MADISON RIVER – The Mother’s Day caddis hatch has made its annual appearance on local waters early this year.

Unseasonably warm weather at the end of April brought on significant hatches of the insects on the Yellowstone and Madison rivers last week. But the warm weather brought with it high, murky water.

“The hatch popped real hard when we had those few days of 75-80 degrees, but then the mud came,” said James Anderson of George Anderson’s Yellowstone Angler in Livingston. “The Yellowstone just started clearing up last night.”

River flows on the Yellowstone reached 11,000cfs at Livingston on April 27. Levels dipped to 5830cfs on the river near late Wednesday. With cool weather forecast for the next few days, Anderson said anglers may have a chance at catching the hatch.

“As soon as the weather warms back up we are expecting to see more bugs,” Anderson said on Tuesday. “There is a shot at some decent fishing this week.”

John Way, owner of The Tackle Shop in Ennis, said the Mother’s Day caddis hatch has arrived on the lower Madison River. He said good numbers of bugs are hatching in the afternoon through Bear Trap Canyon and trout are up feeding on dry flies and emergers.

Way said the caddis have not made their march above Ennis Lake, but expects the next stretch of warm weather to get the hatch going near Eight Mile Ford and Burnt Tree Hole fishing access sites.

The deciding factor, as on the Yellowstone, is whether the river will remain clear enough to keep fish on the rise.

“The warm spell made the upper river rise significant and the clarity went from clear to green to brown,” Way said. “With the recent weather it has come back down to what I call ‘happy bugger green.’”

Way said that because the lower Madison is a tailwater, the river tends to stay clear later into the spring. He said anglers looking to fish the hatch should look downstream of Bear Trap Canyon for the best current conditions.

Tim Laubach of New Smyrna Beach, Fla., fished the hatch near Warm Springs Creek on the Madison Sunday. He said large numbers of bugs were present on the water with fish rising in the eddies along the shoreline.

While the Mother’s Day caddis hatch has gradually advanced over the years to the days and weeks before Mother’s Day, Way and Anderson both said it’s early for bugs to be on the water.

“I don’t know if this is the earliest ever, but it is darn early,” Way said. “We would normally see it starting up on the Madison in the next week. The hatch is a good two weeks ahead of schedule, at least on the lower river.”

The upshot?

Way and Anderson said this should be an exceptional fishing season. With runoff getting an early start, rivers across southwest Montana should be in fishable condition by late June.

“We have had a couple good water years, the fish are happy and healthy, the aquifer is recharged,” Way said. “I think this is going to be an out-of-this-world fishing season.”

Yellowstone National Park is officially open for the season.

The park opened its roads from the West Entrance and North Entrance to Norris, Madison, Old Faithful and Canyon on Friday. The opening coincides with National Park Week – from April 21-29 visitors can access Yellowstone and all of the country’s other 396 national parks for free.

“The National Parks cover such a wide range of American experiences,” Yellowstone Public Affairs Officer Al Nash said Tuesday. “National Park Week is meant to encourage people to experience their heritage and what makes this country special.”

John and Von Hudock of Talkeetna, Alaska, chose to spend Monday checking out the thermal pools, steam vents and hotpots of Norris Geyser Basin. The Hudocks are driving back to Alaska on an extended tour and have already visited Mt. Rushmore and Badlands national parks. They plan to visit Glacier National Park on their trip north.

Exploring the boardwalk in T-shirts, the couple marveled at the oddities of the basin.

“We bought the park pass not knowing it was free this week, but who cares, they can have my $80,” John said. “I think it is a great thing that the parks do and I’m glad to see there are people here, especially with this warm weather. It is fantastic.”

Jeremy Zurell, a Xanterra employee based at Old Faithful, has been working in Yellowstone for the past three weeks. Zurell took a few hours Monday to walk Norris Geyser Basin, snapping photos with his camera.

“The minute the park opened up the weather got warm, the sun came out and it got beautiful,” Zurell said. “It has been snowing every day for the past few weeks, but the past three days have been the nicest we’ve had.”

Zurell said snow levels in the park have dropped dramatically with the recent warm spell, but figured more cold weather could be on the way.

“At Old Faithful, beginning of last week, everywhere you went the snow was waist deep,” Zurell said. “Now it’s knee deep or less, so the past couple days it has melted quite a bit. It is coming out the rivers now.”

Zurell said he enjoys the spring season for its exceptional photo opportunities and because the park is not yet crowded with visitors.

And the crowds are sure to come.

Last year Yellowstone saw a near-record 3.4 million visitors. Nash said he’s expecting a baseline of 3 million visitors to the park this year. He said visitation picks up in the third full week of June and is “full on” through the middle of August.

Nash said park visits pick up with the opening of the East Entrance on May 4 and the South Entrance on May 11.

“We always see a pulse of visitors around Memorial Day,” Nash said. “We know a lot of folks from this area begin and end their summer recreating season with a trip to Yellowstone.”

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK – Conditions here began brilliantly Monday morning. I’d met my friend Chris in Livingston; we’d strapped our bikes to the Yakima rack and driven down to Mammoth Hot Springs with blue skies overhead.

Through April 19, Yellowstone is open to bike-only traffic between West Yellowstone, Madison, Norris and Mammoth Hot Springs as the park plows and prepares roads for vehicle traffic.

Our plan was to take advantage of Yellowstone’s spring biking season. We’d mapped a 20-mile out-and-back ride from Upper Terrace Drive to Obsidian Cliff. We figured it would give us time to make it home for dinner.

It was a bit hard to believe our good fortune as we rode up the Golden Gate in T-shirts. Not only was it warm and sunny, but the wind – often gale force near Kingman Pass – barely impeded our progress. The forecast had called for snow and rain showers with thunderstorms possible, but that seemed a world – or at least a season – away.

The sobering reality of early spring set in quickly enough as we pedaled across Swan Lake Flat. Ominous clouds churned on the western horizon. Good thing, I thought, that we’d packed rain gear and warm clothes.

Al Nash, Yellowstone’s chief of public affairs, said being prepared for anything – from foul weather to flat tires to ornery wildlife – is good practice during the spring biking season.

“Being at high elevation, Yellowstone’s weather can be more extreme,” Nash said. “Bears, elk, bison and wolves could be on or immediately adjacent to the road.

“Sometimes the smartest thing, whether it is bears or weather, is to just turn around,” Nash said. “You need to be prepared to do that 180 if you are biking in the park this time of year.”

By the time Chris and I reached Apollinaris Spring, a faint mist was falling. It wasn’t enough to turn back, especially with Obsidian Canyon just around the bend, but it was time to break out the rain gear. We suited up in rain pants and jackets. I also fished a gaiter and a pair of gloves out of my pack.

Ten minutes later we reached the base of Obsidian Cliff. The sun poked through the clouds and glinted off the band of black rock halfway up the cliff face.

We’d made good time and I suggested pushing on a few more miles to Roaring Mountain. Chris mentioned the thermal feature didn’t always blow steam, but he didn’t take much convincing.

“Let’s go for it,” he said.

We scarfed down some food and hopped back on the bikes, hoping to make the three-mile distance before the clouds enveloped the sun.

We didn’t quite make it.

Near Grizzly Lake the light mist turned to a light snow. The flakes were melting the moment they touched the ground, slowly saturating the roadway. Near Lemonade Lake I caught sight of Roaring Mountain – steam billowing into the cooling air.

“It’s piping!” I yelled back to Chris.

At Roaring Mountain we broke out the map to check our progress. Surprised at how far we’d come, we decided to push on a little further. Norris Geyser Basin was just 3.5 more miles. We felt good, we could make the distance.

Pedaling hard and steady, we passed Twin Lakes, Bijah Spring and Nymph Lake, all the while the snowflakes growing heavier. We reached an overlook just outside Norris as the snow really began to fall. The view we’d hoped for was instead shrouded by a curtain of snow.

“This turned quick,” Chris said. I nodded in acknowledgement.

We’d biked more than 17 miles into the park – our leisurely 20-mile out-and-back now destined for a 35-mile snowbound epic. I checked the clock on my digital camera; it read 2:30 p.m. We’d promised our significant others we’d be back for an early dinner. That seemed unlikely.

“We’ll be all right as long as it doesn’t start to accumulate,” Chris said.

As the storm built, we rode fast, buoyed by a tailwind aiding us back toward Mammoth. The flakes began falling harder and the wind picked up, gusting across the road and forcing me to tighten my grip on the brakes. Visibility turned south. My sunglasses fogged over as snow stuck to the front of the lenses. I slid the frames a touch down the bridge of my nose to keep sight of the road – the cold flakes melting in my eyes.

Roaring Mountain, just 20 yards from the road, had turned a ghost since our last pass. Conditions were nearing whiteout. I realized with a tinge of horror that snow was accumulating on the pavement. We rode single file, each taking turns in the lead. We’d been smart to pack warm clothes and they were coming up huge now.

As we crossed Swan Lake Flat – the snow falling heavier still – we saw a pair of backpackers by the road. They’d spread tarpaulins over their gear and were preparing to hunker down until the squall passed.

The storm roared as we made Bunsen Peak – only the steep descent to the car ahead of us. We raced downhill, but unlike our ascent, this time the winds were ripping. I pumped the brakes as a strong gust whipped snow and sand off the road.

At the Hoodoos, the snow finally started to cede. My hands were awfully cold, even inside two pairs of gloves. I could hardly see through my glasses. My face was wind blasted.

Out of the snow, the barricade across the road appeared.

We’d made it back – 35 miles, half of it through a blizzard. We checked the clock in Chris’ car as we loaded up the bikes, 3:40 p.m.

It didn’t seem possible.

We were going to make it back for dinner.

Ben Pierce can be reached at bpierce@dailychronicle.com and 582-2625. Follow him online at chronicleoutdoors.com and twitter.com/BGPierce.

Essential gear…

Spring visitors planning to cycle in Yellowstone National Park need to be aware that weather and road conditions can change rapidly. In addition, a flat tire or an inadvertent encounter with wildlife can have grave consequences. Here’s a breakdown of the essential gear all cyclists should have before pedaling into the park:

Backpack, rain coat, rain pants, fleece jacket, gloves, winter hat, helmet, bike repair kit, food, water, bear spray, warm socks, head lamp, first aid kit, sunglasses, watch, map, bike reflectors, warm shoes, neck gaiter

By BEN PIERCE Chronicle Outdoors

BEAR TRAP CANYON — On Friday afternoon a campfire smoldered on the east bank of the Madison River near Bear Trap Creek. The fire, just a few feet from the river, had not been extinguished and was left unattended.

Then the afternoon winds kicked up. Gusts up to 20 mph ripped down the canyon. A spark took flight. A wildfire was born.

Incident Commander Jeff Barnes, standing near the origin of the blaze on Monday, said that by the time a crew was able to respond the fire had burned up the east side of the canyon.

“We got up here and the winds picked up the fire faster than we could catch it,” Barnes said. “It’s a case of leaving a campfire unattended. You have to be sure it is dead out.”

The blaze burned low and quickly, incinerating the fine fuels along the ground and sparing most of juniper, whitebark pine and Engelmann spruce that line the canyon. A few larger trees, burnt over in a previous blaze, caught fire.

With the winds howling down canyon, fire personnel decided to evacuate and close the area on both sides of the Madison to ensure public safety.

“There were probably more than 30 cars in the parking lot and 100 people up here fishing and hiking,” Barnes said. “We had to get them all out of here. There were a few people that we met that said they were above the fire, but got through safely.”

Barnes said eight firefighters from the Forest Service and the Madison Valley Rural Fire Department responded to the fire on Friday. Additional personnel from the Forest Service and the BLM arrived on Saturday.

Tim Bozorth, BLM Dillon Field Manager, said responding to the fire was difficult and that crews from as far away as Wise River were dispatched. The BLM has a policy to suppress all human-cause fires in the wilderness.

“This time of year is a little unique for fires,” Bozorth said. “We are not staffed up like we would be in the summer. You are scrambling to get qualified people put together to respond, people that have the qualifications as a firefighter to be on a crew, hike into an area that is remote like that and suppress a fire.”

Assistant Fire Management Officer Paul Roose said the fire had calmed down by Sunday with just a few “heavies” still burning.

“Bear Trap Canyon doesn’t get a whole lot of snow so it makes the grasses and fine fuels very susceptible to fire,” Roose said. “People need to be really aware, if they do camp any time of year, that they are putting their campfire completely out – dousing it – so stuff like this doesn’t happen.”

By Tuesday afternoon crews had the blaze more than 60 percent contained and access to Bear Trap Canyon was restored. The fire burned approximately 104 acres – mostly within the Lee Metcalf Wilderness. Approximately 11 acres of private land also burned.

A fire investigator from the Forest Service was dispatched to the fire on Saturday.

“They will try to find the individual or individuals that built the campfire and didn’t secure it in the high wind,” Bozorth said. “If that individual is found, law enforcement will have a discussion about what we call ‘fire trespass.’ They could be potentially liable for the cost of suppressing the fire.”

Other human-caused fires have set different portions of Bear Trap Canyon ablaze over the years. The campground near Bear Trap Creek has been the site of several of those fires.

As the BLM readies to update its Wilderness Management Plan for the Lee Metcalf Wilderness, Bozorth said fire restrictions may come into play.

“We have been considering a fire ban, but we want the public involved,” Bozorth said. “It is a high-use area and we aren’t going to make an arbitrary decision to close it to fire. We’ll seek input.”

Bozorth said responding to the fire will be costly, but in a highly visited area like Bear Trap Canyon, he’s just please no one was injured.

“When you start a fire, you are not only impacting yourself, but potentially a lot of other people,” Bozorth said. “An estimated 100 people came out as those firefighters were going in. The fire was burning right down to the river so it is fortunate nobody got hurt.”

Ben Pierce can be reached at bpierce@dailychronicle.com and 582-2625. Follow him online at chronicleoutdoors.com and twitter.com/BGPierce.

By BEN PIERCE Chronicle Outdoors

LIVINGSTON — DePuy Spring Creek might offer some of the most visually stimulating fly-fishing anywhere in Montana.

During hatches anglers can cast long loops, thin tippets and tiny flies to the most selective of trout. Sight nymphing for trophy browns offers a dynamic experience in the fall. And in the winter an angler can gaze through the crystalline waters and watch fish move well out of their way to slam a streamer.

On Monday, fisherman Brady Hughes and I had little choice in the matter. With the notorious Paradise Valley winds already whipping by 9 a.m., we pluck big flies from our boxes.

“I’ll fish dry flies if the fish are rising on calm mornings,” Hughes, of Livingston, said. “But especially when the wind is blowing, streamers tend to be the easiest way to fish.”

DePuy Spring Creek flows for approximately three miles along the west bank of the Yellowstone River just south of Livingston. The creek bubbles from the ground at a constant 52 degrees Fahrenheit. It stays warm enough in the winter to keep fish on the bite and cool enough in the summer that they never get sluggish.

The creek is a pay-to-play operation. In the winter rod fees are $40. During the height of dry fly season, from June 15-Sept. 14, the rate goes up to $100 per day. The creek is catch-and-release, fly-fishing only with a 16-rod limit on any given day.

With so much excellent fishing to be had in Montana, some anglers scoff at the notion of paying to fish. But Hughes said he takes a more practical approach to purchasing the $400 winter pass that grants access to the creek from Oct. 15-April 14.

“I will fish regardless,” Hughes said. “I figure I’d end up driving over to the lower Madison or the Missouri and I would save that much money in gas. And this is some of the most fishable water you’re going to find in the winter anywhere.”

DePuy Spring Creek is run by Betty, Daryl and Theresa Smith. The creek has been in the Smith family since Daryl’s great-grandfather Alvin DePuy purchased the property in 1905. DePuy had visited relatives in the area the previous year and fallen in love with the sweeping vistas of the Paradise Valley.

“Alvin went back to Kansas and sold the farm and moved the family up here,” Daryl said. “He worked odd jobs that year and this was the first piece of property that came up for sale.”

DePuy set to work establishing a ranch on the property. The family raised crops and livestock on the land through the 1950s when a new opportunity arose.

The creek now known as DePuy’s didn’t always run through the ranch. Alvin DePuy secured water rights and diverted the creek in 1958-1959 with the intention of building a fish hatchery. There was good money to be made raising fish in those days and the project went well.

“There were people that came and fished the creek for $5 a day,” Daryl said. “You could keep five pounds of trout.”

The creek changed markedly with the construction of Highway 89. The route south from Livingston to Yellowstone National Park went straight through the hatchery. The ranch was forced to reroute the creek to accommodate the new road and the hatchery was torn down.

It could have meant the end for DePuy’s, but the creek was reinvented.

Daryl said DePuy Spring Creek didn’t attract much attention as a sport fishery until the 1980s. As interest in fly-fishing grew, the family put more and more effort into developing the creek for anglers. Old fences were pulled, the stream bank was restored and structure was put in place to develop pools, riffles and runs.

The local guiding community took notice.

“There used to be a lot of guides that liked to fish the spring creek because people always heard about how much of a challenge it was,” Daryl said. “The guides would bring anglers down and show them how to fish it.”

Over the years, the creek earned a reputation for producing big trout. A spawning channel from the Yellowstone allows some of the river’s largest trout into the clear waters of DePuy. Daryl said trout from the Yellowstone River move into the creek mid-March through mid-April and anglers may pick up large fish as they move to their spawning habitat.

About five years ago, DePuy’s began blocking off certain areas of the creek to protect fish on redds. Daryl said anglers should focus their efforts on migrating fish and not those actively spawning.

“Guys used to stand out there and pound them,” Daryl said. “There is no challenge. You are throwing a fly out there to irritate them and they are defending their territory. You have to ask yourself, should you really be doing that?”

By the mid-1990s, DePuy Spring Creek had grown in stature and is today regarded as one of the premier spring creeks in the West. Anglers from around the world travel to Montana for the sole purpose of landing one of the creek’s revered trout.

“For the purists, they want to match the hatch,” Daryl said. “I have seen guys cast to a single fish for hours and finally catch it.”

On Monday, the idea of casting a dry fly was decidedly out of the question. Fortunately, the trout were more than willing to take streamers.

As we worked our way upstream from Dick’s Pond through the Narrows to Annie’s Run, we caught several handsome brown and rainbow trout. Most of the fish averaged 8-14 inches.

The modest size didn’t much matter — the chance to observe aggressive trout feeding with vigor from the high banks of DePuy’s was reward enough for a day on the creek.

“There are days anyone can come out and catch fish and there are days you have to be dead on,” Daryl said. “It is rewarding to come out and do well.”

Ben Pierce can be reached at bpierce@dailychronicle.com and 582-2625. Follow him online at chronicleoutdoors.com and twitter.com/BGPierce.

This Saturday marked the 10th annual King and Queen of the Ridge competition at Bridger Bowl. From 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. skiers challenged themselves against the mountain, some hiking more than 10,000 vertical feet to earn the title of “King” and “Queen.”

Nikki Kimball of Bozeman bested the competition, logging a new women’s record with 27 laps. Eric Knoff and Nathan Opp split the title of “King,” hiking the ridge 26 times.

The King and Queen of the Ridge acts as a fundraiser for the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center. Since 2003, the event has raised more than $89,000. Those funds go directly to educating the public on the risks of avalanches — and how to avoid them.

“What the avalanche center does is helps people make decisions,” said avalanche specialist Mark Staples. “When people are in the backcountry skiing or snowmobiling, there is no one there telling them what to do. We are just providing information so they can make informed decisions to stay alive.

“Events like this are how we provide that education.”

The King and Queen of the Ridge grew from Bridger Bowl’s abundance of backcountry terrain and the desire of skiers to experience it, accord to Doug Wales, marketing director for Bridger Bowl.

“There has always been a certain status to say how many laps you could do in a day up the Ridge,” Wales said Tuesday. “That has always been a badge of honor. When we put this event together that was the challenge — to see how many times they could get up and back down.”

With the opening of Schlasman’s Lift in 2008, the ski area expanded access to the Ridge.

But that expansion came with a caveat for skiers — be prepared by carrying proper avalanche gear, be aware of the risks and ski within your limits.

“Avalanche education is such an important part of what we do, especially with the interest in out-of-bounds skiing,” Wales said. “Doug Chabot and all those guys (at GNFAC) do a great job in putting together a good forecast for the area and educational programs for people. If you are interested in backcountry skiing, it is highly advisable to take one of those classes.”

Skiers on Saturday began their treks above the Bridger chairlift. They hiked 400 vertical feet to the Ridge and skied down the Sluice Box trail to start the hike anew.

Not for the faint of heart, King and Queen of the Ridge competitors tend to be a hardy bunch.

“The top finishers, they are doing laps — taking skis off, getting a drink of water, hiking and putting their gear back on again — in less than 10 minutes,” Wales said. “They are doing that over and over for 5 hours. It’s pretty amazing what they do.”

It’s not the color or the composition that captivates. It’s not the light or the brushwork that matters most.

It’s the anticipation of that next emerald pool a bend upriver, the hush before a covey flushes on a cool November morning. It’s the memory of a moment spent with a friend after a long hunt. It’s the boyhood wonderment that never falls short at the sight of a new stream.

For artists who excel in the field of Western sporting art, it’s all about finding those connections and bringing them to life. Many of the best find their inspiration right here in Montana.

Dan Metz, whose mountain goat painting “On the Ramparts” hangs in Tierney Fine Art in downtown Bozeman, began visiting Montana in the 1970s. He returns each fall to gather ideas for his work.

“I decided from the start that if I was going to paint these animals I needed to have firsthand experience with wild animals,” Metz said. “If you want to paint big game, Montana is it.”

Sporting art, which originated in Europe, arrived in the West in the 19^th century. Tierney said the first artists to paint the West were often commissioned by affluent European collectors. Karl Bodmer, George Catlin, Alfred Jacob Miller and Albert Bierstadt paved the way for later artists who increasingly looked to the American West for inspiration, adventure and a paycheck.

Among those to follow was Charles M. Russell. In 1880, at the age of 16, the Missouri-raised Russell moved to Montana. He worked on a sheep ranch in the Judith Basin and later as a cattle hand, meat skinner, packer and camp tender. Much of Russell’s work depicts the people, wildlife and landscapes of the West during a time of incredible change.

Curtis Tierney, owner of Tierney Fine Art, said Russell’s work – particularly his situational paintings – had a lasting influence on painters of the West.

“The Russell paintings where you see two cowboys on horseback coming around a cliff and they run into a grizzly bear standing up on its hind legs and all hell is ready to break loose, those were situational scenes,” Tierney said “You have to live a real Western life to even come up with that type of material.”

Sarah Burt of the C.M. Russell Museum in Great Falls said Russell documented the wildlife and lifestyle of the Western plains at a time when civilization was rapidly encroaching. Burt said Russell depicted mountain men harvesting game in the wilderness, but draws a distinction between Russell’s work and the sporting art of the 19^th century.

“The motivation Russell is depicting is something different,” Burt said. “If you lived in the East where the land was settled, you might have been hunting for sport on a big estate. In Russell’s West it is not sport, it is hunting for survival.”

From 1860-1880, the railroad ushered in a new era of Western art. Artists like Thomas Hill were commissioned by the railroads to illustrate the West at a time when photography had yet to play a serious role.

It wasn’t until the early 20^th century that Western sporting art began to define itself as a distinct genre.

The evolution of the art form came with the surge of two major American industries.

“Sporting art really came about with the proliferation of the American firearms industry,” Tierney said. “The sporting artists were commissioned by the shot shell companies, the cartridge companies, the gun companies … Many of the early magazines – Collier’s, Vanity Fair, Outers’ Recreation – would have been completely reliant on artwork to market their products.”

The American “golden age of illustration” lasted from the 1880s through the 1920s. As photography grew in popularity, the market for illustrations declined.

Today, magazines like Gray’s Sporting Journal and Sporting Classics continue to publish high-end sporting art, but the market has shifted and many painters choose to build their careers in the fine art market.

Like many of the Old West illustrators, today’s artists seek to experience the West in a very tangible way. Brett Smith, best known for his paintings of upland gamebird hunting and fly-fishing, spends each summer and fall at a cabin near Libby fishing and drawing inspiration for his work.

“I think more than anything else, what appeals to me about Montana is the landscapes,” Smith said. “It is those ideas that I came out to Montana for originally. Those ideas are what fuel your creative imagination. You look for areas, landscapes, anything. You go out and you like the mood of the day on a particular river and you fuel the idea in your painting.”

WEST YELLOWSTONE – This weekend Hebgen Lake will host the North American Ice Fishing Circuit’s first West Regional Qualifier. More than 50 teams have registered for the tournament. A handsome payout and a trip to the 2012 National Championships in Rhinelander, Wisc., is on the line.

The weekend’s events begin on Friday with a free seminar and trade show in West Yellowstone, but an air of friendly competition has already gripped the lake.

West Yellowstone teammates Monk Waber and Scott Clark were on the ice Tuesday morning pre-fishing for the tournament. Waber said the fishing has been hit or miss, with a few good browns and rainbows on the bite. He said high lake levels due to ongoing construction at Hebgen Dam and an abundant aquatic food supply has made the angling challenging.

“There has been a big crawdad hatch so the fish are fat and happy,” Waber said. “It’s been a little tougher than usual.”

Clark said he’s looking forward to seeing some familiar faces on the ice and he’s excited Hebgen Lake will be hosting the tournament. He caught a hefty rainbow trout on Tuesday and said a fish like that could land a team in the National Championship.

Kirkwood Resort & Marina on the northwest shore of Hebgen Lake will act as home base for the tournament. NAIFC Vice President Jack Baker said the idea to bring the tournament to West Yellowstone grew out of a conversation with Kirkwood owner Pam Sveinson.

“We ran into Pam at the ice show last year and she started talking about what Hebgen Lake was like,” Baker said. “The more you find out about it, the cooler it is. We are always trying to expand our tournament series. Hebgen is a great lake and a great venue, so it was perfect fit.”

NAIFC currently hosts tournament qualifiers in Indiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota and Michigan. Baker said he hopes this weekend’s tournament draws anglers from Montana, Idaho, Wyoming and Utah. He said he’s eager to see a western presence represented at this year’s National Championship.

In contrast to the many derby-style tournaments held in Montana, NAIFC tourneys are run like the Bassmasters professional fishing tour. Top finishers from regional tournaments are invited to the National Championships. Top 30 finishers earn points toward an invitation.

Baker said teams must drill their own holes and tow their own gear. Only one rod will be allowed, testing the angler’s skill.

“There’s more to ice fishing than just setting up the tip-ups and waiting for the fish to come,” Baker said. “You are either running and gunning or flopping and stopping.”

Each team can bring a combination of six rainbow and/or cutthroat trout to the Sunday weigh-in. State fishing regulations for Hebgen Lake allow for one cutthroat trout per angler. No brown trout can be used for the weigh-in.

With Hebgen Lake long regarded as a trophy brown trout fishery, Kirkwood Marina Manager Kyle Burden said anglers will need to adjust their fishing strategy and turn back some nice browns. Burden expects a big rainbow or two could put a team in the money.

“It will be challenging fishing,” Burden said. “I would expect folks will be keeping any rainbow they catch because it will be tough to limit out. I don’t think you have a lot of room to pick and choose with just rainbows and cutts.”

Baker said a few teams from the Midwest have registered for the tournament, but he expects a local team to take home the “wood.”

“That’s what we call the regional trophy,” Baker said. “There is prize money, getting into the championship, but what these guys are really after is the winning a qualifier. There are guys that would die to get the ‘wood.’”

Schedule of events:

Friday: Free seminar and trade show at Pinecone Playhouse in West Yellowstone, 6 p.m.

Saturday: Kids Ice Camp at Kirkwood Resort & Marina on Hebgen Lake, 10 a.m.-noon. Tournament registration, 5 p.m.-6:45 p.m. Rules meeting 7 p.m.

Sunday: North American Ice Fishing Circuit West Regional Qualifier on Hebgen Lake, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Weigh-in at Kirkwood Resort & Marina, 1 p.m. Weigh-in results at Happy Hour Bar on Hebgen Lake, 3 p.m.

The registration deadline for the tournament is Friday by 6 p.m. Entry fee is $200 for a team of two. Register online at www.naifc.com or by calling 1-302-252-0428.

By BEN PIERCE Chronicle Outdoors

GALLATIN NATIONAL FOREST – From the front door of the Porcupine Cabin, the expanse of the Shields Valley sweeps east across pallid grassland. On the western horizon, the broken crest of the Bridger Ridge fractures the sky. Below it, in the timber, lies the Battle Ridge Cabin.

For a Forest Service ranger setting out in the 1930s, the Porcupine and Battle Ridge cabins would have served as home base while on patrol. A ranger would have traveled on horseback watching for sign of smoke, monitoring livestock and making sure timber wasn’t being poached.

Today, the Porcupine and Battle Ridge cabins are open to the public for rent as part of the Gallatin National Forest’s Cabin Rental Program. A night’s stay at one of the forest’s 23 rustic cabins is to experience a unique part of Montana’s history in some of the state’s most engaging settings.

“In the 1980s, the Gallatin National Forest was among the first forests in the U.S. to outfit its cabins for use by the public,” said Jane Ruchman of the Gallatin National Forest. “It is a wonderful program that allows people to experience what it might be like to be a ranger back in the day.”

In the early 1900s, the Porcupine Cabin played home to a number of Forest Service employees, their families and crews. Rangers would have patrolled the forest between the Porcupine Cabin and nearby Ibex Cabin, perhaps traveling to the communities of Wilsall and Clyde Park for supplies.

The Porcupine Cabin burnt to the ground on March 5, 1914. The current cabin was rebuilt that same year with a bathroom added in April of 1921. In 1934, the Civilian Conservation Corps remodeled the station. A barn was built to shelter horses and firewood in 1937.

The most recent renovations to the Porcupine Cabin were completed in 2009 and 2010. The Forest Service reroofed and resided the cabin, and added a vault toilet. The cabin has eight bunk beds and an enclosed porch with views of the northern Crazies.

“The Forest Service has done a lot of work on the Porcupine Cabin because it is in such a beautiful location,” Ruchman said on Friday. “We have tried to make the experience as pleasant as possible for visitors.”

Construction of the Battle Ridge Cabin was completed by a crew from the Emergency Relief Administration in 1939. The buildings replaced the dilapidated Ross Creek Station, which was deemed too small for the growing needs of the district.

The Battle Ridge Cabin was “centrally located for grazing administration and game protection … for the administration of timber sales and excellently located for emergency patrolmen near the heaviest recreational use areas on the district,” L.E. Ewan, the district ranger at the time, said. The station “could serve as a general stopover station for forest officers and temporary employees.”

The three buildings at Battle Ridge Station are indicative of the log building architecture employed by the Forest Service in the 1930s and 1940s. The buildings feature scribed logs, ventral saddle notches and “chopper cut” end finishing.

Like many of the cabins in the rental program, the Porcupine and Battle Ridge units have wood stoves for cooking and heating. Firing up a wood stove, smoke billowing from the chimney, recalls the old days of the forest rangers.

For evening entertainment, fire rings near the cabins warm the night with the flicker of flames and the stories of friends.

“One can clearly see why Porcupine Cabin was built in such a majestic setting,” Andrew Babcock of Bozeman said after visiting the station recently. “Thankfully good-hearted people have maintained this cabin for decades so many more can experience this moment.”

While the Porcupine Cabin has benefited from recent renovations, other cabins on the Gallatin have not been as fortunate. Ruchman said some cabins in the system have been dropped from the rental program due to dwindling federal funds. The Kersey Lake and Round Lake cabins near Cooke City, which require considerable effort to reach, were eliminated from the program in the early 2000s.

“It is our goal to maintain and improve these cabins, but the reality is our budgets are declining and it is looking grimmer and grimmer,” Ruchman said. “It is money that the renters pay that helps us maintain these historic structures.”

Most cabins on the Gallatin can be rented for between $20-$45 a night. Renters are expected to follow “rules of occupancy” similar to those followed by Forest Service field crews in the 1920s. Responsibilities include sweeping and mopping the floors, filling the wood box and packing out all trash and personal belongings.

The most popular cabins on the Gallatin National Forest are those with the easiest access, Ruchman said. Weekends fill up quickly for the Battle Ridge Cabin through the summer months.

Reservations for Forest Service cabins can be made through the National Recreation Reservation System website (reserveamerica.com) up to three days before the night of stay, or inside of three days by visiting Gallatin National Forest offices in Bozeman, Big Timber or West Yellowstone.

“We are proud of our cabins,” Ruchman said. “We know the public likes to use them and they are a wonderful opportunity. We hope people will use them, love them and take care of them.”

Ben Pierce can be reached at bpierce@dailychronicle.com and 582-2625. Follow him online at chronicleoutdoors.com and on Twitter @BGPierce.

Montana is a big state with a lot to do. From Yellowstone to Glacier, from the mountains to the plains, the Treasure State has something for everyone. In the spirit of the new year, here’s a list of outdoor pursuits to look forward to in 2012.

Bike the Bangtail Divide

The Bangtail Mountains are a small range tucked neatly between the Bridger and Crazy mountains east of Bozeman. They’re also home to one of the most spectacular mountain biking trails in the state. Completed in 2003, the Bangtail Divide Trail runs approximately 24 miles from Stone Creek to the Brackett Creek Trailhead on the east side of Bridger Canyon.

“The Bangtail Divide has elements of fast downhill riding, elements of long cross-country, technical switchbacks, it is always changing up on you,” Bozeman mountain biker Ben Donatelle said Tuesday. “No matter your skill or ability level, you can challenge yourself.”

Make it happen: Donatelle said the best time to ride the Bangtail Divide is in June when the trail has cleared of snow and the wildflowers are in full bloom. The trail can be ridden in either direction, but most riders prefer to finish at Brackett Creek. An easy shuttle eliminates the need to ride the eight miles of highway back to the Stone Creek Trailhead.

Canoe the White Cliffs

The haunting hoodoos and coulees of the Missouri River Breaks are nowhere more spectacular than on the “Might Mo” between Fort Benton and Judith Landing. Shaped by thousands of years of erosion, the White Cliffs emerge as a band of pale sandstone on the river near Coal Banks Landing. For more than 45 miles the undulations of this rock formation create a wonderland ripe for exploration. Camping and day hikes make for an experience unlike any other.

Connie Jacobs of the Missouri Breaks Interpretive Center said most boaters float the White Cliffs between April and October with June and July the busiest months. The trip from Coal Banks Landing to Judith Landing is 47 river miles.

“Coal Banks to Judith Landing can be done in three days,” Jacobs said. “Four days is good if you want to add some extra hikes on the side.”

Make it happen: The Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument website (www.blm.gov/mt/st/en/fo/umrbnm.html) has lots of information on floating the White Cliffs. Two boater’s guides are available for the full 149-mile Wild and Scenic River. An information packet with boat rental and shuttle information is free and can be obtained by calling BLM at 1-877-256-3252.

Backpack the Bob Marshall Wilderness

The Bob Marshall Wilderness in western Montana has long been a destination for seekers of solitude and wild country. Encompassing more than 1 million acres along the crest of the Continental Divide, the wilderness is among the largest roadless areas in the Lower 48. “The Bob” is a refuge for grizzly bears and bull trout and plays home to some of the most spectacular scenery in Montana.

Two main attractions of the Bob Marshall Wilderness are the Chinese Wall and the South Fork of the Flathead River. The Chinese Wall is a 1,000-foot-tall escarpment along the ridgeline of the Continental Divide that extends for 40 miles through the heart of the wilderness. The South Fork of the Flathead River flows nearly 100 miles from its headwaters to Hungry Horse Reservoir and is part of the National Wild and Scenic River System. A ford of the South Fork near Big Salmon Creek adds to the wilderness experience.

“It seems like our trail crews start getting across the South Fork on foot by late July or early August, obviously dependent on snowpack and flows,” Ted Wehunt of the Spotted Bear Ranger District said. “Worst Case scenario, if it is still high, is to head upstream from the White River confluence to Big Prairie and take the bridge across.”

Make it happen: For the full experience, begin your trip at the Mortimer Gulch Trailhead near Augusta. Follow the North Fork of the Sun River to Moose Creek and the Chinese Wall. Descend from Larch Hill Pass to the South Fork of the Flathead River. Hike out Big Salmon Creek to the trailhead at Holland Lake. Plan on 7-10 days to complete the trip.

Cook a foraged meal

Huckleberries, morels, chanterelles, spruce tips, elderberries, cattails, dandelions … the list of Montana’s wild edibles goes on and on. By tuning into the seasons, curious foodies can come up with some healthy, tasty and free meals that will enliven the palate and draw them into the outdoors searching for more.

While wild edibles are available throughout the year, the most abundant seasons in Montana are spring, summer and fall. Look for morel and oyster mushrooms along the riverbottoms in May and June. In July and August, head to the fields for prickly pear cactus and to the mountains in search of huckleberries and ramps. When the weather turns cool and wet in the fall, explore the forest for chanterelle mushrooms.

“We have people coming in all the time, especially in the spring and summer after it rains (looking for guidebooks on wild edibles),” said Cindy Hinson of Country Bookshelf. “Lately people that are doing a lot of hiking and backpacking have been really interested in edible and medicinal plants.”

Make it happen: The most important step in preparing a meal of wild edibles is proper identification. Hinson said Country Bookshelf carries several guidebooks to wild edibles including “Edible and Medicinal Plants of the Rockies” by Linda Kershaw and “Good Mushroom Bad Mushroom” by John Plischke III. In addition to a good field guide, seek out local mycological societies and other foragers to learn more about the plants that surround us.

Fish a new stream

Spoiled we are for choice. With the Yellowstone, Madison and Gallatin rivers a 30-minute drive from Bozeman, it’s easy to fulfill your angling pursuits locally. But Montana’s blue-ribbon trout streams extend across the state. From the wide waters of the Kootenai River near Libby to the crystal flows of Big Spring Creek near Lewistown, the opportunities are varied and abundant.

If you’ve spent the time to explore some of the state’s lesser-known waters, try your hat at some of Montana’s lesser-known fish species. Walleye, carp, channel catfish, northern pike and smallmouth bass all offer anglers an enjoyable diversion from trout fishing.

Make it happen: Finding that secret fishing spot can be a challenge, but it’s a fun one. Get started by making a deal with your fishing partner to take a trip somewhere new. Pick up that atlas and follow those little blue lines to someplace you’ve never been, or better still, some place you’ve never heard of. You might be surprised by what you find.