What's New
 What's Happening in Yellowstone Country

As you can see, you really should be here. Not to twist your arm or make you drool or anything, but have you seen it here lately? Gorgeous doesn't begin to describe it, and fishy is the understatement of the century. Bucky and Sadie have a new canoe, Tylor's still showing off his super photography skillz, and we're all sneaking out to fish before and after work. This may be the best fishing season we've had in a long time, but we say that every year don't we?

We had a super time with the Madison River Foundation here in the shop Monday. Craig and Jackie, along with the fine folks from the Madison River Foundation greeted hundreds of anglers from around the world who stopped in to learn more about the foundation's ongoing work to protect, preserve and enhance the river and its valley.

Executive Director Richard Lessner and his wife Pamela spent the day at the shop and our staff gave out refreshments to those stopping by to talk rivers and wild trout as well as purchase tickets for the drift boat raffle the foundation draws during the Ennis Fly Fishing Festival August 31-Sept 2, 2012. Give us a call at the shop if you'd like to buy a raffle ticket or ten.

If you've been here in the area fishing, besides knowing firsthand how much fun it's been, you may have dropped a few flies by the Madison. If you're missing any, give a call here to Blue Ribbon. Our very own Doug Pope stumbled across a few lost flies this week, and will be glad to return them to their rightful owner.

Another word to those in the area: the Nature Conservancy's Flat Ranch, just over the hill in Idaho across from Henry's Lake, is sponsoring an art show and fundraiser next Friday and Saturday. Stop by and visit with the artists, the Flat Ranch folks, and all sorts of good people who are there to support conservation. Word on the street is there will be refreshments, updates on all sorts of conservation projects, and even Blue Ribbon Flies representation.

We're busy here in the shop, but not too busy to answer your questions, help you decide where to fish, and get your mail orders on their way to you. We have a new phone system, so if you don't get through the first time while we're learning all the ins and outs, try again later. We look forward to talking with you soon!

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

12 Juiy 2012
Blue Ribbon Flies Weekly Fishing Report
Craig Mathews
Photo by our very own T. Rob (that's Tylor Robinson to you)

Today Jackie and I are heading out to fish some small waters in the Madison Valley. The fishing on the main river has been so good we are looking to do something different today, but you can bet I'll be on the river this evening! It seems that every major mayfly and summer caddis species are emerging on area rivers, and the fishing has been stellar on all area waters. Even the Firehole which usually warms too much to allow good fishing opportunities after the 4th of July remains a good bet during early morning and late evening hours.

Yesterday morning I fished the Madison beginning at 7am with my friend Terry. The dry fly action was slow but fishing small nymphs like our Red Headed Step Child (I did not name this one) and a Tungsten Torpedo was incredibly effective. The morning before, the egg-laying caddis, mayfly spinner, and midge action was awesome - but not yesterday morning. I did manage taking a header which scored a hefty 9.8 point average owing to going over my head, drifting on my butt under water for over 5 feet, keeping my sunglasses on and landing a 17" rainbow all the while I struggled to get back on my feet. I had hooked the fish and turned to head into shore to follow its run and land it when my right foot lodged between 2 rocks. As I turned I went down in heavy current, to the delight and cheering of Terry and others nearby! My Patagonia Aluminum Bar wading boots get me to places like this one, places where no others can get to in mid-river where the larger fish reside. I just have to watch where I place my feet when turning and running after them! Next time you are in the shop ask me about these incredible wading boots which are without a doubt the best for wading rivers like the Madison, and to get you in nearly all the places big trout reside during the day time, before they come into soft water near shore to feed in evening caddis.

If streams like Slough Creek and the Gardner and Gallatin Rivers are in your plans as well as evening fishing you are in for a fly fishing time of your life the next few weeks. Too, while the season on the upper Yellowstone River is not open until this Sunday we have spent enough time walking the banks watching trout to know there are without a doubt more fish in the river this year than the last 2-3 years. Again, the opener is this coming Sunday, July 15th, and it will be interesting to see how things go for the upper river faithful. We are keeping fingers crossed this year with the news of cutts showing in Pelican Creek and other waters which have had diminished numbers the past several years.

It is evident that fish numbers are stronger and there is optimism with the lake trout removal program stepped up in Yellowstone Lake. We will all be called upon to step up to the plate and support this effort with our dollars. $1 million a year is our goal. You will hear more about this in the future as we are just beginning our work to raise these needed funds. We will be working on a movie along with hosted events in several locations around the country with The Yellowstone Park Foundation this winter and over the next few years. There will be more to come.

Our Yellowstone Park Foundation, Elk Meadows Ranch, and BRF hosted event is coming up 21 July, 2012. This is NEXT WEEKEND! There are still 2 spots open for fly fishing, exploring Elk Meadow Ranch in the valley, and learning more about Yellowstone Nationnal Park. Check out www.ypf.org to see if you can join us for this special weekend. Jackie and I along with Yellowstone Park Superintendent Dan Wenk and others will be your hosts and guides!

How about the report? I have been contemplating how to write this one this week. The problem is just where to begin and where to end - there is so much water fishing well we will merely scratch the surface so to speak, on the fishing opportunities Yellowstone country offers up this time of the year. Here we go. And make sure you check out the dozen flies we recommend for success at the end of the report. You will not be denied big trout when using these patterns, I promise!!!

The Yellowstone River above its falls opens this Sunday and you should see lots of HUGE cutthroat trout feeding on stoneflies and caddis as well as mayflies like PMDs, green drakes and more. The river near Tower continues to fish well with salmonfly imitations even though the hatch has come and gone on this stretch. Golden stones are still around as are little yellow stones and lots of caddis here too.

The Gallatin River is fishing very well now during green drake, PMD and Epeorus mayfly times during the day with evening caddis activity strong now too. The river's tribs like the Taylor Fork, Specimen and others are still very cold but will begin to fish this week as snowpack has mostly melted and waters warm from high 40's into the mid-50's which bring on prime insect emergences and rises of fish.

The Madison and Firehole in the park after an incredible run of nearly 7 strong fishing weeks are slowing now and best left until late August when waters cool and fish and hatches crank up again for late season. You can still find some decent caddis hatches in the evening, but with so many other places fishing so well, it won't hurt to take a few weeks to fish elsewhere.

The Madison below Hebgen Lake has seen strong PMD, green drake and Epeorus emergences during the day and caddis in the evenings. The larger fish move from the lake into the river and back to the lake daily so it can be a day-to-day thing but check in with us and we will steer you right as to when to go and best flies. The Madison below Earthquake Lake is the place to be all day and all evening should you only want to catch big trout rising to caddis and mayflies! Late evenings have been strong as is always the case in July and August but so have early eves say from 6pm to 8pm. Lots of caddis and Epeorous mayflies will bring up great fish and so can midges so be ready.

Slough Creek has fished very well. Most anglers have not made the hike to the upper meadows as the lower water has fished so well but now is the time to grab your gear and make the hike to the 1st or 2nd meadows. Have gray drakes and PMDs along with longhorn beetles and ants as well as caddis and midges and you are in for some incredible cutthroat trout fishing! Soda Butte Creek and the Lamar River are just now beginning to fish well with Heptagenia Mayflies as well as PMDs, caddis and little yellow stoneflies. I'd have a big beetles along too! The Gardner River has fished very well on its lower stretches all the way down to Gardiner, Mt. The upper water can be fun too, especially for beginners as they will catch plenty of brookies and rainbows around Sheepeater Cliffs. The Gibbon River is fishing well in the canyon stretches both below and above the falls.

The Henry's Fork is seeing Flavs and evening caddis but the action has slowed from the insect and rising rainbow activity we saw last month. Hebgen Lake has fished well for those in the know when Callibaetis and Trico mayflies emerge during the mornings and evening caddis times on the upper Madison Arm. Earthquake Lake is a true sleeper bet this week when rusty spinners and caddis bring up trout in the evenings and Callibaetis do the same during the morning hours. Small waters worth exploring include Straight, Lava, Grayling, Glen, Tower and Solfatara Creeks in the park as well as Warm River in Idaho and Grayling, Swan and Taylor Fork in Montana.

The weeks "Dozen Flies for Success" include: PMD Sparkle Duns, Epeorus Sparkle Duns, Green and Gray Drake and Callibaetis Sparkle Duns, Iris, X and X2 Caddis in amber, tan and olive #16, Longhorn Beetles, Heptagenia Cripple #14 if fishing Soda Butte and Lamar River, Zelon Midge #20-22, Flav Sparkle Dun for Henry's Fork, little yellow stoneflies such as an Ol' Yeller Sally, a golden stone like our Sunken Stone, and nymphs such as a Tungsten Torpedo, Red Headed Step Child, bright green and Krystal Dip, Macro Madison Bead Head and rusty and olive spinners #16-18. OK, maybe this list is over a dozen but I like your chances with these flies! Oh yes, an attractor pattern like a Royal Trude Cripple might be nice on smaller streams and off-the-beaten path waters too.

Until next week, thanks for reading our reports. Never hesitate to call or stop in for advice and we look forward to seeing you soon here in Yellowstone country!

Read past fishing reports and archived newsletters... 

 Fly of the Week
 Tungsten Torpedo

A New Addition To Our Nymphing Arsenal

Well, you just read about it in Craig's fishing report, and it made the week's top twelve list. You didn't think we could pass the Tungsten Torpedo by for the Fly of the Week, did you?

In a size #16 and an #18, this is a great addition to any nymph collection! This is an attractor or searching nymph that has been very effective on the greater Yellowstone area rivers.

Try a few today.

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

 Fly Tying Material of the Week
 Tungsten Beads

Right? Of course right.

Of COURSE we need to feature tungsten beads for our Material of the Week. When the fish aren't feeding on top, and even sometimes when they are, trailing a nymph this time of year can be just the sneak attack you need to catch a trophy fish.

We have regular tungsten beads, and new PLUMMETING tungsten beads in a variety of sizes and colors for all your tying needs. Tungsten beads are the best way to get flies down fast! With lead being banned in many fisheries brass and tungsten are the only options.

Both the plummeting and traditional tungsten beads are high quality, and are offered in a great range of colors and sizes. All are countersunk for ease in sliding around the hook bend, and all will tie excellent nymphs. Give them a try.

For these and other fine materials check here! 

 Guide Trip of The Week
 Fish With The Best!

Margaret Sheehan and Dan found a BIG pretty brown last week. She and the girls from Virginia have had such a great time with Dan in the past, they even made him a t-shirt.

If you can't read it, the shirt says DO SOMETHING. If you don't know the story behind the t-shirt, you'll have to ask Dan. Thanks ladies for another great trip. You are the reason we do what we do.

Blue Ribbon Guides - nobody does it better! 

 Another Guide Trip of The Week
 Fish With The Best!

Bob Kai sent us this pic from O'Dell Creek last week. Thanks for fishing with us Bob! Here's the note he wrote:

"Hi there, I promised I would send you a couple of photos from my trip with Geoff Unger to O'Dell Creek. First of all, I have to just say that Geoff is THE BEST and would have made my day wonderful even if we had not touched a fish. Second, kudos to the Lazlo family and Granger Ranch for bringing this water back and for giving the public a chance to experience this unique fishery through their exclusive arrangement with Blue Ribbon Flies. I sincerely hope that access will continue on the limited basis into the future. It is a once in a lifetime experience. By the way, Geoff taped that large Brown out at 22 1/2 inches!"

Fish with Blue Ribbon for an unforgettable day. Thanks again Bob, and thanks to all of you for fishing with us.

 

 Wet Wading with Simms
 We've Got All The Gear You Need to Wade Wet!

It's time to wet wade with Simms and Blue Ribbon Flies. Ok, not really WITH us, but with our help.

The Simms Riprap Shoe is the perfect start. We love those warm water days when fishing in sandals would feel great, but a lot of the time you need more coverage and a little more support. That's when we grab these wading shoes and end up wearing them wherever the day takes us. Hiking, fishing, and to the quick mart for a beverage after. They have everything a shoe should have, and technical features most don't.

The StreamTread Sandal is the only true sandal built for fishing. Simms built it on a wading boot outsole that helps you feel stable on the boat or the bank.

Simms also has a good sock collection for wet wading. Whether it's liners, hiking, wading, or wet wading socks you want, Simms has your size.

And if Guard Socks or Neoprene Wading Socks will make your life a little better? Well, we have those too. Outfit your feet for wading wet this summer, and do it in style.

Check out more boots and wading gear...