WEEKEND WATCH. We’re fighting our way to above zero, and while it may not come this weekend, there’s lots to catch up on to finish out the winter strong and get ready for spring. We have reading for those and a cool contest for kids in today’s Three Things.

Featured Photo:  Foam is a fast way to float a fly, like this foam beetle. Simonson Photo.

 

WEATHER (Bismarck Forecast):
Today: Sat 2/9 – Almost to 0 – Hi -3, Lo -9, Wind E@13, G20.
Tomorrow:  Sun 2/10 – Just…about… – Hi -1, Lo -10 NE@9

 

 

SOLUNAR (Bismarck Times):

Sunrise        Sunset
7:57AM       5:59PM

Moonrise      Moonset       Overhead    Underfoot
10:20AM     10:53PM      4:31PM        4:10AM

 

Moon Phase: Waxing Crescent (13% Full)

 

EDGE HOUR:  4:00-5:00PM.  Moon overhead will help things out (dress warm!) in today’s Edge Hour.

DAY RATING:

THREE THINGS:

 

SNOWY FORECAST.  Every so often a snowy owl is sighted in the upper Midwest in a given winter.  When these sightings tick up across the far northern tier of the US, the event is called an “irruption” as the birds move out of their Arctic range.  Brian Pfeiffer’s Snowy Owl Scoop keeps track of what’s going on each winter in regard to the movement of snowy owls, and includes a nationwide map for the public to register their sightings.

 

FLOAT ON.  There are two ways to keep a fly afloat. Imitate nature through the use of hackle, which keeps flies on the surface by utilizing spread out surface tension, or defeat nature with buoyancy, using hollow hairs or foam to keep the fly on the surface.  Obviously, combining these materials increases the float of your fly for fast water scenarios.

THINK SPRING.  The NDG&F Dept. Earth Day Patch contest is open until Mar. 15 with three age categories for young artists/conservationists to engage in. The program is open to students age 6-18 and the patches will be provided to youth groups participating in clean-up projects on state lands.

Stay Sharp.