Outside Bend

Maintaining a regular outdoors journal, exploring some more obscure smallmouth streams, and building a couple new flyrods are all on my list for this new year.

Thanks Jeff, the flies look great. You have a PM.

I had a similar situation- left the waders hanging in the garage for a few months, and when I came back to them one leg had been turned into a dog-food cache by mice. Now they're hung, upside down, in a closet when I need to store them long-term.

Zebra mussels can live in some pretty heavily polluted waters- the Great Lakes were already heavily affected by nutrient and industrial inputs when zebra mussels arrived in the late 80's, and they've been thriving there ever since.

Thanks Jeff, I'll PM you my address and you can send them at your leisure. Thanks again, and I hope your wife has a speedy recovery. OB

I've caught a few while white bass fishing in northern Missouri, never any larger than 15" or so but still fun on light tackle. I've heard they're good eating once the red meat is removed- blackened, grilled or steamed. Maybe it's something I'll have to try this season...

I've done some summertime diving in Table Rock, and when you get to about 20-25 feet visibility is practically zero. Unless the camera has some serious lighting you're talking about a field of view measured in inches. If it were me, I'd probably save up for a decent sonar rig.

Sounds pretty cool Jeff, I've been hoping to try out some of the euro-nymphing techniques this upcoming season. Look forward to seeing the end product!

If you're wedded to the Dubois area go for it, but it's a significant drive from Dubois to Yellowstone or Teton. You may want to look into Jackson, Cody, West Yellowstone or Gardiner if you want to be closer to the Parks. Most Wyoming streams come down late June or early July, And are usually in good shape by mid or late July. The Wind is a pretty reliable fishery, lots of wild browns and rainbows, and a few native cutthroat, and excellent dry fly fishing.

Yes, as are many other nations. We could be producing and selling them the technology to do so. That's my point. It's plastics.

But look at it from the flip side gatorjet- other nations are moving towards reduced carbon emissions, regardless of the United States' position on the issue. If we don't want to invest in the research, other nations will. If we don't want to invest in the technology, other nations will. If we don't want to put an idle labor force to work building these green technologies, other nations will. If we don't want to be an economic powerhouse for green technology, other nations are all too happy to gobble up that sector. Regardless of where you fall on the climate debate, green technology provides a dynamic avenue for growth in a languishing American economy. You may not want to pay American workers to build a Volt, but there are folks abroad who will. You may not want to pay American engineers to develop more efficient solar panels, but there are folks abroad who are interested in that technology. We can either reap the financial benefits of the demand for that technology, or climate science while China and Germany fill the shipping orders. You may think powers abroad are attempting to strip our nation of its power and prestige, but I think it's quite possible we're just shooting ourselves in the foot.

Looks like a solid day on the water...

JD's correct, possession of the feathers of birds of prey is illegal, regardless of whether or not you killed the bird.

The spot roundup sounds like a pretty cool idea, you may be able to get Smallmouth Alliance or some other folks involved as well. Hope it works out!

If you're going early-season (May thru the middle of July), your best bet would probably be staying in either West Yellowstone or Gardiner. From West Yellowstone you can hit the Madison, Firehole, Gibbon and Gallatin rivers without a problem. From Gardiner you have easy access to the Madison, Gibbon, Firehole and Gardiner Rivers. In West Yellowstone I'd check out Blue Ribbon Flies (www.blue-ribbon-flies.com) and Arrick's Flyshop, both are excellent and offer guided trips. In Gardiner, I'd check out Park's Fly Shop (www.parksflyshop.com). Runoff during that time would be your biggest issue, the water can be brown from the end of May well into July and is pretty unpredictable; you may want to call into a few flyshops and see what the conditions are before you leave. Yellowstone offers a number of stillwater fishing opportunities if the rivers are blown out. If you're going later in the season, I'd recommend focusing on the northeast corner of the Park, like Gavin said. Rivers like the Firehole, Gibbon, and Madison tend to shut down as temperatures climb. In the northeast you'll find Slough Creek, Soda Butte Creek, and the Lamar River are the most popular destinations, with lots of native cutts and wild rainbows. They also get pretty crowded during the summer, so be aware of that. There are a few mom-and-pop motels, restaurants, and gas stations in the northeast corner out of Cooke City, but it's pretty sparse. I'd really recommend picking up the book The Yellowstone Fly Fishing Guide, it gives a pretty detailed rundown of all the Park's fish-holding waters, as well as major hatches and appropriate imitations. Good luck with your trip!

Bump. Anyone else know what they'll be tying?

So start a fishing thread? I was bored with the climate discussion, so I set up a fly swap. The forum is whatever you make it. Happy holidays, though. OB

If it helps, the answer is yes.

IMO debating global warming science is a moot point, which is why I sat on my hands most of these threads- it'mostly settled among scientists, and now they're trying to convince a public who doesn't want to believe the findings because of what it may mean for their way of life. It's tough fighting beliefs with facts- whether if it's Elvis is dead, we didn't land on the moon, Obama is secretly a Muslim, or global warming science, if someone believes in something enough, no amount of evidence is going to convince them otherwise. If you don't want to believe the science you may choose do to so, but I don't believe the rest of the planet should be held hostage. The stakes are just too high. I'm done.

For how long?

Don't say how many

We've been over this, JDC- if a scientist is found to have fabricated data, that's it, his career is over. No grant money, no jobs-period. It's akin to a blacklisting. Yet thousands of scientists are putting their credentials on the line when they say global warming is real.

Wasn't trying to be personal redbird, just saying it seems like an awfully self-centered viewpoint. Sorry.

This sounds EXACTLY like something you'd hear from a spoiled, snotty sixteen year old girl.

And not nearly as productive as these discussions