What's New
 What's Happening in Yellowstone Country



The 2011 Season has now come to a close in Yellowstone Park, and with the closure came a little bit of the white stuff. The final days of fishing in Yellowstone were a bit cool but very productive for the anglers that stuck it out in a little adverse weather. With the closure you'll find that our fishing report will become a little shorter, however there is still some good fishing to be had in our area. One of our guides was out on Monday and found this nice little spot he managed to catch a few fish out of, he also neglected to tell us where he was at?

We are busy at the shop working on our 2012 catalogue, tying flies and bringing in tying materials for the upcoming season. If you are in need of new wading boots hold off getting them for a couple weeks. Soon, by December 1st, we will be introducing a new wading boot. Some of you have seen me testing this incredible boot for the last year. This one allows me to wade most anywhere on slippery rivers like the Madison, Gallatin, Boulder and Stillwater as well as the Yellowstone. This boot is enviro-friendly, its soles are rubber with aluminum bars. We all know how well aluminum grips. If you have ever been in an aluminum drift boat you know how the bottom of it sticks like glue to slippery rocks when you bump or you hit one. When I wear mine it reminds me of putting 4 wheel drive to my feet, even wading the slipperiest trout streams known to man. Stay tuned!

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 fall and 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.

Read more from Blue Ribbon Flies... 

 Fishing Report
 Weekly Conditions and Tips

10 November 2011 Blue Ribbon Flies Fishing Report
Craig Mathews


If it is any indication of the kind of winter we are going to have, winter midges are already here, 2 weeks early, and the fish are rising to them. Whatever a "normal" year is, my notes indicate our big #20 winter midge typically begins emerging on Thanksgiving and end the first part of January. At that time the tiny olive midges, #22's, start and lasts through February.

A little insect trivia here about midges, Diptera, true flies, as they are. It is safe to say the there are more species of aquatic diptera in Montana waters than all other aquatic species combined. Variation in size, shape and form is the rule, and if you find an insect on stream you cannot identify, chances are it is a dipteran. In Yellowstone we have a plethora of midges that emerge all-year long and bring trout to the surface. During the long months of winter and early spring midges are usually the only insects on the surface of our rivers and lakes available to the trout. Then they become very important not only to trout, but also for anglers wishing to fish dry flies. Midges get us dry-fly anglers through the long-cold Yellowstone winters and we enjoy fishing their times on the water.

When afternoon temperatures soar into the 30s and 40s be ready for midge activity, especially if calm conditions prevail. From noon to 4pm you might find trout rising in the shallow runs next to pockets and boulders or calm flows adjacent to heavy water stretches. When you seen subtle rises, mostly noses softly coming up to midge emergers in the surface film, simply knot a #20 Zelon Midge to 6x tippet and get as close to the rising fish as you can. I like to approach from just downstream of the riser. Now present a short-line, pin-point accurate cast to defeat drag and keep track of your fly. When the soft rise comes raise your rod tip and celebrate your success.Rivers you can now have good midge success on are the Henry's Fork, Gallatin, Madison, Beaverhead and Yellowstone.

The Madison is fishing best below Hebgen Dam and downstream to Earthquake Lake as well as Raynold's Bridge to Hutchins Bridge. Expect midges between the bridges. Below the dam is best with egg patterns, Micro-Madison Midge nymphs trailed behind a chocolate rubber legged stone and an olive sculpin like the one Patrick ties with large red eyes.

The Gallatin can be great around Greek Creek and Big Sky now with the same flies as for the Madiosn but I'd throw in a Red $3 Dip too.

I like the Yellowstone at Mallard's Rest and above the Emigrant Bridge, both upstream of Livingston, Mt. Same flies as above but lean heavily on streamer fishing from noon to 2pm and try copper and pearl Zonkers then.

On the Fork you might find good midging most anywhere. Most rising trout will be small but if the midge emergence is strong you might fish to some very large rainbows

The Beaverhead will fish well below the dam during midge times too.

Stay tuned here for the latest information on fly fishing, fly tying materials and products. Keep those emails and phone calls coming! It is very quiet now in Yellowstone country.

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

 Fly of the Week
 Hot off the Vise!!

Two for One!!!!

Copper & Pearl Zonkers

By far one of the best patterns that we used, and are still using, this fall is the Zonker. This is a very versitile pattern that we have, over the years, used in many ways. For one week we will offer these Zonkers at a two for one price! What a bargain at only $1.12 per fly

Simply stripping this pattern is only one of the ways we have used this fly. For many years our guides have used a technique that has come to be known as the "Big and Little" This is simply dead drifting a Zonker or larger streamer, under an indicator, with a smaller dropper such as a P.T., Micro Mayfly or Serendipity. This method has proven to be quite productive throughout the seasons and especially in the fall.

"Dredging" is another technique that is quite popular using a Zonker. This is mostly done from a drift boat, whereas the line is casted perpendicular to the boat against the bank. The line is then mended down stream to create a swing effect just a little faster than the current. The speed of the swing can now be controlled by the oarsman. Typically this is used most often during runoff in high water.

So if you've never tried these techniques this is the time to stock up with a few Zonkers.

For Zonkers and other great patterns... 

 Fly Tying Material of the Week
 Unique Materials for Effective Patterns

Turkey Biots

Many tiers have asked what material is used to make quill bodies on small (size 12 and under) trout files. This is the material. Longer and easier to use than the old goose biots, they make nice bodies for emergers, spinners, and slender nymphs.

For Turkey Biots and other superior fly tying materials... 

 Dutch Boxes are here!!
 The Holiday season is Upon us.



Picking out a gift can be a tough task and if your like us procrastination can be your worst enemy. So over the next few weeks we will be giving you a few ideas for the holiday season.

Dave Shultz master wooden box maker has just dropped off another shipment of his one of a kind boxes and we thought we'd better let you know. These boxes make the perfect gift for anyone. Once a box is sold you will not see another like it. We have about 24 of these to choose from and you can see all of them online. These boxes are all hand made and tend go very fast this time of year.

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

 Guide Trip of the Week
 Nobody Does It Better

Thank You!!!!

On behalf of the entire guide staff here at Blue Ribbon Flies we would like to take this oppurtunity to thank all of you that joined us on a guided adventure in 2011. It was a spectacular year filled with lots of fish and fun. Many of you have been with us for many, many years and are now dear friends whom we look forward to seeing each year.

Each year brings something different, as this one did, and we so appreicate the trust all of you instill in us with your precious time. We look forward to another great season in 2012 and are already getting geared up to start again with our Spring Mayfly tours in late March. Again, Thank you!!

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

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

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...