News from Blue Ribbon Flies

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.

Minori skiied into the Barns Pools a couple weeks ago and found this little surprise on the sign there. Wonder if these flies will still be here on opening day???

6 January 2011!
Blue Ribbon Flies Weekly Report

Craig Mathews

I will fish today. After a week of brutal cold windy conditions it looks like the weather might be favorable to spend a few hours on the river this afternoon. Tomorrow Phil and I will be fishing and filming using Tenkara rods. My good friend, Yvon Choiunard, called last week and asked for some Tenkara footage for the Patagonia website but due to the nasty weather we've not been able to get out. The forecast looks favorable so make sure you check out our blog for the fishing reports we will file on our next two afternoons of midge fishing on the river.

Jackie has finished the book "Wolfer" by Carter Niemeyer. This one is hot off the press. The Dutchers of filming fame have reviewed the book by stating, "Carter Niemeyer tells it like it is. No matter which side you're on, if you care about wolves, you'll find his story brutally honest and riveting, and real page turner." I have to say, Jackie has not had time to ski or cook, two of her favorite things to do in winter, since "Wolfer" arrived in our house. She finished it this morning! Now we have it in the shop and you will find it listed in this report. If you have Yellowstone country in your veins, no matter which side you are on with the wolf issue, you must read this book!

Another gem we have uncovered in the shop, buried beneath a rack of coats on the north wall of the shop, is #5 of 10 in our very limited shadow box collection. John and I began this project a few years back. We do 10 frames of flies with a photo each year; John takes the photos and I tie the flies. The last one of 2010's series, the one we found hidden, is a beautiful shot of fall colors on the Gallatin River along with favorite flies for fishing there. It is matted and framed nicely and signed by both John and I. Check it out and the first caller gets it for the going price.

One other news item I'd like to talk about here is the cane rod we have built by our old friend Bill Blackburn. Wild Bill guided and tied flies for us many years ago back in the mid-1980s. Since then Bill moved on and has studied under and managed Tom Morgan's rod making venture, the bamboo side of this business, for Tom and his wife Gerri. We are pleased that Bill has offered us a very limited number of his fine bamboo rods yearly. You will read more about Bill and his rods further on in this report.

You know when the fishing is limited because the above stuff gets more attention but let's now look at some fishing news and forecasts for the next week. Oh yes, one more item is our snow pack which is shaping up nicely. We are well over "100 percent of normal." Some area snow stations are registering as much as 140%, so we will have great water conditions this coming year - stay tuned as we go further into the snow season.

The Madison River should fish well, weather permitting. I see the extended forecast calls for very cold temps moving in this weekend and into next week, very typical for this time of the early new year. During favorable fishing weather look for the river to fish well when midges are on the water from noon to 3 pm. Last week we had wonderful dry fly midge fishing as the midges gathered in mating clusters. Close observation will tell observant anglers that trout rarely feed on fully formed single adults, instead keying on impaired and crippled adults as they attempt to free themselves from their pupal shucks. Or the fish concentrate on midge clusters. Hence, the reason flies with shucks like our Skittering and standard Zelon Midges and Griffith's Gnat Emergers work so well when the larger trout selectively take impaired midges in the film. For cluster times when the larger trout work midge clusters it is best to have our Hi Vis Midge as well as Griffiths Gnats and Micro Wulff Cripples. Nymphing has been very good using Rick's Red Dip, Red Lucent Beaded Nymphs and standard $3 Dips trailed behind a chocolate stone or red San Juan Worm. I'd recommend staying above the West Fork as the winds will be calm on this stretch. Do NOT even think about fishing near the Town of Ennis for there the river's water runs over the highway due to ice gorges and damming.

The Gallatin too has been good below Big Sky where you may find fish rising to midges too. The same flies will work there as well as a GM Nymph.

Until next week, make sure you check out our catalogue online along with our blog entries on our website. The hard copy catalogue is in the mail to you this week and should be there in ten days to 2 weeks so be looking for it but remember, the same hardcopy catalogue and much, much more can be found by going to our catalogue on-line at www.blueribbonflies.com.

And, you can always call us, 406-646-7642, Monday through Saturday, 8am-4pm MDT. We'd love to hear from you!

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