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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 new year, doing some
fishing, tying up some flies, and starting to think about your 2011 trip to Yellowstone country. 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.
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Fishing Report
Weekly Conditions and Tips
By Craig Mathews
The Henry's Fork has fished well this week around Chester. Friends have reported some very good nymphing with Krystal and red $3 Dips and Rick's Blood Midge with a Beadhead. It is March Brown time now and Baetis mayflies as well as midges can bring up trout near Vernon Bridge and Seely's Ranch so be prepared.
The Madison has been awesome, mostly in the Bear Trap and around Varney Bridge as well as between the lakes. In the "Trap" you can expect March Browns and Baetis. The Mother's Day Caddis hatch is still a week or two away and we are holding our breath hoping the water remains fairly low to get in a few days of caddis fishing. Midges and Baetis are bringing up some nice trout around Varney but be looking for March Browns on the east side of the river and downstream to Crane Island. 8 Mile has seen some very good Baetis emergences, mostly on rainy afternoons from 2-4pm. Micro-Madison Midge Nymphs, Micro-Madison BH Mayfly Nymphs, Zelon Midges and Baetis Sparkle Duns and March Brown Sparkle Duns are required. A Macro-Madison Beadhead Nymph is deadly fished in the heavy flows around Crane Island and downstream to 8 Mile. The boat launch is closed at Ennis and the better launch is at 8 Mile rather than Burnt Tree access, FYI. Streamer fishers are doing quite well pitching Chee's Olive and Olive Sculp-zillas along the banks along the entire length. A sleeper bet fly pattern to search the water with now is a #10-12 Stimulator, one that imitates some of the spring stones you may see along the river. Once the big trout see one of these spring stones they do NOT forget and often pounce on a dry stone during the afternoon hours when nothing seems to work, especially on sunny days.
The Yellowstone will begin to color up with snow melt this week. As with the Madison, we are hoping for high temps to remain in the 50's with nighttime lows going below freezing upstream to keep the flows clear but we are flirting here with high-dirty water conditions moving in any time, and when the arrive this year it will be several weeks before they clear up
The Gallatin River has been outstanding. Now, we will see some turbid water conditions moving in over the following days ahead so it is best to check with us before heading to this great river. While it remains clear try Micro-Madison Beadhead and GM Nymphs as well as red Rick's Blood and Copper Johns. Dry flies like Baetis Sparkle Duns and #10-12 Stimulators can be counted on to bring some nice fish to the top. I like the water I talked about above, just downstream of Big Sky.
We've had some calls regarding Hebgen and Earthquake, Cliff and Wade Lakes. The ice won't be off for a few weeks yet so hang in there and call us before making a long drive here to fish them! When the ice comes off, May 10-15, they will be incredible during midge and streamer times!
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Fly of the Week
Hot off the Vise!!
Micro Madison Midge
What does each of the rivers, lakes, and streams in Yellowstone Country share in common? A huge population of Midges. The Chironomidae family is found on all of our area waters, and fish feed on some stage of their life cycle every day of the year. The Madison River is to midges what Detroit is to cars. Midge larvae cover every rock on the fifty mile riffle, and that's a lot of rocks.
We love running nymphs through the tight pockets, and slicks around Raynold's Pass and Three Dollar Bridge. It's a suspenseful game of trial and error. You know that there's a pile of fish in there. The game is to adjust the depth and position of your drift, the length of the drop from your indicator, the combination of flies, all the while anticipating that tightening of the line on every drift. There's nothing more gratifying than figuring out the right combination, and watching a fish explode out of the water.
The Micro Madison Midge has been deadly in the series of beadhead nymphs. Due to the abundance of midge larvae in the Madison throughout the entire season, we have yet to find a time when this fly won't catch fish.
Check Out All Of Our Fly Tying Videos!!
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Fly Tying Material of the Week
Unique Materials for Effective Patterns
Whole Turkey Tails
What did Benjamin Franklin have to say about the turkey?
"For my own part I wish the Bald Eagle had not been chosen the Representative of our Country. He is a Bird of bad moral character. He does not get his Living honestly. You may have seen him perched on some dead Tree near the River, where, too lazy to fish for himself, he watches the Labour of the Fishing Hawk; and when that diligent Bird has at length taken a Fish, and is bearing it to his Nest for the Support of his Mate and young Ones, the Bald Eagle pursues him and takes it from him"
"With all this Injustice, he is never in good Case but like those among Men who live by Sharping & Robbing he is generally poor and often very lousy. Besides he is a rank Coward: The little King Bird not bigger than a Sparrow attacks him boldly and drives him out of the District. He is therefore by no means a proper Emblem for the brave and honest Cincinnati of America who have driven all the King birds from our Country."
"I am on this account not displeased that the Figure is not known as a Bald Eagle, but looks more like a Turkey. For in Truth the Turkey is in Comparison a much more respectable Bird, and withal a true original Native of America. He is besides, though a little vain & silly, a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on."
Ronnie Hall also sent us some incredible eastern turkey tails. You can see the video link in this report with us showing and discussing these museum quality tails and how we use them in our fly tying. Craig has been tying some emerging PMD and Epeorous Nymphs lately and has used turkey tail quill sections from these beautiful birds. He has also been tying some of Yvon Chouinard's effective Mighty Midge Emergers using black Whiting Hen Capes for saddles. Patrick tied several dozen GM Nymphs and he uses these hen hackles for legging his flies too. Whether tying size #6, or down to #22's these capes and their hackles are what you need!
Look here for this and many hard to find fly tying materials.
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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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Well we wish this is what it looked like in Yellowstone country right now but that would be far from the truth. Monday night brought us close to a foot of the fresh white stuff. This brought the snow pack for the town of West Yellowstone up to 167% and the Madison sits at 129% Snow Water Equivalent Percent of Average. Throughout the state some of the lowest averages are 123%. With no doubt we are going to experience some run-off but when? We will try to keep you informed on the water situation as we draw closer to the season openers.
Spring trips here in Yellowstone country are still going strong. Here's a nice shot of Char Wolford. Bob & Char spent last week with Dan and had a great time. Here's a little of what they had to day about the trip.
