By far and away the most consistent fishery almost year round in our neck of the woods is the Lower Madison from Ennis Lake all the way down to Three Forks and as we approach Valentine's Day I thought it fitting to count the ways this river is better than your lover (just don't tell her that)...Amazingly enough even 
when the dam at Hebgen failed a few years ago and sent a couple extra thousand CFS shooting down you, you still fished well. Again when a bus sized rock came tumbling down and crushed a piece of the Ennis dam that is still under repair you still fished well despite them shutting down your 
magnificent Beartrap Canyon area temporarily. Despite water temperatures that reach the lower to mid 70's during the heated summer months you can still churn out magnificent 20"+ rainbows and browns from your waters. Yes, you truly are a resilient river, and even though you get stained and trashed all summer long by floaters who flick cigarette butts on your banks and throw beer cans in your riffles, you still manage to maintain a beauty much different than those trailer park frequenters...
Through all four seasons you manage to satisfy the yearning desire 
of thousands to catch the trout that inhabit your waters, yet leave 
those visiting in the more desolate winter months to believe they are the only one's who have enjoyed your fruits. When other fisheries are choked with ice and slush, you manage to provide an option for those of use insane enough to fish when it's not even above freezing, and for that we love you.
when the dam at Hebgen failed a few years ago and sent a couple extra thousand CFS shooting down you, you still fished well. Again when a bus sized rock came tumbling down and crushed a piece of the Ennis dam that is still under repair you still fished well despite them shutting down your 
magnificent Beartrap Canyon area temporarily. Despite water temperatures that reach the lower to mid 70's during the heated summer months you can still churn out magnificent 20"+ rainbows and browns from your waters. Yes, you truly are a resilient river, and even though you get stained and trashed all summer long by floaters who flick cigarette butts on your banks and throw beer cans in your riffles, you still manage to maintain a beauty much different than those trailer park frequenters...Through all four seasons you manage to satisfy the yearning desire 
of thousands to catch the trout that inhabit your waters, yet leave 
those visiting in the more desolate winter months to believe they are the only one's who have enjoyed your fruits. When other fisheries are choked with ice and slush, you manage to provide an option for those of use insane enough to fish when it's not even above freezing, and for that we love you.When Spring comes along, you don't display any ornate and beautiful fauna, instead you reveal your true colors, brown sometimes muddy banks with a splash of green here or there. But we're not concerned with what you wear, only that your waters stay clean long after others dirty. 
Crayfish are your most prized possession, at least to us fishermen, providing a uniquely warm water fishery treat for the wild browns and rainbows that teem in your cooler waters. Who can forget your caddis hatch, bringing thousands of fish that we didn't know existed the rest of the year to your surface when other rivers are blowing out from runoff.
Crayfish are your most prized possession, at least to us fishermen, providing a uniquely warm water fishery treat for the wild browns and rainbows that teem in your cooler waters. Who can forget your caddis hatch, bringing thousands of fish that we didn't know existed the rest of the year to your surface when other rivers are blowing out from runoff.Then, despite the fact that your bottom is mostly silted in from 
years of runoff and a haphazard dam structure that only adds to the issue, you manage to produce some decent Salmonfly fishing to kick the summer off, right before the onslaught of recreational users come to sully your waters. Then you will become almost too warm to fish, except in the early mornings and late evenings, leaving the fisherman who can't forsake you for other waters an option even during your worst of fishing seasons...
years of runoff and a haphazard dam structure that only adds to the issue, you manage to produce some decent Salmonfly fishing to kick the summer off, right before the onslaught of recreational users come to sully your waters. Then you will become almost too warm to fish, except in the early mornings and late evenings, leaving the fisherman who can't forsake you for other waters an option even during your worst of fishing seasons...When summer begins to come to a close, you begin to pick right up 
where you left off in the spring with fish hungry for a meal other than the McDonald's bags that floated down all summer long... Hoppers adorn your banks at 
this time of year, and for the lucky piscators who happen to head out to your waters in the late summer early fall, you provide much different scenery to stare at a piece of foam with rubberlegs than your older sister the Upper Madison or your cousins the Gallatin and Jefferson.
where you left off in the spring with fish hungry for a meal other than the McDonald's bags that floated down all summer long... Hoppers adorn your banks at 
this time of year, and for the lucky piscators who happen to head out to your waters in the late summer early fall, you provide much different scenery to stare at a piece of foam with rubberlegs than your older sister the Upper Madison or your cousins the Gallatin and Jefferson. Then as fall wanes you refuse to take a day off providing some of the best early winter fishing around for those who can't seem to put down their fly rods for a shotgun or rifle... Yes Lower Madison, you truly are as faithful a partner as one could ask for and so much more...
1 comment:
Great Blog.
Post a Comment