08/21 - 08/24 - Lake Yellowstone, Wyoming

Spent a wonderful week including the 4th of July docked in Bridge Bay Marina and cruising the Lake for 245 miles. Weather and fishing was fantastic. Lake water is highest its been for quite a few years and that seems to have improved the cutthroat trout fishing along with much debris on the water. Also noticed the ospreys were back in numbers not seen for several years.

Saw the usual wildlife with several grizzly bears in Hayden Valley. No wolfs. The severe winter may have wiped out the pack in Hayden Valley which had just moved in a couple years ago. Its hard for them to make a living there with most of there sought after meals migrating out for the winter.

The only down side and that was a major downer was Jim and Joan leaving. We still plan on being there again during the proposed gathering and hope others will too.

Posted some photos of this trip in our album.

Jay
 
Hunkydory":3fbc3q2l said:
Spent a wonderful week including the 4th of July docked in Bridge Bay Marina and cruising the Lake for 245 miles. Weather and fishing was fantastic.
Jay
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Sounds great Jay. I'm glad to see that you are getting the place ready for us. Make sure you keep the fish located. I have been working everyday getting the new CD22 ready for the trip. It is at the canvas shop as we speak. I got a new Radar and the S1000 Auto pilot. As soon as we get those installed we will be ready to hit the road. Our target date to leave here is Aug 11. I am planning to stop for a couple of days at Lake Texoma but other than that plan on heading straight to Yellowstone.

Roger
 
Roger

For now we plan on showing up in the afternoon of the 20th, course the best laid plans are subject to change. Hope if there is a change it will mean we arrive there even sooner or stay longer.

We have the S1000 Auto pilot and love it. We use it to steer more than the helm with the noise being the only drawback. Makes especially the displacement speed cruising a lot more enjoyable.

Wishing you a fun and safe road-trip and looking forward to meeting you.

Jay
 
Hunkydory":15rjnp9j said:
Roger

We have the S1000 Auto pilot and love it. We use it to steer more than the helm with the noise being the only drawback. Jay
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Where did you mount the pump? The hoses that came with mine are only about two feet long. To mount anywhere but right under the helm will require longer hoses. I have read that the pump is a noisy little thing. How warm does it get. ie Is it going to need much ventilation

Roger
 
Roger

Yes the hoses are only about 2 feet long and if used like I did you pretty much have to mount it in the sleeping side of the bulkhead opposite the helm. Mounted it down low and towards the outside in the only place it would fit due to all the electrical stuff in that area. Seem to remember someone else purchasing longer hoses and mounting in the gunnel. Directions say to mount as close as possible to helm. I tried insulating for noise, but nothing seemed to make much difference. Its louder than I prefer at displacement speed and not noticable at all when on plane. No need for heat protection or ventilation.

Jay
 
Ditto Jay, my mounting and experience with the noise is exactly the same. They don't seem to give you much choice with those short hoses but it's nothing I can't deal with. :wink
 
Your photos of Lake Yellowstone are great, Jay -- we're still on schedule with our plan to be at Bridge Bay for the month of August. Might take a few days off to drive to CO to pick up a couple young grandkids for a shared experience.
 
El and Bill

Great to hear you're still on schedule. We're sure looking forward to seeing you two again. Think it excellent idea to share this experience with grand kids. Some of our very best times were with our own kids in Yellowstone.

When up there over the 4th talked to the Lake Rangers concerning having to stay 1/4 mile off shore in the 5 mph area on the Southeast and west arms of Yellowstone Lake. Found it was ok to take the over 16 feet CD in and anchor or right to shore as long as the most direct route was taken. Opens up a large area that I thought was closed to larger boats. We took the CD in to several areas then went to shore or anchored and explored and fished out of the Mokai. Same thing could be done with a dingy.

In 1998 two of my sons and I started out on a long wilderness hike by hiding our canoe in the willows you can see in lower potion of this photo. Hiked well over a 100 miles in two weeks going up the Thorofare Valley and along the Yellowstone River then climbed the head of the Trident which is Overlook Mt at just under 12000 feet. Part of that Mt group is the snowy one on the horizon in the photo. This area is known to be the furthest area away from a highway in the lower 48 states. My sons tell me this was their most memorable trip they ever shared with me.
2008_potter_valley_and_July_Yellowstone_039.jpg

We may make it there in early August for a 3 day weekend.

Jay
 
Jay - Nice picture of the Yellowstone Delta. About that 1/4 mile restriction in the 5 mile an hour zone (both the Southeast and South Arms). As you already know the NPS has metal cans and shore signs that are suppose to alert boaters they are entering the restricted speed zone. And those cans are rough guides for being a quarter mile from shore. Now you know that the shorelines are very irregular with many bays and cuts. I had a radar on my first C-Dory and used it while going down the Southeast Arm ten years ago. The can was closer to a half mile off the shore line. While proceeding at restricted speed along the west side of the arm, and staying a quarter mile off shore as accurately measured by the radar, I was challenged by a ranger in a boat coming from the bottom of the arm after an administrative trip to the Trail Point ranger station, claiming I was too close to shore. He had no radar on his boat and no way of measuring distance other than guestimation. Having been a seasonal ranger back in the 60's, I have come to under-stand the mentality of rangers, both permanent and seasonal, so I didn't argue with him and headed for the center of the arm. They don't want boats close to osprey nests along the shore, plus some even claim that a boat going five mph will create a wake which which erode the pristine shoreline. The osprey nests issue may resonate with many folks, but it is really a non issue. Witness osprey raising brood after brood near busy highways and marinas. The damage from wakes on Yellowstone's rocky shoreline is hogwash. Another argument about keeping away from the shoreline is to give the canoe campers freedom from the visual pollution of power boats. That has some validity, particularly if you are camped in one of the few canoe sites in the arms. I believe your interpretation is correct. If you are proceeding to shore in a direct line or anchored near shore, the quarter mile restriction does not apply. We too have found the cutthroat trout fishing to be improved. But we are still concerned about the lack of smaller trout. Hopefully the assault on lake trout and the use of barbless hooks is helping. See you and Jolee in Yellowstone. John
 
On this Yellowstone, Flaming Gorge, and Lake Powell trip I don't see a big need to take a dingy. I will take my kayak but think I might leave the dink at home. I usually use it when anchored out and want to go to shore. But since there will be no tides I can take the CD to shore.

Any one see any reason to take a dink?

Steve
 
Hunkydory":38w7rzkb said:
El and Bill

We took the CD in to several areas then went to shore or anchored and explored and fished out of the Mokai. Same thing could be done with a dingy.

.

Jay
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Hi Jay,

You bringing the Mokai in Aug? I am sure looking forward to seeing one in person.

Roger
 
We launched Halcyon into Lake Yellowstone last night. Headed to Colorado today to 'kidnap' two grand-daughters. Will return to Yellowstone tomorrow night for the month. Lake looks beautiful and a white wolf is reported seen last week from the marina docks ...Here's our location on the docks and the lake:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&g ... &z=12&om=1

Anyone coming through Yellowstone this August stop by for a visit. We're sure looking forward to the Gathering toward the end of the month.
 
flrockytop":38cg7kqm said:
Hunkydory":38cg7kqm said:
El and Bill

We took the CD in to several areas then went to shore or anchored and explored and fished out of the Mokai. Same thing could be done with a dingy.

.

Jay
Click to expand...

Hi Jay,

You bringing the Mokai in Aug? I am sure looking forward to seeing one in person.

Roger
Click to expand...

Yes, Roger plan on having it there. You will be welcome to take it for a cruise and see what you think. Just installed a high altitude jet for the carburetor. Hoping that will give it a little more pep. With that small a moter the 25% loss with altitude and then running way to rich to boot keeps the speed at a max of 7.5 mph. Hoping for 9 or 10 with the smaller carburetor jet. Actually the most enjoyment is quietly idling along at 3 mph looking at whats under the water and along the shore.

El and Bill, I think you and your grand daughters are in for a wonderful month.

Jay
 
Thanks, Jay -- looking forward to seeing you folks on the lake later in the month. We return to Bridge Bay today from CO. Some smoke from fires -- one (LeHardy Fire) about 10 miles from the marina, but smoke is blowing the other way. Real bad over by Cody.
 
Jay - Presume you are following the long range forecasts for Yellowstone Lake. No snow but temps dropping below freezing at night starting Thursday evening. Early Indian summer. You mentioned before about bringing firewood. I'll load the old diesel up with extra firewood, so between the two of us, the group should be able to enjoy some campfires.

For those of you coming who are new to Yellowstone Lake, a few comments. Bridge Bay Marina is in a very protected bay with excellent facilities. Am assuming you all have shore power. Each slip has its own hookups with both 20 and 30 amp service. We use a small ceramic heater for heat rather than our Wallas. Cheaper and more convenient. We also use small electric plates for cooking and mini coffee pots. Several nights will have hard freezes (temps in the 20s), which means frost on the docks, but don't worry about your water tanks freezing since the ambient temp of the water will keep things cool but not frozen. Liquids in your pickups may be another matter. Ice will last quite well in your icebox and coolers. And something good about the cold nights. Virtually no bugs. The forecast for Thursday says about 30% chance for moisture. The other days look sunny.

See you on the lake. John & Edna
 
Hey there! We live in Cody & have a 22 ft. c-d
would love to meet some other dory people & not far from yellowstone. let us know when & we will try to come.
 
What a great time thanks to everyone for making it so. I've got a lot of pictures to sort thru. I'll post some of the great ones. If you would like me to send a DVD to you PM me an address and i'll send you one of all the pictures. I'm going to have to make time to go again.
 
Jody - It was a pleasure boating with you and visiting on the dock. When you get the urge to head Yellowstone way again, give me a heads up and we will get after the lake trout. We had one last night, and it was excellent. Take care. John & Edna
 
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