Category Archives: Gallatin River

They’re Everywhere

August 30, 2009
FISHERS & HOPPERS bite the bullet and make friends
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.. The word is out: fish the Gallatin River.
.. Saturday was a perfect day! There was a cool morning with low overcast. Then a bright midday with high overcast. By 6:00 P.M. the clouds thickened and the temperature dropped.
.. Little bugs in the morning, hoppers through the midday doldrums, and caddis in the evening. All this was spiced up by ants, beetles, spruce moths, damsel & dragonflies, and exotic license plates.
.. The parking areas at Bighorn, Fan Creek, and even Bacon Rind, were occupied. Not full, mind you, but "with car."
.. Pull-outs were filled throughout the park section of the Gallatin River. Some Condominiums with wheels were parked in the narrow sections and caused a slowdown in the afternoon leapfrogging from hole to hole.
.. Mostly the neighbors decided that this was the day - and was it! The fish noses were in the air all day.
.. They attacked twigs, foam, leaves, biologicals, and artificials with abandon. It was not quite a popcorn frenzy but the action was satisfyingly brisk.
.. After our recent outing to the mosquito infested jungle of the S.W. corner of Yellowstone National Park, it was pure joy to fish where a gentle breeze kept the mosquitoes at bay. And, thankfully, a breeze gentle enough so that casting was pleasant.
.. We're counting on the weather gods and a bit of voodoo to bring us another day just like it was yesterday.
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.. Yellow and gold and amber have crept into the vegetation color palette.
.. Things are drying and dying. The lichen has lasted longer this year than most years: it too is beginning it's Fall recession.
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.. We've eaten our second helping of spuds, a full pound of bacon, three eggs in an omelet with ham and cheese, and finished our second pot of coffee. That might get us out the door.
.. Off we go to do battle with little bits of water that are known to all and fished by none. We'll return with a report similar to this - Amphritite willing.
.. Now for a second, albeit it smaller, breakfast and a wee bit more coffee; just for drill.
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Also posted in Bacon Rind Creek, Fall Fishing, Hoppers, Yellowstone Park, yellowstone – Comments Off

The Dropper (deuxièmement)

August 21, 2009
PICK YOUR POISON
Use Frequently
catch fish
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.. Hot weather has activated the hoppers on the Gallatin River, (and others of course.) Right now fly choice is seemingly simple: 'heave a hopper.' That's fine.
.. The challenging decision is: 'what dropper?' We see more soft hackles as droppers this time of year than any other fly.
.. The choice is personal and can lead to exuberant discussions. We keep it simple: caddis green angora and partridge rump. Pick your own poison.
Also posted in Hopper/Dropper, Yellowstone Flies, Yellowstone Park, flies, yellowstone – Comments Off

Gallatin Going Strong

August 18, 2009
BIG FLIES GOOD;
SMALL FLIES BETTER ?
Fish The Glass
let the fish do the work
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.. Periodically we torture ourselves with the exercise of tying on a small fly in the windy Gallatin River Valley.
.. The apparent humor of it all escapes us: it entertains our neighbors no end.
.. The cool weather of the last few days has brought some bluster and some gusty wind, (and some blessed clouds.)
.. So we played the masochist and spent a whole day on the Gallatin River and fished with a few of the neighbors and their flies.
.. These little flies probably have fancy names: we weren't told. They were generously given to us and came from the experimental vise of a person with eyes that work. His advice was to: "Put 'em in the glass and let the fish do the work."
.. Simply translated: 'since you can cast but can't see - don't tug until the fish does!' So we cast to the heads of big and little slicks, and it was just that way. We caught about a dozen fish on the little flies, (16 - 20,) and didn't see a single take. Even a 14" Brown Trout sucked one in with no visible evidence.
.. Now then, for mastering the art of tying a knot in an invisible tippet - that should be a hoot!
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.. The Gallatin River fish are beginning their glutenous Fall Feast.
.. There are Hoppers, Spruce Moths, Beetles, Spiders, Caddis, and several squadrons of mayflies - that we seldom see, except on the windshield - every day. The river has stayed cool, (as it usually does,) and the grass is surprisingly green.
.. We're not going to abandon our practice of fishing flies that we can see with the unaided eye, but we just may fish a few more of these little fellas. The trout can see them and that's what counts.
.. We have permission to show you these flies, whatever they may be called. If they have names - use them. The images are large enough, (just click on them,) for a good view - should you care to tie some up yourself.
.. The two flies shown below are doing double duty right now. They are favorites for gulper fisher folk on Hebgen Lake. You didn't hear it here!
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Also posted in Fishing, Hebgen Lake, Hebgen Reservoir, Yellowstone Park, flies, fly fishing, gulper fishing, yellowstone – Comments Off

Accommodating Neighbors

August 13, 2009
ALWAYS THINKING OF US
Bugs At The Ready
madison now - gallatin tomorrow
Click on image for detail.
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.. We have genuinely thoughtful neighbors. They have installed some bug attractors just for us. It was a most congenial act and we appreciate it.
.. The attractors are just two doors down the street and just one of many provided by the good neighbors in our town.
.. These attractors function from dusk to dawn and gather up the nocturnal critters. We inspect the areas around the attractors nightly for trout food. This gives us insight into the type and density of critters that the fish will dine on during the following day or week.
.. It's now apparent that the Spruce Moths are beginning their evening ballet and although the density is still a bit low, they are here in numbers sufficient to cause "Acute Awareness Syndrome" in the local piscine population.
.. The Madison River is generally about a week to 10 days ahead of the Gallatin River in density of Spruce Moths, though this can vary on a year to year basis.
.. Right now there are occasional sighting of the bug in the lower reaches of the Gallatin River. They will soon be in the Yellowstone National Park section.
.. Depending on the Madison River water temperature, (just a bit warm right now,) catching will pick up with the addition of the moths to the hoppers already proliferating.
.. Fish the Madison River now, at dawn or dusk into dark. Fish the Gallatin River tomorrow and more through the next couple of weeks at the same times. Catching should be good with the Fall smorgasbord now being offered to the trout.
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Also posted in Fall Fishing, Fishing, Yellowstone Park, fly fishing, madison river, spruce moth, yellowstone – Comments Off