BRTU E-News
Because there's more to fishin' than just fishin'!
Hi, you're receiving this email because either you are a member of Bitterroot Trout Unlimited or you have expressed an interest in BRTU. Don't forget to add drtrout@mtbloom.net to your address book so we'll be sure to land in your inbox! We make very effort to make sure this list is current. If you are receiving it by mistake, please let us know right away! Please feel free to forward on to friends and have them contact me if they would like to receive the BRTU E-News.
Permission is herein granted to forward or to use the content and photos in this newsletter. A credit would be appreciated. The opinions expressed herein are solely those of the publisher and may not represent those of BRTU or others featured in the newsletter.
You may unsubscribe if you no longer wish to receive our emails.
#233: Sept. 19, 2021
|
|
West Fork River Access Project - BRTU Volunteer Day
|
|
Volunteers Skip Horner and Kent Myers flank Bitterroot National Forest Recreation Technician Gordon Beals on the bench they have just assembled, tools in hand.
|
|
Dave Campbell's wife Anita and dog Brodie enjoy the new bench while volunteers Skip Horner, Kent Myer and project legal consultant George Corn stand by.
|
|
BRTU Board member Mark Rogala and Treasurer Keith Mullan pause take a rest from preparing one of the trails for gravel.
|
|
BRTU Board member Charlie Harris and his wife Nora spread gravel on one of the trails while a confused person wanders in the background towards the river.
|
|
A portion of the trail after all the finish work was completed.
|
|
The handicapped accessible picnic table overlooks the West Fork.
|
|
The light rain on Sunday, August 15 did not deter BRTU Board members Mark Rogala, Keith Mullan and Charlie Harris from joining Marshall Bloom, Nora Harris, Skip Horner, Kent Myers and BRTU legal consultant George Corn for a volunteer work day at the Bitterroot National Forest's West Fork River Access site. The work day had been organized by BNF Recreation Program Manager Erica Strayer.
The project was improving the popular river access site with 2 new wheelchair accessible trails to benches and a new picnic table overlooking the upper West Fork of the Bitterroot. The project will ultimately include an interpretive display about the native fish in the West Fork and a plaque recognizing West Fork District Ranger and BRTU member Dave Campbell. The project was conceived by BRTU and Dave's family as a tribute to Dave's dedication to the river, its native fisheries and recreational value. Funding was largely from a grant that BRTU had submitted to and received from the Ravalli County Resource Advisory Council.
A number of staff from the BNF were on hand to operate some of the equipment and to make certain that the TU volunteers knew which end of the rake, shovel, screwdriver or hoedad to use. In addition to Erica there were trails specialist Mark Smith, forestry technicians (wilderness and trails) Krista Kaare and Laura Nave, and recreation technicians Tanya Neidhardt and Gordon Beals.
The group worked all day clearing brush, spreading and tamping gravel, assembling the benches, and edging one of the trails with larger rock. Shortly after breaking for lunch provided by BRTU, the project was visited by Dave's wife Anita Poe and his beloved golden retriever Brodie.
The final surfacing of the trails and assembly of the picnic table were completed by BNF work crews after the volunteer day. Erica and others are designing the native fish interpretive displays and the plaque for Dave.
A formal dedication will take place when the entire project is completed, but the benches and table are ready to use now. It is a beautiful place to sit while watching and listening to the West Fork.
|
|
September 20 Bitterroot Audubon to feature TU's Christine Brissette.
Trout Unlimited's Bitterroot Project Manager Christine Brissette will be presenting the program at the September 20 virtual meeting of Bitterroot Audubon.
The title of Christine's Program is "pisces and passerines, fish and fowl." She will be talking about the multi-species benefits of riparian restoration projects, and the work TU has done to include bird habitat improvement as part of fish reconnection efforts.
The virtual meeting starts at 7:00 pm and will be on Zoom. Advance registration is necessary and you can register on the club's website.
|
|
A closeup photo of Old Ephraim. If you ever see this, the bear is not happy and you are too close! source: montanaoutdoor.com.
|
|
The Scat Belt Griz is a comfortable waist belt designed as a "quick draw" holster for a large-sized can of bear spray. This model also has a key pocket and a phone holster.
|
|
Old Ephraim Visits the East Fork!
When the Corps of Discovery was travelling up the Missouri in summer 1805, they had some hazardous encounters with grizzly bears in the plains. Since grizzlies are not normally looking for trouble, I have thought that the mosquito repellent that they used may have played a role - it was based on beef tallow. Later in the 19th century, the grizzly was given the sobriquet Old Ephraim by the old timers.
After more than a century of ill-advised attempts at grizzly eradication which drove the bears into near extinction in mountain redoubts, people gradually realized that this majestic omnivore deserved a place in the landscape and grizzly conservation efforts led to the animal being listed on the Endangered Species Act and enactment of a contentious but largely successful restoration program. Over the last few years, the conservation efforts have really paid off and Old Ephraim is reinhabiting some of his old haunts, even on the plains.
Although there have been several horrible incidents, like the July 6 fatal mauling of a sleeping cyclist in a tent in Ovando this last summer, the bears have generally not caused any trouble, and the trouble typically arises from careless actions of people. This issue has even received attention in the international media.
So, it should come as no surprise that Old Ephraim is showing up in the Bitterroot. In October 2018, a grizzly was trapped on the Stevensville Golf Course, and in 2019 a bear was located in the upper Big Creek area. There a number of confirmed sightings in Lolo Creek, too, some not too far from town. And in the end June and early July of this year, Old Ephraim spent some time in the upper East Fork before moseying back over the mountains into the Flint Creek drainage. No one saw the bear, but some tracks were reported. In other words, the potential for human-bear encounters is on the rise in the Bitterroot.
Vital Ground Foundation is a wonderful group that preserves land and advocates for the rightful place of Old Ephraim in the West. They are now working with the Forest Service, MFWP and others to post signs and make people in the Bitterroot "Bear Aware" in an effort to prevent problems.
The point is that if, like me, you like to fish or hike in places like the upper East Fork, there is a real chance of encountering Old Ephraim in the willows or along the trail. To say this would be a cause for excitement and concern is obvious. We don't usually fish smaller streams in large groups, deliberately make a lot of noise or wear bells when we wade fish smaller streams, but we should be prepared. Carrying a can of high quality bear spray is prudent. Vital Ground recently partnered with Scatbelt, who make a nice comfortable belt that can serve as a "quick draw-holster for a can of bear spray.
|
|
|
Photograph of Painted Rocks Lake on September 14, 2021. I was not able to modify this to a larger image, but it is apparent that there ain't much lake to the lake! In addition, there are ATV tracks all over the dry lake bed. Source: Larry Schock, DNRC
|
|
|
|
Painted Rocks Lake - final update.
|
It is no surprise that the river and the tributaries are extremely low. In fact, you almost need binoculars to see the river from the Main Street bridge in Hamilton. The flow at Conner is between 50 and 60 cfs, and Bell Crossing is not much over 200 cfs. I have not been able to confirm reports of some guides equipping their rafts with ball bearings to float the upper river, but I do know that some have abandoned the Bitterroot for the Clark Fork and Blackfoot.
The long term forecast doesn't predict any of the rain that they are awash in down south south. Going to be grim if we don't get rain and snow this fall and winter.
Here is the final report from Larry Schock on Painted Rocks releases for 2021.
Hello Everyone,
The contract water has all been delivered from the reservoir so the outflows will be reduced to match the inflows on Friday 9/17.
The Fisheries contract water was fully delivered by 9/9 and the Irrigation water was fully delivered by 9/12.
Releases were made at the highest possible useful rate as long as possible in order to have enough head to push the flows thru the river system as long as possible, which has resulted in a lower-than-normal reservoir level. As can be seen in the attached pictures the reservoir has been drafted down as far as possible without affecting the operation of the dam through the winter.
The prolonged drought continues to drastically affect the area stream flows and they have really dropped below the normal flows the last couple of weeks. The current inflows have dropped from the projected flow of 60 cfs to approximately 45 cfs.
Fridays targeted adjustment will reduce the outflows to approximately 50 cfs, and additional adjustments may be needed if the inflows continue to drop.
Larry A. Schock
DNRC MRO WRD
Civil Engineering Specialist
406 542 5885
|
|
BRTU Meetings to Resume in January 2022.
|
|
Since this feature will contain regular updates on BRTU Meetings, the Bitterroot Buggers, and Chapter Project reminders, I am going to leave it active and update as needed.
|
General meetings of Bitterroot Trout Unlimited came to an abrupt halt in the spring of 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic made such gatherings unwise and frankly unsafe!
The pandemic also forced us to cancel the 2020 and 2021 annual banquets. Our online 2020 fall auction proved successful, but it just wasn't the same and the board is contemplating the best of time of year to resume having a banquet.
The BRTU Board continued to meet monthly on Zoom, and conduct chapter business, but they felt that virtual membership meetings would not be that productive or fun!
Now that the nature of the pandemic is better understood and many have received one of the extremely effective COVID-19 vaccines, we plan to start holding regular meetings in January. The current plan is to resume the meetings in January 2022 at the Hamilton Elks Club on the 3rd Thursday of the month.
The schedule for next spring is still being developed, but here is what we have so far:
- January 20, 2022 - "How does it work?: a panel on Painted Rocks Lake," featuring MFWP biologist Jason Lindstrom, River Commissioner/Dam Tender J.R. Iman, DNRC Engineer Larry Schock, and irrigator Roger Raynal.
- February 17, 2022 - "The Upper Bitterroot/West Fork Recreation Plan: status report and future prospects," Chrissy Oschell and Jason Lindstrom, MFWP
- April 21, 2022 - "What's up with President Jefferson's River?," Chris Edginton, Jefferson Watershed Project Manager, Montana TU
Conversations are also in progress about resuming Bitterroot Buggers which was another early victim of the pandemic. Watch for details on that, too.
Sadly, one tradition that we will not be able to restart are the terrific dinners at Spice of Life before our chapter meetings. Long time BRTU supporter Karen Suennen had to close Spice in the early stages of the pandemic, and that closure became permanent. This has left a huge gap in the culinary and social milieu of the valley.
|
|
At long last and just in time for the 2021 fishing season, the new BRTU caps and drybags have arrived.
BRTU President Dave Ward reports that the new BRTU soft cotton caps are now available in 5 pleasing colors.
As you can see from inspecting our professional models, one size fits all. However, we were unable to perfect a canine version.
Included with each hat is a small Montana TU dry bag. The size is perfect for stashing your lunch and phone in the boat.
The price for a hat and a bag is just $20.
The hats may be viewed and purchased at Chuck Stranahan’ s Fly Shop in the Safeway parking lot in Hamilton. Supplies are limited, so don't wait too long!
Chuck has made it very easy! You can pay for your cap and drybag at his shop with cash, check or credit card.
|
|
This week's picture was submitted by long-time BRTU members Andy and Louise Massie.
The Massies took at early September over to the Big Horn River and Andy sent this picture of Louise with a rather large male brown trout. Andy remarked that the brown trout seemed to be doing fine over there and that Louise caught 3 bruisers over 20 inches.
Please send your photos and stories to me. Your picture might end up as the Picture of the Week!
|
|
This week's BRTU Puzzler was submitted by my peripatetic friend Seth Cooley. Seth took the picture a couple of weeks ago on a hike where he also did some fishing.
These dramatic falls are about 5-6 miles up the trail, but you have to do a bit of off trail scrambling to get a view this good. There is also a nice pool at the foot of the falls that might hold some fish, but it sounds to me like even Spiderman might have a challenge getting there.
The BRTU Puzzler is to name the falls and the precise location where they are located. Please send your entry to BRTU Puzzlemaster Marshall Bloom. The first correct entry will be the winner of this week's Puzzler.
Chuck Stranahan has generously offered a prize of hand tied flies to all winners of the BRTU Puzzler. The winner will be able to claim his prize of hand-tied trout flies by contacting Chuck. Thanks to Chuck for sponsoring the BRTU Puzzler!
If you have a cool fishing or conservation related photo, consider submitting it to BRTU Puzzlemaster Marshall Bloom for the BRTU Puzzler. We prefer photos of actual fish in the water, but won't decline any.
|
Monte Dolack BRTU prints
now available at Joe's Studio.
A small number of Publisher's Proofs of the limited edition "Bitterroot River-Lost Horse Bend" by Monte Dolack are now available at Joe's Studio. BRTU commissioned Monte Dolack in 2007 to create this iconic print of the Bitterroot River.
The remaining Publisher's Proofs are $375 and all proceeds support BRTU efforts to protect trout and streams.
Joe's Studio, a regular sponsor of our banquets, is located in Hamilton at 220 Marcus Street (961-4586, joesstudio@aol.com)
The "U" in BRTU
Unlike many groups, BTRU has no paid staff. We are an entirely volunteer organization. We are always looking for new members to get involved in projects or to join our board and assist with maintaining our focus on native fish, clean healthy streams and education. If you would like to help out, please contact BRTU Chapter President Dave Ward. We could sure use your help!
In other words, how about putting a little "U" in BRTU?
If "U" are not already a member, "U" can join TU today by going to the the BRTU website. chapter number is #080. If you have a question about your membership, please call Clayton at 406-543-0054.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, BRTU board meetings are usually being held on ZOOM. They are open to all BRTU members. Date and time vary, so please contact Chapter President Dave Ward if you would like to log in and learn what is going on.
The BRTU Mission statement is "To conserve, protect, and restore the Bitterroot River and it's watershed," directly in line with the Montana TU mission statement.
For your information, here is a tabulation of our current hard-working BRTU officers and board members.
BOARD OFFICERS
Donna Haglund; Vice President; E-mail: haglunddonna@gmail.com
BOARD MEMBERS
Charlie Harris; E-mail: hmgharris@gmail.com
Gavin Marston (student board member)
GENERAL FACTOTUM AND NEWSLETTER PUBLISHER
|
|
Company Name | Phone | Address | Website
|
|
|
|
|
|
|