A Couple More Days

GENTLE SEPTEMBER CONTINUES

Local Diversions Beckon

fish down low or climb stairs

UNCLE TOM'S TRAIL

-------

.. For those with a penchant for "nice" weather there's still a few days left before it becomes "seasonal" again.

.. If you must fish in the neighborhood, the possibilities are endless. Stay close and enjoy the sun along the Firehole River, Madison River, Gallatin River, Duck Creek, or the South Fork of the Madison River. Where else is there that much good fishing within a half hour?
.. With a short drive you can fish the lowland Madison River or climb some stairs and visit the lower falls of the Yellowstone River. So many choices it befuddles the brain.
..We may visit SCENIC BUTTE.

-------

WALLPAPER:  TAKE FIVE - SUNNY SEPTEMBER

Head Hunter's Secret

TO PARK OR NOT TO PARK

You Really Need Both

the fish do park variously

TRUE STORY !

-------

.. Although the Barns Holes are justly famous and easily accessible to park and catch the submarines that run up from Hebgen Reservoir, there's a short walk to glory nearby. Of course you must leave sight of your car and fish for real.

THE STREAMER NYMPH

.. Just pull in any parking spot near Baker's Hole on the Madison River. Walk a little way to the sinuous meanders that straddle the park line and catch the monsters that rest in the dark holes and under the shady banks.
.. You'll need a Montana Fishing License and a Yellowstone National Park Fishing Permit. Watch the sun because the migrants move from shade to shade in this wiggly stretch of water.
.. The holes are deep, the fish are fresh, the elbows disappear with distance to the car. These fish are far less wary than those fish further up the stream.
.. Enjoy the day - rain is best.

-------

WALLPAPER:  DON'T STAND ON THE FISH

Of Wayward Moths

NOT HOPPERS  . . .  BUT

In The Trees & In The Water

wise fishers know the difference

-------

.. Now that the hoards of heroes and headhunters are in conclave along the Madison River it's time to gather up the friendly fish of the Gallatin River.

.. The Western Spruce Budworm gives birth to the Spruce Moth. Fly fishers call it a hatch. Silviculturists call it a blight. Our recent spate of warm winters and infrequent Fall "Hard Frosts" have combined to allow the worms to proliferate and so too the moths.
-- 'Fire exclusion' and "natural management" of forests encourage woody debris and duff along the forest floor - the perfect habitat for the little wigglers. They are on the rise.
.. Along the rivers of our neighborhood there are many stands of host trees and dense duff on the forest's floor. Fish eat the critters - both the bud worm and the winged form.

.. The bud worm is not in the vocabulary of many fly fishers: the moth is increasingly a topic of conversation. The fishers and feather merchants today are scurrying about in search of the perfect pattern to imitate the fluttering pest.
.. There are numerous varieties of bud worms and moths. There are nearly forty Choristoneura species, and even more subspecies, or forms across the United states. They love conifers. They eat conifers and breed in and around them.They eat the flowers and pollen of this years growth. They eat the tender needles as they emerge. They will even eat last years needles on occasion.
.. They can ruin the appearance of the perfect Christmas tree that you have watched for two years. Fish eat them.
.. The life cycle of the critter is an annual event. From it's egg to the moth it traverses several stages, (6 instars,) then a pupae, then a moth. Caterpillars weave a cocoon-like shelter composed of their own excrement and needle debris mixed with silk threads. They travel by air at the ends of silk strands. Fish eat them.
.. The moths appear over a long period from late July to early September for their egg-laying tasks. They then persist until they run out of gas at the end of their life cycle. They are running out of gas right now. Fish are eating them.
.. Despite the common name, the critter is hosted primarily by Douglas-fir, with other tree species such as the true firs, larch and to a lesser degree, spruce, also impacted by the western spruce budworm.
.. The moths are not good aviators. They have erratic and brief flight paths. When they run out of gas they plummet to the earth in a death spiral. Fish eat them. Infestations can reach over 400,000 per acre. That's a lot of trout food.

.. If the river you fish flows thorough a blighted forest - fish a moth right now. There are a few blighted trees on the Firehole River. There are isolated stands along the Madison River. There are brown trees all along the Gallatin River.
.. Death spirals occur in the warm part of the day: over water if the hungry fish are lucky. Fish eat them. They float for a long time. Fish eat them.
.. A white caddis pattern will work just fine. A normal caddis or stimulator will also work. The lighter the better. Mash them up and splay the wings. Ruin the beauty that came from the vise and you'll do better in the catching department. Better yet, have the neighbors kids tie a few.
.. Damn the runners  --  full moth ahead.

-------

WALLPAPER: GALLATIN RIVER VALLEY  --   FALL

Fish Here - - Now

RAIN OR SHINE

Try The Gallatin For Fun

join the elbow parade for heads

IT'S GOOD ALL DAY BUT BEST IN THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING

-------

Try any ol' caddis.

Autumn At Home

WALLPAPER:  THE VIEW FROM FIR RIDGE

The Day Ahead

WALLPAPER:  ANTICIPATION

Afternoon Delights

EVEN THE RAIN IS WARM

Elbow Density Increasing

contrary neighbors look north

WALLPAPER: FOGGY MORNING - DUCK CREEK
-------

.. So, as it happens, the local feather merchants are touting the park and catch locations along the Madison River and Firehole River. And thusly the elbow quotient is on the rise.
..The vehicle parking is more crowded than the fish parking along the Madison River. The Fall Run fish from Hebgen Reservoir are slowly entering the river system. These fish are eating both nymphs and streamers. Poke 'em in the nose and a fine fandango is yours.
.. Right now double nymph rigs are scoring as many fish as are the streamers - just keep them on the big size. We're using a King Prince followed by a white thorax Feather Duster.

.. The more successful neighbors are using a Flymph & Nymph combo, it adds some internal action to the rig. The flymphs being used are similar to the commercially available soft hackles in color. The difference is that the hackle is a bit stiffer and the body is a bit more fluffy. The local feather merchants have the standard run of the mill soft hackles for your edification.

.. A few of the young'uns have stayed late and found submarines at both Barn's #1 and Baker's Hole with long tailed buggers. These have become quite the fad in the neighborhood of late. It just might have something to do with the catch rate of the flies - or the skill of the fishers.
.. Some of us have the timerity to use a double floating rig: Caddis / Baetis. It's a gentler form of indulgence along the Madison River this time of year, and we don't need a 14' two handed rod to land the fish. Some do though.

.. The Firehole River has come into it's own, (though the mid day warmth is a mite slow for lightning catching,) and the caddis are putting on quite a show. Along with the caddis are a few terrestrials, some baetids, an occasional spruce moth and even the stray damselfly. Ants and midge cluster are also working fine for all the faithful that need to see their flies.
.. Just about any commercial soft hackle will entice the fish in the river right now. A rig with a small nymph behind a soft hackle will do wonders all day - every day. Use a bead head on the one that you want to be deep - let the other waggle along behind.
.. Waders are becoming a fashion statement around town. Wet muddy tracks in the aisles of grocery stores can be followed directly to the cold beer displays. The more fashion conscious of the visiting fishers roll their bibs down to their waist. This allows a full reveal of the bulbous gut and the accompanying odoriferous emanations to be enjoyed by all of our genteel neighbors, their children, and their clerks in the checkout line. Bless the decorum of visitors in the Fall. Hunters are here too. [[Images too gross to publish.]]

..  While a few of the neighbors get sucked into runner frenzy, most of them, (contrarians that they are,) head north of town. Fall catching on the lesser known Gallatin River, Bacon Rind Creek, Specimen Creek, and other sweet rivers is just a delight right now. (Older Post.)
.. We've been enjoying the lazy way to fish. Sleep in // arise and eat a simple breakfast // check the clock // shed the sweats // find the car keys // head north in the afternoon warmth // find a place to fish where the water is cool and the fish are willing // catch a few - head home for a pizza at the pub.
.. The Gallatin River is conducive to genteel fishing. There are a few afternoon caddis. There are some remnant terrestrial critters finding the water, On rare occasions there is a late mayfly hatch. The fish are healthy, boisterous, and classical opportunists. They will grab any groceries that present themselves. No special flies are needed. Fling something simple and catch a fish. No stress and no underwear-ripping effort to fling it farther. It appeals to only a few of us.

.. Many of the neighbors enjoy this form of fishing. They have learned to avoid the heroes of the park and the braggarts from the fly shops. They stroll instead of run. They pause and look around. They have not been sucked into the gonzo fishing of the fall frenzy. They hide in pubs with no restaurant attached and converse about Fall, the sky, the moose, the bear, the elk, and sometimes the fish.
.. We've been adopted by these hard working stiffs. They view their fishing as a total outdoor experience. The fish have become an excuse. Most of them catch fish any time and any place that they go. They catch them big. They catch them small. They catch them all and don't much give it a second thought.
.. So, for now, it's the Gallatin River for us. The colors are better.

-------

WALLPAPER:  GALLATIN FALL