Idaho Fish Report

Our outdoor thermometer reads 32 degrees at 4:30 a.m. There are no stars peeking out this morning either. Needless to say Ill be scheming to get on the river by 1 p.m. today as the midge emergence will be strong.

Yesterday by noon the midges were hovering along the shoreline and even though the skies were mostly clear the fish rose in all likely midge spots. At first I had a hard time fooling risers in one of my favorite pools even though they rose like wolves to the naturals. I sat on the bank and sprayed casts to a dozen good trout rising without a look. Then I practiced what we always preach. I put my rod down and looked closely at midges approaching rising fish. I got within a Tenkara Soft Hackle Model rod length away from a couple big browns rising in a quiet seam below an old beaver dam. I'm always amazed when trout key on a skittering midge, one that wakes along the surface trying to rid itself of the pupal shuck which might be attached to it. This happens a lot with emerging midges that are subject to emergence difficulties at time. But, nine in ten times these big ultra-selective trout will come to a Zelon Midge, a no hackle pattern that incorporates a trailing shuck. Yesterday though I had to put my rod aside, sit on the bank and do what the river told me to do to fool these big trout. I simply had to knot on a Skittering Zelon Midge, one of our few hackled patterns that imitates a midge trapped in its shuck, skittering on the surface and trying to rid itself of the shuck in order to fly off and escape the surface.

I had a fine afternoon and congratulated myself on the walk back to my truck by taking time to observe, change to the right fly and patiently singling out one rising fish and not spraying casts to a pack of rising fish which results in far fewer hook-ups.

Anglers who love the Madison River as I do owe a big debt of gratitude to the retiring Director of the Madison River Foundation, Richard Lessner and his wife Pamela. In the seven years Richard has steered the ship he has increased the Foundation's membership over tenfold, he has set the course so the organization realizes its ongoing goals and mission to constantly protect, preserve and enhance the Madison River and its valley with wild trout and wildlife for all future generations to enjoy.

The Foundation's vision is clearer and much stronger under Richard's guidance. I know I speak for all of us when I say how much we all appreciate everything Richard and his wife Pamela have done for the love of trout, wildlife and wild places and the Madison Valley.

Jackie and I are preparing to head out this weekend for a week-long cultural and saltwater trip. Our purpose is research and educational, so stay tuned here for our reports to follow.

Yvon Chouinard, Mauro Mazzo and my book is being produced now. "Simple Fly Fishing" is being published by Patagonia Press and it looks now that it will be out in early spring 2014. Stay tuned here as more develops on this exciting project that now involves more than just the book! I wrote a chapter for Terry and Wendy Gunn for their book, "50 Best Tailwaters to Fly Fish" that is just now being shipped. Our supply will be in this week so by next week's newsletter we should have them along with a story and how you can order an autographed copy.

Too, Jim Klug has a book on the table and being ready for publication on Belize that I also did a chapter for. We will let you know here when it comes out.

In the meantime Cam, Bucky and I are working on Blue Ribbon's 2014 New Flies, tying materials, equipment and more for our 2014 on-line catalogue that comes to you by year's end. Our Christmas catalogue will be on-line soon also. There's no rest for the BRF Crew!