News of the Day

News Post Date: 5/23/2008

FWP re-opens Access Sites - with caution

Most West-Central Montana Fishing Access Sites Reopened Most of the Fishing Access Sites on the Bitterroot and Clark Fork Rivers, closed by flooding earlier in the week, were reopened today. All Bitterroot sites are now open except Poker Joe FAS. On the Clark Fork, Kona Bridge FAS was reopened today, leaving no closures on the Clark Fork. Water levels have dropped, and all sites are now free of water. Although sites are open, FWP cautions those recreating outdoors to be extremely careful along the banks of rivers with high flows and to be aware conditions may change rapidly. FWP officials advise boaters to avoid venturing out onto area rivers until flows slow and flood conditions subside. The water is very cold from melting snowpack and the flows are high and powerful. Snags and debris are also being pushed down the river, creating dangerous conditions. Several southwest Montana FASs on the Gallatin and Big Hole Rivers remain closed. For a listing of these closures, visit the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov.

08 Summer Fishing Forecast

It doesn't take a climatologist to notice the difference between this winter that never ends as compared to those of recent years. As of this writing in late March, our guides came in from the day with great reviews of the skwala fishing and the numb fingers to prove the stayed on the water late to make it happen. For a change we actually have a legitimate snowpack. This is the real thing, not one built up overnight from a couple of heavy spring snows; ending with our major drainages hovering between 100-125% of ‘normal’. With cooler average temps predicted through April and May, we are looking forward to solid water levels and temperatures throughout the summer season. The past 5 years of low warm water resulting in restricted fishing hours have taken their toll in the number anglers venturing to our area rivers in late July and August. It is now common to float 8 or 10 miles of river mid summer and not see another angler! In talking with other outfitters, it sounds like the word has not yet gotten out to the fly fishing public that this year promises for rivers to be back to ‘normal’, and late summer bookings remaining low. Now is the time to make your trip plans and take advantage of the low angling pressure. Although our catch rates held steady through the past drought years we found the trout, especially surface feeders, noticeably harder to trick with flows at a trickle and a bright sun bearing down. If water levels hold their own this year as expected, plan on seeing more resilient fish looking up; instead of one shot you may have multiple casts and with larger flies. Additionally, we’ll spend more time fishing and less time getting the boat from spot to spot as the fish distribution should be maintained as opposed to trout jamming into spring holes and deep choppy runs. Many of our top guides’ calendars still have openings from mid July through August. So if you are looking to break away for a few summer days of Montana fly fishing call or email us today.

2nd Annual Herzer/Bryant Memorial Benefit Float

2nd Annual Moe Herzer / Steve Bryant Memorial Trip What: Guided fly fishing Trip When: October 11th, 2008 Where: Missoula, Montana rivers Benefit: Clark Fork Coalition Donation: $400/boat or $200 to sponsor a seat A Recap of 2007’s First Annual Trip Crimson dog wood and brilliant autumn cottonwoods under a crisp blue October sky framed last year’s First Annual Herzer/Bryant Memorial Fly Fishing Trip. A dozen wader clad anglers teamed up with six of Missoula’s finest guides for a glorious day of fly fishing and friendly competition benefiting conservation on behalf of our late pals Moe and Steve. By all accounts the event ended a great success. The weather was simply delightful, everyone caught fish, we took a few illegally introduced northern pike out of the Clark Fork food chain, enjoyed a grilled chicken lunch all while raising a good bit of cash on behalf of these two great men. In addition to the anglers whom actually came to Missoula for the trip – several other folks “sponsored a seat ” for the event. (This is a great way to make a difference even though someone might not be able to personally attend.) Our combined contributions of $3,800.00 will be put to good use on the Blackfoot River through the Big Blackfoot Chapter of Trout Unlimited. Our 2007 contest winners: Laurie Lane, Missoula MT – Largest Fish (26” Pike) Mark Cantrell, Big Fork MT - Largest Trout (19.5” rainbow) Marjie and Bob Gray, Buena Vista CO – Most Fish (a mixed bag of 30!) Scott Brook, Reno NV- Smallest Fish (size undisclosed to protect the innocent) Kathy Herzer, Florence MT- Best Fish Story (18” rainbow on pike fly with 30lb leader) We also want to thank our guides for donating a day of their time together with gas and food expenses to this worthy cause. This is especially notable following a season plagued with fishing restrictions and closures due to low water, extreme temperatures and forest fires. Many of these guides’ incomes where slashed in half this year and yet they stepped up and participated – they deserve great applause: Peter Bring, James Johnsey, David Morris, Mark Schmitt, and Peter Skidmore – Bravo! Second Annual Trip Particulars We will host the Second Annual Bryant/Herzer Memorial trip on October 11th, 2008. This season’s proceeds will go to Missoula’s foremost grassroots conservation organization, the Clark Fork Coalition (www.clarkfork.org). Rest assured the money will be well spent as they continue to lead the charge on many conservation fronts. From the toxic sediment removal at Milltown Dam and dismantling of the Mike Horse dam on the Blackfoot to sponsoring annual river cleanups for the public; CFC is certainly worthy of our efforts in memory of Steve and Moe. We all know that both Steve and Moe were eager to play a role in river conservation and we can all feel a sense of accomplishment in helping out on their behalf. We are looking forward to working with the Clark Fork Coalition in order to make this year’s event even better – more participants, prizes, fun, competition, and hopefully a much bigger donation. Thanks again for your support in remembrance of Moe and Steve. Don’t forget to call or email us straight away to secure your spot for the 2008 trip.

A new version of "A River Runs Through It" -Milltown Dam - No more!

Milltown Dam Removal: We have been involved with this for several years and are excited to see it actually happen. Driving by the confluence just yesterday made me do a double take eventhough I knew it was now free flowing for the first time in over 100yrs!! It is interesting how the media does seem to grab on to the potential gloom and doom of any story. Make no mistake, the one gentleman whom was quoted as being convinced the rivers new users would overshadow the disadvantages of over a century of neglect is singing solo. Several hundred onlookers watched and cheered as the dike was breached and the two rivers ran as one - a historic day not only for Missoula and Montana but for the nation. I was called by a local tv station last week for an interview they expected to be full of animosity and fear. They had "heard" the river trout would be eliminated for up to three years. They were litterally stunned when I told them that I was completely behind the project and even expected to be fishing the lower Clark Fork by mid summer. Our firsthand take on the project is this: Never in history have so many steps been taken to maintain water quality when working within a river channel. The EPA together with the state and private contractor has for once, gone above and beyond the call of duty in setting up safegards for the water supply and cold water fisheries. The Clark Fork immediately above the dam is presently in a fabricated channel paralelling Interstate 90, effectively seperating the water from the toxic sediments that are being removed. Although the Blackfoot arm sediments are not laced with heavy metals and arsenic like those in the Clark Fork, there is plenty there and the river will continue to 'cut' back upstream looking for its original bed. With a century's worth of "clean" sediments coming out of the Blackfoot River, we would expect the Clark Fork below Missoula to be muddy from now through highwater and the spring fishing at an end. Although this will increase angler use on the Blackfoot and Bitterroot for this spring's skwala season the advantages for connectivity right now far out weigh the short term impact. The thousands of fish that have migrated up to the dam for a hundred years only to turn around looking for places to spawn, obsorb their eggs, or in many cases die, will now be racing up the Blackfoot, Clark Fork and Rock Creek to interbreed with their long lost brethren. The illegally introduce northern pike once prolific behind the Milltown dam will now have a real rough chance of spawning in the cold fee flowing Clark Fork. For every person who thinks Milltown removal is bad there are a thousand far sighted individuals who applaud the breach. For the most recent update as to the Clark Fork's water condition and even a "dam cam" updating the breach in real time check out the Clark Fork Coalition's web site www.clarkfork.org.