We’ve had a couple of panic toned emails from guys that have trips planned later this week who insist they’ve heard rumors of a record setting heat wave in the area and that Hebgen Lake has been drained. 

First – the weather and Hebgen.  It is 85 in Bozeman right now (about 5 in the afternoon) which is warm for this time of year, though we’re not due for outrageous temps this week.  Highs in West Yellowstone are forecast to be 75 Tuesday and Wednesday, 72 Thursday, and 70 Friday.  Gardiner as always will be a bit warmer – 84 Tuesday, 83 Wednesday, 77 Thursday, and 76 Friday.  Bozeman will be within a degree or two of 80 most of the week.  Our pitch is it keeps the hoppers (and other terrestrial friends) alive and kicking; you can throw little baetis in the cloud cover next week.   Hell, you can even wade wet once again. 

It was warm enough today that we could send one of our field team out to check out Hebgen – he was able to launch his fat guy dink and catch some rays.  He probably raised the Hebgen lake’s level an inch or so just launching (and boarding) his craft.  There is still water in Hebgen, and they’re still pounding stop logs into place from what we hear.  We all feel pretty optimistic today (most of us moved out of equities some time ago) and can just imagine the outflow graph from Hebgen shows a little drop in the flow rates.  We’re betting the flow graphs show improvement in the morning. 

Finally, a friend just stopped by and told us what must have been an hilarious story of a dude getting chased into a deep pool by a 6 by 6 bull elk in National Park meadow yesterday evening.  He’s promised pictures tomorrow.  As the YNP ranger staff reminded people in a news release last Friday – the Elk rut has started, and bulls tend to get a little wound up this time of year.  If you’re not familiar with rutting elk, drive the Madison in the early or late day, and listen for the bugle calls that sound like orc calls in Lord of the Rings.  Otherwise see picture above (from the NPS). 

Technorati Tags: ,

Tags: Best Fly Fishing Yellowstone: Random Team Ramblings