi Wulff
  • Visit: Parks' Fly Shop
  • Saturday, December 29, 2012

    21 Weeks & Counting

    NOT TO RUSH THINGS - BUT
    Plan To Include Reservations
    off the road is good for the soul
    EARLY CATCHING SEASON ON THE FIREHOLE RIVER - A SOCIAL EVENT
     
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    .. Just a thought. There are some spectacular places to fish in Yellowstone National Park that are less than a mile from a paved road. Most fisher folks don't even think about them. That's fine with us.
    .. Some of the absolute best catching of trout in Yellowstone National Park is not on the Firehole River, or the Madison River, or the Gibbon River, or the Gallatin River.
    How many can you catch?
    .. It might be on Slough Creek, but not where the elbows are. It might be near the Lamar River, but not within sight of the road. It could even be in the mosquito ridden Bechler Region of the park.
    .. Most fly fishers are of a gregarious sort. Yet, they whine about too many folks on their water. They sob about the fact that there are even other folks on their water. They bemoan the fact that someone found their secret spot. Go figure.
    .. Then they return to the same holes on the same rivers and wonder why things have not changed.
    .. Most of the glory waters in Yellowstone National Park are about comfortable fishing. Do it the way you have read about it. Do it the way the counter help at a feather merchant's shop tells you to do it. Listen to the guides as they extoll the virtues of their successful outings and the grins on their client's face. It's comfortable. Go where you've been before - it's comfortable. Go where someone told you to go - it's comfortable.
    .. Most fly fishers measure their fishing experience in terms of the fish that were caught. A few in terms of the bugs or the rivers. Very few, (we plead guilty,) in terms of the place, the time, the surroundings, or the weather - fish be caught or not.
    RUNNERS IN THE FALL - UNFISHED PARADISE
    .. We encourage all fishers that come to Yellowstone National Park to engage in comfortable fishing.
    .. Measure your experience in terms of the size of the fish, the number of fish, the various species of fish, the beauty of the fish, the strength of the fish - enjoy the fish.
    .. You will have the memories of having fished and caught fish where millions of other fishers have fished and caught fish.
    .. You will be able to tell stories of the same parking places, rocks, runs and riffles and pools that others have experienced. It's fullfilling to be part of the club.
    .. We do not suggest that you spend any time in the winter looking at maps. We do not suggest that you plan to walk too far or explore the thousands of miles of streams and rivers in Yellowstone National Park. We do not, for an instant, suggest that the local, professional, experts are not omniscient or omnipotent - heaven forbid! After all, they make a good living by being the way that they are. It's comfortable.
    .. We, silly us, are spending many hours this winter looking at maps. We're looking at Google Earth. We, at the moment, are comfortable. But it's not fishing. We are planning a summer of distinctly uncomfortable fishing. Catching may accompany it: may not too.
    .. Resources for the uncomfortable fisher folks are wide and varied. Google Earth is good. Digital-Topo-Maps[dot]Com is exceptional and lets you print the maps you need - it's free! Searching the various "YELLOWSTONE FISHING" web sites gives many insights that even the local experts have not yet discovered. Most of this "research" is butt-time, in front of a computer, we hope it pays off.
    .. Last year, Many of the wader friendly lodgings in town were booked well in advance of the fishing season in the park. The owners of these establishments have developed a following of repeat customers and suggest that it's never too early to grab your place. Of course there are over 3,000 motel rooms in town - BUT - not many have facilities for drying waders, tying flies, and other things that gregarious fishers enjoy.
    .. Right now, by gum, the sun has made an appearance, so we're getting off our butt - for the moment.

    PRINTABLE TOPO MAPS FOR FREE
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    HOW BIG OF A BROWN TROUT DO YOU WANT?

    Wednesday, December 19, 2012

    Time To Burrow In

    IT'S GETTING DEEP
    That's A Good Thing
    more good news on the horizon
    [Montana DOJ administrative message below]

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    Urgent - Immediate Broadcast Requested
    Administrative Message
    Montana Department Of Justice
    Relayed By National Weather Service Great Falls MT
    1152 AM MST Tue Dec 18 2012

    The Following Message Is Transmitted At The Request Of The
    Montana Department Of Justice.

    The Sheridan County Sheriff Office Is Activating A Missing
    Endangered Person Advisory For Eric Zinke. He Is Described As A 17
    Year Old White Male...Who Is 5 Feet 11 Inches Tall...153
    Pounds...With Brown Hair And Blue Eyes.

    He Is Possibly Driving From Sheridan County To Livingston In A
    White 1999 Chevrolet Malibu Two Door...Bearing Montana License
    Plate Number: 34-3568a.

    Eric May Be In Possession Of A Gun.

    If Located...Contact The Sheridan County Sheriff Office At
    406-765-1200.

    A Missing Person Poster And Additional Information Can Be Found At
    The Department Of Justice Website: Doj.Mt.Gov
    .

    Sunday, December 16, 2012

    Auger In

    HEBGEN LAKE IS SOLID
    Thrumming is Rampant
    flies and pimples in use
    SCENIC HEBGEN LAKE IN WINTER DRESS
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    .. The neighbors are getting worked up about the ice fishing on Hebgen Lake. There's just 6 weeks until the NAIFC-sanctioned ice fishing tournament arrives. This year there will be a prize pool of at least $14,000 and it could go as high as $21,000. Two local teams took home giant chunks of change last year. They are hoping to do it again this year.
    .. The balmy days, frigid nights, and perpetual snows are exciting the neighbors beyond all rational behavior. Ten pound trout have already been landed on Swedish Pimples and giant Shop Vac flies. The tournament headquaters out at Kirkwood Resort and Marina is already gearing up with pre-fishing schedules and maps.
    .. This tournement has grown so fast that it has two pages on the official Montana State Travel Website:
    ===> HERE  &  HERE.
    .. The tournament is a three day affair: February 1, 2, 3, 2013. It includes free kids' camp, clinics and instruction, a pre fishing day, group tutorials, Rocky Mountain Ice Fishing Product Fair, and of course the tournament and weigh-in.
    .. The tournament is limited to 150 two-person teams so get your registration form in early. Like right now. Use the form on the OFFICIAL TOURNAMENT WEBSITE.
    .. We'll keep you informed.
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    THE SNOW HAS FINALLY ARRIVED IN WEST YELLOWSTONE