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January 31, 2013 
 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

The shop has been busy filling online catalogue orders, tying flies and dying and packaging materials. This week we've been tying up midges, Spring Baetis, March Browns and Mothers' Day Caddis patterns in preparation for our early season Mayfly Tours.

I can't believe it is February. We are sitting on over 100% of average snowpack and forecasts call for more moisture with a warming trend. Cabin fever sets in for those who do not take advantage of the cross-country skiing and winter fishing opportunities we are fortunate to have here in Yellowstone country. All of us at the shop have been enjoying some of both activities but believe me we too are very much looking forward to springtime!

I'll be in Great Falls, Mt this coming week and St. Louis, Missouri the next to present fishing and conservation programs. I'm embarrassed to say in the 35 years we have been in Montana I have never seen Great Falls. While there I will tour the Missouri-Madison River Recreation Fund Projects we help with in our December meetings. More on this and other projects on the Madison River locally in future reports so stay tuned here.

Take a minute and check out Madison River Foundations web site. For all of us who know and love this great river you will want to see how this wonderful organization goes about its work and accomplishes it mission of protecting and preserving the river and the Madison Valley for all of us, and our kids and grandkids. I was disappointed to learn how small its membership is. The Madison is Montana's most used river resource and its trout population is the highest it has been in years. For over 10 years MRF has been at the forefront and in the trenches fighting to keep the river the greatest blue ribbon stream in the west. Too, the foundation works tirelessly on wildlife programs and other projects that enhance southwest Montana for all future generations to enjoy. Join the crew and me at BRF in stepping up to the plate and joining MRF, or renewing your membership or sending it a gift today. Let me know when you do and I'll send you a letter and fly I tied for helping out.

Let's hear from you too. Your support of our online catalogue has been huge and we thank you for it but it sure is nice to hear your voices on the phone too! Call us today and let's talk fly-fishing, the upcoming season, fly patterns and guide trips, gear and conservation and more. Thanks everyone!

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 summer and fall 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

Brant davis photo Tommy Richardson sent us this picture taken by Brant Davis. The photo was taken in late August and is looking over Raynolds and $3 Bridge.

Thanks for the Photo Guys

Fishing Report By Craig Mathews

Winter midge fishing continues to be awesome. Yesterday Phil and I drove to the Gallatin just downstream of the Park line and had good dry fly action for a couple hours. Temperatures hovered around 27 with calm winds and we found fish coming up in a few select places. The dry fly fishing should only get better for the next month or two. If Phil gets time today to edit film footage of some of our latest midge action we will include it in this report, if not look for it next week. The Madison has been fishing just fine. We are not seeing as many heads up as we did in previous weeks but the nymphing has remained strong.

As I type this daylight is showing over the Madison Mountain Range. I already know I'll be headed to the river this afternoon as our thermometer reads 30 degrees at 5a.m. I promised Jackie we would take the dogs for a short xc ski at 10, and back at noon for lunch. If winds stay calm as they are now I will be on the river today. Perhaps between the lakes to see if fish are rising there, or downstream of McAtee Bridge both places I can count on midging trout if conditions are right like they appear to be heading today. I'll get you a report.

Read past fishing reports and archived newsletters... 


 Fly of the Week
 Nick's Skipper

For the past several years Spruce moths have become one of the premier hatches in our area. Although this is not an aquatic insect these moth fly down to the water as if they belong there and in doing so their wings become saturated and trout gorge themselves on them. Our senior guide Nick Nicklas came up with this pattern for not only these spruce moth but also for a butterfly he observed trout taking while fishing this hatch. August is definitely the month for spruce moths and they can be found anywhere you have a forested area. Not only found on rivers but on lakes as well

Check out the video, you can find it at the bottom of this page and stay tuned for more videos including a few salt water patterns for those of you heading to tropical climates this winter!

Watch Craig Tie Nick's Skipper in this Video. 


 Fly Tying Material of the Week
 Brite Beads Assortments

We have finally received our late winter supply of beads for tying bead-head patterns. Our famous bead selections have been out of stock for a time and it is great to get them back again. Spring is approaching and beaded flies are a must for early season fly -fishing!

Brite Bead assortments are a perfect way to give any tier a wide selection at a reasonable price. We have two assortments from which to choose from.

The 300 piece is a bulk pack of 300 beads. 50 of each of 3 sizes in gold and 50 of each size in black/nickle includes 7/64, 1/8 and 5/32.

The 102 piece is a bulk pack of 102 beads. 17 of each of 3 sizes in gold and 17 of each size in black/nickle includes 7/64, 1/8 and 5/32.

For this and other fine materials check here! 


 Fishing Soft-Hackled Fly and Tiny Soft Hackles
 Sylvester Nemes

"There is beauty in simplicity and the traditional soft-hackle wet fly is quite simply, beautiful. In its bareness, in the liveliness of its soft hackle fibers it suggests all that seems necessary to tempt fish. Because of its simplicity it's also one of the easiest flies to tie-and often one of the deadliest."

This book features 61 fly patterns: Partridge and Orange, Iron Blue Dun, and many more historically proven flies Ten new chapters on tiny soft hackles and how to tie them New color photos of 38 tiny soft hackles Sylvester Nemes is singlehandedly responsible for the popularity of the soft-hackled fly in American fly fishing today.

Bucky and I sorted through winter pheasant skins we took in earlier this month. Believe me, if you are in need of a pheasant skin complete with wings and tails these are the finest you will find. Taken from the Yellowstone River bottoms in December these birds are feathered out like no others available. The same holds for our late season Hungarian Partridge we just got in from northern Idaho and Montana. Packed with beautifully mottled feathers these December birds are incredible for tying soft hackles and other patterns. In the evenings at home I have been tying a good supply of soft hackles to stock my fly boxes for the season. I enjoy tying soft hackles and it is even more enjoyable when I have beautifully mottled winter feathers to use.

 


 Guide Trip of The Week
 Fish With The Best!

John Juracek Photo John Juracek Photo

Hebgen Lake Gulper Fishing!

If you've been in Yellowstone country and never fished Hebgen Lake, you are cheating yourself from an opportunity of some of the most amazing dry fly fishing in the area and perhaps the world.

Our guides love to fish Hebgen and if they have as day off this is where you can find them. Probably the best time of year to fish Hebgen is from the first part of August to the first part of September. So if you are around this time of year let our guides show how incredible this body of water can be.

I guess instead of talking about it you can go ahead and watch for yourself through this VIDEO

Here's another video from Hebgen Lake! 


 Beads Tweezers
 Set of 3

Three sizes of Bead Tweezers help you pick up those hard to grasp round beads for fly tying. Comfortable to hold Tweezers make tying with beads much easier. Use the Bead Tweezers with Glass Beads, Metal Beads and other hard to grasp fly tying items.

 


 Retro Craig on the Madison
 

 


 Fly Sale
 Bat Wing Drake Makeral Emerger

The Bat Wing Drake Makeral Emerger is a great for the rivers of the North East corner of Yellowstone Park; Slough, Lamar and Soda Butte.

We are letting these flies go for only a buck per fly. The sale will run for only one week or until we run out, so jump online and stock up while you still can!

Here are a few more sale flies you may be interested in! 


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!


Sid rumbling throught the Madison Valley. Unitl next week! Have a great weekend.
The Gang at Blue Ribbon

phone: 406.646.7642
fax: 406.646.9045