Greetings from Blue Ribbon Flies

Fishing Report and News
Christmas Eve Conditions, Tips, and Special YNP Press Release

23 December 2010
Craig Mathews

Yesterday my buddy, Tim Bozorth, from Dillon showed up for a quick lunch then down to the river we went as temperatures soared into the mid-30's with a light wind and overcast skies.

We expected to see some midges and trout rising to them but instead saw only a few insects and no risers. Tim tied on a red Rick's Midge and on the first cast hooked and landed the trout in the attached photo. Then, of course as is often the case, he went many ,many more casts without a take. He and I bantered back and forth all the while that we should have reeled it in after that first fish and headed home, but we put in an hour or so with each of us taking a couple beautiful rainbows before freezing out. While the action was nothing to write home about, it was great to catch up with Tim and the few fish we caught were healthy, fat, and colored up nicely in preparation for their upcoming spawning season, still a few weeks away.

A look ahead at Christmas Day's forecast shows highs in the mid-30's with mostly sunny skies and light winds so check out our blog for an entry that day when I will be on the river. It's definitely up and running, and I've been posting regularly.

The Gallatin both upstream and down of Big Sky has been very good during midge times, noon to 3 pm daily. We like Rick's Midge and Rowan's Black Tiger Dip for larval patterns which the trout seem to key on this time of year. During times the trout are coming to the surface for dries have a #20 Zelon Midge and a Hi Vis Midge Cluster pattern.

On the Madison near Raynolds Bridge and downstream to McAtee Bridge you will want the same midges as well as a GM and Chocolate Rubber Leg Stone Nymph. This same combo will score on the Yellowstone River too.

Now, this is important, and there's a deadline. A plan to protect the native fish population in Yellowstone National Park has been released for public review. The Native Fish Conservation Plan Environmental Assessment (EA) is designed to guide the management of fisheries and aquatic resources in the park for the next two decades, and comments are due by January 31, 2011. We'll post the entire article on the blog, along with where and how to submit your comments. It would be great if you could weigh in on this during the next few weeks. Thanks in advance.

We are getting in some great materials and gearing up for fly tying season which runs, as always, all winter long. Get your vises dusted off and be ready to roll just after the holidays! The 2011 BRF catalogue is at the printers and should be in the mail the first week of January. Until then, have a wonderful holiday season and see you here next week!

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