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Greetings!
Where do we begin? With this report that is. There has been so much happening here in Yellowstone country. The fishing has been great, so great anglers like golfing's legendary Golden Bear and TV's Batman, along with NBC's retired news anchorman were all just here fishing the Madison Valley.
We've got a lot to show you and tell you about this week, so grab a coffee or a cool, refreshing beverage, settle down in a comfy chair, and dig in.
We hope to see you soon, right here in West Yellowstone, but until then we wish you happy and healthy fishing and fly tying. All our best to each of you. Thanks for tuning in!
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What's New
What's Happening in Yellowstone Country
Well, summer is here in all its glory. We're going full blast, fishing, rowing, exploring, working, playing, hiking, tying, and fishing some more. We can sleep in November, once the Park closes and the snow starts to fall in earnest. Right now we're too busy to worry about resting, recovering or relaxing. It's summer and there are fish to catch and beautiful places to enjoy. Get here soon for wildflowers, wildlife, and some pretty wild fishing!
This is the last chance to purchase raffle tickets for the guided fishing and luxury accommodation trip benefiting the future West Yellowstone Community Aquatic Center. Our very own Scott Clark is spearheading this Herculean effort to build what will certainly be a huge draw for West Yellowstone in summer and winter. Your raffle ticket purchase may not only support this tremendous cause, but put you in the lap of luxury and the front seat of a drift boat for several days of fly fishing heaven. Call the shop to take part!
Another "Get Them Before They're Gone" announcement we have this week is our 2011 Fly Plates! This year's 10 plates arrived last week with all new pictures and flies, signed by Craig and John Juracek. More about these later in the newsletter.
We realize Father's Day is over and Christmas is months away, but if you're looking for a great "just because" gift, a graduation or thank you or wedding anniversary token of affection, the Simms G3 Guide Wallet would be a marvelous choice. In our humble opinions, of course. This attractive and affordable wallet is constructed from the same Gore Tex material as Simms best selling waders, have genuine leather trim, and come complete with 6 card slots, 2 pockets underneath and a large bill compartment, all for $24.99. At that price, you could replace your own wallet AND give a gift.
As usual in the rest of this issue, 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 20 July 2011
Last night I fished the river with our neighbor, the owner of the $3 Bridge Ranch. Bob had been previously jinxed on the Madison during nighttime caddis fishing. We ended that as he took 7 trout, 4 rainbows and 3 browns from 15-18" in the last hour of daylight. Bob deserves his new fishing success as he and his wife, Annie, have helped us with so many fishing and wildlife projects in the Madison Valley and have placed over 12,000 acres of their land including $3 Bridge Ranch, and adjoining Cliff Lake and Elk Meadows Ranches, in conservation easements. These easements forever protect their properties against harmful development and allow access to anglers along the $3 Bridge stretch and much, much more!
For the next month we will have incredible late evening dry fly fishing on the Madison River. Many anglers come here each summer for this activity. They come and hike or tour Yellowstone during the day and arrive on the river around 7pm each evening to fish the evening caddis fly hatch from 8-10 or later. I like to arrive on the river and sit on the bank and ready my gear, keeping an eye on the water for risers. Around 8pm you will see the first aggressive-splashy rises, you may even see small trout coming completely out of the water chasing the first emerging caddis pupae of the evening. By 8:45pm you might note the rises ceases for a bit. NEVER leave the water; stay seated and knot on fresh tippet and an Iris or X2 Caddis pattern and spray on your favorite bug repellent. Make yourself ready for an hour of amazing dry fly action as by 9pm you will see larger trout move in and run the smaller trout out. Now, nearer the shore-behind boulders and in shallow pockets and seams- you will see big noses as fish roll and porpoise leisurely taking drifting pupa. The thousands of caddis you see flying by hatched a day or 2 prior and are simply in an upstream mating flight. It is the emerging pupae you are imitating and that's where the Iris and X2 work their magic each and every evening from 8pm to dark, sometimes 11pm or even later!
Many anglers ask us some of our hints and secrets to successfully fishing the evening caddis times. First you must have good insect repellent as nothing is more distracting than having to deal with hordes of biting mosquitoes. This is where Ultrathon from 3M does its job for you so you can concentrate at the job at hand. Next, have the proper flies like we discussed above: Iris and X2 Caddis patterns are the best. Have Frog's Fanny floatant to coat your flies once they get wet along with a good fly drier like an Amadou patch for removing fish slime and gunk since you'll catch and release so many trout! The amadou patch is the best and Frog's Fanny dust lights your fly up so you can easily see it in the failing light. I use a Brodin Ghost Net on a magnetic net retractor so I can quickly net the fish and release them, putting me back in the game fast and fishing to all the rising trout I'm surrounded by! Get close to the rising fish. Often I am fishing only my leader; this helps defeat drag and allows you to see every take. DO NOT flock shoot, instead pick one trout out of the several that should be rising and concentrate on it. Following this simple advice you will take many fine evening fish on the river. And, send us a photo or two along with a story of how you do!
The Madison River is fishing like there is no tomorrow! Stones, caddis and mayflies along with big beetles and bees are bringing up the trout and the nymph fishing is wonderful too. Every time we think salmon flies are done another batch emerges; the same is true with golden stones. Remember too that after the "hatch" big trout remember the large bugs and will look for both salmon flies and golden stones for a week or 2 afterward. Small yellow stones are coming off now too. Pale morning duns, green drakes and Epeorus mayflies are also emerging. The emergences are running 2 and 3 weeks behind schedule this year so we should have awesome dry fly fishing over the summer and into the fall in 2011. Evening caddis fishing has often been "too good". Most anglers are reporting lots of big trout nightly. We have been on the river nearly every evening the past week and find fish rising in all likely spots. The flows are down now where trout are rising in nearly every spot along the river from Story to Quake Lake! During the heat of the day (this year "heat" is anything above 70 degrees as it has been mostly cool and comfortable), bees and beetles and ants along with attractors like Royal Trude Cripples are working well. The river is in the best summer fly fishing shape we've seen in nearly 15 years and August, September, and October will see awesome angling with big fish and late season hatches and terrestrial fishing!
The Gallatin is coming along nicely now too as water levels drop. Stones and caddis are emerging and the trout are rising. Green drakes will come off this week. We'll say no more!
Slough Creek is our big surprise of the week. The gray drakes are coming off as are PMDs and evening caddis. The stream has been best in the morning during gray drakes and will get better each day. Soda is still turbid but the Lamar above the junction is fishing at times.
The Gardner River has come on strong during golden stone times. Our old friend at Parks' Fly Shop, Walter, tells of good fishing on this fine river and says caddis are to be expected in the evenings. Upper tribs like Obsidian and Straight as well as Winter and Indian and the main river near the Sheep Eater Cliff are fun for kids and adults alike, especially if you like beautiful brook trout fishing!
The Gibbon River is still fishing as are the Firehole and Madison in the park. Lots of late day caddis and damsels are in the meadows. PMD spinners on the Madison near Riverside and Grasshopper Bend from 8-10am.
What a fine early season we had on the Henry's Fork which has slowed down lately but will pick up in the next 2 weeks. Box Canyon has fished very well mostly with nymphs. The RxR Ranch will treat you to huge rising trout in the evenings but you won't catch many unless you are at the very top of your game! Caddis are the rule now for late day action and the big rainbows want spent sparkle caddis and small, #19, Iris.
Hebgen Lake's gulpers are gulping for those in the know. Callibaetis are stronger each day and the fish are their usual tough-to-fool. Have C. Baetis Nymphs and sparkle duns along with foam and deer hair spinners. The same can be said for Wade Lake while Cliff remains strong on the upper arms with crayfish, damsel and dragon fly nymphs. Henry's has been "OK" according to local experts with small PT Nymphs and small Sparrows.
In the park check out Grebe and Wolf Lakes with Sparrows for fine grayling fishing. Trout Lake's big fish are returning to the lake from their upstream spawning activity. The otters are wreaking havoc with these monster trout but they are just doing their "otter thing" and there are always plenty of trout for all.
A reminder to all who fish Yellowstone country.. .. ..BRING YOUR BEAR SPRAY ON ANY AND ALL FISHING TRIPS BOTH IN AND OUT OF THE PARK! John ran into a huge griz on Hebgen Lake, Jen saw one on the Gallatin and I did too on the Madison in the Park this past week. Please, for your sake and the bears' bring you spray. Remember too, you are not allowed to travel via airlines with pepper spray either in your carry on or checked lugged. At no charge to you store it with us for your next trip to Yellowstone! Drop it by with your name on it and we will have it safely kept in our bear-proof storage facility next time you come to Yellowstone!
We'll hope to see you soon! Come by when you get here!
Stay up to date with our Fishing Report and other news...
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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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