What's New
 What's Happening in Yellowstone Country

Welcome back to a real week of work, play or whatever it is you do. It seems holiday weeks are always a little different, either much longer or shorter, or more impacted by weather than they otherwise would have been. We hope you didn't get groped or harassed at the airport (or your Thanksgiving table for that matter), and that your travels, celebrations, and return to routine were all fortifying, fun, and without too many bumps in the road.

We're back to business too, for a little while anyway. The snow has made getting to work a bit difficult, but the temperatures are evening out and the white stuff is finally plowed and manageable. We're all back at it, fine-tuning the new website, updating the blog, finishing up the catalog, and generally being good productive citizens. We're really just doing our best with Christmas closing in to earn Santa's mercy in the eleventh hour. Some skiing, some fishing, and some good hard work should do the trick, right? We sure hope so.

With the holidays on our minds and yours, now seems like a good time to suggest checking out our new Christmas on the Web, or Christmas on the River as we're calling it these days. Sounds nicer. We have all sorts of good ideas and great products for you and your loved ones, and we still have plenty of time to sign Santa's name and ship them anywhere you want us to.

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 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

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.

30 November 2010
Blue Ribbon Flies Weekly Report

Craig Mathews

Not much to report on this week from the fishing front. This past Sunday was the last day of our big game season. I hit a small swampy area along the river around noon in hopes of finding a volunteer buck whitetail deer. I'd brought my deer calls and rattles in hopes of rattling or calling in a big buck. I had 3 nice bucks come in within 50 yards but had more fun watching them than I would have pulling the trigger so I let them walk. We have plenty of elk and pronghorn in the freezer and rather than deal with a deer in 30 inches of snow and a long way from the truck to boot I decided to merely watch and let them chase does while I headed home and tried a couple casts on the river.

I checked the river on my way home, and saw 2 risers. I drove home and retrieved my fishing gear not bothering to put on waders in the interest of time, plus I could reach the risers from the shore. I knotted on a #20 Scotty's Midge and took 3 trout; a 12" brown and a 10" and 15" rainbow, before freezing out as the temp dropped from 26 to 21 degrees in less than thirty minutes.

I've been tying lots of flies this past week, mostly midges and Baetis Improved Sparkle Duns. Jackie has been xc skiing and just left the house to try a short ski even though the wind is howling and temps hover near 12-13 degrees - she is tough!

The forecast calls for a warm-up later this week so stay tuned. In the meantime-

The Madison will fish when the wind shuts down a bit, same with the Henry's Fork, Gallatin and Yellowstone. Expect midges daily from noon to 4pm and be ready with Zelon Midges and G Gnats. Nymphing will be very good too. A #16 red Copper John, #20 Slough Creek Midge and #18 olive Lucent Nymph are all you need. The big stones don't work as well now as do smaller nymphs until early February when the big stones come out during the warmest part of the day, 2-4pm. It is during that time when they come from under the rocks to graze on algae covering the rocks and boulders in the margins and seems where the fast water meets the slower flows near the shoreline. Lots of naturals become dislodged and find their way into the drift during the afternoons and the trout take advantage of a big-easy food source.

Check out our blog and be ready for a few filming sessions of us tying a few flies on Youtube too! Until next week, give us a call and be sure to check out our new website www.blueribbonflies.com! Too, let Cam now how you like it - he did most of the work with his buddy Brennan. Have a great week!

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

 Fly of the Week
 Hot off the Vise

Lime Serendipity

And All the Others Too

We love our Dips at Blue Ribbon Flies. We love the $3 kind, and the crystal kind, and the guides and the olives and the reds and the limes. You can do all sorts of fishing with all sorts of Serendipities, and we're all about them.

We're especially fond of the lime Serendipities right now. Is it the green and red of the holiday season that's got us excited? Maybe it's all this snow that has us longing for bright colors, or maybe it's just what works. Lime dips are tied with Highlander green zelon and X Caddis deer hair, a simple but deadly (ok, not deadly, just effective) combination.

If you want Lime Serendipities, please specify in the comments section of your order. We're still adding all the details and options to the website, but it's come a long way. Try a few of our other colors too, in beadhead and original.

See for yourself... Try a few Serendipities today... 

 Fly Tying Material of the Week
 Unique Materials for Effective Patterns

Whiting Hen Capes

Dense barbs and web give these feathers better wing silhouette, fuller flies and easier tying. Exceptionally fine yet strong quill for less breakage during tying.

In Natural Dun, Black, Grizzly, Medium Dun, Pale Water Dun, and Medium Ginger, these capes are only $24.00. You can't find a better deal or a better tying material. Period.

See what you can tie with some Hen Capes from Whiting and Blue Ribbon Flies... 

 Blue Ribbon Flies Blog
 See What You're Missing

All the latest and greatest information is waiting for you on the BRF Blog. Think of it as a personal Blue Ribbon news report, travelogue, and editorial column, constantly updated just for you.

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 has been 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'll see what winter means to our bloggers.

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, Patrick posted a plea (just going for alliteration - it's more like a request) for feedback on horse trips. John posted more beautiful photography (he's a fount of artistry, he is), and Craig wrote a couple fishing (and miscellaneous) reports. Good stuff, all.

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

Saltwater 2011

Turneffe, Placencia, and Xcalak are Waiting for You

Now that there are three+ feet of snow in town, it's time to get serious about getting some sun and some permit, tarpon, and bonefish. We have three exciting saltwater trips planned for early 2011, and we still have spots left for you and yours. How about a Christmas gift you'll never, ever forget? Check out one of these fantastic destinations:

Turneffe Flats, Belize: February 26 - March 5
$3999.00 per person
This includes 7 nights stay, 6 days guided fishing - two anglers per boat and guide. All land and sea transfers on scheduled transfer days. Three substantial meals per day and pre-dinner hors d'oeuvres. Air conditioned, double occupancy lodging. Does not include tips, alcohol, fly shop and gift purchases and fishing equipment rentals.
Deposit and Cancellation Info
50% deposit required at the time of booking. Payments are nonrefundable unless the trip can be rebooked and there will be no refunds for late arrivals or early departures. For information on trip insurance please contact us.

Placencia, Belize: February 14th - February 20th
6 nights stay, 5 days fishing, 2 people per room, 2 people per guide. $2999.00 per person
6 nights stay, 5 days fishing, 1 person per room, 1 person per guide. $3999.00 per person
Deposit and Cancellation Info
50% deposit required at the time of booking. Payments are nonrefundable unless the trip can be rebooked and there will be no refunds for late arrivals or early departures. For information on trip insurance please contact us.

Xcalak, Mexico: March 6th - March 13th
This seven night stay and six days of guided fishing is in one of the worlds top saltwater Fly Fishing destinations. Enjoy with us the ocean front suites and exquisite local cuisine offered to us by the privately owned Tierra Maya Hotel. The warm Caribbean of the Costa Maya will entice you to never leave, not to mention the fishing where catching bonefish into the double digits, grand slams and even super grand slams are not uncommon. Trip includes ground transportation from Cancun airport to and from Xcalak, all meals, lodging and guides. Don't miss out! Treat yourself to one of the best saltwater experiences of your life.

$2999.00 per person
Deposit and Cancellation Info
50% deposit required at the time of booking. Payments are nonrefundable unless the trip can be rebooked and there will be no refunds for late arrivals or early departures. For information on trip insurance please contact us.

Fish with the Best!... Book your Saltwater Trip today... 

 Tungsten Carbide Nippers
 In Cool Camoflage

From our friends at Montana Fly Company, these super sharp nippers feature either a Brown or Rainbow trout design.

If you're worried that flashy nippers and other shiny objects will spook trout, or that your nippers are so plain or generic you'll never know they're missing, we've struck the perfect balance.

Worry no more. Blend into the background without losing your style with these camo nippers. The tungsten carbide makes them sharp and indestructible, and there's even a pin for cleaning eyes.

At only $11.99, these nippers cost less than three coffee drinks at any airport or corner coffee shop, and they'll last almost forever. Pick your favorite pattern, or buy one of each. Stylish and sharp, just like you.

Check out these nippers... 

 Just a Thought
 As Seasons Change...

Art for the Holidays

As you'll soon see, our new website makes holiday shopping a lot easier than it used to be. As you start (or finish) your gift list this season, think about all the one-of-a-kind offerings you can find at Blue Ribbon.

From how-to videos on fishing and tying to books of essays and photographs, shop the collection of resources at www.blueribbonflies.com Christmas on the River. Whether you're buying for yourself or your favorite angler, we'll make your experience as pleasant as possible and your purchase as helpful and interesting as can be.

If you're not sure what you're after, a gift certificate is the perfect solution. Check out Christmas on the River for gift certificates in several denominations, as well as all sorts of wonderful offerings for all your favorite folks.

Let us put the Ho Ho Ho in your holidays. This week we're featuring artwork by our favorite angling artists. You know John Juracek's work, and we know you love it. His photographs are available through Blue Ribbon Flies in two sizes, both excellent for framing.

What you may not know is the work of Marsha Karle. She has illustrated several of Paul Schullery's books with her detailed pencil drawings and beautiful watercolors. We have a number of prints, matted and framed, ready to send your way before the holidays. Marsha's flies, fly fishing gear, and fishermen are all peaceful and interesting, and would great just about anywhere. Take a look at John's and Marsha's work on our website, and give some angling art this holiday season.

Browse our artwork and gift suggestions in Christmas on the River...