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May 17, 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

I am counting off the hours until Saturday morning when the fishing season re-opens on the Madison River. It closed less than 3 short months ago, February 29th, which now seems more like a year in fly fishing time. I just awoke from a dream where I was fishing near the West Fork and had hooked a nice rainbow when I noticed the game warden drive by on the highway and remembered the season was closed to fishing. I tried sneaking back to my truck and he ran me down and chastised me for not knowing the season was closed, Anyway, so much for dreaming about the opener as it is now upon us. Yellowstone Park's fishing season opens a week from this Saturday and the trout have been rising to caddis emergences for the last month on the Firehole so we are looking forward to opening day May 26th also.

The shop is looking great as our little remodel job is finishing up and new products are arriving daily. You will find lots of new and innovative fly tying stuff to peruse this year as well as some exciting new fly fishing gear and the latest in clothing and so much more. Our library is filling with lots of special titles and the long awaited book, "Astream" has been shipped to us. This book has so many wonderful fly fishing stories from great angling authors like Keaton and McQuane, Lyons and Harrison and others. Look to this report in the weeks ahead to feature new products each week.

The Madison River Foundation Gala event is June 23 and our annual BRF/Madison River Foundation Day is July 9th so stay tuned for more details here. Today BRF is proud to help the US Forest Service and the Madison River Foundation with their annual "Bear Creek Days". Jen and Tylor are working with youngsters and bringing them a knowledge of beginning fly fishing, stream ecology, and more. You will find a photo or 2 in the following week's newsletters of this event. Some of the "Thank You" letters we receive from the kids after this great event bring tears to your eyes as they are so appreciative. Lots of conservation programs gearing up in the Madison Valley with the Odell Creek restoration project continuing,Yellowstone National Park continues its Yellowstone Cutthroat Program which we have highlighted in the past here in this report and we are still woking on helping fund the $6m needed. Some conservation easement and water lease programs to Trout Unlimited in the works as well as a WIldlife Conservation Society bird study and wolverine program continuing. All these and more we will report on throughout the summer. Summer 2012 promised to be the best fly fishing summer in many years due to last year's record runoff bringing some very large fish back on our river, lakes and streams. It also looks to be the busiest summer season for conservation and wild trout projects and programs which need our support so stay informed by reading this weekly news which will highlight these fine programs 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 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

By Craig Mathews

The Madison River below Earthquake Lake will fish well Saturday. Its a bit stained due to runoff water coming through Quake Lake but there is enough visibility, 2' this morning, to allow fish to rise to Baetis and March Brown mayflies should they emerge. The nymphing will be epic. I like Macro-Madison Beadhead Mayfly Nymphs as well as brown and olive rubber legs. Streamer fishing should be good too as the fish, especially the larger brown trout, will be concentrated along the shoreline lying in wait for sculpin and juvenile whitefish and trout to eat. A woolhead sculpin or one of our other small sculpin patterns tied with red squirrel fur strips will score you plenty of big-wild Madison River trout!

You should see some March Browns and Baetis in selected spots near the West Fork and $3 Bridge and the trout will rise to them. Have sparkle duns for this and you can expect some nice trout during the afternoon hours should you come upon an emergence of one or both of these mayflies. Our Macro-Madison Beadhead imitates the nymph of the March Brown and will be deadly dead drifted in all likely spots during May and until mid-June. Don't be surprised to come upon an emergence of Mothers' Day Caddis on the upper river, above McAtte and to $3 Bridge this coming week. If you seen boils and/or swirls as fish rise to emergent Brachycentrus caddis pupa be prepared! Often a #14-16 olive X Caddis will be the only fly required for success but there are times the fish will not come to the surface for a floating fly and it is then you will want to swing a Soft Hackle Caddis Emerger and trail a green standard soft hackle for these fish that boil just below the surface.

The Henry's Fork's salmon flies are in Box Canyon according to local guides. Give us a call for a current report. We have a couple friends fishing there today and should know more later.

Lakes like Hebgen, Wade and Cliff continue to fish well. Evening activity has been the strongest but early mornings can offer up great opportunity to catch big cruising trout too. Dry fly action has been so-so but sight fishing for cruisers has been the best in years. Mating swarms of midges are more and more noticeable as the adults head toward breeding times so look for dry-fly action to improve as adults become more prevalent on the surface. Emergences are heavy on the warm-calm evenings we've experienced of late. Fly pattern can be critical at times on Wade and Hebgen where on Cliff Lake nearly any midge pupae can be expect to work most days. The Driskill Midge is still our favorite subsurface pattern but anglers should have Improved Zelon Midges along now for fishing to gulping trout at the surface. Stop in soon to welcome Jen and Tylor, John and Aaron back to work. Sam, or newest employee, will be with us any day now too. Our guide staff remains the same as the past several seasons. They have been busy the past 2 months taking anglers fishing on our famous Spring Mayfly Tours so they have all been hard at it.The coffee is always on but the machine is moved to a new location in the shop and you will have to search it out! All of us at BRF look forward to seeing you soon. This will go down as one of the finest early fishing seasons we've had in decades!

 


 Fly of the Week.
 Rhyacophila X Caddis

Bucky and Sadie have returned from their fishing vacation so make sure you bug him this season for his report. He and I have been tying up our new Rhyacophila X Caddis pattern for 2012. This bright caddis green body fly is a deadly searching pattern throughout the season on rivers like the Madison and Gallatin along with the park's Firehole Rivers. The shuck is tied with our new zelon which, you can see from the photo, glows with sparkle and sheen; a real fish magnet!

Here's a couple of other flies you should check out. 


 Fly Tying Material of the Week
 Crinkled Zelon, a few new colors!

As Craig mentioned above he and Bucky have been working on the Rhyacophila X Caddis (Green X) and for this they needed to also create some bright new Zelon colors and here they are Apple Green and Slough Creek Fall Baetis. Many of you have already noticed these on our website and have been using these new colors. A buddy of ours from back east has been using the Slough Creek Fall Baetis color for Sulfurs and has great success using the new colors as shucks and wings.

For this and other fine materials check here! 


 Anglerhaus Tool Kit.
 For the Traveling Angler!

Anglerhaus Standard Tool Kit

The Anglerhaus Tools Standard Fly Tying Tool Kit includes quality fly tying tools perfect for the beginner and the seasoned fly tyer alike. This tool kit is great for the traveling angler as the entire package is housed in a handsome 8" X 5" X 1 1/2" wood box. The Anglerhaus Tools Standard Fly Tying Tool Kit also features a guide for beginners describing each fly tying tool in the kit along with a brief description of hook terminology and tying instruction.

This kit includes the following tools: Vise with built-in base Scissors Thread bobbin Bobbin threader Bodkin Whip finisher Dubbing loop tool Hackle pliers Wood travel/storage box

The Anglerhaus Tools Standard Fly Tying Tool Kit makes a great addition to any fly tyers arsenal of tools and also makes a great gift.

More Great Stuff! 


 Guide Trip of The Week
 Fish With The Best!

Here's Yvonne Llewellyn, who last year braved the high waters of the Madison with great success. Even though the waters were extremely high and off color last year the fish were still eating well. We don't expect near the run-off as we saw last year, but as Craig mentioned the river will be stained for the opener. Don't let this deter you from fishing. Some of the nicest fish our guides see all year come during spring run-off. If your fishing the Madison this weekend you are sure to see many of our guides fishing as well, they just can't help themselves!

The guides here at Blue Ribbon are always ready to go so if your in the area and want to learn a little more about how to fish during the run-off give us a call and we'll be happy to set you up.

Blue Ribbon Guides, fish with the best! 


 Fly Sale!!
 Bead Headed Mini Leech.

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

Bead Headed Mini Leech

The Bead Headed Mini Leech is a pattern that we have used for years on waters like Cliff, Wade, Hebgen and Yellowstone Lake. This little leech has also proven it's effectiveness in the major rivers and even spring creeks. These leeches come in size 10 only and you have a choice of either Olive or Wine.

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

Check out our blog... 


 Simms Freestone Boot
 Felt is Back!

Simms has reintroduced felt to a selection of its wading boot line-up, including the Freestone. Felt has solid grip, it's lightweight, and offers advantages in certain wading environments. Please follow clean angling practices, limit felt soles to single watersheds, and help keep these vital resources healthy.

CleanStream design utilizes high abrasion-resistant panels with water repellent treatment for minimal water absorption & easy cleaning Rubber toe & heel provide protection from abrasion Padded collar & tongue Nylon speed lacing system for lightweight corrosion-resistance EVA wedge with rubber midsole Offered in men's whole sizes 7 - 14

World Fishing Network Trailer. 


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!


Check out this tubby little brown. One thing is for sure, he and all of the fish in the area have been eating good! Until Next Week!!
The Gang at Blue Ribbon

phone: 406.646.7642
fax: 406.646.9045