As many of you know, MRO’s Brian Flechsig and Kelly Galloup have been friends since the late eighties (yes they are old). We have always worked closely with Kelly and supported his efforts, as he has ours. We have always enjoyed his visits, as surely he enjoys ours to his home in Montana. We are thrilled to have Kelly back in the shop for a very special engagement!!!
5:00 p.m.- 7:00 p.m.- Fly Tying Demos by Kelly- stop on by to hang out!
7:00 p.m.- “Pizza and Beer Party” – 7:30 p.m. Encore Presentation on Streamer Fishing- $35.00 a ticket for the party and program
In the early days of our Slide Inn trips, way back some 12 odd years or so, we originally fished four days straight and stayed five nights. On more occasions than one, I was told by folks that they were completely exhausted by the end of the trip, and could have used a break. We also advertised that we were 35 minutes from Yellowstone Park yet nobody ever got to get to there cause we were working their asses off on the Madison or Yellowstone.
Alas! About 10 years ago or so we added a “day off” and extended our stay to six nights and 4 days of guided fishing. I’m glad we did……
I’ve been able to spend some of my days off in fantastic fashion here in the “Epicenter of Western Fly Fishing”. Last year with Tyler Treece on the Henry’s Fork. Two years ago with Derek DeYoung and his wife Janell at their home in Livingston. Three years ago with my wonderful lady Cristina in the park. Five years ago with my Dad……and the list goes on. So many memories…
My memories of Yellowstone go way….way back. I made my first trip here with my family when I was 17 years old…..it had been a dream since I was a youngster. The years after saw my return to Yellowstone each Summer until I was late in my twenties….usually with friends or fellow anglers, most notably being the legendary trips that I made with my Uncle Bill. I then began running trips to the area through Mad River Outfitters somewhere around the mid-nineties. Once my old friend Kelly Galloup purchased the Slide Inn around 2001 or so, I had found a permanent “home away from home”. So many memories…..
So on Tuesday night, I was faced with a “day off”. The rest of the group was headed to Yellowstone to sight see, and maybe fish a little. My roommate Eric was hot to fish…..so……
I told him about a Lake in the Park called Grebe Lake which is inhabited by Rainbows, but also contains a population of Grayling. I believe one of the few places in the lower 48. Also told him some funny stories about the time my Uncle and I fished and camped there some 26 years ago.
“How far?”, he eventually asked. “About 6.5 miles round trip”, I replied and he said, “Let’s do it”.
And off we went, to the park, at about 5:30 on Wednesday morning.
I’ll make a long story short. It was a highly memorable day, one that I can add to the many memories.
We covered over 14 miles on our own two feet. We fished three distinctly different watersheds in different areas of the Park. We saw a grizzly, a bull Elk up way too close. We caught cutthroat, rainbows and yes…..our goal for the day….we caught a grayling.
We hiked into areas on the Lamar I had never seen. We hiked to the mouth where she dumps into the Yellowstone and hiked up. Then fished just below the Slough Creek campground for a mile or so “bend walk” that was absolutely gorgeous. We caught some nice cutthroat there on hoppers. Maybe one of my favorite things to do on Earth.
We then ended the day at the famous Buffalo Ford on the Yellowstone. A place of many wonderful, and habit forming angling experiences in my lifetime. A lovely place, and I will probably always go back, but let’s just say I haven’t seen a fish there in many years now. Sad, but the topic of another time.
The highlight of the day though, was surely the way the day started. A 3.2 mile hike back to Grebe Lake which was totally exhilarating. It was just as gorgeous, or even more so, than I remembered.
Despite hurricane force winds, we did manage to fish for about two hours, making our way along the South shore of the lake. I did wind up catching a rainbow on a Goddard Caddis not too long into the morning. It was a fantastic little specimen. Gave us hope!
About an hour passed. We changed a few flies and fought the wind, trying a few different spots along the way. We were thinking about making the trip out, and I had just changed to a hopper to see what might happen. And it did! We got our grayling! Mind you a very small grayling, but a grayling. Not all goals need to be huge.
Grebe Lake Grayling
Hope you enjoy the pics and short video. I could go on but need to be up at 5 and ready to go at 5:30. We’ll be posting more once we get back to civilization.
Consider joining me here at the Slide Inn sometime. We do it every year and always will. Come enjoy a “day off”.
We at MRO usually aren’t ones to jump on the industry bandwagon. Usually takes a bit for us to “warm-up” to what our vendors “tell” us…….especially when it comes to a $100 fly line!
After a few seasons now under our belt…..the verdict is in: Sharkskin is awesome! We love it!
Don’t believe us? Here is what Kelly Galloup had to say recently:
“After a season on the Sharkskin all I can say is that I am a full on Skin Junkie. I admit I wondered if the line was worth a hundy but after using it I am convinced it is the best line on the market. If the line truly lasts even a season or two longer than the other lines it is worth the extra cha-ching, and maybe even if it didn’t.
The line not only cast further and easier than any other line on the market, but wait; yes! it talks to you as it does it. I wasn’t sure I liked that when I first used it, but now I wonder where the sound is when I use other lines. But that is not what sold me. I personally think the whole “cast further” thing is a crock of crap. You can only fish so far out and I don’t care how good you cast. The key to fishing is being able to control the fly on the water ( on line mendability ). Sharkskin allows me to mend the line on he water in ways I could not with any other line. This ease of control is what makes the line the best in the business. The line companies are always talking about how far this and that line can cast…I say it doesn’t mean squat. This line will make you a better anger for what it can help you do in close while you are fishing, and that may be the first real improvement in lines in decades.
Like I said I am a total shark Skin junky and I think this line will help any angler, regardless of their skill level, become a better angler through increased on water mendability–Which is what fishing is all about.”
Kelly Galloup- author, lecturer and owner of the Slide Inn
