Craig Mathews

Summerlike weather lingers in Yellowstone country. After a few clear-cold mornings it seems like early August again, but we are in for a change real soon so says the weather folks. In the meantime let's enjoy the last days of summer.

I just got off the phone with the Montana Trout Unlimited crew. TU will be up next week to monitor stream flows on our in-stream water leases to them. We lease 3 tributaries to the Madison River to TU for the huge sum of $1per year. On weather years like we have had, warm and dry, leaving the water in the creek for trout is far more beneficial than flood irrigating pasture. Our lease expires in 2014 and we are beginning negotiations to renew a 10 year lease to Trout Unlimited. We are hoping other ranches follow our lead and lease their water rights for in-stream flows to keep the Madison and other rivers flowing cool and healthy for trout and aquatic insects to thrive and recruit strongly.

Congratulations to the Greater Yellowstone Coalition on its 30th anniversary! We look forward to attending the celebration next week here in West Yellowstone. BRF is helping sponsor the event. GYC has been a strong advocate over the last 30 years to keep the Yellowstone ecosystem intact, strong and vibrant and protected for future generations to enjoy.

Sharpshooter's Obsidian, aka "Sid Vicious", our 11month old German Shorthair pup, Photo #1 and I headed to the hills early this morning in search of a dusky grouse. It is Sid's first year in the field and I was hoping to find a volunteer bird he might point for me. We walked down our stairway to my truck and at the bottom of the steps came upon a fresh present a bear had left us during the night, a big pile loaded with choke cherry seeds that Sid pointed. I loaded him in the truck after yelling back up the stairs at Jackie to be bear aware near our camp this morning.

Sid and I headed out, me explaining to him about our long hike up the mountain to look for his first bird. He cocked his head as appeared to understand just what I told him lay ahead of us.

I put Sid's new collar with bell on him when we parked after reaching the trailhead. I loaded my old Aya .28 side-by-side and up the hill we trudged in the 34 degree morning temps. Our trek began at 7200 feet elevation and would go as high at 9330 feet and higher. I wondered if all our summer conditioning would be enough to bring the little guy to the top. After a short time I knew Sid would march me into the dust as he took to the step climb with gusto and style. At 8600 feet we took a break at a spring Jackie and I had found evidence of Sheep Eater Indian occupation 600 plus years ago. She once found a beautiful amber chert arrowhead here along with many obsidian chips and points. It looked like a site Indians might have used for a camp long ago as they followed their favorite food source, bighorn sheep, around the mountains in summer. Huge rock cliffs loom overhead with a strong spring and flat area in otherwise steep terrain. Sid took a long drink, walked 50 yards and locked on point. As I neared 5-6 dusky grouse lifted off, one made a mistake of coming too close and I dropped him with a load of 7 ?? shot. Sid bolted on my shot. I followed up and lifted him back to his point spot and made him stand steady. A short time later I released Sid and watched as he worked toward the downed grouse. I'm amazed when conditions are right how far a bird dog picks up a bird's scent. Sid was more than 30 feet from the bird when he locked up and I picked up the downed bird and brought it to him to sniff. A big male I dealt with to keep feathers clean for fly-tying and meat for our table.

He and I worked the edges of the rock rim as we headed back down to the truck. Temperatures were heating up and I did not want the pup's first go at hunting to be too long and arduous although looking back I believe he would have hunted to the top of the peak and beyond. But, we had accomplished what we set out for; one bird on a couple nice points and photos of Sid with his first grouse. Plus, I could still fish the afternoon if we hustled home for lunch!

As usual in the rest of this issue, you'll find fishing news from Yellowstone Country in the weekly Fishing Report. You can see what's hot off the vise in the Fly of the Week, get a sneak peek at some of the best materials on our tying bench in the Fly Tying Material of the Week, and stay up to date with the guide staff and their trips in the Guide Trip of the week.

You'll be seeing a new email newsletter most every week throughout the spring and summer to keep you tuned in to all things fly fishing and fly tying in the greater Yellowstone area and beyond. Throughout the seasons, we'll keep sending you news of hatches and fishing holes around West Yellowstone. So without further delay, go ahead and jump right into the newsletter. And as always, don't hesitate to give us a call or shoot us an email if you have any questions, or if you just want a little fish talk.