Around 8 am this morning at Alpen Guides, the boss man rolled into the garage and told us all that a large boulder had fallen on the road in the middle of the night and that we were goning to be held up for a while. Once the road was cleared, a YNP geologist came...
YNP
Up late this evening.....tying up loose ends. Apparently, there is a storm coming sometime tomorrow afternoon that might actually require the use of a snowblower. While we are saving gas in that realm, we are buring the shit out of the firewood. Warmer weather is...
Merry Fishmas
24 below zero on the 24th of December. When it warms up, the hounds and I will take off for a quick ski around Horse Butte. For now, wrapping presents is on the docket as is feeding the wood stove. Tomorrow's weather forecast is for a bit warmer weather in the...
to cold to fish
Molly, the dogs and myself took off from the house for a ski this afternoon, once it warmed up from the 25 belows zero night. We hit a high of 10 degrees today....whoppee.....these temps feel colder than normal for this time of the year.....our wood pile is...
the longest night of the year
This morning we woke to a fresh white layer, but not as deep as was hoped for. Snow piled up through out the day, however it didn't ever add up to much on the west side of Yellowstone National Park. It all helps, but a good winter storm would be a wonderful...
YNP
Cruising through YNP again today....the season is here. Yellowstone Alpen Guides is busy even though our bombardiers are parked.....wheeled vans are getting us in the Park, which, thankfully, is the only way until more snow graces the mountains. Will the snow fall? ...
YNP – Opening Weekend
YNP is open for winter travel, but we are running wheeled vehicles on mostly snow packed roads. The bare spots are plenty and with this bleak forecast, we could be driving vans for another couple weeks. Once on top of Firehole hill, the snow pack is thin, but then...
Just south of Ennis
The valley floor, just south of Ennis, is hardly covered with snow. Getting around the banks looked easy enough and if it warmed up a little, a quick float might be a good idea. The river look pretty sexy down here, but I chose not to wet a line this afternoon. ...
Snow?? Not Much Yet….
There has yet to be much white stuff fall from the skies this winter. A skiff here and there since before Thanksgiving, but all in all, the snow has yet to come. Looking around on the web, one can quickly find reports which say that December will continue to be cold...
Mallards
Yep, that's a duckblind in a flooded cornfield......in the timber......somewhere in Western Illinois.
Really?
Stepping outside to snap this shot, with a quickness in my step, proved to be almsot too much this morning. 38 below.....and a blurred photo......too bad, it's cold. I love winter, but this kind of cold is over the top. This is what makes all those second and third...
Chi Wulff Interview
Just before Thanksgiving, the kind folks over at Chi Wulff sent me 10 questions for my response. That interview went live yesterday and today, check it out here and here. Mark and his crew are based out of Bozeman and Austin, TX.....although I get the feeling they...
Madison River Fishing Report
There were midges rolling down the bank upon arrival to the Madison this afternoon. A couple of noses poked through, but nothing consistent. After fishing tiny, itty bitty dry flies in tough light, a switch over to nymphs was needed. Midge patterns fooled plenty of...
Madison River Management Plan
Montana FWP has decided that a new management plan should be implemented on the Madison River in Montana. Read about it here. My opinoin will come out shortly........this process is going to create some drama, that's for sure. FOAM will be involved. Your...
Illini Whitetail
Ten days ago, I recieved a photo of this archery whitetail buck, shot by my father on the bluffs of the Mississippi River in Adams County. Illinois has four counties that are well known for huge bucks - Brown, Adams, Pike and Schuyler. There are several other...
Thanksgiving in Cody
The past 2 weeks has been extremely busy around this neck of the woods. My phone broke and it took 9 days to get a new one. Calling anyone back was a nightmare......work piled up and I got too busy hunting elk and then cutting up elk for the freezer, to get...
Freestone Rod Review – 865 & 906
Freestone Rod Shop is based in Montrose, Colorado. Bernard, Sam and Len run the show. They build grass and graphite and are not new to the scene....not one bit. Combined, they have 89 years of rod making and design behind their craft. Thomas & Thomas, Scott...
The Best Month
We have arrived home from the 12 day hunt weary-eyed, unshaven, gressy haired with souls recharged. About 10 o'cock last night, the snow began and piled up a few inches outside the door, drifting higher by the morning. Winter is here. While the ground isn't...
Birds
It's been cold each night and morning, but we are hearty souls. I have been tenting it and hanging in the Airstreams when not hunting. Huck sleeps next to me and Stella is in the bag with me, adding some warmth to my 10 below down bag. Needless to say, but I am...
Birds Beware
Jonathon Heames and myself will roll out here in just a couple of hours. Three dogs, two out of work fishing guides, five guns and a trailer to carry all of our shit gear. Heames has missed the past 3 years of bird hunting trips to, well, I can't quite tell ya the...