What's New
 What's Happening in Yellowstone Country

We've seen a lot of great friends this week in the shop, the fishing is fantastic, and besides a quick and dirty stomach bug traveling from campsites to town and back again, we are at the height of the season. Sunshine, wildflowers, big trout, long days, cool nights, and beautiful sunsets mark our July, and we are enjoying (almost) every second of it. We hope to see you here soon, healthy and happy.

There's been some controversy brewing about proposed streamside setbacks on the Madison. Almost two years ago a petition was presented to the Madison County Planning Commission, signed by more than 100 landowners and citizens as a "preliminary endorsement of the on-going hard work the Committee is engaged in to protect and preserve our priceless rivers, streams, and riparian areas" and a request that the committee," look at equitable, consistent protection" and " study the scientific findings on setbacks, vegetative buffers and other protection tools for rivers and streams in the Madison Valley."

Since that time, many land and business owners have weighed in on how much, if any, setback from the water should be mandated. The issue is far from decided, but we want your input. You are the folks who fish the Madison and who love it, and now is your chance to weigh in on the question. Go to the link below to participate in a quick poll. We don't often push things like this, but your feedback is important to us and to the planning committee.

Simply click here, and look down the right-hand column about 3/4 down the page. Let your voice be heard. Go to www.Madisoniannews.com. Thanks for your thoughts! You can read more about this issue on our blog at http://blog.blueribbonflies.net/2010/07/11/stream-side-protection-on-the-madison/.

Don't forget to check our blog every so often for up to the minute fishing reports, editorials, beautiful photographs, articles, and all sorts of Blue Ribbon goodies. Click the link below or keep reading the newsletter for an expanded explanation of what a blog is and how you can find it.. ..

As usual in the rest of this newsletter, you'll find fishing news from Yellowstone Country in the weekly Fishing Report. You can see what's hot off the vise in the Fly of the Week, get a sneak peak at some of the best materials on our tying bench in the Fly Tying Material of the Week, and stay up to date with the guide staff and their trips in the Guide Trip of the Week.

You'll be seeing a new email newsletter most every week throughout the spring to keep you tuned in to all things fly fishing in the greater Yellowstone area and beyond. Throughout the seasons, we'll keep sending you news of hatches and fishing holes around West Yellowstone. So without further delay, go ahead and jump right into the newsletter. And as always, don't hesitate to give us a call or shoot us an email if you have any questions, or if you just want a little fish talk.

Follow the Blue Ribbon Flies blog... 

 Fishing Report
 Weekly Conditions and Tips

As the seasons change, we will continue to do our best to provide a journal entry from some of our latest tying and fishing. We invite you to call and ask us what we've been up to if you get to wondering. We always have plenty of stories to tell.

Patrick and Woody had a great time on O'Dell Creek last week. Fishing has been great everywhere! Get here soon.

July 22, 2010 Fishing Report Craig Mathews

I was ready for some fishing this morning having spent yesterday in Bozeman. A plane spraying for spruce bud worms on our place shook me out of bed before 5:30am. Our day off and we allow ourselves to sleep in an extra hour!

The conditions were dreary after last night's rain and hail storm. Clouds hung low over the valley and temps were in the high 40s. Driving out our drive at 7am I waved at a small herd of elk as they ran off and then stood on a higher bench of land above the drive. There was a nice bull still sporting his massive 6 points still in velvet with 4 cows and a couple calves. The elk watched me drive off as I began thinking about the upcoming hunting seasons which seemed so far off only a week or 2 ago, and somehow now begin to feel as they are closing in fast. As I drove over our bridge I saw a fish rise and then another. It was foggy and cool and I thought I had plenty of time to head to the river and get ready to fish before the trout would rise to egg laying caddis. I headed to $3.00 and parked; no one else shared my early morning idea as the parking slots were unoccupied.

I walked downstream a short distance and sat on the bank to tie on some 5x tippet and a fresh caddis fly. Before I could knot on the tippet a trout rose 3 times. I fumbled with my improved clinch knot as I knotted on a fresh egg-laying caddis. A couple casts later scored me a nice 15" rainbow followed by another rainbow and 2 browns before I ran out of risers at this pool. The action continued upstream for a couple more runs and slicks before slowing around 9am and I looked upstream to see a few cars parking now in the lot at the old safe.

We have had some incredible fishing this past week here in Yellowstone and I hope you can come soon and join in on the fun. If you can't you can stay connected through our report, and dream on.. ..we will catch a few for you!

Most waters in Yellowstone Park are fishing well. The Yellowstone River itself is fishing during salmon and golden stone emergences and egg laying times around Tower and upstream to 7 Mile Hole. Tylor fished 7 Mile yesterday and you will want to check out his blog and some streaming video footage he took of the action. There are lots of fish coming to the big bugs now as well as caddis so make the hike and enjoy the fishing. The river above the falls has been fun for those willing to walk and search for cruising trout. Some very big cutts, most over 20", are being taken by skilled anglers making the perfect presentation with the right fly pattern. Our guided trips have all had fun on this river during salmon and golden stone times as well as green and gray drake, PMD and Flav emergences and spinner falls during the day, and caddis later in the afternoon and evening hours.

Slough Creek has fished well when gray drake spinners and PMD duns and spinners are on the water from 9am to noon daily. In the afternoons fish will come up for caddis, beetles and ants as well as Stalcup Crickets. Never ever never go to Slough and expect to fish the evening rise without having a couple Slough Creek Midge Larvae!

The Lamar River is fishing very well as is Soda Butte Creek near its junction with the Lamar. Expect drakes and PMDs as well as tiny cream Baetis size #22. Terrestrials are beginning to work now too and the Spruce Moths should show next week so be ready for them. Heptagenia mayflies are coming off in good numbers to bring trout to the surface daily on Soda so have a #14 Heptagenia Cripple for this fine morning hatch.

The Gallatin River both in and out of the park has fished very well when Flavs and Green Drakes, PMDs and Epeorus mayflies are on the water. Late day caddis and little yellow stones will bring up some fine fish too, and Spruce Moths are due any day now.

The Madison River in the park is still fishing very well during white miller caddis times, 7-10pm. Early morning anglers are finding plenty of rising fish to spinners and egg-laying caddis near the 7 Mile Bridge and upstream to the junction.

The Gibbon River has fished well near Tuft Cliffs and downstream to the junction. The upper meadows can offer some of the most challenging, yet rewarding fishing this time of year. From morning spinner falls to late day caddis emergences these meadows require an on-your-knees approach with delicate pin-point accurate casts on fine tippets using the proper fly patterns. We recommend it for a humbling experience!

The Gardner River is fishing well, both the lower and upper river stretches. Now is the time to try Royal Trude Cripples, beetles and ants and small hoppers. If you make the drive to this fine river stop in and see our friend Walt at Parks' Fly Shop for his favorite flies and advise too.

The Madison River is fishing like there's no tomorrow for those anglers who are on top of their game. As I mentioned above, the mornings can be fun and the evenings can bring you to your knees if you are not prepared to patiently observe what the river is trying to tell you and be ready to change flies from tiny #20 Black X Caddis to #14 Amber Iris, #16 Tan X2, then to a #20 Improved Zelon Midge, and just when you think you have it all figured out along comes an Epeorus hatch-then a spinner fall-then a Flav hatch thrown in for fun. The fish are huge this year, and offer up some of the most challenging angling we have seen in years. The biologists tell us the river is at near "historic high" fish numbers and some days it is easy to see why. The next time you wonder if there are any fish in it at all, stop in and we will help you figure out the daily puzzles this great river can throw your way.

Take a look at stream flows, weather, and past fishing reports... 

 Fly of the Week
 Hot off the Vise

Epeorus Sparkle Dun

This has been THE standard mayfly pattern for years, and we use them as much today as we did twenty years ago. This fantastic combination of zelon, dubbing, and deer hair imitates an emerging dun still trapped in its nymphal shuck.

The Epeorus is hatching now in the evenings on the Madison. Don't go down to fish without a few Epeorus Sparkle Duns in your box. You'll be glad to have them on hand when you see the fish going nuts for them.

See for yourself! Order a few Epeorus Sparkle duns today ... 

 Fly Tying Material of the Week
 Unique Materials for Effective Patterns

Sparkle Dun Deer Hair

We have in our possession about 100 pieces of new, very fine sparkle dun deer hair. Our bin runneth over. What makes it so fine?

Remember, sparkle dun hair is primarily used for wings on sparkle duns and compara duns. It is characterized by two things: the hair is hollow down into the tips, and the tips themselves are short and fine.

The overall length of the hair can be from one-half inch to over two inches. That isn't important, though many tyers make the mistake of thinking it is. It is the tips of the hair that count; they should be hollow and fine. This allows the hair to flare properly for all sizes of flies, and provides good flotation as well.

Sparkle dun deer is most commonly whitetail deer from a cold climate, killed in early winter. Get your hands on a piece of this hair, and you'll be surprised at how easy it is to tie sparkle duns.

We also have 50 new pieces of micro caddis elk hair. Get 'em while you can.

See what you can do with a great piece of sparkle dun deer or micro caddis elk hair.... 

 Bllue Ribbon Flies Blog
 See What You're Missing

If you haven't checked out our web log lately, here's a little taste of what you're missing.

What is a Blog? It's a web-based journal of sorts, a web log, our new attempt to be modern, timely, and informative. It's a more frequently updated fishing journal, an almost daily fishing report, a website we add pictures, thoughts, and reports to on a continuing basis. It's our electronic diary, with multiple contributors and plenty of room for your comments.

John Juracek posts photos and articles frequently, Craig adds fishing reports and breaking news, Tylor's great about posting fly recipes, photos, and fishing adventures, Patrick has had some great input, and Jen occasionally sneaks an article in under someone else's name.

We get interesting, challenging, and entertaining comments from you in response to the articles we post, and you can even comment on comments! It's a great interactive way to keep up with what's happening on the water and off. We look forward to adding posts, and we look forward to hearing from you.

Just this week on the blog, John posted an article about some of his favorite fishing products, Tylor and Craig collaborated on Fly Friday, and Craig posted a short fishing report. Check it all out at blog.BlueRibbonFlies.com, and keep checking! It changes all the time.

See what's new on the Blue Ribbon Flies Blog... 

 Guide Trip of the Week
 Nobody Does It Better

Summer Fishing with Blue Ribbon Flies

The mornings are crisp, the afternoons brilliant. Make your reservation today for a summer float trip with Blue Ribbon Flies. Our guides are out every day, scoping out the best spots, the hottest flies, and the most cooperative fish. The bugs are out, the fish are active, the guides are helpful and entertaining, and as you can see, the anglers are in love with fishing.

Call us for a reservation, get here soon, and have a day of fishing you'll never forget. We're here to make your trip memorable and fun. Don't wait another day to save your spot, make your plans, and get out on the water with Blue Ribbon Flies.

Fish with the best! Book your day with Blue Ribbon guides today... 

 Gadgets and Gear
 Handy Gizmos For Fly Tying and Fly Fishing

Renzetti Apprentice Vice

The Apprentice Vise is a great choice for beginners and expert tyers alike - it could be the first and last vise you will ever need.

Priced at an affordable $99.99, the Apprentice now has significant improvements, including a fully rotational head, a hinged stem for adjustable tying angles, and more attractive silver satin finish.

It is machined from 2034 aluminum with hardened steel jaws that hold hooks from 20 to 1/0. It tightens with cam lever action and has a limited lifetime warranty.

Give us a call today.... 

 Lead Collection
 Lead Free Fishing Here and Everywhere

Last year a conscientious angler approached us about setting up a collection box for lead shot and lead wire. We nodded and smiled, and agreed that it was a great idea, but we never actually did much about it. Our apologies, because it IS a great idea, and one that we should get behind both in word and in deed.

Lead is a toxic metal that, in sufficient quantities, has adverse effects on the nervous and reproductive systems of mammals and birds. Found in most fishing jigs and sinkers, this metal is poisoning wildlife such as loons and eagles. With tin shot and tungsten wire so widely available, and Yellowstone National Park regulations outlawing lead in the Park, it just makes sense for us at Blue Ribbon to collect lead tackle and dispose of it responsibly.

When lead fishing sinkers are lost through broken line or other means, birds can inadvertently eat them. Water birds like loons and swans often swallow lead when they scoop up pebbles from the bottom of a lake or river to help grind their food. Eagles ingest lead by eating fish which have themselves swallowed sinkers. A bird with lead poisoning will have physical and behavioral changes, including loss of balance, gasping, tremors, and impaired ability to fly. The weakened bird is more vulnerable to predators, or it may have trouble feeding, mating, nesting, and caring for its young. It becomes emaciated and often dies within two to three weeks after eating the lead.

Tips for anglers to help safeguard wildlife and human health include:
* Safe fishing - Use non-lead fishing weights. Inexpensive and ecologically sound alternatives to lead fishing weights are available.
* Never throw old fishing gear into the water or shore. Discard old lead sinkers and jigs properly. For example, bring them to your local household hazardous waste collection site during your next visit.
* Never put a lead sinker in your mouth or bite down on slip shot-use a pair of pliers instead!
* Always wash your hands thoroughly after handling lead sinkers or cleaning out your tackle box.
* Spread the word. Tell other anglers about the problem, and encourage them to switch to non-lead sinkers and jigs. Talk to your favorite retailers, like Blue Ribbon, and ask us to stock non-lead fishing tackle and collect your discarded lead.

We will have a box set up within the next week to collect your discarded lead. We are only sorry it took us this long to put our money where our mouth is, so to speak. We are 100% behind this initiative, and look forward to seeing how much lead we can collect and responsibly dispose of. Help us get going with this; stop by with your tackle and wire. It's about time.

Consider turning your lead in to us or a nearby recycler...