A Wintry Firehole
- This topic has 12 replies, 11 voices, and was last updated Oct 24, 2009 at 11:55 am by
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Emboldened by my success on a freezing Saturday on the Gardner River, I ventured off to the Firehole this morning. I was going anyway because I was going to meet up with Eric Weller in West. Eric and his crew turned up sick and not fishing so I was on my own. The morning started out at 18° in Bozeman and dropped to 8° as I crossed Fawn Pass. West Yellowstone was a cool 13° at 8AM. It snowed all the way and the roads were slick. My IA hat kept watch over me.
Somewhere in the Gallatin Headwaters
Rolling into West at 7:45AMOnce I knew Eric wasn’t going to make it, I ventured into the Park. As I drove up the Madison corridor, the snow became blizzard like.
Along the MadisonI finally made it to Fountain Flats. 6 inches of fresh stuff on the ground and temps hovering around 15°. Would the Firehole fish today?
A couple of hikers preceded me, but beyond Ojo Calienti, the trail was fresh.
I opted the upstream section since there were more hot springs in this stretch. Even in the blizzard and at 15°, the Firehole trout were suckers for a bugger/soft hackle combo—Just like about all the time. Trout pics are few because keeping your hands dry is a priority at 15°.
By Noon I was back at the car and fixed a hot tailgate lunch—beef stew courtesy of Mountain House.
My second stop was Muleshoe Bend, but it had crowded up with a guide and his troop, so I moved onto the meadows at Biscuit Basin.
By the look of the tracks, I was the first human to venture out here today. Coyotes and Buffalos were in evidence everywhere.
Here, the sun broke through and the skies cleared. Mostly browns in this section and they were not shy. About 2PM the BWOs started coming off and fish were everywhere. Unfortunately, by 3PM the wind had risen enough to make the balmy 24° temps a tad cold.
All day I fought ice in the guides, frozen fly line, a frozen fly reel and cold fingers to catch dozens of 10”-14” trout. What a life! 🙂
sweet. I am calling you next time i’m out there!
Always welcome – there’s 18 more days left in the park season this year.
Mike, you’re hard core!! 😮 I can feel the cold, and that clean smell of frozen air in your pics. Looks like a nice day later when the sun came out. You make me feel like a wuss 😛 ;D Great report.
Mike, can I call you when I’m around in the area during the winter months? 🙂
Lovely pictures, I can smell the cold fresh air…
Mike, you are making it nearly impossible for me to get any work done. What an awesome report! I’m looking forward to being in Montana again tomorrow. Hopefully I’ll be in the next set of photos 🙂
Hey Mike, what model orvis rod do you have in the picture? Interesting reel seat.
The rod is an Orvis Trout Bum Super Fine, 4wgt, Tip Flex. With a RIO Selective Trout DT line, its perfect for both long and short casts on the Firehole and Madison.
Mike,
Great report.
Mike, great portrayal of winter weather and fun fishing on the f-hole. Have you been fishing the Madison in the park at all?
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