Plenty of Water

As the end of January draws near, the stats on the snowpack and water-equivalency across Wyoming look great. Every drainage in the state is reporting data that is well above average for this time of year for snowpack and for the amount of water being held in the snow. The upper Snake River Basin, the upper Green River Basin and the Upper Yellowstone-Madison basin are all showing snow and water figures hovering at 120% of normal for this time of year. This has certainly been excellent news for skiers, but is also excellent news for anglers. These areas drain water to most of the spots that we fish around here. More snow, means more water, which means healthier area fisheries and better fishing. Click this link to check out the data in more detail: Wyoming Snow-Precipitation Data
Other than skiing and tying a few flies, not much else is going on around here. Now that the days are getting a little longer and brighter, 2011 fishing has been slowly moving into the front of my mind. I like surfing the web this time of year to help satiate the fly-fishing addiction. Checking out photos, stories and travel sites can all help. My friend and former co-worker Doug Mcknight has just launched a new website that is worth checking out: Doug Mcknight's Big Water Studio Doug is an incredibly talented artist, fly-tyer and fishing guide who resides in Livingston, Montana. Check him out! Enjoy a couple of photos this week: Sunrise in the Tetons, and a stud-Brown Trout held by Doug Mcknight.

Helping Yellowstone's Native Fish

As many of you may know, native Yellowstone Cutthroat trout are a highly threatened species right now as a result of the rapidly expanding population of non-native Lake Trout in Yellowstone Lake. In 1994, biologists discovered that non-native Lake Trout were illegally introduced to Yellowstone Lake. As many as 3.5 million Cutthroat once inhabited the lake. It is now believed to be just a fraction of that number. These fish are not only a beautiful , strong Cutthroat strain, but also an intricate part of the Yellowstone ecosystem that Eagles, Osprey, Otters and Bears depend on to survive. Trout Unlimited has just sent out an "action alert" to its members asking for help, so I thought I would pass it along to non-members too. The park service has developed a draft plan and environmental analysis addressing future protection and restoration of the park's native fish. The Native Fish Conservation Plan and Environmental Assessment is meant to outline the actions needed to help protect native fish in the park for the next 20 years. Not only would native Yellowstone Cutthroat benefit, so would Westslope Cutthroat and stream-dwelling Grayling, both of which used to exist in the park, and could be reintroduced. Trout Unlimited is asking that we tell the park service that native fish conservation should be the number one fisheries priority in the park, including reducing the harm that Lake Trout has had on native Cutthroat.




Please click on this link http://parkplanning.nps.gov/commentForm.cfm?documentID=37967&tr=y&auid=7636043

to specifically, tell the Park Service that:
1) You support its stated objective to make suppression of lake trout in Yellowstone Lake the highest priority action for native fish conservation in the Park;

2) You support the Park's stated, measurable targets for restoration of the Yellowstone cutthroat population in the lake, as well as the objectives for stream miles to eventually be occupied by Westslope cutthroats and Grayling;

Also, ask the Park to:
Increase the time and resources it dedicates to lake trout removal to ensure the population of this non-native predator is reduced to numbers that result in a significant rebound of Yellowstone cutthroat trout numbers.
Employ rigorous monitoring to ensure the Park meets its stated objectives, and to implement important research projects that help the Park better understand where lake trout spawn and how they move about the lake. This important information will help ensure the Park achieves its objectives.
Implement the recommendations from a science panel the Park convened in 2008 to help guide its efforts on the lake.








If you would like to read more specifics on this conservation plan and assessment, click on this link:
http://parkplanning.nps.gov/document.cfm?parkID=111&projectID=30504&documentID=37967&tr=y&auid=7636041



The more feedback the park gets, the better. They will be taking comments through January 31st, so lets act quick! For those of you that have not visited Yellowstone, it is home to some of the most pristine fisheries on the planet...an absolute treasure. Enjoy some photos too...a healthy fly-caught Yellowstone Cutthroat successfully released; the stunning Firehole River; a remote spot on the Yellowstone River; walking the Lamar River with my daughter Charlotte.

January Thaw

Without fail every January, a thaw hits Western Wyoming and a temporary snow melt usually begins. We are in a Winter Weather Advisory right now, with plenty of wind and moisture hitting the area. I spent the morning with Rachael skiing in Teton Village with some old friends. The skiing above the valley floor was fantastic; high winds and heavy snowfall are making for some great conditions. The valley floor is seeing rain today, particularly south of town, where we live. The temps around town are nearing 40 degrees, and it's very wet outside. It looks like this thaw will last a few days. It's likely that even warmer temps are being recorded over the hill in Idaho...I'll bet the South Fork and Henry's Fork are seeing some action today. Anyone out there fishing around here today? I would love to hear a report! While skiing today with good buddies John Holland and Jon Wylie, we were trying to plot a few fishing adventures for summer 2011. With growing job and family responsibilities, it seems like we have to plan earlier and earlier each year to pull off our favorite trips. We came up with a great idea (which we ran by our wives in the gondola today): a 20-day "punch card" that we can use from spring until fall to allow us that elusive "hall pass" to get out and fish. What do all the guys out there think of this idea? Stay tuned for my progress on this :) Attached are a couple of photos of a local friend that likes to visit our front porch from time to time. There are a handful of Moose that winter in our neighborhood, and this one decided to take a nap outside our front door. More soon!

Tyin' Flies

With the busy holiday season now behind us, fly-tying season is now just beginning for me. Although I love fly-tying, I unfortunately don't do it consistently enough. Once the fishing and guiding season begins, I often have very little time to devote to it. The first part of the year is when I typically find some extra time to sit down at the vise and whip out some bugs. By this time of year, I'm starting to think about the upcoming fishing season, and tying some flies just makes sense now. With our snowpack at over 100% of average right now and frigid temps almost every day, wetting a line right now is just not an option around here. For those of you that know me or have fished with me, you'll recall that I row a South Fork Skiff, which is a low-sided driftboat, meant to fish out of in a sitting position. Most of the boats that you see drifting on Western water these days are higher sided, with casting braces that allow anglers to stand as they fish. There are different theories as to which one is "better"; in general it's a personal preference. Although many anglers have an easier time casting distance while standing, it is generally thought that in a sitting position, there is less chance of spooking fish, particularly any fish that are feeding on top. Sight fishing to large, spooky fish from Skiffs is the way to go. Low-pros also tend to do a little better in the wind. I have always been an avid believer in low profile skiffs or "prams". The South Fork Skiff that I row (now owned by Ro Driftboats) has always done me well. There's a new player now on the market that is worth checking out. Click the link here to learn more about Adipose Boats, out of Helena, Montana. These Missouri River guides look like they have designed a sweet product. I've attached a couple of pictures too. These boats look great! http://www.adiposeboatworks.com/ I'd also like to shout out to my photographer buddy Jeff Diener. He just launched a great new stock photography site worth looking at: http://www.jacksonholegallery.com/ I've known Jeff for many years; we've spent a lot of time together skiing and fishing, often while I'm on the other side of his lens. If you're looking for some great images, don't miss this local talent.