55 on the fly

Michelle and I started our day by getting up early at 6am and headed to Boiling River in Yellowstone National Park. This area has underground hot springs which flow out of the earth and down into the Gardiner River providing a "Mother Nature's Hot Tub". There was no one else there as we parked and drank the last of our morning coffee on the walk down to the river. Just as I was stepping into the river I happened to look and coming low and straight at us was a beautiful Bald Eagle, what a sight as he flew about 50 feet above us gliding down the Gardiner.  After a good long soak we were off to Roosevelt Lodge and a big breakfast, then a drive through the Lamar River Valley to see the Bison. There were a few fisherman too, but hundreds of Bison.... a very nice relaxing morning indeed. This afternoon I was back on the Yellowstone River. The section I fished today is rugged with difficult walking and wading, getting cliffed out, then hiking up and around and back down t...

I had an early start today. My buddy here in Montana, Ben, picked me up and we headed to a little honey hole we know. We only had a few hours to fish, as Ben had to work, but we picked up several nice browns doing some nymphing. I used my refurbished Wonderod 8'6", she likes a 6wt. line spooled on a vintage Orvis Madison click reel.....We had a great time fishing and catching up since I last saw Ben in 2013..... Ben with a 17-18 inch Brown... Here I am with a 15-16 inch Brown...

I got a chance to get away for a couple of hours today and fish the Yellowstone River not far from our RV campground. It was a perfect afternoon for fishing. That lasted about 2 hours, then a storm rolled in and I had to get out of Dodge before the thunder and lightning took over.... I caught 5 fish all on my Wrapped Foam Golden Stone and GSS Emerger dropper.... 4 Cutthroats and 1 Rainbow. Today's gear - Ben Turpin 8' 5wt. bamboo fly rod and JW Young/Walker reel with Cortland Classic DTF 5 fly line. Yellowstone Rainbow

Michelle went for a run today and me well, lets see, running or fishing.... Yeah right fishing of course! So off to fish the Yellowstone River and do some rock hopping.  I had a good time too catching a couple of nice rainbow trout but whoops, forgot the camera... Then after catching 5 or 6 white fish I remembered my phone, ah-ha I have a camera on the phone!  I'm old school and keep forgetting that I have a "smart" phone now.  I caught some rainbows, browns and cutthroats and of course several white fish, a good couple of hours on the river. my first Cutthroat of the trip ~ 16 inches and the best fish-of-the-day Hey - my fishing buddies are here! Walked right up on this little band of elk in the Yellowstone River, 5 in total, there was one still laying down in the cool grass.  I let them have their pool and headed for home. Tonight we were invited to a BBQ with some of our fly fishing friends.  We had a great time visiting with everyone.  The...

Here's a couple of photos from last night... Most nights here we are treated to the "Elk Show" the evening movement of the elk from their bedding area up high on the mountain behind camp and down into the Yellowstone River valley passing by our front door.  Tonight there were about 20+ elk consisting of cows, yearlings and one lucky bull. This old cow elk came down later and bedded right behind our RV,  not more than 15 yards.  Sunset over Gardiner and YNP.

Korn's EMT Loop Wing Emerger is my version of a foam loop emerger tied by several other people,  l ike Blue Ribbon Flies Craig Mathews and the late Dave Lewis, to name a couple. EMT stands for "Emerging Mayfly for Trout".  I tie this fly in three drake colors as-well-as several other colors like this March Brown and smaller sizes for BWO's and PMD's.  To fish the fly properly only grease the front hackle and foam loop.  This allows the rear of the hook to penetrate the surface film. You can also see my video on YouTube (see the side bar) to tie this very effective fly pattern. tied and photographed by Doug Korn Hook: MFC #7000 in size 12 Thread: Danville 6/0 brown/olive Shuck: brown zelon  Rib: brown floss  Abdomen: hares ear tan dubbing Wing: gray razor foam  Hackle: light bronze grizzly

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parks'_Fly_Shop Parks Salmon Fly:   Created in 1954 by Merton Parks, this is the original version of the Improved Sofa Pillow.  Fish it damp as often as floating high, especially at the tail end of the salmonfly hatch.  Richard Parks, Merton's son is the owner of Parks Fly Shop located in Gardiner, MT at the north entrance of Yellowstone National Park.   http://www.parksflyshop.com/ This is my favorite Salmon fly   pattern, highly effective and a Yellowstone area classic. See Richard tying the Parks Salmon Fly here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8HkEP8eub-o Hook : Mustad 9671 2xl nymph, #2-8 with 6 most common Thread : Heavy and black: Gudebrod G, flat waxed mono, Kevlar or 3/0 Uni Tail: natural brown bucktail, long length of body Body: tangerine orange Red Heart Acrylic yarn wound over Duco cement for durability  Palmer hackle:  Brown or furnace saddle, clipped even with the ga...

Timing is everything with this western hatch, but if you are lucky enough to hit it... this is a killer pattern. Hook: MFC 7022 2x long size 8 Thread: Serafil 200, tan Rib: tag end of thread Abdomen: Amber dry fly dubbing with a touch of UV ice dub inserted in a split thread and spun Palmered hackle: ginger rooster neck, over sized to help float the rear of the hook, trim top. Wing: 2 hen pheasant wing or neck feathers, tied flat Hackle: ginger rooster saddle  ... tied and photographed by Doug Korn 

My friend John Scott over on FAOL forum has a great Rubber Legs Stonefly Nymph* pattern that is a killer out west... I have great luck with it as does John...  I have scaled it down for here in NY to a size #14.  Just another stone to throw at them, simple to tie and different enough from what most folks are using around here. Hook: 1xl nymph #14  Thread: 6/0 Uni Black Weight: lead wrapped foil or black bead Tail & Legs: orange plastic fruit bag material or small rubber legs  Body: MFC Micro Lucent Chenille 035-black *see John's step-by-step here: RUBBER LEGS STONEFLY NYMPH by  John Scott, Lolo MT http://www.flyanglersonline.com/fotw...tw20100524.php

Our son Scott and his fiancee Erin were visiting us this weekend.  He lives and fishes in and around the Endicott, NY area.  We were tying up some turkey tail nymphs for him to use because he's been seeing some small winter stones while fishing... The last time I was out fishing on 2/9/12, I saw a few of our small stone flies on the creek too.  It won't be long before they are out in earnest.  So, tie some up and be ready for them. Here are two nymphs that I like. Korn's Oatka Stone Nymph (soft-hackle) Hook: #14 - 1xl nymph Thread: 8/0 Uni Black Tail & Body: turkey tail Rib: small copper wire Thorax: black dubbing Soft-hackle: iridescent turkey neck feather Rene Harrop's Turkey Tail Nymph Hook: #14 - 1xl nymph Thread: 8/0 Uni Black Tail, Body, wingcase, thorax and legs: turkey tail Rib: small copper wire

I got out for a couple of hours this morning.  It was about 40 degrees and very windy, but hey, I was out fishing! The water was a bit high and fast but I managed to find some fish in the slower water along the edges... Nymphing with my St Croix 5wt. and the fly of the day?  No, doubt the Fire Fly... "on the fly"

Craig Mathews at Blue Ribbon Flies has come up with a nice winter time midge emerger.   See him tie it here:   http://www.blue-ribbon-flies.com/how-to/soft_hackle_midge_emerger/ Inspired  by Craig, I got some "combo thread" from BRF and tied the #18's shown here... Simple to tie and just as effective I'm sure.  I hope to put this new fly to the test next week here in NY...   My materials list: Hook: 18-20 std. wet fly Thread: BRF - Combo thread 6/0 black/red for body  Tail: zelon amber or grey Thorax: black zelon or rabbit dubbing Wing: Ruff Grouse “V” tied soft-hackle style with wraps walking the fibers around the shaft.  I like my soft-hackle a little longer than Craig... tie 'em as you like 'em.

A short while ago I was encouraged by fellow FAOL forum members to submit a step-by-step of my Korn's CDC Spent-wing Caddis and the Parachute variation that I tie.  So I gathered up my meager photographic equipment and took some photo's of the tying process and sent it in.  Today they have posted it as the Fly Of The Week... see it here:  http://www.flyanglersonline.com/fotw/2012/fotw20120130.php

Living as a Gardiner MT resident for a month was wonderful.  The pace is nice and slow, the air is soft and cool.  The town itself is small and you can visit each store and business easily within a few hours.  There are no stop lights and the library is only open on Tuesdays and Thursdays.   Once you are done checking out the town, there is nothing left to do but read, fish and relax. In Gardiner we walked everywhere.  It was good daily exercise since our campground was up a pretty steep hill.   Right next door is the amazing Yellowstone River and we could go over and play anytime we wanted to. Looking up at our campground.  Those buildings with red roofs are little cabins that you can rent. This is the view from the bridge going over the Yellowstone river.  See the campground in the upper left? Parks Fly Shop This is Park's Fly Shop where Doug works - or worked.  He is still tying flies for them throughout the year bu...

Last night we had Wally and Wilson up to our RV for dinner.  Hots, hamburgers, baked beans, deviled eggs, coleslaw and homemade camper cookies for dessert.  Michelle out did herself...  Later a campfire, a few PBR's and LOTS of fishing talk.  It was great to spend some time with the guys. With only today to fish and tomorrow for packing up and prepping to leave Yellowstone Country I fished my "Last Chance" for this YNP season.   We head back to VA. early on Monday, Aug. 22nd... Michelle decided yesterday's fishing was tough to beat so she settled in with a good book and the mountains for company.  But I had to get out one more time for a couple of hours on the Yellowstone River down the old road...  With 14 fish brought to hand and the landing of my first "double" in YNP,  I couldn't ask for a better ending. Here are some photos: Beautiful Cutthroat "Last Chance Double" a Cutthroat and a Rainbow, netting two fish at on...

Michelle and I had fabulous dinner at Rosie's here in Gardiner.  After dinner we met up with Ben and Wilson and had a few PBR's and of course talked about the guide trips the guys had and our day on Slough Creek... At some point in the conversation Ben said he had the day off tomorrow and that he had marked me off on the PFS guide trip calendar as well, hmmmmm... I said: "Where are you thinking of going?" Ben said: "Black Canyon." "Wow, that's a good hike and I just did 11 miles into Slough Creek, the Black Canyon will be another 8-9 miles..." "So, are you game?" "Chelle is it OK with you?"  She said: "Go have fun." "OK I'm in." I said.  (thinking I must be crazy for doing back-to-back hikes on this ankle) Black Canyon of the Yellowstone - hiking in... Suspension Bridge over the Yellowstone River BUT--- I'm so glad I did... Ben and I had a great day of fishing and fellowship...