What's New
 What's Happening in Yellowstone Country

We open this week's newsletter with another gorgeous shot from Tylor Robinson to whet your appetite for a nice long visit to Yellowstone country. We've been getting out on our days off and afternoons after work, squeezing in a little springtime fishing in the Park and out. Think of us as detectives out there gathering the latest info on what's fishing, blooming, hatching, gulping, and crawling along the banks.

Traffic is definitely picking up in the shop and in town. Nothing too crazy yet, but we've been staying busy. We're anxious to see you, and ready to help you plan your trip our way if you're still making decisions and arrangements. We're seeing a few more folks in the park, and the biggest sign of all that summer can now begin: Doug Pope has arrived in West Yellowstone, and is standing in Blue Ribbon Flies even as we write this report. Just hearing his laugh makes the skies a little bluer and the fish a little happier. As you can see, things are shaping up for a fantastic fishing season.

We've got some new products in the shop this week - some just in today - and news from Craig and the Atlantic Salmon fishing trip. We're preparing ourselves mentally and physically for salmonfly fishing, as you'll see in the following report, and we're pretty excited about all the great fishing to come. One little bit of technological news, just so you don't worry that we're ignoring your emails: we have had some computer trouble this week, and while we are able to send mail orders, we are a little behind on receiving and sending emails and sending out guide trip confirmations. We should be squared away by tomorrow. Thanks for your patience.

And a great big Happy Father's Day to everyone this Sunday. Thanks to all our dads, grandfathers, uncles, neighbors, mentors, teachers and father figures out there. We owe you so much, and we love you. Just because we're a bunch of flyfishermen doesn't mean we're afraid to say the L-word. Thanks for all you've done.

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

14 June 2012
Blue Ribbon Flies Weekly Fishing Report by Craig Mathews
Photo by Ken Zacharias

My Dad does not fish. And yet at ninety years old he is still interested in my fly fishing habit. Jackie and I just spent some time with him and he always encourages our stories of fishing trips to wild places. The twinkle comes to his eyes with our reports of fishing cutthroats on the Yellowstone River, how trout are rising to pale morning duns on the Firehole and Madison Rivers in the Park, how the westslope cutthroat are doing in the hatchery we oversee on Sun Ranch and how may calf elk we saw on our hikes into smaller waters in and around the West Yellowstone area.

I'm lucky to have a Dad who made sure I had the opportunity to fish. I can remember my first rod, which he gave me for my birthday nearly 60 years ago: a Montague bamboo with a "Purist" reel. How he drove my brother and I in our '57 Ford station wagon to a small pond in northern Michigan. The pond was loaded with wild brook and brown trout and my brother and I took turns casting to the fish as they rose along the far shoreline. We took a 7" brookie and an 8" brown that morning and brought them home on a willow stick. I remember my Dad standing at the door as we walked in asking us "Why did you kill them?" and our answering back, "Cuz we want to eat them." He returned with "They aren't as good to eat as lake perch. Leave them in the creek and pond and you might catch them again." So it was, and remains so to this day, his words on life and catch and release and giving back. I still learn from my Dad.

I think too this past week of a customer and his 8 year old son who came in to look at Tenkara fly rods. How the young lad looked up to his father, taking in his every word as he examined the rod and asked questions of how we liked fishing them around our area. How too the boy's eyes lit up when his dad presented him with his new rod. And, how excited they both were when they returned to the shop with stories of success fishing the rod on the Firehole swinging soft hackles and taking over a dozen fish between them on rod's maiden voyage!

Remember this Sunday to thank your Dad for all he's done. My own will be at my brother's place on Lake Michigan in celebration of Fathers' Day. I wish I could be there for his day. But, he will be glad to know I'll fish that day. And he will be happy when I call with a fishing report later in the evening. Maybe I will drag the old Montague rod out he gave me long ago and catch a couple wild trout for him on his day. Happy Father's Day Dad!

Geoff, Drew and I just returned from our striped bass fishing trip to the Merrimack River estuary on the Atlantic, and Atlantic Salmon junket to the Gaspe region of Quebec, Canada. We had a fine time with our host Bill Griener and fishing friends, Matt and Jeff. Drew was high rod on the trip. You'll have to ask us next time you are in the shop for our reports. We are putting together a hosted BRF Atlantic Salmon trip for 2013 so stay tuned here as we'd like to have you along!

Attention all Tenkara enthusiasts. Our new BRF designed Tenkara double tapered lines designed by Patagonia's Yvon Chouinard and I are available only from Blue Ribbon Flies. Check our web site. Yvon and I will be fishing together this coming week and working on our new book. Too, our newly designed Tenkara rod will be out soon. We have a very limited first shipment coming in this week of 12 rods. These are the only ones available until August. A portion of the sale of these rods is going to the Madison River Foundation's stream renovation and restoration project. More on this exciting program and project in our next report.

Tomorrow, June 15th, is opening day on the world famous Railroad Ranch stretch of the Henry's Fork. The river fished last year like the "old days" with lots of big rising rainbows to cast to. Pale morning duns and caddis will emerge and even though the fish haven't been fished to in several months they will be tough as they always are. Hey, this is "The Fork" and if you take one or two big fish you have had a banner day. You can bet several BRF employees will be on hand for the opener armed with PMD Sparkle Duns and our famous emerger and floating nymph patterns for the duns along with Iris, X and X2 and our other new caddis patterns hoping to find a volunteer rainbow to rise to our presentations.

The Madison River in the Park has been fishing like it did in the 1980's. 16"-18" browns rising to pale morning duns and the evening caddis are now beginning to bring good trout to the surface. A #18 White Miller Iris and X Caddis are required for surface action and a White Miller Soft Hackle Emerger works great when swung in front of rising trout. Best sections are stretches near Madison Jct. and 9 Mile Hole.

The Firehole remains strong for evening caddis. The PMD action is slowing now as the hatch is about over for the year. Still, on overcast days look for some duns on the upper reaches above Midway. White Millers and the tiny black Glossosoma sp. caddis are coming off in good number all along the river so be ready with imitations. We find that larger brown trout might prefer the tiny black caddis so always have a #20 Black X Caddis along. Soft hackles are producing all along the river and some of our new soft hackles as well as the tried and true oldies are all working well. We should have a couple more weeks of fine action on our favorite early season river so get here quick and give it a try.

The Gallatin is fishing now above Big Sky with big rubberlegs and selected nymphs. The water is green and clearing daily and should improve with warming temps.

The Madison River is fishing very well below Earthquake Lake and downstream to Ennis. Small nymphs are best but the water is clear now around Raynolds and below to allow for dry fly fishing should Baetis and big midges emerge. Caddis action can be expected in the evenings now so be ready with Iris and X. The crowds will not show for another few weeks so now is a great time to cover and explore lots of water. There are several new log jams and pockets for you to try.

The Gibbon River has seen some great hatches during PMD times, though the fishing can be tough. A sleeper bet this week is Grebe Lake for nice grayling and fat rainbows.

Lakes like Hebgen, Wade,Cliff and Elk continue to fish very well. This has been the strongest early season for dry fly and sight fishing on our area lakes in many years. You will want to check out our new midge beaded patterns in violet and red. They have been deadly on all lakes not to mention the rivers, and easy to tie.

Stop in and say "HI" to the BRF Crew. Dads, stop in this Sunday for a Father's Day treat on us here at the shop! See you all soon and remember to call us for information on hatches, flies, tying materials and gear. We love to hear from you.

Read past fishing reports and archived newsletters... 

 Fly of the Week
 Nick's Sunken Stones

#6 for Salmonflies

Do not let the name fool you. This is the ultimate in effectiveness and durability for a dry stonefly imitation. Tied for golden stones and salmonflies, this is the first choice of all our guides. We regularly sell out of this fly, and for good reason.

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

 Fly Tying Material of the Week
 Double Trouble Fly Foam

Orange and Black Foam Makes Great Salmonflies!

Now in larger pieces and new colors. This foam is perfect for Lamar and Slough Creek Crickets, salmonflies, golden stones and many more patterns.

For this and other fine materials check here! 

 Astream
 American Writers on Fly Fishing

Whether you're searching for a last minute Father's Day gift or compiling your summer reading list, don't let this wonderful collection of fishing essays by names you know get away.

This marvelous collection features stories from some of America's finest and most respected writers about one of the world's most solitary and satisfying sports: fly fishing. For the first time, the stories of 24 acclaimed writers including Kim Barnes, Walter Bennett, Russell Chatham, Guy de la Valdene, Robert DeMott, Chris Dombrowski, Ron Ellis, Jim Fergus, Charles Gaines, Bruce Guernsey, Jim Harrison, Pam Houston, Michael Keaton, Greg Keeler, Sydney Lea, Ted Leeson, Nick Lyons, Craig Mathews, Tom McGuane, Joseph Moninger, Howard Mosher, Jake Mosher, Craig Nova, Margot Page, Le Anne Schreiber, Paul Schullery, Walt Wetherell, and Robert Wrigley come together in one collection. Fly fishers and non-fly fishers alike will recognize in these poignant tales the universal aspects of the appreciation of nature, the necessity of conservation, and the joy and knowledge that come from time spent on fresh and salt water. This is a delightful, handsome volume that captures the allure and spirit of fly fishing and those that love it.

Fly fishers and non-fly fishers alike will recognize in these poignant tales the universal aspects of the appreciation of nature, the necessity of conservation, and the joy and knowledge that come from time spent on fresh and salt water. This is a delightful, handsome volume that captures the allure and spirit of fly fishing and those that love it.

For other books, DVDs, and gift ideas... 

 Guide Trip of The Week
 Fish With The Best!

Not sure where those rascally trout are hiding? Can't quite figure out how to get them to bite? What is that crazy hatch you saw yesterday? Got questions? We've got answers.

The next best thing to having an underwater camera is hiring a Blue Ribbon guide. Learn how fish see things, where they lie in wait for your fly, and how to present it to coax them out. Whether you float the Madison or wade the Firehole, you will see things you've never seen before.

July is filling up, and August will be full before we know it. Call today to book your 2012 guided fishing with Blue Ribbon Flies. You'll see things in a whole new light.

Blue Ribbon Guides - nobody does it better! 

 FITS Socks
 Our New Favorite Thing!

We know we say this a lot, about our new favorite things. We seem to have a new favorite this or that every other week. It's almost the boy crying wolf syndrome, EXCEPT:

Except we really LOVE these socks. Really.

We've been wearing them since last year, trying to get them here in the shop so everyone else can have a go. They are the most comfortable, wearable, long-lasting, well-engineered socks we have EVER worn. Honest.

Even Jen, who hates socks, who structures her whole life around not wearing socks, has fallen head over heels for FITS. Ask her. You're going to have to ask someone, because these socks aren't on our website yet, but here's their story:

Today the company produces socks under its own FITS name in the oldest operating hosiery mill in the U.S. - leveraging technical expertise and long-held knowledge of fit and comfort. The family-owned company remains committed to its vision, its people, and to keeping jobs in the Tennessee Valley. Crescent manufactured socks for more than 30 other brands before deciding to market its own high-quality product. Responding to an industry-wide epidemic of ill-fitting socks, FITS leveraged over a century of experience to develop the world's best-fitting sock using materials, processes, and quality controls that far exceed industry standards. The result: a product line that embodies the crucial connection between fit and performance.

FITS Sock Co. products are designed to be the best fitting performance outdoor socks in the industry. Over 100 years of experience has taught us to recognize the importance of careful, precise sock-fitting based more on total foot volume than foot length. All FITS socks deliver unique benefits - thanks to superior construction, the highest quality materials, and innovative design. Our socks are constructed from two-ply, compact-spun, ultra-fine Merino Wool, providing the ultimate blend of softness and durability. Our F3 Technology delivers a unique form FIT thanks to a deep heel pocket, specialized toe seam, and contoured leg - which keep FITS socks firmly in place. This means no more bunching, hot spots, or friction, regardless of the task at hand.

Give us a call to try some for yourself.

 

 Spotlight LED Light
 

We've got a new gizmo we're pretty excited about. For just under $20, we found a rechargeable LED light that comes in three colors and outshines any flashlight we've ever kept in the glove box or fishing pack.

The new-to-us Spotlight Turbo provides a convenient rechargeable LED light for work, play and everyday life.

Choose from blue, purple, or yellow to match your car, home or personal style. This little guy features a high power 0.5 watt LED bulb (35+ lumens), colorful anodized aluminum body, 180+ minutes of light per charge, water resistant / submersible body, red glow 'charging' indicator, a rechargeable Ni - MH battery, and a 50 meter / 150 feet range.

If you care to accessorize, you can get a handy lanyard to carry it for only $4.99. Give us a call or order online today.

See our other gadgets and doodads for Father's Day and every day... 

 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!