It’s Over
- This topic has 16 replies, 12 voices, and was last updated Nov 3, 2009 at 7:16 pm by
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It came on rather suddenly, as things do this time of year. About 4:15PM MST Sunday, November 1st, the sun dropped below the highest ridges, the light went flat and you could feel the temperature start to drop. Tippets were getting difficult to see and wading in the dark bottomed waters of the Madison and Firehole rivers would be increasingly difficult and hazardous. It was time to call it a day, call it a season. Make that last cast, wade out of the river and make one last trip to the vehicle to get the gear off and tackle stowed. The Yellowstone National Park fishing season was over. Not officially over until 10PM, but effectively over once the light dimmed.
Few anglers took advantage of these last few days of the short YNP season, just 5 months from late May to early November. This weekend was no exception. The Firehole on Saturday was completely void of anglers as it was a blustery, cold day. Sunday saw a few more as the temperature warmed to the high 40s. The Madison drew more anglers in search of those big browns but even that river had plenty of empty water.
I spent two mid-week days on the Firehole and Madison with my young cousin two weeks ago to give him his first experience fishing these waters. The fishing was productive and interesting.
Cousin Matt gearing up on the Firehole the 1st time ever.
Matt experiencing the early morning mist on the Firehole
Matt caught me stuck between this Bison and a deep spot
One of my better browns from Goose Lake MeadowsThis weekend I was by myself—literally—as nary an another angler was ever in my sight for two whole days. The forecast for Saturday was mid 30s, snowy, with light winds. That didn’t happen. The wind gusted constantly to 30mph and higher. On Sunday, the wind abated some, the sun shown in the afternoon and the temperatures rose. Keeping the fingers warm was the toughest task. The fishing was lights out. I think the Brown Trout knew the season was ending and this was their last chance to chew a bugger or soft-hackle. Every cut bank, eddy or deadfall held decent Browns who chased the flies down from 3-4 feet, attacking them with vengeance. Even though there was a steady hatch of BWOs from 9AM on with lots of fish taking them, few rainbows, but literally dozens of browns were taken from Biscuit Basin, Muleshoe Bend and Goose Lake Meadows each day.
My trusty arsenal of buggers and soft-hackles—killer flies for the Firehole
The Muleshoe was especially productive. The steam in this shot from Saturday shows the effects of the 30mph wind–just how hard the wind was blowing. One wonders how many millions of casts have covered this water in the last 100 years.
A similar shot from Sunday morning and not much wind.
A nice Muleshoe Brown
Goose Lake Meadows at dawn on the last day.
The 1st trout on the last day. Dawn was just breaking and scudding red tinged clouds surrounded me in Goose Lake Meadows.
On Sunday, as the sun was dropping the in afternoon sky, I found myself at the lower end of Muleshoe bathed in a warm steam from a nearby spring.
Deadfalls such as this one in Biscuit Basin held multiple browns, each one a willing participant in this weekend’s pleasure.
The obligatory, in-room snacks.
In March of 1872 when President Grant signed the Act of Dedication creating Yellowstone National Park, that dedication contained these words: “a public park or pleasuring ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people.” I certainly was pleasured this week, this month and this season in Yellowstone. I enjoyed every minute of it and am counting the days until next season opens.
Mike Cline…great report and that soft hackle box looks nicely stocked. I like.
Cameron, Thanks – here’s a shot of the whole box. I fill up the empty spaces after every trip. These are my go to flies when I am not chucking bigger stuff.
When you show up in Western Pa let me know, I owe you a beer or two at the micro brewery in Slippery Rock.
Eric
Looks like I be in Cranberry next week on Tues and Weds evenings.
Happy winter Mike. Days like these will keep you warm in the winter.
Never fear – we have at least another month of decent local fishing and I’ll be in Alabama for some Stripers and Tampa for some Reds the end of the month.
Great report… that Bison would spook me!
I enjoy Rawson’s Retreat too!
You can judge a man by the size of things which annoy him.
Sounds like a great time, but I cannot see the pictures. I am getting a photobucket icon telling me the bandwidth has been exceeded. Anyone have a clue as to why I might be getting this? IS anyone else seeing this?
Its because FREE has its limitations – resolved.
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