What's New
 What's Happening in Yellowstone Country

If you've ever wondered what we mean by "greening up" or felt that we overuse the phrase, here's a good old example of this glorious process. Dick McGuire gave us access to many, many photographs he had taken through the years before he passed away, and we've been flipping through them lately in a fog of springtime nostalgia.

With the big snows of Memorial Day weekend and the lesser snows of this week, we have gotten several glimpses of the Park and the local mountains greening up. With snow up high and the fresh grass and wildflowers popping up down low, this spectacular time of year may be a challenge to fish but it's a pleasure to watch.

It's sunny today, with another chance of snow here this weekend sometime. We will keep fishing throughout, and be sure to keep you informed of all our fishing and traveling stories. Craig, Geoff, and Drew should be full of stories, and should be back to tell them early next week after their trip to Canada.

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks' seven-member Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) will meet in Ennis, Montana at 3 pm on Wednesday, June 13th at the El Western Conference Center. The CAC is drafting a recreation management plan for the Madison River. The meeting is open to the public and time for public comment will be available.
The CAC's first meeting, held in Bozeman last week, dealt mostly with organizational issues. Little of substance was addressed during that inaugural meeting. We urge all those interested to attend this Ennis meeting of the CAC.

The Madison River Foundation will co-host a public meeting in Ennis at 7 pm, Wednesday, June 20th on the state of the Madison River. The meeting will take place in the Madison Valley Public Library. PPL Montana is co-hosting the meeting along with the Foundation. Representatives from PPL Montana will be on hand to discuss such matters as the ongoing work and Hebgen Dam, river flows and temperatures, the requirements of the utility's federal operating license, and its monitoring and conservation work on the Madison. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks officials also will be on hand to discuss the health of the fishery and answer questions. You are invited to attend.

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

While Craig's fishing in Canada winds down, Bucky filled in with this week's fishing report. He also took this photo on the Firehole during a short burst of sunshine early this week.

Firehole River: The water levels are great and the bugs are hatching. Look for PMDs along with Baetis on cloudy afternoons. PMD and Baetis sparkle duns and cripples have been working just fine. If soft hackles are your game these too have produced very well. A beadhead Pheasant tail or partridge and orange have worked best for me. With the warmer days the evening caddis fishing is getting into full swing. White Miller soft hackles along with cripples are working well as are X and iris caddis. A bead head hares ear soft hackle is another great fly for this river. Midday can be a bit quiet, but the persistent angler can still drum up a few trout. Salmon Flies have begun in the canyon and the trout are starting to look up. This should only improve with the warm afternoons. Nick's sunken stone or a chubby chernobyl are both great choices.

Gibbon River: Attractor patterns fished below the falls have been working great. A size #16 Royal Wulff or Royal Trude cripple is one of our favorites. There have been a few PMDs along with caddis hatching and the same patterns for the Firehole will work here too. Streamers in the meadows will also produce well if the weather turns scuzzy.

Madison in the Park: PMDs and Baetis can be found on cloudy afternoons just about anywhere on the river. Good caddis can be seen in the evening hours. The best rise has been closer to the junction. A size #16 or #18 Missing Link caddis is best. Salmon flies are just starting and probing the banks along the heavier water can produce some very large trout. There will not be many, but the few caught could be memorable. The same flies listed above will work here too.

Madison below Quake Lake: The nymph fishing continues to be stellar throughout the wade stretch. A rubberlegs nymph with a serendipity below has been working very well. There are a few Baetis and caddis to be found and the watchful angler can pick up a few fish on dries. Streamers fished in the morning and evening hours are still producing and if the weather turns foul, this fishing will only improve.

A few salmonflies have been spotted in the Beartrap, so keep your eyes and ears open for them to move up our way in the next week or two. Also, PPL announced that the Hebgen outflow was increased by approximately 10% on 6/4/12 at 13:00 and again by 10% yesterday, 6/6/12, at 10:00. The outflow is currently 1930cfs. The current elevation is 6534.58ft.

Hebgen Lake: If the wind would lay down for a day, the midge fishing would be great. The north shore is a consistent area. Check the bays for rising trout in the mid morning and evening hours. Fishing a dry/dropper rig can be very productive. If watching a dry is not your bag, try stripping a crayfish pattern.

Henry's Fork: Salmonflies are about over, but the Golden Stones are just beginning. Box Canyon can be very good with rubberlegs dropped below a dry. The Last Chance area has had good caddis with a few PMDs and a few large rainbows up. Remember the Railroad Ranch stretch does not open until June 15th, so be sure to stay above the Log Jam. Warm River to Ashton has had a few Golden Stones and should only get better if the weather stays warm. Below Ashton Dam the water is off color, but the nymph fishing has been good. Once the Goldens begin in earnest the dry fly fishing should turn on.

Gallatin River: The Park stretch is clear enough, but very cold. There are very few folks fishing here and streamers fished slowly can bring a few trout to the net. Below the Taylor Fork the river is in full runoff.

If we don't see you before you go, have a great trip. Come in after and tell us how you did!

Read past fishing reports and archived newsletters... 

 Fly of the Week
 White Miller Caddis

In a Variety of Stages

It's time again to stock up on White Miller Caddis! The Firehole is shaping up, the fish are willing, and the caddis are finally warming up enough to hatch.

Fluttering White Miller: The White Miller Caddis adult has been most difficult to imitate. While our pupae and cripple patterns have been deadly we have been frustrated by trout chasing fluttering adults along the entire length of the Firehole and Madison Rivers in Yellowstone, with not so much as a rise to our flies. The Fluttering White Miller is a valuable addition to your fly box that fills niche, as it works during these frequent times when trout key in on the fluttering adults.

White Miller Soft Hackle Emerger: Chief fly designer and Firehole junkie Nick Nicklas began fishing a small white soft hackle pattern dead drifted or swung slightly below the surface, and it turned out to be exactly what we needed to fool these focused fish.

White Miller Iris Caddis: The White Miller is the most important Caddis on the Firehole and Madison rivers in Yellowstone. As you know, most trout rise to only the waking skittering naturals. This fly incorporates a waking post of zelon to imitate just that.

And last but certainly not least, the White Miller Cripple: Caddis emergences are always at the top of the list of the most important hatches in Yellowstone Country, and 2004 was no exception. One of the caddis highlights was a strong emergence of White Millers. The Firehole boasted the strongest Millers of the area. and the White Miller Cripple was designed to take on the hungry Firehole trout.

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

 Fly Tying Material of the Week
 New Batch of Elk Hair

Bull and Cow Elk Just In!

Sometimes pictures don't do justice to reality. We tried and tried to take a photo of the hair bins this morning, to show you what an overflowing thing of beauty it is right now.

To no avail. You will simply have to come in and dig through the bins yourself OR trust us, that we have a beautiful new batch of bull and cow elk hair that will make you sing when you see it.

Bull elk are exceptionally beautiful, and the blonde hair from the flank is exceptional for tying stimulators or classic elk hair caddis. Graded for tip quality, straightness and texture.

Cow elk is our best all around elk hair! It is straight, fine to medium textured hair with good tips, and these pieces will knock your socks off.

Call or order online. You know our hair never lasts long.

For this and other fine materials check here! 

 Guide Trip of The Week
 Fish With The Best!

Because you are our friends and family, it's only right to share all our news with you, even the tough stuff. It is your loyalty and good nature, your compassion and tenacity that make you great anglers, fly tyers, and friends.

One of our dearest and best tyers and guides, Nick Nicklas, is currently tending to his health, and will be unavailable for guiding for the next little while. We are pulling for him, hoping for the best possible outcome, and a lightning fast recovery. Nick has sent the following to us and to you, and will be back in the rotation before we know it.

"To all my clients and friends,

"2012 is going to be a very unusual season for me. I want to apologize for not being available for guiding during the months of June and July. I have an unexpected health situation that with a little luck will be resolved by August 1. I am sure Blue Ribbon can fix you up with a guide that will give you a very enjoyable day fishing.

"The fishing outlook is very good for this summer, and for those I will miss out fishing with, listen to your guide and he will give you the best chance for a productive day.

"Good luck to all anglers.

Get well soon Nick. We're your biggest fans.

Blue Ribbon Guides - nobody does it better! 

 Tri-Fold River Maps
 Now Introducing the Henry's Fork and YNP

We've added a few new stallions to our barn of maps.

We think you're really going to like these detailed, custom-printed maps. We've been glad to have the Madison and the Gallatin maps for a summer or two, which show all access sites as well as campgrounds on each particular stream.

Now we've added the Henry's Fork, YNP: Madison, Firehole, and Gibbon Rivers, YNP: Yellowstone and Gardner Rivers, and YNP: Lamar, Soda Butte, and Slough.

Each map also includes a hatch chart and even a few fishing tips. If you want to focus your efforts or really learn a river, these are great resources. Check out one or all today. For under $10, we really think these maps are studs!

Have a look at all our maps... 

 Korkers In Stock!
 Redside and Chrome Boots

You know what's great about Korkers boots?

Everything. The price, the comfort, the durability, and most especially, the interchangeable soles.

The Redside wading boot is new, very comfy, has interchangable soles, and starts under $100. Stay comfortable on the river all day in this versatile, high-performance wading boot.

The Chrome wading boot sets a new standard for technical fishing wading boots, and runs just under $200. This boot is constructed with sleek yet tough whitewater raft type material and seamless toe guards.

Lots of neato features stand out with these boots, like strategic stitching for comfort, lighter-weight materials, and midsole drainage. Korkers has done their homework and we're excited to carry their boots.

To see more of our wading gear, click here... 

 Henry's Fork Day XXVIII
 (That's 28 if you're not Roman)

This year's Henry's Fork Day is Saturday, June 16, 2012 at Fisherman's Access in Last Chance, Idaho. You are invited to join us there!

The best of the Henry's Fork Open Casting Competition will be held most of the day, from 8:00 a.m.--5:30 p.m. From 9:30 - 11:00, the Henry's Fork Foundation Membership Meeting will occur, and the Silent Auction opens at 9:30.

The Henry's Fork Day Expo will take place from 11:00 a.m.--4:00 p.m. : Don't miss The Antiques Road Show with John Shaner, a fly casting demo by Bob Jacklin, talks by Mike Lawson, Jeff Currier, and Bruce Staples, as well as fly tyers Leslie Harrop, Kelly Galloup, Nelson Ishiyama and and many more.

After 4:00 the real festivities begin. If you'd like to attend, sponsor a table, bid in the silent auction, or enjoy an unforgettable dinner, contact the Henry's Fork Foundation or give us a call. We'll see you there!