Spotted these 3 bulls before I ever entered the park...
They were an entirely different group than the two others I've taken pics of recently, and I'm keen on where these dudes hang now too (though still on private land I'm certain).
Neat encounter none the less..
.....
After this I entered the park through West Yellowstone. I had a new pair of Korkers Chromes to try out as well as a Demo Sage Z-Axis I'd snagged from the shop.
I was all geared up and ready to cast my first fly into the Firehole when I took an errant step and nearlly became the first idiot in history to drown in the silly thing. I mean ass over end I fell into a deep pool and was over my head!
"Holy shit!"
It werent the new boots fault. Instead I'd simply misjudged how shallow it wasn't and had intended to wade out a bit before making my first backcast. Its a miracle I didn't lose the rod and even managed to hold onto my hat.
I cant be certain no one saw me, but I'd be surprised if they didn't given the amount of traffic passing behind me; it being peak season in the park and all. Regardless, no one bothered to stop and help thank God and I just acted like it never happened though had 3 gallons of water in my waders and eventually needed to change.
After no bites, except an unexpected swarm of mosquitos and along with my underwear and socks still soaked, I back-tracked a bit below the Junction and had some luck in a spot I did about the same time last year.
I'd began with a stone fly nymph and indicators and had some luck, but then saw surface action and switched to a salmonfly...
They ate it up.
Even though the hatch was nowhere to be seen, I assumed it was close enough to try ...and a dozen fish later I was glad I made the switch.
As with all the big ones and little dudes too; each was carefully released back to the waters they came..
....
That little brown spec on the horizon I'm pointing at...(above)
...Is this huge dude and his friends who followed the same exact path of their brotherin who'd passed earlier; and each time I was forced to get back in my truck to avoid a potential disaster if I stayed put.
At one point earlier in the day I'd climbed back onto the foot path leading back to reapply some sunscreen and saw one headed my way not 30 feet up ahead. I wisely crossed the road and gave him a wide birth as dozens of tourists scrambled to take pictures.
I'd learned my lesson after last years' Yellwostone bull elk encounter; these guys mean business (above pics taken from inside cab of my truck).
Had a quick bite to eat in West and then headed home.
Moe
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