Blue Liner Flows Review | USGS Stream Gauges
All water level data originates from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Surface-Water Data, which monitors over 13,000 stream gauges across the U.S. and more than 350 in Pennsylvania. The USGS has been transitioning to a new online interface over the past five-plus years. The updated look and feel have left some old features behind while adding new ones. I hate it.
So, I’ve been on the hunt for a desktop and mobile app that delivers USGS backend data through a clean, easy-to-use interface. Blue Liner Flows offers a solid solution for iPhone, iPad and Mac users, with apps built for both platforms. Most importantly, favorites and preferences sync across devices. There’s a free version, but I’ll be reviewing the $6.99 annual paid version.
Key features include: favorites, state selection, map view, latest data overview, discharge in CFS, discharge in feet, average annual discharge, various time views, weather forecasts, alerts, temperatures (station-dependent), turbidity (station-dependent), and other data specific to each gauge.
I found the app very easy to set up on my Mac. Once configured, all my favorites and alerts synced automatically to my iPhone. You don’t need both devices—an iPhone alone works just fine. I especially liked navigating between the state, favorites, and map views. It’s fast and intuitive. Most views display the key information I’m looking for, including directional arrows indicating whether water levels are rising or falling.
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The 10 Best Fly Fishing Rivers in Montana
By Brian McGeehan
Montana boasts perhaps the highest concentration of quality fly fishing for trout in the world. With a network of well-maintained roads and public access areas, fishing the best rivers, creeks, and lakes in Montana is logistically very easy. Compared to the remote and secluded rivers of Chile and Argentina, a Montana fly fishing trip is well within reach regardless of where home is. Additionally, Montana's best fly fishing waters have an abundance of experienced, professional fishing guides that intimately know the habits of these rivers, creeks, and lakes and the fish that swim in them. From consistent tailwater rivers like the Missouri River near Helena and Great Falls to wild and untamed freestones like the Yellowstone River near Bozeman and Livingston, and with all sorts smaller creeks and rivers in between, Montana has it all. To fish the best waters at the best times in Montana takes some planning, a little time, and a small dose of luck.
To help you plan your next great fishing trip, in no particular order, here are the 10 Best Fly Fishing Rivers in Montana.
The Madison River
Originating in the wild country of Yellowstone National Park and home to native Westslope cutthroat, rainbow, and brown trout and mountain whitefish, the Madison is Montana's most well known river. Flowing through one of the most scenic valleys in Montana and flanked by the towering Madison, Gravelly and Tobacco Root ranges, the Madison River boasts some great fishing lodges and some of the most experienced guides in Montana. The impressive scenery, high trout counts, potential for trophy fish and proximity to Yellowstone make this a must fish river for every serious fly fisherman. The Madison River offers an amazing diversity of water and can vary significantly in its character as it travels on its course from Yellowstone National Park to the Missouri River.
The Missouri...
Trout Town Triumph! Millheim Selected as the Best Fly Fishing Town in Pennsylvania
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PENNSYLVANIA, May 27, 2024 - The angling aficionados at Paflyfish, an online community of fly fishing anglers, have selected Millheim as the Best Fly Fishing Town in Pennsylvania for 2024. Millheim is a small borough situated in a pleasant rural setting nestled in the Nittany Valley of Centre County. This trout-tastic town is home to some of the premier fly-fishing waters in the region. It is no secret to anglers that it also holds a charm all its own when it comes to fly fishing.
Members of the Pennsylvania fly-fishing community at Paflyfish.com selected Millheim in a recent poll as the Best Fly Fishing Town in Pennsylvania. It was identified for not only its close proximity to the many wonderful streams in the area but also its hospitality, dining, and nearby accommodations. Popular with many anglers are the restaurants including the Elk Creek Cafe, the Millheim Hotel, and Sal's Italian Pizza Shop.
You know the town is trouty when the Elk Creek Cafe offers craft beers with names like Double Rainbow IPA and Brookie Brown Ale. "Millheim is a gem. The [Millheim] Hotel is my favorite," shared Paflyfish member Jeff Turko. Fellow angler Allan offers, "Nobody gives a second look to anyone walking around in waders!"
Speaking of waders, the waters surrounding Millheim teem with opportunities to test your skills. From the town-bisecting Elk Creek to nearby hotspots like Penns Creek, Fishing Creek, Spring Creek, and a bevy of Class A streams, you'll never lack an exciting...
Members of the Pennsylvania fly-fishing community at Paflyfish.com selected Millheim in a recent poll as the Best Fly Fishing Town in Pennsylvania. It was identified for not only its close proximity to the many wonderful streams in the area but also its hospitality, dining, and nearby accommodations. Popular with many anglers are the restaurants including the Elk Creek Cafe, the Millheim Hotel, and Sal's Italian Pizza Shop.
You know the town is trouty when the Elk Creek Cafe offers craft beers with names like Double Rainbow IPA and Brookie Brown Ale. "Millheim is a gem. The [Millheim] Hotel is my favorite," shared Paflyfish member Jeff Turko. Fellow angler Allan offers, "Nobody gives a second look to anyone walking around in waders!"
Speaking of waders, the waters surrounding Millheim teem with opportunities to test your skills. From the town-bisecting Elk Creek to nearby hotspots like Penns Creek, Fishing Creek, Spring Creek, and a bevy of Class A streams, you'll never lack an exciting...
Fly Fishing Getting Started - The Caddisflies
Trout enjoy a wide array of food, with insects being more popular. While mayflies (Ephemeroptera) enjoy much of the spotlight, caddisflies (Trichoptera) are incredibly plentiful in waters across the region. Not always the preferred insect of fly anglers, mostly due to a lack of familiarity.
Caddisflies are hardy insects and have thrived in streams that have been decimated by pollution. Streams like the Tulpehocken, Oil Creek, and Casselman are just a few streams known for their abundant caddisfly populations in our region. For many of these streams, the caddisfly is so prolific that mayflies are often an afterthought for anglers.
The caddisfly behavior is a little less predictable and is certainly one of the reasons it is not as popular for many anglers. Many mayflies can be timed to within a few days and hours. The Green Drakes on Penn's Creek are revered by anglers the same way the "Swallows" of Capistrano are anticipated at the Mission San Juan Capistrano. Caddisflies, not so much.
That is not to say great hatches of caddisflies are not enjoyed by anglers and trout, as there can be wonderful evenings and days with them covering a stream. Just as often, there can be sporadic emergers happening without much fanfare.
There are over 1200 species of caddisflies in the country. They range in size and colors covering the gambit of black, green, tan, cream, and white bodies. The more popular Grannom hatch does arrive across much of the region at the end of April and is much anticipated by anglers and trout alike.
To get some understanding of their cycle it is as easy to do as by simply lifting a rock the next time out on the water.
Many types of caddis larvae can be found at the bottom of the stream in self-made protected cases or roaming along the bottoms of streams. Some of these species...
Join Us for the Paflyfish Spring Jamboree Weekend May 17-19, 2024
The heart of our weekend rendezvous lies at the pavilion, rented by Paflyfish, serving as our central hub for meet-ups, impromptu conversations, and fly-tying sessions. While we won't be organizing any formal speakers or activities this time around, rest assured, there's no shortage of spontaneous fly tying, casting pointers, and friendly guidance on where to cast your line. Whether you're a seasoned angler or new to the area, our community members are here to ensure you feel right at home and equipped to make the most of your fishing adventures.
Many of our fellow anglers opt to extend their stay, arriving early or lingering longer after the weekend festivities. Keep an eye on this thread for real-time updates or feel free to drop any questions you may have.
For accommodation arrangements, please reach out directly to Seven Mountains Campground. With a limited number of cabins, RV hook-ups, and campsites available, it's advisable to secure your reservations without delay.
Event Details:
- Dates: Friday, May 17 - Sunday, May 19, 2023
- Location...
Backcountry fishing in Yellowstone National Park | Montana Angler
By Brian McGeehan at Montana Angler Fly Fishing
No fly-fishing trip to Montana is complete without a visit to Yellowstone National Park. The world’s first national park, established by an act of the U.S. Congress in 1872, is as iconic for its wild trout populations as it is for its geysers, bison and grizzly bears. Anglers visiting Yellowstone have a broad variety of waters to fish, with backcountry outings offering some of the most exceptional fishing in the park.
The Yellowstone backcountry encompasses an incredible diversity of fishing opportunities within its 3,468 square miles, including alpine lakes, spring creeks, broad rivers and tumbling streams. The Yellowstone River alone provides countless angling opportunities as it flows from its headwaters in the Thorofare region to Yellowstone Lake, the largest freshwater lake above 7,000 feet in North America. It then plunges over a pair of massive waterfalls on its way through two distinct canyons before exiting the park near its confluence with the Gardner River.
For all of Yellowstone’s diversity, the truth is most anglers never venture more than a few hundred yards from the most popular access points and pullouts. For anglers seeking solitude and an escape from the crowds, hitting the trails to experience fly fishing in Yellowstone’s backcountry is well worth the effort.
First things first, Yellowstone National Park is managed by the National Park Service and has its own set of rules, regulations and requirements separate from the surrounding states of Montana, Wyoming and Idaho. To fish in Yellowstone, you’ll need to procure a Yellowstone Park fishing license and abide by all park fishing regulations.
Yellowstone is home to two species of native cutthroat trout — the Yellowstone cutthroat trout and the...