My wildlife/fly-fishing journal entries last week report bluebirds, robins, meadowlarks and sandhill cranes returning to our lower pastures along the river.
This morning over 250 elk marched in front of our camp moving upriver to summer range. It is always wonderful watching Yellowstone country jump into spring.
I’m getting my fly-tying gear together to do a live hour-long, tying session at 7p.m. MDT next Monday, April 13, put on by Umpqua Feather Merchants.
Check out the link to see the entire live series of fly tying sessions that will be hosted on Instagram.
You can tune in on Instagram at @umpquafeathermerchants
Craig tying flies, West Yellowstone, Montana.
PC: Terry Middleton
Gathering up my tying tools and materials from my tying desk I look up and spot a photo of Jackie and I with our good friend Tom Brokaw. Tom sitting at his desk at “NBC Nightly News” flanked by Jackie and I. On the desk top another photo of Tom and I with his first bonefish, both of us sporting toothpaste grins. Still another shot of Tom, Yvon Chouinard, Verlyn Klinkenborg, James Prosek, Scotty Heppel and I smiling into the camera in front of the Silvertip Ranch lodge on a trip to Slough Creek years ago. Lots of great memories in the dozens of pictures atop the tying desk.
Tom and I go back many years, and lots of fly fishing, bird hunting and hiking memories flood back to me sitting at my desk looking at the photos this morning. I saw him last fall when we stopped in to see his new digs near the Yellowstone River. He and his wife Meredith just moved in to their gorgeous home, one built into a hill along a creek, you would never know it was there.
Tom’s always been a strong advocate for Yellowstone country. I recalled a trip he’d arranged to NY City years ago for Jackie and I speak to folks there about the importance of Yellowstone’s wildlife, clean air and water, and protecting sensitive wildlife migration corridors for grizzlies, bighorn sheep, wolverine, elk, moose, deer and pronghorn antelope.
Jackie and I recalled a story Tom told about he and Meredith walking up on several cow elk migrating through his ranch with their calves in tow. The cows brought the calves to bank of the rain swollen river, then brought them to their downstream sides to break the strong current as they swam them safely across. Tom teared up as he went on to tell of one little calve that would not follow its mom across. After the cow crossed the dangerous river she had to return to her calf where she nursed it, then nuzzled it into the water attempting to get the little one to follow. Ever-so-slowly the cow coaxed the calf into walking at her side as she broke the current and finally made it to the waiting herd on the other side.
Tom’s passions include Yellowstone country, fly-fishing and bird shooting. His interest in protecting and preserving Yellowstone for future generations is well known and Jackie and I have been proud to call him and Meredith friends. Please read Tom’s article and watch the Youtube video in Mountain Journal herein attached. As a favor to Yellowstone country and Jackie and I please support Mountain Journal in their mission by simply supporting them. If you do, the next time we run into each other let me know, and I will give you a fly I’ve tied, I promise. Thank you so much in advance.
Yellowstone country’s early spring fishing remains strong. Good midge activity continues on rivers like the Gallatin, Yellowstone, Henry’s Fork and Madison. Our early season mayflies, Baetis (BWO’s) will begin shortly so stay with us here, I hope to see you soon and thank you for reading my blog.
