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April 5, 2012 
 News from Blue Ribbon Flies
 Fish With The Best
In This Issue
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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.

We've got a lot to show you and tell you about this week, so settle down in a comfy chair and dig in. 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 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. We wish you were here, but until you are we'll keep you in the loop. Thanks for stopping by.

 What's New
 What's Happening in Yellowstone Country

No the picture doesn't really tell the true story of the weather. It does show how it will look in a month or two or maybe three, to the contrary it is beginning to look a lot like Christmas here in Yellowstone country. The snow is piling up during an early spring snowstorm but the fishing is red hot! Bison are moving out of the park as they always do in April, to their calving grounds on Horse Butte. Buffalo Field Campaign is out in force hazing the very pregnant cows off the road and while we've not seen a newborn calf they are sure to hit the ground running in the next week. All bison look great this spring even the old bulls and barren cows which last year were skin and bones at this same time. This winter was a warm one, and we have adequate snowpack with more on the way. The forecast is for 15" of snow over the next 2 days before Easter Sunday, which is to be warm and sunny.

Drew's first Mayfly Tour trip is having the fly-fishing time if their lives! Lots of fine early season trout on the spring creeks and Yellowstone River. See our "Guide Section" in this newsletter for more information on our spring trips with full report on flies and more.

Back at the shop we have been tying up a storm. I've been working on midge patterns like Griffith's Gnats and G Gnat Emergers, Micro- Wulff Cripples and small BWO nymphs using out dyed peacock eyes while Bucky continues to tie some of his latest articulated streamers with the new materials we got in that make tying these incredibly effective patterns a breeze.

Cam and I will leave snowy West Yellowstone for warmer Salt Lake City and the Wasatch Fly Expo this weekend. Look for more information on this great 2 day expo in this report. I will by doing a Yellowstone tying demo along with a conservation workshop and a program on fishing Yellowstone country and more. Hope to see all our friends at this show this Friday and Saturday.

The shop is taking on a slightly new look this spring as Dan and Scott continue their remodel. We hope you like their work next time you stop in. Still the same BRF look and feel but we have opened things up a bit and added lots of new tying materials and more.

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

By Craig Mathews

The Madison River fishes well between the lakes. Nymphing anglers are having some incredible afternoons on the river here. Micro-Madison Beadheads and black Zebra Nymphs are the best bets. You can find some fish rising near the islands below Campfire at times but this action is at best sporadic.

Earthquake Lake has enough open water along the shoreline near the USFS Earthquake Visitors' Center and Rock Creek that you can pitch streamers onto the ice and pull them off into open water and expect some great action. Too, you may see fish rising to midges this weekend and a #18 Zelon Midge or Slough Creek Midge Larva fished just under the surface will work well.

Hebgen Lake is several days from seeing open water.

The Madison below McAtte Bridge can fish well on overcast days during midge times. Baetis are a few days away here but might show at Varney and below this weekend. I like the water downstream of Varney and all the way to Crane Island and Burnt Tree FAS. Big rubber leg stones, Zebras and Olive $3 Dips are deadly now. Big rainbows and browns can be expected so be there! Try a #14 Stimi to imitate the early stones, Skwala sp presenting it in all likely spots and you will raise some nice fish.

The Madison river below Ennis dam has some color now due to windy conditions so check before making the trip.

The Gallatin River is fishing fine all the way from the park line to Bozeman. Skwala stones are coming off on the lower stretches and a general imitation will bring up some very nice trout. A Stimulator or Royal Trude Cripple will work well on warm days.

The Yellowstone River has been fun downstream of Livingston where you may come on a good Baetis hatch, the same for the Henry's Fork. A #20 Improved Beatis Sparkle will be the only fly you need when fish rise daily to Baetis noon to 4p.m.

With this Baetis weather moving in I am having a hard time loading up with Cam and heading the Salt Lake but there will be more Baetis ahead next week! Until then, I hope to see you soon and please let us hear from you remember too, Yellowstone Park's fishing season opens in only 50 days the countdown has begun!!!

 


 Fly of the Week.
 Nick's Soft Hackle Caddis.

A Nick Nicklas Original

This productive soft hackle has earned a permanent place in our fly boxes. Tied by our senior guide Nick Nicklas, this English styled pattern incorporates a collar of natural partridge and flash with a natural fur body, creating the perfect classic caddis emerger. #16

For This and other great patterns check here! 


 Fly Tying Material of the Week
 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 and dries. We have been using this material for a couple of years and have turned out some great flies because of it. Our Guide Cripple has been a very popular fly and has caught many fish using the purple peacock eyes as part of the body.

For this and other fine materials check here! 


 Yellowstone Park Fishing Licenses.
 A Slight Increase.

rick and Julia Llewellyn photo The cost for a 2012 Yellowstone Park fishing license will go up this year. The cost for a 3 day license has gone from $15.00 up to $20.00, a 7 day license has gone from $20.00 to $25.00 and finally a season license has gone from $35.00 to $40.00.

Although these licenses have gone up it's still the cheapest fun you'll ever have and remember the cost of this license goes directly to the Yellowstone fisheries.

Here's more info from the National Park Service 


 Guide Trip of the Week.
 Fish with the Best!

Chad Chorney Photo Chad Chorney Photo

Our own Drew Mentzer is out on the first Spring Road Trip of the year. I talked to Drew last night and he reported that the fishing has been good. Drew has been on DePuy's, the Yellowstone and the Stillwater so far and has good success on all three. The Stillwater sounds as if it was the best for him where they saw fish working to Midges, Baetis, and March Browns. The Weather has been almost to nice on his trip and they are hoping for a few clouds today to help bring a few more fish to the surface.

The Spring Road trips mark the beginning of the 2012 fishing season for Blue Ribbon Flies and all of the guides are very anxious to get out on the rivers. The Guide staff has been busy the last 2 weeks digging boats out of the snow, finding anchors, making sure they have the boat plugs, first aid kits, life jackets, flies, waders, boots, rain coats, rods, reels and all of the necessary licenses. This spring is going to be some of the best fishing of 2012, no wonder these guys are excited!

We run these Spring Road Trips right up to the first week in June so there is still time to take advantage of this World Class road trip.

For all of you who are joining us on a spring trip this year, get to those vises and crank out some flies. Let's Fish!!

Blue Ribbon Guides, fish with the best! 


 Fly Sale!!
 Ugly Bug.

In trying to keep up with our promise we made at the beginning of the winter, we have yet another fly sale for you.

Heavy Weighted Ugly Bug

As we all know the Madison river is full of stonefly nymphs which can be fished any time of year. Spring time runoff is especially good with a big black stone trailed by a smaller bright trailer. The Fish tend to hold close to the banks and all you have to do is get their attention. The black Ugly Bug will do just that.

Once again we will let this fly go for only $1.00 a piece or until we run out.

Check out our blog... 


 Blue Ribbon Hats
 New For 2012.

A couple of our guides who winter in the east, like Tom Cornell, are returning to town now. Our new BRF hats just came in and the shop's hat display already shows some disappearing as guides pick up their new hats for season. I took one this morning to make sure I got a new one to begin the season with before we have to reorder! It is that time of the year again and all of us here at the shop are glad to see the end of winter, guides return and trout rise!

More fine Apparell. 


 Need a Place to Stay?
 Arrowhead Lodge.

All of their units offer fully equipped gourmet kitchens with full size appliances, microwaves, glass top ranges, dishwashers and refridgerators with ice makers. Cookware, silverware, bakeware, glasses and coffee makers are all provided to make you comfortable at your home away from home. Their combined living/dining areas have flat screen TV's with satellite, wifi to keep you connected, DVD/CD players, games and more. Sinking into their comfortable couches and chairs make planning your next day of adventure a relaxing treat. Their plush beds feature hand made queen mattresses, topped with hand-ironed 400 threadcount linens and cozy comforters. After a long day outside, bathe your aches away in your bathroom's jetted tub and dry off with your luxurious towels. Ceiling fans and in-floor heating complete your perfect Yellowstone getaway!

Click here to see more photos from Arrowhead Lodge. 


 Wasatch Expo
 Starting tomorrow in Sandy Utah.

Don't forget if you are in the Salt Lake area to stop by and see Craig at the 6th Annual Wasatch Expo. For more information on this event click on the photo. See You there!!

 


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.

Thanks for spending time with us. We'll see you soon!