What's New
 What's Happening in Yellowstone Country

Rick and Julia Llewellyn

We've finally reached, as of today, that tipping point. We are tipping precariously toward the end of the 2011 Yellowstone National Park fishing season. This is the day that 3-day, 7-day, and season Yellowstone Park fishing license are all worth the same, no matter how much you pay for them or wish it otherwise. There are only three days left to fish in Yellowstone Park this year.

This means we are scrambling for one last gasp on the Madison in the Park, or maybe the Firehole or the Lamar. Pick your poison. It also means after Sunday we will officially call OUR season over, though we'll still be in the shop six days a week. Our hours will be shorter, which is good due to Sunday's Daylight Saving Time "fall back." It already feels like it's dark until mid-morning; now we'll be watching the sun rise over lunch.

With firewood stacked and school kids already making turkeys and pilgrims for their classrooms, it's probably time to admit the season is over, but we are hanging on to these last three days for all we're worth. As it winds down, we want to thank you again for all your loyal support, friendship, and business. We simply could not do what we do without you, nor would we want to. Thank you for being with us year-round, from pilgrims to pumpkins.

We also want to thank you for all the great entries for our 2012 catalog contest. We got some amazing photos, anecdotes, fly patterns, and essays. Thank you all so much for participating. We will keep you posted as we develop our catalog for next year. We hope to feature some of the entries that don't make it in the 2012 paper version in upcoming Blue Ribbon email newsletters. Hope that's ok with everyone.

We are processing our soft hackle materials now. Grouse like ruffed and dusky and sharptail are drying in our special drying room and will be available soon. Our web site work and catalog are both coming along on schedule and we look forward to bringing you both soon. In the meantime call or stop by and check out the great materials we are laying in for the upcoming tying season!

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... 

 Fishing Report
 Weekly Conditions and Tips

2 November 2011 Blue Ribbon Flies Fishing Report
Craig Mathews
Dale Mikle Photograph

This is it, the last week of Yellowstone National Park's fishing season. We have until late this Sunday to fish great rivers like the Firehole, Gibbon and Lewis and the park's sections of the Madison, Gardner and Snake. Late season action has been some of the best we've seen in years. With this being a big water/big trout year most anglers may remember 2011 as the best they've ever fished. All of us at BRF have fished hard all season, enjoying the long season and lamenting the fact that the park's season closes after such an incredible year of big trout rising to fine insect emergences, big trout aggressively chasing big fall streamers and soft hackles, and big trout feeding heavily/daily on nymphs on all Yellowstone waters.

Now we enter Yellowstone's long-dark-cold season with short days and long nights, tying lots of flies and working on tying materials, writing our catalogue and newsletters, and putting the final touches on our conservation and fishing programs we look forward to presenting to fly fishing clubs around the country over the next 6 months. We hope you will all stick with us through the cold times by reading our newsletters, blog posts, and analogue. We look forward to you all dropping us a line, or letter, or email from time-to-time.

For those making the trip to Yellowstone in winter please stop by and see us. The coffee is always on, conversation lively, fly tiers tying their hearts out and our shop dogs looking for a willing handout. We are looking forward to fine late fall and a full winter of midge and nymph fishing. If today is any indication of how the midge fishing will be going into this winter we are indeed in for a treat as I had awesome midge fishing this afternoon. Let's check out our report.

The Firehole River should be fished this weekend if you are in the area. The river from its confluence with the Gibbon to begin the Madison has fished well for run-up browns and rainbows. If fish watching is in your plans make sure you take the Firehole Canyon Drive to check out Firehole Falls for both brown and rainbow trout launching themselves into the falls in a futile attempt to clear it and move upstream to spawn, quite a sight for sure. If fishing dry flies to trout rising to Baetis mayflies and caddis is in your plans make sure you check out the river upstream, from The Broads to Biscuit Basin, as you will not be disappointed. You will need Iris and X Caddis as well as Baetis Cripples, emergers and sparkle duns. Should you come upon a big brown, one that won't give your fly a sniff, then knot a #22 Baetis Knocked-Down Dun on 6x tippet and you will take the fish. Swinging classic soft hackles like partridge and orange or partridge and green in riffles and runs will produce many fine wild trout.

The Gibbon is your best bet for taking a few big fall run brown trout. The river from Madison Junction upstream to the falls can't be beat for browns coming to brown stone rubber legs. This nymph along with a small CDC Prince trailing behind will be all you need. Check out the river just below Gibbon Falls and watch for run-up fish as they attempt to leap the 84 foot falls.

The Snake River is still fishing well for fall run browns averaging 17". You'll want to fish the river near the south entrance with bright yet small soft hackles we like to swing in the fall.

The Madison in the park is a sure bet if the sun isn't beating on the water. If so, fish late in the afternoon or early in the morning with our special streamers and Sparrow Nymphs. The Barns Pools have been consistent as has Bakers Hole, Nine Mile, Talus Slide, upper and lower Haynes and the water near The Elbow and Deer Lick.

The Madison downstream of the park line to Hebgen Lake can be good now but if you run a streamer through a good run or pool without moving a fish leave this stretch and head upstream. The fish do not stay long here, moving quickly through the area, so don't stay long if you fail to score a trout or two.

The Gallatin has come alive downstream of Big Sky. Baetis and midges can be counted on if the wind lays and temps reach into the mid 40's to low 50's. Now is the time to take some very nice trout on dries near Portal and Greek Creeks.

South Fork of the Madison from Highway 20 downstream to Hebgen Lake can be fun with streamers from now through the end of November. Access is great and the fishing even better. Fish a Bakers Bugger on a floating line and you will be rewarded.

I almost forgot about the Lewis Channel if the weather cooperates. A long hike is required but the fishing is worth every step. It's all streamer action and it really does not matter as to pattern as these fish are aggressive to the fly all the way now.

The Gardner is always great in late season when fishing a big stone nymph, until you find a run or pool with trout rising to the last of the Baetis mayfly emergences of the season. Then a #20 Baetis Sparkle Dun is all you need to take the risers.

Lake anglers have done well on Henry's and Hebgen. The flies needed for success run from big streamers to leeches. A brown wooly bugger and a claret leech works great on Hebgen. On Henrys the same leech as well as an olive woolhead sculpin are killing. These lakes can wear you out now! The Henry's Fork is still on fire during Baetis times.

The Madison below Raynolds has been incredible. The little Empidid midges are emerging and today I had a banner day presenting a #20 Zelon Midge on 5x tippet to rising trout near $3 Bridge from 2 to 4pm. The rainbows were out in force today, looking for midges and imitations of them. I was there, where were you?

Stay up to date with our Fishing Report and other news... 

 Fly of the Week
 Hot off the Vise!!



Royal Wulff Cripple

A favorite of our guides who demand a highly visible fly that floats great and catches fish. This was a relatively recent attractor, and works great on pocket waters such as the Gallatin, Madison, and Gardner.

Not only that, but it works well on your home waters as well. This fly works beautifully on lakes, small streams, and mighty rivers. Test it just about anywhere you go, and if we were betting folks, we'd wager you'd catch a fish or two on the Royal Wulff Cripple.

Not sure we're not just trying to sell you another fly? Make a little bet with yourself: buy a half dozen and see if you can't take three times that many fish anywhere you are for the next six months. Ok, if you're spending the next season in salt water, maybe you're not eligible, but everyone else, give it a shot! Try the Royal Wulff Cripple Challenge.

For Royal Wulff Cripples and other great patterns... 

 Fly Tying Material of the Week
 Unique Materials for Effective Patterns

Dyed Peacock Eyes

A great material for tying large winter steelhead flies that require lots of movement and color. Also great for collars on many popular trout nymphs. Two per pack, in brown, black, purple, and golden stone.

For dyed peacock eyes and other superior fly tying materials... 

 It's Calendar Time!
 2012 Is Just Around The Corner

Photo by Norbert Rosing

If you haven't started writing down dates and appointments in 2012, congratulations for living in the moment. Carpe Diem.

Nevertheless, not only is today the tipping point for the YNP fishing season, it is also just about time for 2012 to come creeping around the corner. For better or worse, now is the time to think about a 2012 Calendar for yourself, your fishing buddy, officemate, or teenaged grandson who needs to get organized.

Santa used to bring Jen a calendar for Christmas every year, and it was always a treat to see what all 12 pictures would be. Most years it was a horse calendar, but there may have been a few wildlife years in the mix. The difference between those days and these? When Santa was in charge, there was no need to plan ahead, no schedules to keep, no appointments months away. Now, it would be nice to have the space to write next year's doctor's visits, weddings, and trips to Yellowstone Country.

And the pictures? We have two fantastic 2012 calendars available now. We have a Bear Calendar, with shots of mostly grizzly and black bears, with one polar bear pic you won't be able to resist. We also have a gorgeous Wolf Calendar, which will make you want to howl when you see it.

Whether it's a gift for yourself or someone else, or you're just practical and need some planning space with pretty pictures, call or email or shop online for a 2012 Calendar. Maybe next year we'll figure out a way to make our own!

Check out all our art and gift ideas.... 

 Guide Trip of the Week
 Nobody Does It Better

Yellowstone Park Foundation Trip in 2012

Elk Meadows Ranch

So, this is a bit of a stretch for the Guide Trip of the Week, but we wanted to start your wheels turning. July 2012 will bring a unique opportunity to stay, eat, fish, and tour in some of the most beautiful places Yellowstone country has to offer.

In cooperation with Bob and Annie Graham, and Blue Ribbon Flies, the Yellowstone Park Foundation will be hosting a special weekend of recreation and relaxation in July 2012, which will include great food, great views, and time spent with key players in Park and fisheries management.

The Yellowstone Park Foundation is the official fundraising partner of Yellowstone National Park. The Foundation works to fund important projects and programs, many of which are beyond the financial capacity of the National Park Service. The Foundation receives no annual government funding; it relies instead upon the generous support of private citizens, foundations, and corporations to ensure that Yellowstone's great gifts to the world will never diminish. Since its inception, the Yellowstone Park Foundation has raised more than $60 million for Yellowstone National Park, and has successfully funded more than 200 Park projects.

Look for an article in the 2012 Catalog about this opportunity, and we'll let you know more about the details as we nail them down. For now, check out the Yellowstone Park Foundation and all the work they do at www.ypf.org.

Fish with the Best! Book your trip with Blue Ribbon Flies... 

 Blog, Blog, Blog!
 A Great Resource for News, Reports, and Information

If you haven't checked the blog since last week, you won't believe what's been going on. Well, maybe you will, but it's still worth a look. John is still at it with gorgeous photos and great fishing tips, and we keep promising to join in with articles and essays of our own. We've even talked about having every member of our crew post something every week next year.

As our fall rolls into winter, we hope to be doing more blogging, fly-tying, and posting videos of some of our fishing and tying adventures. There is no better way to keep up with what's going on in Yellowstone country than the Blue Ribbon Blog.

From articles about fly lines, rods, reels, wildlife and even some fishing reports we will do our best to keep you updated. Be sure to check in often. Remember you can now find us on Facebook and Twitter.

Check out our blog...