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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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What's New
What's Happening in Yellowstone Country
I think, I really do this time, that spring has arrived in Yellowstone country. Baby bison are at their mothers' side now, kinglets are calling from the Douglas Firs, elk are migrating south of Sun Ranch and up to summer calving range and our grizzly mom and her 2 cubs are on the prowl.
We are working with the Madison River Foundation and US Forest Service on the annual Bear Creek Days where school kids are brought to the Bear Creek Ranger Cabin in the Madison Valley to learn fly fishing and outdoor skills and much more. This wonderful experience for both us, as instructors, and kids as participants has become a most anticipated event. More on this next week.
And, working with BLM, TU-YPF, TPL, and American Rivers reps we continue to work hard on some very interesting and innovative conservation efforts to protect and preserve what we all love and enjoy in Yellowstone country. These programs, some just beginning, give us a chance to give back to the resources we experience and use so that our kids and grandkids can use them too, and often in better shape than we found them in. Stay tuned here as we will be giving you information on how you too can become involved in these projects and programs!
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.
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Fishing Report
Weekly Conditions and Tips
By Craig Mathews
The Madison between the lakes has been ridiculous. Not only have fish come to nymphs but now they rise daily to midges in selected spots, mostly near the mouth of Earthquake Lake. Our guides have reported fine action all day long using small nymphs like Krystal Serendipities as well as Guide Dips and Sparkle Stone. On the surface, when trout are rising, use Skittering and standard Zelon Midges #20. The river below Story access is fishing now too, all the way to Eight Mile access below Varney Bridge. Baetis are coming off in good numbers from 2-4 pm as are midges. A #18-20 Baetis Sparkle Dun and #20-22 Zelon Midge will score plenty nice fish during emergences. On warm days and afternoons when the river seems quit put on a #12-14 PMX and search the seams and pockets and you will be rewarded. There are enough spring stones around that the larger trout are looking for a dry pattern closely resembling the naturals. Warm, calm eves will see good midging as the insects return to the water so be ready and don't head home to dinner if these conditions prevail. Have a March Brown Sparkle Dun too.
The Madison in the Bear Trap and Yellowstone near Livingston, Mt just might see some Mothers' Day Caddis activity this week, I will bet on it. As long as the cool weather persists with below freezing nighttime temps we'll not see any runoff which would put fish off from rising to this great early season hatch which will begin here this week. #14-16 olive and X2 Caddis along with an olive RAM Caddis will score plenty of good fish. Too, be prepared with Baetis patterns.
The Gallatin River has fished well below Big Sky. Baetis and stones and a few lingering midges make for some very good dry fly fishing. If temps are 45 and above stay late in the afternoon as the midges will return to the water, especially if calm, and the trout will rise until 8pm on some eves.
The Missouri River has fished well. Our guides and clients have taken some large browns and rainbow on this river lately but the flows were increased there yesterday. The Bighorn is coming up now too so best to check conditions before making the drive.
The Henry's Fork has fished well during Baetis times. Giant Stone Nymphs should begin moving to shore in preparation to emerge and this can be some wonderful early season fishing.
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Spring Creeks
by Mike Lawson
I just finished re-reading Chapters 2 and 3 on Mayflies and Caddisflies in Mike Lawson's wonderful book "Spring Creeks". I've probably read these sections 3 or 4 times in the past 2 years and pick up a few tidbits each time I do so. Mike has done anglers a great service by writing his book which is jammed with great photos, stories and information on everything a spring creek enthusiast needs to successfully fish spring creeks around the world.
Mike Lawson grew up fishing the Henry's Fork and Idaho's trout streams, and he has stayed close to his home water all his life. One of the most revered fly fishermen in the business, Lawson in this book reveals what he has learned and experienced fishing the spring creeks and tailwaters of the West and beyond, throughout the Midwest and East, from Alaska to Mexico and the Florida Keys, and around the world. Fishing spring creeks is difficult, as challenging and demanding as any fishing can be, but Lawson has figured it out, and he shares in his inimitable, forthright way what he has learned about finding trout.
Yellowstone Resources, let these publications guide the way.
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More items on Sale!
Now Cam and Bucky come downstairs where I am typing this and say, "don't forget about the wader-wading shoe deal this week". Turns out we have a couple Cloudviel wading pants, size small and XL only, regular price of $250 we are sacrificing for $100 a pair. Also, Orvis Clearwater wading boots size #9 and 13 only, regular price $70 on sale for $39. Dan Bailey women's speed lace boots, size #7 only, regular price $65 sale for $29.99, Dan Bailey Kids wading shoes sizes #3 and 4 only, regular price $55 on sale for $29.99. Lastly, Simms Pursuit wading sandals sizes 5, 9, 11 and 12 regular price $99 on sale for 49.99, (these are the sandals you see guides wear in summer months when wading wet).
Make sure you check out our "Sale Page" under "shop on line" as we are adding some new items and reducing the price of some already low priced sale stuff we have to move to make room for this year's inventory arriving daily!
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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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