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Friday August 18, 2000 Up early and headed over to Cappy’s Coffee Shop (located in the West Yellowstone Book Store). Great French Roast coffee and pastries just like last year! This little shop is the "home away from home" for JR and AM - they have consistently great coffee!! Met Jim Danskin and his buddies again. Jim is the oldest active fishing guide in Montana and has been guiding there since 1936 I believe. On Thursday Jim had floated a section of the Madison River below Cliff Lk and Wade Lk bridge – they had used large hoppers and a Goddard caddis with a gray body with some success. He thought we could try the Gibbon upstream but not in the meadows. Also suggested the Gibbon right below the falls which has fast water but is cooler than above the falls this year. In Yellowstone Lake he was thinking about using green body, all black, and green/black wooley buggers (bead head). Use a floating line in the lake as many of the fish are in the top 18 inches of water. The East side beaches are more rocky with drop-offs while the West side beaches are more sandy. Also he thought we might want to fish the Firehole River (even though everyone else said the "water is too hot" – he said "hogwash") up by Fairy Falls Trail or 2nd pullout on way back toward Madison Junction. Walk through the woods about 100 yards to the River and fish either way. Also on the Firehole, try fishing the Biscuit Basin area. Fish the bottom of all riffles. Look at using #12 green body hoppers (they had them at Arrick’s). For those interested in corresponding with Jim, he can mailed at Box 276, West Yellowstone, MT 59758. Also with Jim that morning was his son John, National Park worker Chet, and Clayton. Jim also liked to suggest we consider Spring Creek fishing at Nelson and DePuy creeks over in Paradise Valley. Lots of fish but have to use commonly #20 and #22 flies. We moseyed over to the Madison River by the Barnes Holes. It was windy and cold with showers. Fished the area pretty hard and caught a few fish but no big ones like last year. Lots of big Whitefish at the Cable Hole. Did see a lot of airplanes flying over head on the way to help fight the fires up by the Gallatin River. After a slow and cold morning, we had lunch (smoked salmon, bagels & cream cheese) on the tailgates of the trucks along the Madison River.
Drove past Madison Junction and took the right turn to head toward geyser country. Looked at the various sections of the Firehole which were visible from the Road. Finally stopped by the 3rd pullout north of Biscuit Basin on the Firehole and fished upstream (meadows) and downstream (wooded) after bushwacking to the River. Small green hoppers are everywhere in the meadows like Jim D. said. Ground is pretty marshy in some areas – looks like Moose country. Walking the shore, AM breaks thru the ground and wipes out a boot on a buried log. Fishing is kind of slow for big fish but we do catch a fair number of small browns & rainbows topping out about 12 inches. Back along the River our team runs into elk and a huge bull moose. When you are about 200 yards back from the highway, you feel as though you have timewarped back to the 1800’s. No sign of civilization and very pristine. Cool place.
Returning to the truck GK finds a business card on the windshield of AB’s truck. Someone from work recognized AB’s truck and left a note. Small world! Headed back toward Madison Junction but stopped at the ever popular and famous Mule Shoe Bend on the Firehole. Actually in two years, we have never seen anyone else fish it when we were there. Plenty of trails to indicate that others come down to there, however. AB/AM fish the area until quite dark while the others head back to town. The fish here appear to have quite some size and are actively feeding near the surface. Unfortunately, they are very wary and selective in what they choose to taste. AB hooks into several of them but kindly releases them on long distance releases. Using 2 lb. IGFA tippet & tiny flies in the dark makes for tough fishing. We need to come back and really do this little spot correctly! (AM left his flies, tippets, etc. in the trucks!). AB/AM have dinner at Salad and Potato Bar in West Yellowstone and then join the others who have just finished their "all-you-can-eat" ribs at Mountain Mike’s. It turns out that Mountain Mike has a lot of ribs on hand although our team makes a valiant effort to overcome the offer. Saturday August 19, 2000 Coffee at Cappy’s for the last time on this trip. Met up with Jim Danskin, Chet, Clayton, and some guides. Talk of the town was about whether or not Montana would close the Forests to recreation which would hurt the guides business. It was pointed out that all of the fires were due to lightning strike and none due to people. Also, it was asked if the State closes the Forests, would that include private land? Not clear. Interesting view of the world if you make a living in the outdoors like these folks do. We reported back to Jim about our successes (and some lack thereof) the previous day. He offered that he also like to fish LeHardy rapids on the Yellowstone River in the pools above the rapids. Strip Wooley Buggers through the pools. He thought there were too many folks at the Buffalo Ford on the Yellowstone. Also offered that the area where the River leaves Yellowstone Lake can be quite good early in the season in the parts just outside of the closed zone. AB thinks this may be on the East Side of the river exit from the Lake. Jim also noted that: Ice Lake is full of grayling; Grebe Lake has grayling and rainbows – wade through the lilly pads on the North and East shores to cast out; Firehole River by Muleshoe Bend – fish in am before sunrise, small flies, deep hole near top of bend is a great area, also fish near bottom of Muleshoe Bend by the geysers. Finally got out of West Yellowstone by about 0940 and started homeward. Driving out of town we saw the Firefighter camp with all of the tents just outside of town.. The Firefighters were working several areas including a fire up along the Gallatin River drainage but far enough inland not to close the highway out to Belgrade which was our preferred departure route. Headed up to Belgrade, got onto I90 West and headed home at breakneck speed! Stopped by Spokane to let MS go home and the rest of us headed for our respective barns in AB’s rig. Made it home late that night. The end of another spectacular trip and adventure!! We are already planning places for the 2001 trip!!!
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