Back from Yellowstone!

Got back yesterday from a family trip to Yellowstone. Got a little fishing in, and a little hiking in, too! Fishing was tough, but I was standing in the middle of the Lamar getting alot of looks but not takes, so it really wasn't that bad!

Will put up some pics and details later.

I can tell you that the fish are not keying on orange like they normally do at this time of the year, even if all the salmon flies are gone, which is not the case on the Lamar River near the confluence with the Yellowstone because I had several crawling on me at some point during the day.

Anyway, look for to some details on taking kids into the near-backcountry (two mile hike or so) and what to do with them when they get there.....that was my big experience over the weekend.

Native Fish Conservation - Yellowstone Park Foundation

Everyone is asking for money these days. Yellowstone Park Foundation is one of those places that gets mine.

Native Fish Conservation - Yellowstone Park Foundation:


"The top priority of the NPS plan is to decrease the number of predatory, non-native lake trout, which in recent years have dramatically reduced the number of native Yellowstone cutthroat trout in Yellowstone Lake. Yellowstone Park Foundation funding of the Native Fish Conservation Program will allow for a significant effort to suppress lake trout through private sector netters on Yellowstone Lake. The goal of sustained efforts is to recover Yellowstone cutthroat trout to mid-1990s levels.

To help Save the Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout, Donate now>>"

'via Blog this'

Winter in July

There's more than fishing in Yellowstone. I would personally like to be able to ride a best available technology snow machine in the park with no guide.....snow camp possibilities are awesome (no Backcountry though to preserve their quiet peace).

Traveler's View: Yellowstone National Park Deserves A Better Winter-Use Plan | National Parks Traveler

Getting Ready! Be Fire Aware this year too.

I am SOOO ready to get to Yellowstone!!! Two more weeks. The salmon flies will be probably just over when I get there. So far it's been hot, and I think the water is down already. The Yellowstone in the Blacktail Canyon will probably be pretty warm come August; I suspect there might be some limitations on fishing this year similar to a few years ago (2007?) when there was no fishing during the afternoon....that turned out to be a great time to actually physically relax and take a nap anyway because it was so dang hot.

You've heard about bear aware. I'm asking you to be FIRE AWARE.

I'm worried about fire season this year. My home town here in Pocatello just got nailed by a wildfire in a populated area just outside of town. Sixty-six homes burned in about four hours. Thank God that nobody died or was injured. And our first responders did such a great job....they really jumped on that fire and got it out quickly because it could have been MUCH worse.

Anyway, I learned the other day that the fire season follows a 12-year cycle. Every 12 years is a bad year. 2012-12=2000..."

During the 2000 fire season in the United States, almost 93,000 wildland fires burned close to 7.4 million acres and destroyed numerous structures. Subsequently, recommendations were developed on how to reduce the impacts of fire on rural communities and ensure sufficient firefighting resources for the future. That report, now known as the "National Fire Plan", identified five key points that continue to emphasize interagency approaches." from 

http://www.yellowstone-natl-park.com/fire.htm

2000-12=1988: VERY BAD FIRE YEAR IN YELLOWSTONE.

While you're out and about fishing in Yellowstone and other pristine areas of God's Backyard, please be careful.

1. No cigarettes please. If you have to, switch to Copenhagen. I chewed Cope for 23 years. Quite October 4, 2010 at 10:22pm cold turkey. Do it if you have to...it's better than smoking in the backcountry.

2. Try to live without a camp fire. Seriously. If you have a very active day, you should be sleeping by 9pm, before the end of evening twilight. Just cuz it's legal, doesn't make it right. Please don't have the camp fires.

3. Be especially careful with your camp stove. Triple-careful if you have white gas.....that stuff is incredibly flammable and spills fairly easily if you're not careful.

4. Watch for smoke while you're in the backcountry. Don't depend on the Rangers to tell you to leave. Take personal responsibility for yourself.

5. Have a NOAA capable radio and listen to it during your meals. Learn how to set it up for alerts. Take enough batteries or a solar charger for rechargeable batteries.

Here's a look at the fire forecast. Translation = Red areas covering all of Yellowstone = Be CAREFUL WITH FIRE!

http://www.predictiveservices.nifc.gov/outlooks/monthly_seasonal_outlook.pdf

Salmon fly update

Here's a report on salmon flies fro troutfitters. They are in/around Ennis. Maybe they'll be in Blacktail Canyon area of the Yellowstone next weekend or the next. I'll be there and on the Lamar July 19, probably right after the big hatches but the fish will still look for anything big and orange that weekend same as I found to be true the last few years.

Montana Troutfitters | Shop Blog

Haven't fished yet this year. Camped with friends last weekend in the mts south of Twin Falls. We drove to backcountry....miles and miles of hills but nothing to fish. Good weekend with friends, got to see the stars so beautiful on a new moon, boys had tons of fun playing in the dirt.

Summer has turned 110%....hot hot hot.

Photo trip along the Yellowstone River, from Glendive to Livingston

This isn't backcountry or fishing related (directly) but I thought it would be fun.

I was in western North Dakota over Memorial Day weekend for my niece's high school graduation (Beulah High School). On the way back, I figured I would take some pictures of the Yellowstone River while driving along the interstate.

They start in Glendive work westward towards Livingston; unfortunately, I don't remember where each one was taken. I've driven this road probably ten times in the last six years and know what's coming next as I drive, but I can't remember where the photos are taken. The road follows the river the entire way. These are taken with my phone, so they aren't great, but they should give folks an idea of what the landscape is like.

Now picture yourself with Lewis and Clark in this terrain!

Fly Shops in West Yellowstone

From one of my favorite fly-fishing blogs at http://flyfishyellowstone.blogspot.com/2012/05/are-you-set.html

This is a great map they made!

1. Blue Ribbon Flies
2. Madison River Outfitters
3. Bud Lilly's Fly Shop
4. Arrick's Fly Shop
5. Eagle's Fly Shop
6. Bob Jacklin's Fly Shop
7. West Yellowstone Fly shop
.. You can also check their fishing reports for the best current information by clicking on the links below:
==> Blue Ribbon Flies
==> Madison River Outfitters
==> Bud Lilly's Fly Shop
==> Arrick's Fly Shop
==> Eagle's Fly Shop
==> Bob Jacklin's Fly Shop
==> West Yellowstone Fly Shop
 .. These folks are fishing daily and know the neighborhood waters very well. If you are going to fish other than the west side rivers check the report at Parks' Fly Shop.