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Greetings!
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.
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What's New
What's Happening in Yellowstone Country
Two very special days are approaching and you can feel the excitement here at the shop. May 18th is the first date and it marks the opening day of Montana's fishing season. We look forward to this date for the river will open to fishing from Earthquake Lake to McAtee Bridge where we expect good blue-winged olive mayflies, midges and Mother's Day Caddis to bring trout to the surface during their times on the water. The following Saturday, 25 May, is the general opener for Yellowstone Park fishing season. We have been in the Park watching trout rise to caddis and mayflies and I must say it is driving us dry-fly fishers to the wall!
I've been tying a few big drakes for our good friend and publisher of more great fly-fishing titles than all other publishers combined, Nick Lyons. Make sure you check out a link to Nick Lyons in this report, actual rare footage of Nick and Mari Lyons at the Anglers' Club of New York where Nick talks of the book "Astream, American Writers on Fly Fishing". I was pleased to be a part of this book project.
 | | Nick Lyons at the Angler's Club |
If you tune into NBC'S Today Show on 21 May you can watch as we work with Matt, Al and Natalie teaching them how to cast. The morning show will be broadcast live from Old Faithful.
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.
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Fishing Report
Weekly Conditions and Tips
Fishing Report by Craig Mathews
I will be on the Madison this evening around Varney to fish Mothers' Day Caddis and midges. I'll miss the afternoon March Brown and Baetis mayflies but the way the evening caddis fishing has been I'll get my fill of dry-fly fishing for the day! The river has been good between the lakes and below McAtee all the way to Ennis this past week. Cabin and Beaver Creeks are bank-full with snowmelt and adding turbid water to the mix at Earthquake Lake. The Bear Trap area is a bit off-color but the Mothers' Day hatch is on!
The Gallatin is unfishable below Taylor Fork due to high/frigid and turbid water conditions.
Wade and Cliff Lakes are both fishing well with crayfish and Callibeatis Nymphs. Look for some C. Baetis adults and midges to bring trout up now too.
Hebgen is fishing well now as the ice is off up-lake from Kirkwood. Some midging can be expected along the south and north shorelines in the late day hours. Big midge pupae like our Driscols and Frostbites will score several fine rainbows and browns along the shorelines.
Make sure you call with any and all fishing and fly tying questions as we love to hear from you. I hope to see you soon here in Yellowstone country!
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 Fly of the Week
Here at the shop we are tying lots of White Miller Caddis for the Park opener. The White Miller Iris is our featured fly pattern this week. Make sure you have plenty if fishing Yellowstone this spring is in your plans and check out our attached video of tying the White Miller Iris in this report. The White Miller is the most important caddis on the Firehole and Madison Rivers in Yellowstone National Park. It emerges twice each season, May/ June and again in September. Anglers are always amazed how many fish rise to these insects. But, most have been frustrated as to how many fish come to their presentations. We studied the way they emerge and have developed our new fly with two key factors we discovered. While the fly looks a full size 14 the natural insect body is really a size 18. Secondly, most trout rise to only the waking-skittering naturals. This fly incorporates a waking post of zelon allowing this key factor to be imitated simply by letting the fly wake in the currents. Watch Craig Tie This Fly in a Short Video |
Fly Tying Material of the Week
FINALLY we have scored grizzly saddle hackle and I dyed some #12's up for the 100 packs we got in from Whiting Farms early this week. If you are in need of #12 grizzly dyed Green Drake and Drake Mac hackles make sure you take advantage of our special deal on them as we've kept them priced at the regular tariff without adding a dye charge.
These won't last long so get em while you still can!
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Tired of dropping your reading glasses?
Once again we have our favorite "Clic glasses back in stock. You will all remember all of us wearing these cheater glasses here at BRF for fly tying and reading. The magnets allow the glasses to be separated and are worth the price for me, and have paid for themselves many times. It seems I drop flies in the grass or on the floor and by simply removing mine and putting them anywhere near the area the fly landed the glasses' magnet will be picked up my lost fly, and sometimes one not mine! Check the NFL team coaches this fall as they will all be wearing Clics they get from us!
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Guide Trip of the Week
Fish with the Best!
Photo by Drew Mentzer
Here's Jon Young with a nice Brown on his trip yesterday with Drew. The two floated the Madison from Varney to 8 mile and had some great fishing. Jon and Drew fished both dries and nymphs, most all of the action was underneath. The area's fishing has been excellent. Our guides have been having incredible days on the Madison near Ennis as Mother's Day Caddis and Early Baetis and March Brown Mayflies bring a few fish up each afternoon. As our season becomes closer and closer our guides have been out each day checking out all of water they can. Brian and Cam have been fishing many of the local lakes, while Geoff and Drew have been hitting the rivers. Scott took off and headed to the Smith River for a five night float with a few of his buddies. Pope has recovered from his travels to Mexico and is expected back in early June. All of the Blue Ribbon guides are excited to get back into the swing of things and looking forward to seeing all of you very soon! |
Greater Prairie Chicken
Only 4 of these!
We just received 4 beautiful Greater Prairie Chicken skins. These are uniquely barred gold and brown feathers perfect for fall soft hackles and sculpin patterns. If you are interested in one of these skins give us a call as you won't find these on the website.
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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!
Unitl next week! Have a great weekend.
The Gang at Blue Ribbon
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phone: 406.646.7642 fax: 406.646.9045 |
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