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Greetings!
We've been told our introductory paragraphs have grown stale, which means at least someone is still reading them, so in an effort to freshen up our newsletter, we'll try to put a little something interesting in the header every week.
We thought about including a little trivia, but no one here knows much. We did include a quote to identify in the Fishing Report, and as usual we have a few good photos for you, so we're a little stuck for content here.
Mostly we want to wish you well, hope you have a great weekend ahead of you, and if we can, bring you into Blue Ribbon Flies for a few minutes of fish talk. Thanks for reading, and we'll try to make it worth your while.
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What's New
What's Happening in Yellowstone Country
We hope you are enjoying a little sunshine and warm weather wherever this finds you today. Hope your Father's Day was sweet, and you summer is off to a great start. We are enjoying the heat, the green grass, the baby animals, and some surprisingly good fishing. Patrick Daigle found this critter hiding (not so successfully) in the grass last week.
In addition to the wildlife, we all knew they'd be here sooner or later - the mosquitoes that is, and they are here with a vengeance. With our wet spring weather we are now seeing a wave of the biting insects like we've not seen in the Madison Valley in years! It's no wonder Bucky is touting our new Simms shirts with "Bug Blocker." He maintains these beautiful plaid long sleeved shirts treated with special "No Fly Zone" are the ticket for styling no matter if you are out for dinner at our new Spanish restaurant next door to Blue Ribbon, or fishing on the river. Bucky says these shirts absolutely keep biting bugs away when outdoors on our rivers, plus he has received several comments from his lady friends on how great he looks in his shirt.
John's been busy corresponding not with the ladies or the mosquitoes, but with Todd M. Koel, Ph.D., the
Supervisory Fisheries Biologist for Yellowstone National Park regarding the new fisheries management plan. Specifically, John asked about the proposals for Trout Lake and the Gibbon River. To read more about the Native Fish Conservation Plan and for contact information, click here.
If you are a Stanford University alum or interested party, you may be interested in reading the following article: "Stanford University's Dirty Secret: Searsville Dam" published in the May 2011 issue of The Osprey. Malinda Chouinard brought it to our attention, and we wanted to pass on the link to you. It's an in-depth expose written by Matt Stoecker about cleaning up your own backyard. Check it out.
"Thank you" to those of you taking the time to comment on the books we have recommended the past few newsletters. A close friend who owns a wonderful section of spring creek recently came in and bought Ed Engle's new Trout Lessons. He phoned a few days ago and remarked how this book helped him solve some problems he was having during Baetis and PMD times on his stream this spring.
Craig has fished this water and you can believe there are times when a different tactic or alternative is required to be successful fooling some of the ultra-selective trout. He told us of one brown trout he fished for over a week before taking a different route, a different tactic recommended by Engle, and fooling the brown which turned out to be a fat 19" hen.
He thought by taking this one trout which was driving him around the bend the book paid for itself! It already has for Craig, twice now. Good job Ed Engle, thanks for helping us think out of the box and take an alternative route or try a different tactic in order to fool some of the fish that cause us all to lose sleep nights as we lay awake and try to come up with a plan in order to fool these fish, those we will never forget once we bring them to net.
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 spring and summer 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.
Read more from Blue Ribbon Flies...
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Fishing Report
Weekly Conditions and Tips
By Craig Mathews
23 June 2011
Cam and Yvonne Llewellyn had a good time floating the Madison this week. For all of you who have been wary about fishing during run-off, come on out and get to it!
We have been tying lots of flies this week. We all owe a debt of gratitude to one of the true gentleman in this sport, one of the most innovate fly fashion-designers of our time, and one who has caused all our tyers to tie overtime this past week since we ran out of his incredibly effective "Missing Link" caddis. Mike Mercer is this guy and I am proud to count him as a friend.
But, this week we all had other thoughts about Mike as we tied long into the night trying to keep this valuable pattern in our fly bins! The Firehole, Henry's Fork and Madison Rivers all fish so well with Mike's great fly during caddis times, and we had run out of it in less than a month so back to the vises for us and we loaded out bins again.
The big question this week is who uttered the following famous comment and in what work did he make this statement? If you know call us and if you are the first to call in with the correct answer, we owe you a free BRF cap. Cam is the final judge here. The statement: "Until man is redeemed he will always take a fly rod too far back.. .." (To Google is to cheat - who said that?)
Back to fly tying, all of us have been tying caddis at the shop. Already, as I said above, we have run out of some of our famous caddis patterns. X and X2, Missing Link, and a few Elk Hair Caddis sizes as well as some of our Stimulators are already in heavy demand. We try and tie most of these flies at the shop and have some of our tyers cranking them out at their homes. All our fly buyers and fly tyers demand the BEST elk hair known to man and woman, to fashion the flies they all tie and we proudly bring to you. We can say that we have just received from our tannery the best quality elk hair, both cow and bull, light and dark elk, we have had in the shop to date this year. This, I realize, is a bold statement but it is true! If you will need elk hair for your tying needs now is the time to get some. Do not wait as you all know our supply is limited and it is the best available in the world of fly tying.
This weekend Blue Ribbon Flies is co-hosting an event in the Madison Valley along with Trust for Public Land, Jeff Laszlo of Granger Ranches, and Bob and Annie Graham of $3 Bridge/Elk Meadows Ranches. We are working to tell the ranching community and others about the "Big Picture" and continued conservation plans for the Madison Valley from tributary steam restoration to wildlife corridor-riparian protection, wild trout habitat enhancement, and wild trout recruitment. The Madison Valley is the most "intact" major river valley in Montana if not the country with over 50% of it forever protected by conservation easements, and we want to build on that success to bring that percentage even higher! Stay tuned here as this is the very beginning of the exciting continuation of the program which many of you have been involved in since we started work here with the successful $3 Bridge project over 10 years ago.
Now to the fishing.
The Firehole River in the Park remains your best bet for dry fly fishing. Some mornings bring fine PMD emergences, however the most consistent rise of trout has been to a couple species of caddis in the afternoon and evening hours. White Millers, Tiny Black and Hydropsyche caddis are to be counted on to bring the trout to the surface. Swinging soft hackles and stripping streamers will produce good fish also. You will need the following flies to make your day unforgettable: #18 Missing Link Caddis, #17 Iris and #16 tan X and X2 Caddis, #20 Black X along with #16 Firehole PMD Sparkle Duns for surface activity. For soft hackles have White Miller Emergers, Partridge & Peacock, and Peacock & Starling. Small Hard Charger and White Woolhead streamers will get you a couple big browns fished in the deep-slow runs near Midway. I like the water above Nez Perce Creek all the way to Muleshoe Bend as the stretch below runs high and cold. The Firehole has a surprising charge of water in it and many of us feel it should fish well all summer.
The Madison River in the Park is still high and off-color but the evening caddis fishing can be great and will further improve as the water continues to drop. Some salmon fly and big attractors presented just off the shoreline are producing nice fat 14"-18" browns nearer the junction of the Gibbon and Firehole Rivers.
The Madison below Earthquake Lake continues to fish well for those fishing large rubberlegs, princes, red flash worms and egg patterns. Streamer action continues to be very strong even when many fish brought to net are so fat and full of food; their bellies distended, regurgitating worms-eggs-mice-frogs, etc. Many anglers have a hard time shelling out several hundred dollars for a streamer rod they may only fish a few days a year. We have searched high and low and have found a rod that can pitch huge streamers and nymphs yet fish smaller nymphs and dries if need be. Our good buddy Lefty Kreh sent us one of his Temple Fork BVK rods this winter and we all agree this is a fine rod for fishing big flies in big water like we are seeing here this spring. The rod is 9' and is a 6 weight for only #224.99. It does not include a case. This stick will do it all for you and is a fine lake rod to boot! Even in the high flows you will see lots of fish rising in the late evening hours from 8-10 pm. These fish are coming up for caddis pupae in tan, cream and olive. I like to present an Antron Pupae or Iris to these rising fish which can be tough to fool due to the heavy flows sweeping and dragging your pattern along. Get very close to these fish (you can get within 10'), and cast only your leader to control any drag. Due to the stained water conditions you can literally get within a few feet of the risers without putting them down.
The river between the lakes is still fishing well but due to it being about the only clear water outside the park it is getting hammered. Please do NOT wade. Not only from a safety standpoint as the flows coming from the dam are treacherous but also due to the number of wild rainbow trout redds - nests along the bank which you would surely destroy with their thousands of eggs. These nests provide the Madison with its incredible number of wild rainbow trout from Hebgen Dam to Ennis so please help protect this world class fishery and stay out of the river until the fry emerge and leave the nesting area. THANKS from all of us who love the Madison and her wild jumping rainbows!!!
The Henry's Fork has picked up on the Ranch and into the Box Canyon. Look for PMDs, March Brown and Baetis mayflies during the day with strong caddis in the evenings. Watch for Green Drakes this week although who knows with the crazy spring weather and water conditions we have had! Check with us daily on this great river.
All our lakes, from Hebgen to Elk, Henry's to Cliff and Wade are producing very well. In the park we have received great reports on Yellowstone Lake for the first time in many years. Smaller lakes like Joffe will fish now too. Lewis Lake's ice should come off this week and why not try Phelp's Lake near the south entrance for Lakers? Crayfish, seal and mini-leeches and Callibaetis nymphs and dries are all working. Check with us though as things change daily on our lakes until summer weather stabilizes the lake picture this week. YES! Summer has arrived in Yellowstone and we hope to see you all soon!
See you at the Old Kirby Place for the MADISON RIVER FOUNDATION annual benefit gala Friday, June 24th! We'll save you a spot on the dance floor!
Stay up to date with our Fishing Report and other news...
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Fly Tying Material of the Week
Unique Materials for Effective Patterns
Ice Dubbing
Essential for tying the Missing Link Caddis and so many other patterns, Ice Dubbing is an incredible addition to your tying supplies.
This dubbing has a brilliant sparkle underwater and dubs beautifully. Special Ice Dub holographic and UV colors provide any fly with extra sparkle.
If you don't want to choose individual colors, try the Ice Dub Dispenser. This has been the hottest selling dubbing for the past 4 or 5 years since it was developed by Hareline Dubbin. It dubs in easily and is being used on every type of pattern you can think of. Colors Include: Black, Golden Brown, Grey, Harder's Bloody black, Hare's Ear, Olive, Olive Brown, Peacock, Rusty Orange, Tan, Caddis Green, Brown.
For the dispenser or other superior fly tying materials...
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Artist of the Week
Fly Tyers Are Artists Too, You Know
We figured if we can feature a fly and a material of the week, why not, with all our local talent, highlight a little artwork now and then? We fly fishermen are visual people, thrilled by colors and patterns some may overlook, so we thought you may appreciate the work of local artists and local fly tyers, specifically some of the guys who tie for us at Blue Ribbon.
Nick Nicklas has been part of our team since, well, since before we can remember. What you may or may not know about Nick is how invaluable he is to our tying. Not only does he come up with new patterns to meet the needs of tricky fishing situations and interesting hatches, but he ties up quite a few of our shop patterns. Innovative, talented, and disciplined, we depend on him for thousands of flies every year.
Among Nick's patterns are his very own Nick's Soft Hackle in green and tan, the
Slough Creek Baetis, the
White Miller X-Caddis, the Improved Spruce Moth, Grey Drake Sparkle Dun, Drake Mackeral Sparkle Dun, the Guide and Crystal Serendipity, and the Spent Caddis in olive and tan.
As if that's not enough, Nick also ties our Baetis Soft Hackle Emerger, Ephemerella Emerger, Mahogany Soft Hackle, Shakey Bealey, the Green Drake Soft Hackle, Full Dressed Pheasant Tail Soft Hackle, the Full Dressed Red Soft Hackle, and Nick's Soft Hackle Caddis Emerger. Makes our heads hurt just writing the list.
Nick, we couldn't do it without you. Thanks for your artistry and all your contributions.
See some of Nick's gorgeous flies...
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Tenkara Fishing is Here!
Rods and Traditional Lines In Stock and Ready to Fish
Our Tenkara rod shipment has finally arrived! The rods were initially held up in customs but are now in stock and the interest is incredible. Young anglers, beginning anglers, as well as experts are picking up on the simplest form of fly fishing and embracing it big time! What fun we have had fishing Tenkara on the Firehole River this spring.
While Craig says he has yet to score a double hook-up this season, many have while fishing a 2-fly rig with Tenkara. This method is very efficient and effective, and we always marvel how those fishing our Tenkara rods pick up this simple method and style of fly fishing so quickly and in no time are successfully taking lots of trout!
Many feel the Tenkara is not suited for fishing big rough and tumble rivers like our Madison. Check out our web site posting under "How To" and you can see us fishing Tenkara on the Madison last January and successfully landing a rainbow over 18". Our good friend and fishing partner Al Ward, whose photo we have used in past email newsletters fishing his Tenkara, took a dozen trout, both browns and rainbows from 12" to 17" this spring. He fished a midge emergence on the Madison without losing a single trout!
In addition to the 11' Iwana, and the 12' Yamame, we finally have the "Ito" rod in stock, a 13-14' soft rod which is suitable for fishing larger streams and rivers like the Madison, Lamar and Gallatin.
Traditional tenkara lines have the advantages of being supple for minimized drag and memory; they stretch to protect your rod and tippet, and do not absorb water for feather-like landing. These lines are ideal for very delicate presentations and quickest setup. Tenkara lines come with a transition loop on the thicker end, which will be girth-hitched to the tip of the tenkara rod, and an extender at the thinner end to extend the life of the line and prevent accidental clipping. The line comes in a package containing instructions and a spool to store your line. Tenkara USA lines are hand-woven by expert line-makers in the United States.
While the Tenkara rod system requires no fly reel there are still many places we fish traditional fly tackle including the world famous and classic Hardy Lightweight Reels. We all love one or more of these fine reels whether the Flyweight, Featherweight, LRH or Princess model(s). I guarantee if you check out any one of our fly fishing gear bags you will find at least one, most likely 2, of these classic reels.
Bucky, Jackie, John, most of our guides and I all use one or more of the Hardy Lightweight Reels and continue to do so despite all the other fine reels on the market today. There is simply no other reel which incorporates the lightweight feature along with the quality of construction, function and classic looks of these Hardy reels.
See all our rods, reels and other gear...
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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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