Lest We Forget

IN MEMORIUM
CHARLOTTE SMITH
JERRY GALVAN
JOHN TEBBY
EILEEN STROUD

-- As we ponder life & death & fly fishing, four good friends come to mind, and we remember them here.

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-- Charlotte Smith, neighbor and friend, is gone from us. We sent her to far flung places to fish with our flies. She enriched our life with tales of joy and bright fish. We miss her deeply and grieve with Larry. She and Larry owned and hosted Sleepy Hollow, the fly fishing retreat in West Yellowstone, Montana. I pass the house daily, the memories leap at me. Those of you that knew her were certainly buoyed by her spirit, as I was. (Sleepy Hollow)

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-- Jerry Galvan, friend, neighbor, fishing partner, and father to a fine family has departed. We fished with Jerry in a time long ago. The Owens River, Slough Creek, The Gualala, The Upper Sac, Pauma Creek, the memories are rich. We fished the bait recievers in San Diego Bay for baracuda, mackrel and bonito.
-- We prowled the lagoons and shorelines of Carlsbad, Encinitas, and Oceanside. We pounded the surf for corbina, surf perch, and once a very ugly needle fish. Farm ponds and decorative water invited us to the front lawns of Fallbrook, Carlsbad and Vista, they provided bass and bluegills - wherever there were fish we chased them.

--We once built a minature fly rod with very, very, small flies, (about 32's,) and tried for mosquito fish in the casting pond at Balboa Park in San Diego. Hot Creek, Hat Creek, both Walkers and the Truckee - it mattered not!
-- The San Diego river and a couple of it's tributaries hold bass - Jerry knew where to find them - in the shadow of Mission San Diego, or the shadow of the giant stadium, (whatever it's current name,) we pounded them, (joggers were perplexed.) All the San Diego lakes, (big bluegills on poppers,) the San Gabriel River, (trout & rattlesnakes,) even the Tiajuana River, (don't eat these fish,) there are many places to fish if you look - and if you grew up there.
-- We coursed the Owens River Ranch and John Arcalarius' place for giants. From downtown Hoopa to Arcata we scored and got skunked. Half-pounders were a passion for a while. The Mad, The Mattole, The Smith, The Cal-Salmon, the "Damn" Dusen, (from the top of the box cars,) they called and we came. The Russian River in muddy flood or dead dry gravel was always a challenge, (success came in the form of Bill Shadt.) We exercised flies from size 24 to 2xl 9/0 in fresh and saltwater.
-- During his last visit here we stayed in the crummy cabins at Roosevelt, in Yellowstone Park. We fished the raging plunge pool on the Yellowstone River below Teddy's camp, and Soda Butte, and the Lamar - across the bridge, and Slough Creek. We traded hats, joked and even caught fish.
-- Jerry loved bamboo, he enjoyed prairie dogs, he served his country and wore a bullet around his neck. He chased fish to the equator and back; always with a smile and always with success. His ashes are sprinkled on the Upper Sac that he loved so well. (Sierra Drifters)

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NORRIS WILL NEVER BE THE SAME

John Tebby, friend and colleague was happiest at work and loved Yellowstone in Winter and Summer. He is still here and awaiting the next eruption of Steamboat Geyser.
-- Thousands of visitors enjoyed the basin with him and his stories of the past and present and future.

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HER HOME AT THE STORE

-- Eileen Stroud: From an old bicycle shop, through bait and tackle with squid in the freezer, to one of fly fishing's premier gathering places, Eileen had seen and done it all. Secret flies and tying techniques, a hoard of materials dating from the Herter's era and before, knowledge of hooks, fishing locations, and a heart large as all outdoors and better than gold; she had it all.
-- We shared stories, and more for years. We shall miss her warmth and generosity. Her ashes rest at sea where she was Queen of the Kelp - jackpots-a-plenty came her way.
-- Stroud Tackle, in operation for nearly 40 years, will never be the same. Our thoughts are with Bill and the gang in San Diego. (Stroud Tackle)

Expert Scouting

THE BEST INFORMATION

Two = Better Than One

rise early and be informed

.. They're out there now. They are scouting. They are taking pictures. They are applying the keen scrutiny of a practiced eye or two. They are zinging around the 100's of miles of road in Yellowstone National Park. They are seeking any barely fishable water. They are doing this for us. Bless their hearts.
.. They are not lazy bloggers like we are. They are not relying on orthodox beliefs. They know that each day, week, month, and year, is different in Yellowstone National Park.
.. They appreciate that this year's high flows are going to be challenging - at best. They know that yesterday's news is just slightly indicative.
.. They have the insight, initiative, and energy to travel the whole park and bring back the best available information. They are working their asses off!
.. Just who are these fine folks? Richard & Walter from Parks' Fly Shop. After staying up late into the evening last night, and then putting in a full day's work, (this morning,) - they are gathering the information for posting on their web site later this evening.
.. Not speculations, (like ours,) - not "educated guesses," not "past experiences," not the usual informed surmises, but real-time information.

MONEY QUOTE:

We will be posting a full report for this Saturday's Yellowstone Park opener late Friday afternoon. Richard and Walter will each be taking a chunk of the loop after lunch on Friday to get visuals on everything that might conceivably be fishable, so our report will be up to the minute for Saturday morning.

.. Keep clicking HERE for the absolute latest dope!

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.. Get Scientific and click on over to the Trout Underground. Take the "Pre-Memorial Weekend Poll." Add your demographic data to the world's leading data base of "Fishology and Obfuscation."

Decision Time

IT'S A WONDERFUL WORLD

Flip A Coin ?

couch time-------

.. It's not like the park is going to run away. Baring a catastrophic eruption, fishing will be better next week than it is this week. And probably better the week after that.
.. The high flows are a good thing for the rivers. Boulders get rearranged, channels are rearranged, overbank sediments replenish the meadows, the weak fish get sorted out, some eggs get redistributed, fry have new habitats to explore, and fisher folk avoid streams like the plague. All-in-all a very healthy situation.
.. We've missed a few opening day visitations to Yellowstone National Park. We hope to live long enough to miss a few more.
.. We've done the requisite scouting. There are some mighty inviting prospects this year. Better than some years: not as good as others. We've considered the options for Saturday, and Sunday, and the next 5 months as well.
.. We've considered that another tradition conflicts with the opener this year; (as it does every year,) the Indianapolis 500.
.. While it's maybe not the spectacle it once was. And, while the current formula has reduced automotive development to the tricks of tuning a Honda engine in a Dallara chassis. And, while it's a bit of a parade; it's still 500 miles at 200 mph.
.. There's also the girls: Sarah, Milka, Danica. These kids have taken the example set by earlier women to new heights. Although we'll probably not see the tattoo on one of them - we will see a few guys get tattooed by the gals, and a couple of them have an honest shot at winning. That would be worth watching.
.. We've also a local activity that is just as important as either opening day or the 100th anniversary of the speedway: Fir Ridge Clean-up, and services.
.. The cemetery at Fir Ridge has planted in it some old friends and neighbors. It gets walloped every winter. Some of the Vets in town along with other neighbors get together and clean up the place. It's a good time to reminisce and do our civic duty.
.. The Memorial Day services at the cemetery do a bit to remind us of the past wars and conflicts America has participated in. It brings service to country and Memorial Day to mind like fishing can't.
.. Then there's the corralling of the painted buffalo. These works of art commemorate the "Buffalo Roam" event that lasts all summer. And this is the last of the three year celebration. They will be auctioned off at the end of the summer.
.. This year's annual "IMAX Film Festival" includes eight movies for one low price over the weekend. The movies, in addition to Yellowstone, include Lewis & Clark, Hurricane on the Bayou, Bears, Wolves, and others.
.. What a wonderful world. The choices are nearly endless. The decisions are fraught with peril, (or at least anxiety.) What will be available next week after the unique events of this week are gone? Fishing and catching is surely one of the things that will be available, (baring a catastrophic eruption,) and it should be better.
.. We'll decide tomorrow morning or Saturday morning. We'll sleep on it tonight and tomorrow night.

Maximun Recorded Flow?

HERE IT COMES
There Goes The Snowpack

USGS Charts - Better Than Words
BLOW OUT IS TOO TAME !
(all data subject to confirmation and revision)-------

.. FIREHOLE RIVER
.. GIBBON RIVER
.. MADISON RIVER
.. We won't say don't fish in Yellowstone National Park on opening weekend. We will say call any feather merchant between Bozeman and Jackson / OR / between Gardiner and Idaho Falls. Ask where to fish and what flies to use. Post what they tell you on a fly fishing forum or a social network.
.. Be sure to identify them, and quote them accurately. The conversations and responses should be very interesting. There just may be secrets to tell.
.. Breakfast was early and scant. We're headed into the park for some historic photos.

Opening What ??

THE INMIGRATION STARTS

Tradition Will Out

we might wait-------

.. The buzz in the local blogs, and feather merchant sites is about the opening of fishing season in Yellowstone National Park. Rightly so: it can be pretty good fishing - some years. And even this year there will be stories of great success and mighty fish.
.. On the other hand, it's just another day in the neighborhood for those of us that have the luxury of being here all year. And, not surprisingly, there just may be better places for catching.
.. The delta and willow bottoms of both Grayling Creek and Duck Creek are clear, cold, full of fish, and under-fished. Fish are hanging in Hebgen Lake and gobbling goodies freshly washed down in the runoff. But they are not in Yellowstone National Park. And, after all, it is opening day.
.. The short stretch of the Gallatin River between Snowflake Springs and the Taylor Fork is seldom muddy. It's a little cold right now but . . . fish got'ta eat!
.. The South Fork Estuary is full of giant pre-spawn and post-spawn fish. The pressure is very light and the access is good - go figure.
.. Quake Lake, Between The Lakes, the Madison River just below Quake Lake, and $3 Bridge will all provide better catching than most places in the park on opening day.
.. There are a couple of places in Yellowstone National Park where the water is always crystal clear and that always hold fish early on, and probably will not be visited on opening day. We mentioned them in past posts about the opener and won't bother with them now, (#1, #2.)

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.. For those planning on dashing to the park for opening day we remind you that all stream fishing is lead-free with barbless hooks. We also remind you that you don't need a fly rod, or fly line, or fly reel to "FLY FISH" in Yellowstone National Park. A spinning outfit with a casting bubble, (or bobber,) and up to two flies may be used.
.. We should also mention that there will be - "SAFETY & SOBRIETY CHECKPOINTS" - over the Memorial Day weekend. These involve roadblocks by park rangers to ascertain the condition of drivers, their vehicles, - and others. Read about it HERE.
.. This year's expanded regulations brochure includes sections on native fish identification, invasive species, (but only concentrates on boats and not the wandering fly fisher,) releasing fish, and harvesting Rainbow Trout in those waters with native Cutthroat populations, (PDF.)
.. Flows are currently high and getting higher. The color is a wonder to behold. The meadows are spongy, and a couple of places downright dangerous, (around Goose Lake, Pocket Basin, and Biscuit Basin.)
.. For the surface fishers there are some mayflies and even some caddis available. For the serious catchers there are three kinds of stoneflies, and a myriad of nymphs. Flies that imitate these buggy denizens will all take fish on opening day.
.. Yellowstone regulations allow two flies to be used. This is "Hopper-Dropper" fishing. Hoppers, however, need not be used. A big parachute caddis with a prince nymph dropper is perhaps the most common and successful combination for the first couple of weeks.
.. The weather is going to be just too good to fish. Hoards of elbows will fish anyway. It's a tradition that calls many fishers. It's a Spring ritual that seems to demand participation. We're scouting the park just in case it gets really cold and perpetually rainy and foggy and blustery. Now that's opening day.

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Hidden Treasure

NOT MUDDY

Not Too High

very big fish-------

.. The Grayling Creek Willow Bottoms have been yielding some excellent fish, (to about 20",) for those willing to walk the muck and mire and tangle. There are rising fish and others for the taking. Stealth is the key, and a bit of specialized equipment helps quite a bit.
.. We use a 10' four weight loaded with a #6 level line. A short, (5 - 6 foot,) leader and a parachute Adams in size 14, (or so.)
.. We tie the flies with a large hackle and a giant parachute for a reason: the wind catches them and sails them along the surface of the water as we dap in obvious and less obvious places. Takes are always a surprise and usually pretty spectacular.
.. Initial access to the willow bottoms is easy; catching in the first 200 yards below the bridge will provide some entertaining dances with the 'little fellows.'
.. As the distributary channels are encountered interesting pairings can occur and a waltz can quickly turn into a Fox Trot, Samba, Mambo, or Apache Dance.
.. We reveal this little fished stretch of water for those who are tired of drowning their flies in the chocolate muck of spring. If you look closely you can see the one sage angler on the north distributary channel. Hooked up too!

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Traditional Spring Ceremonies

ICEOUT '09 - PARTY HEARTY
Got 'Em Surrounded

Wallpaper Edition

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.. Catching has been painfully simple for about a week. Nearly all fishing neighbors went to Hebgen Reservoir for some sun and success on Saturday.
.. It seems that all legal techniques, baits, and flies were successful yesterday, although not a single fish over 5# was reported before noon. Woolly Buggers, Silli-Legs, and Gob O' Worms have been the flies of choice for the last 36 hours. However reports and pictures of fish taken on what amounts 'the whole damn fly box,' suggest that the feeding frenzy is still at it's peak.
.. The edge of the ice has migrated to Kirkwood Shores and should be out of reach of even Steve Rajeff by Tuesday or Wednesday.

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.. PPL Montana has returned to investigate and make permanent repairs to the Hebgen Dam intake structure that blew out last year. They graded a launch ramp and floated the repair barge through the ice to the construction area.
.. Neighbors in the know have informed us that there is still no answer to the "WHY?" of last years incident.

.. Estimates of the construction period range from 2 years to uncertain. Plans may call for unregulated flows of the Madison River through the spillway during replacement of the wooden timbers.Gear guy on left -- Fly guy on right