2010 Season Wrap-up, 2011 Outlook
Thanks to all of the clients who joined me and my guide crew for the 2010 season. The early season fishing on the spring creeks was slow to get going, but spring hatches of Baetis mayfles and midges lasted into May this last season. The PMD hatches were great from late June into early August, but--for the second straight season--we didn't see many Sulfurs in late July or August. Midges were the key to afternoon fishing on the spring creeks in 2010.

We were worried about low snowpack on the Yellowstone thorugh most of the last winter, but we received plenty of late snow and had a cooler, wetter summer than normal, so water conditions (both flows and temperatures) on the river were dependable all year. The Yellowstone is always fickle, but fishing was reasonably consistent until late in the season. In September and October, we enjoyed a lot of beautiful Indian summer days--but suffered through some slow fishing days in the bright conditions. We have already shoveled quite a bit of snow this season--snowpack in the upper Yellowstone is about 120% of normal right now, so we should have good flows on the river again this coming season.

Winter Travel
I will be traveling east after the first of the year to do a presentation on fishing the Paradise Valley spring creeks for the Boston Flycasters on January 13. As I rebuild all of my old slide programs into digital presentations, I plan to do more off-season travel around the country, and hope to see clients and friends in the winter months on a more regular basis.

I am also excited about the fact I will be leaving for my first trip to New Zealand in early February. This destination has been at the top of my personal "bucket list" ever since I booked New Zealand travel at Club Pacific back in the 80s. I'm sure all of the clients who fish with me in 2011 will get a full report!