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October 16, 2010 
 News from Blue Ribbon Flies
 Fish With The Best
In This Issue
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Greetings!

Welcome to another Blue Ribbon Flies weekly newsletter. Thanks for tuning in. Settle in and we'll tell you what's happening around West Yellowstone and our other favorite spots, show you the fly and the material of the week, and tempt you to plan your next trip with us.

Hope you're enjoying the fall, doing some fishing, tying up some flies, and getting this year's trip to Yellowstone country taped into your 2010 scrapbook. Take a break from work or play, grab a cup of coffee, and pretend you're leaning on the counter here at Blue Ribbon Flies. We wish you were here, but until you are we'll keep you in the loop. Thanks for stopping by.

 What's New
 What's Happening in Yellowstone Country

Llewellyn Fire We are officially counting down the days until the Park closes. It has come around so quickly this year our heads are spinning. We still have three weeks until the Park closes to fishing and to vehicular traffic, as of tomorrow, and we mean to make the most of them.

If this pattern of warmer than average weather continues, the idea of riding a bicycle into the Park with a fly rod tucked under an arm or into a backpack is not the unthinkable proposition is usually is this time of year. Now that the traffic is thinning, a forecast for sunny weather and stable (though cooler) temperatures for the majority of next week has us all doing a little juggling act with our favorite outdoor activities. Bike and fish? Hike and hunt? Fish and photograph? Hunting, fishing, hiking, cycling, camping, and yes, still a little gardening are competing for our time outside before we settle in front of the fire with our fly tying materials.

Rick and Julia Llewellyn took this picture of the Park fire near Tower a couple weeks ago, and it captures more than the smoke in the air. You can feel fall in the air too, can't you? It's here, we are making the most of it, and we hope you are too.

Our end of season photo issue will probably be coming out next week, the following week at the very latest, so if you have a great picture or two you want to share from your time in Yellowstone country, get them to us soon! Thank you! You make everything work, including picture editions of the newsletter. We couldn't do anything without you.

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 peek 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 fall and winter to keep you tuned in to all things fly fishing and fly tying 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

Tylor Playing Hookie 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.

Tim and Ursula Anderson caught Tylor playing hookie on the Madison a few weeks ago. He claims they caught him fishing on his day off, but the jury's out. Word on the street is he's out fishing today too. Thanks for everything this summer Tylor. Have a great fall and winter on the water and beyond.

October 15, 2010
Blue Ribbon Flies Weekly Report

Craig Mathews


If you enjoy fishing fall run-up browns and rainbows you'd better get here quick! The fishing has been superb whether you are swinging fall soft hackles like our Shakey Bealey or September Song or stripping big streamers such as the yellow and white or olive and white double bunnies or Baker's Hole Buggers. Dry fly action has been incredible now too - midges, Baetis mayflies and 3 species of caddis are bringing up some nice rises of trout to their activity times also. The weather remains pleasant with periods of rain in the upcoming week's forecast so now is the time to come and experience Yellowstone's fall fly fishing!

The Madison River in the Park is jammed with run up fish now and they are active and aggressively coming to the above mentioned fly patterns. If you should be here on one of our rare cool, wet days make sure you are prepared to fish Baetis mayfly emergences with cripples and emergers like our Baetis Knocked Down Duns, Baetis Soft Hackles and Sparkle Duns.

The Madison River below the dam has been awesome too, with nymphs and streamers. Small Baetis nymphs and midge larvae and pupae patterns have been the best. Downstream of the lake you can expect wonderful fishing all day long with the best times between 10am and 4pm. Look for midges and Baetis in selected spots all the way from Raynolds Bridge to Ennis.

The park's Firehole River has been good during caddis times in the late morning and afternoon hours. A #17 iris and #16 tan X2 are the only flies you might need for caddis times. The White Miller is about over but Brachycentrus and Hydropscyhe should be expected from Fountain Flat Road all the way to Biscuit Basin. Baetis and midges will provide good dry fly action too, primarily in the Midway to Muleshoe Bend area. If you like to watch big brown and rainbow trout trying to jump falls and white water, head to the Firehole Canyon and watch the run-up fish as they attempt to clear the falls. Same with the Gibbon River Falls.

Baetis mayflies continue to bring up a good rise of trout on the Gallatin River downstream of Big Sky. These tiny olives will come off on any and all overcast afternoons all the way down the canyon from Big Sky to the Gallatin Valley. Nymphing has been good on bright sunny days. Check with us for current information and flies.

The Lewis Channel is fishing now too, same with the Gardner River. Run-up fish on the Gardner and run-up and run-down fish on the Lewis Channel can be expected with large streamer patterns like our Soft Hackle Streamers in white and yellow.

The northeast trio of great waters, Lamar, Slough and Soda Butte, are beginning to slow down as far as insect emergences, rising fish, etc. If you must go we'd recommend lower Soda and the Lamar with large foam hopper and cricket patterns.

We recommend you check in with us before making the drive to any and all of the above waters. Not only can we give up current up-to-the-minute reports on the fishing, hatches, fly patterns and more, but if you stop by we will put a great cup of coffee in your hands and send you forth with a smile on your face knowing you will catch fish! Hope to see you this coming week!!!

Keep up to date with fishing on the Blue Ribbon Blog... 


 Fly of the Week
 Hot off the Vise

Bakers Hole Bugger Baker's Hole Bugger

Use Them Now, And Stock Up For Later

We're not saying this is the prettiest fly you'll ever use. We don't even claim that it's the top producing fly for the year.

However.

If you're interested in fishing run-up rainbows or browns, especially around here, don't leave home without it.

This classic streamer is a must when fishing for fall run browns at Baker's Hole, or any other stretch of the Madison River.

See for yourself... Try a few Baker's Hole Buggers today... 


 Fly Tying Material of the Week
 Unique Materials for Effective Patterns

Renzetti Apprentice Vise The Renzetti Apprentice Vise

We showed you this great vise back in July, but as you wind down your traveling and wind ours up, we've got portability and affordability on our minds. The Renzetti Apprentice is a steal at $99.99, giving you a well-made and versatile vise that would satisfy any beginner or experienced tyer.

The Apprentice Vise has a rotary tension screw, a hinged stem, and will hold hooks size 28 to 1/0. All anodized aluminum from 2024 aluminum with hardened steel jaws. Improvements include a rotating head, a hinged stem, and a more attractive silver satin finish.

It is important to note that while the new Apprentice has a rotating head, it is not a true rotary vise. The rotating head allows you to turn a fly over without removing the hook from the jaws, giving you much greater efficiency and great tying practice with this vise. Available in C-clamp only. C-clamp opening distance 2 7/16". Stem height 7½".

See what you can tie with a Renzetti Apprentice Vise... 


 Blue Ribbon Flies Blog
 See What You're Missing

Juracek Firehole John Juracek is up to his usual tricks again. Only John can brew up such a special combination of humor, art, and interest. Welcome to fall in Yellowstone.

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, Craig and Tylor put their heads together to bring you TWO Fly Fridays, making up for lost time. John added some great pics, with interesting and humorous words to go with.

Check it all out at blog.BlueRibbonFlies.com, and keep checking! It changes all the time, and it's how we keep current these days.

If you have suggestions for us, don't hesitate to log on and blog on. Comment to your heart's delight. We love the feedback.

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


 Guide Trip of the Week
 Nobody Does It Better

Kris Metzler and Geoff Kris Metzler had a great time fishing on Hebgen Lake with Geoff back in August. You can see the proof right here. What you may not be able to see, or know, is that fish are STILL rising on the lake. Not gulping so much, but they are still in there, looking for a few good bugs.

As you read in Craig's Fishing Report above, there are also plenty of fish moving in the Madison and in the Park. Fall can be a challenging time to fish, due to weather, diminishing or changing hatches, and spooky fish with other things on their minds.

Sometimes the difference between slugging it out on your own and having the fishing day of a lifetime is the local knowledge, day in and day out experience, and patient instruction of a great guide. Sometimes the difference between fishing and catching is having that person along who ups your game, giving you that little advantage over the fish you just never had by yourself.

Fall is indeed an excellent time to fish Yellowstone country, but that doesn't mean it's easy. Give us a call, reserve a guide, and make fishing the lake, the Madison, or the Park a whole new experience. You'll be glad you did.

Fish with the best... Book your fall fishing trip today... 


 Gadgets and Gear
 Handy Gizmos For Fly Tying and Fly Fishing

Thomas and Thomas Sale of the Week

Thomas and Thomas Rods 50% Off!

We teased you several weeks ago with a short-lived discount on Thomas and Thomas rods. We have three rods left, and they are marked down to 50% of their regular price this week!

 


 Daylight Vise Magnifier
 Yet Another Great Idea to Make Your Life Better

Daylight Magnifier Better flies catch more fish!

And better eyes tie better flies. We can all use a little help when it comes to tying, and this little jewel is all the help you'll need. This handy magnifier has a 40cm gooseneck arm to position the magnifier exactly where you need it most. The magnifier attaches to any vise with a standard diameter, and has a main lens with a 9cm diameter and 2.25 magnification (5 diopter), and a little inset lens with a 2cm diameter and 4.0 magnification (12 diopter). We don't really know what diopters are, but we think these numbers are impressive.

For only $42.50, the Daylight Vise Magnifier is supplied with a table clamp for use without a vise, and comes in a stylish satin/chrome finish. We think you'll like what you see, and seeing is everything when it comes to tying. Give a magnifier a try today.

Give us a call or or add a magnifier to the Comments section of your order.... 


Hope you enjoy the latest issue. We'll keep 'em coming, keeping you up to date on the best fishing water, tips, and gear we can get our hands on. Let us know how you're fishing, and what you're up to. Keep those pictures and fish stories coming!

Thanks for spending time with us. We'll see you soon!

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