Rough sledding, no fishing, fun presenations and looking forward to spring
It has been too long since my last blog entry. I have not fished in some time due to weather condtions. But, I will end that, if the forecast is correct, next week! We are promised to receive some 40-50 degree afternoons...and we need it!
It has been a rough-tough go for wildlife in the Madison Valley and fly fishers who want to get on the stream. On the way into work this morning Jackie and I saw 5 moose along the Madison near the West Fork. At Eagle's Nest access site there were 4 elk walking down the river searching for forage along the shoreline.
Our good friend and talented fly tier, Tim Bozorth from Dillon came through the other day and dropped off some flies he'd tied for us. we talked about the wintering big horn sheep near the Earthquake Visitor Center and our shared concern for their safety as they often venture to the highway and walk the road, lick salt from the roadway, and are subject to being hit by vehicles. I was complaining to Tim about our on-going 4 year efforts to get signs warning motorists about the sheep on the road. I explained I'd written letters, made phone calls, etc to state officials but to date, to no avail. Tim said he'd write a letter and send some photos of the sheep on the road....what do you know......we FINALLY have 2 big "BIG HORN SHEEP CROSSING" signs! Just last week, before the sign went up, 4 sheep were struck and killed in one accident. I hope the signs will prevent future events like that. It pays to take the time and make the calls, write the letters, be persistent and follow-up until someone listens, someone who will help protect and preserve what we all love about this area.
Enough patting ourself on the back. We have work to do. This afternoon I will be in Bozeman to meet with Trust for Public Lands on some conservation easement issues in the Madison Valley. After that I put on a fly fishing presentation for the Madison-Gallatin Chapt of Trout Unlimited. On Friday I head to Kansas City, Mo for a weekend fly fishing-tying, conservation presentation to The Heart of America Fly Fishers. We'll talk about the Yellowstone's "overlooked" waters and give them an update on The Yellowstone Park Foundation's fisheries initative, 1% for the Planet, and more.
Last weekend I did a 1% for the Planet presentation for over 200 members of The Henry's Fork Foundation. We raised a record amount of money afterwards in the fundraiser-auction. The 1% program has raised over $70 million for conservation to date and its better than 1700 business members lead the way for other businesses to follow with the 1% brand. Why not spend your money and support 1% members who give back to what you and I love?...clean water, wild trout and access and so much more...we lead by example, and YES, we are blowing our horn for conservation and I hope you will join the 1% brand-and model through your shopping with 1% businesses like ours.
our Vol 2 of "Tying Yellowstone Hatches" is out and receiving great reviews for its 33 fly instructions and narration. Bucky and I tie the flies and Phil T. produces this great DVD.
While cleaning the basement last week Minori finds a batch of the Madison-Gallatin Wild Trout Foundations "Madison River Memories" by Richard Tumbleston. This great print of the $3 Bridge area was used by us to raise the monies neceessary to conserve, and keep open to the public, the wonderful 2 miles of Madison River at $3 Bridge so long ago. We are selling this print, (very limited quantity available), and the proceeds will go to The Madison River Foundation for their on-going conservation efforts in the Madison Valley. Jackie and I have one in our home and you should too! Call us for information on this great print which many thought (us too) were totally sold out! You can see more if you sign up for our weekly email newsletter by going to our web site..
Our guides are getting ready for upcoming spring mayfly trips and all of us here at the shop are anxiously tying flies and readying our equipment with new lines, leaders, tippet, floatant and more.
I have to hit the road to Bozeman. Stay tuned for some upcoming early spring fishing reports....I promise!
Comments
Craig, thanks much for your passionate and eloquent presentation at the Henry’s Fork Foundation banquet in Salt Lake City last week (wearing a tux was a classy way of stressing the importance of your message, by the way). Your commitment to the wild places we love is a tremendous example for us all. I enjoyed watching Steve Schmidt, proprietor of Western Rivers Flyfisher in Salt Lake, participate with his great contributions and spirit, and the same can be said of Byron Gunderson and others at Fish Tech, of other sponsors of the event, and of fly shop owners everywhere who back up their words with their contributions of time and money to great causes like protecting the Fork. Kudos to all of you!
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