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.
#243: Jan. 10, 2022
|
|
This is the time of year when most anglers, outfitters, guides, irrigators, and other watersports enthusiasts stop fretting about how shallow the water has been and start fretting about how deep the snow is going to get. The situation has improved significantly since the recent major snow storms that blasted most of western Montana.
Snow Water Equivalent and Water Year-to-Date Precipitation data is collected daily from a number of Snow Telemetry (SNOTEL) sites in each major river basin by the USDA Natural Resources and Conservation Service (NRCS) National Water and Climate Center. A basin wide index is then calculated as a % of normal and depicted in a series of maps (see figures). The current information for each of the actual monitoring sites is tabulated here.
Most of the state looks pretty good, but several basins, including the Smith and a good stretch of the Missouri, are ominously low. Readers will likely remember that the Smith was closed to floating in mid-June last year due to low water.
The SNOTEL numbers for the Bitterroot as of today are all greater than 100%, except for Nez Perce Camp which is 97%. The "as of today" is a critical caveat because the values will change according to the weather from here on out. If we continue to accumulate more snow, the numbers will continue to look good. If it quits snowing or melts early, well.........
The streamflow data at this time of year can be challenging to track because the stream gauges can be covered with ice and ice jams cover the water surface, as is the condition in many places today, including at the Darby gauge.
However, the final map provided above demonstrates that most of Montana, including the Bitterroot, has a deep hole to climb out of to ameliorate the ongoing drought. So, I expect that many of you, like me, will be keeping a close eye on the SNOTEL sites as well as the long-range weather forecasts and hope that we get to start moving fresh snow again soon. The short term forecast of air stagnation doesn't look that promising!
|
|
A photo showing the extensive dewatering of the Madison River below Hebgen Lake dam. Source: Kelly Galloup. |
|
Dead trout are visible in the dewatered stretch of the Madison River. Source: Kelly Galloup. |
|
Update: Dam Debacle on the Madison- Electric Company Gets More Shocks!
|
There is a certain irony when the power company keeps getting shocks over a less than electrifying performance. This would certainly seem to be the case for Northwestern Energy as new complaints keep being piled on after the appalling incident at Hebgen Lake Dam on the upper Madison River in late November 2021.
This response to NWE was followed by 2 other "shocks" this week. The first shock, as reported by Brett French in the Billings Gazette, came when a number of businesses located around Hebgen Lake filed a complaint with FERC criticizing NWE for its management of water levels on the lake during the 2021 season. Complainants included the Firehole Ranch, a well-known and venerable fly-fishing lodge that has operated at the lake since the 1890's. Among other things, as reported in the article, the businesses complained that NWE "cherry picked" the information about the water situation it conveyed to FERC, and this led to lake water levels becoming low enough to leave boat ramps and docks high and dry as well as to expose boating hazards.
The groups also wrote to Montana Governor Gianforte asking that he hold NWE responsible.
Stand by for future developments......
|
|
Sweetgrass Rods unique logo. |
|
Sweetgrass Rods co-founder Glenn Brackett takes some time out from rod building to do a little pen and ink ciphering. |
|
David Serafin sorts some culms from an ample supply of bamboo. |
|
A 4-sided 5 weight "quad" rod on the bench shows the impeccable finish and beauty of a Sweetgrass Rods bamboo rod. |
|
Sweetgrass Rods Near Paradise!
I have heard a couple of friends say that fishing with a bamboo rod from Sweetgrass Rods is near to paradise. A recent note from Sweetgrass Rods' co-founder Jerry Kustich suggests that Paradise is getting closer for Sweetgrass Rods, at least the Paradise Valley.
I suspect that most BRTU E-News readers know that Sweetgrass Rods was started in Twin Bridges by Glenn Brackett and Jerry Kustich after a career at RL Winston under the tutelage of the late legendary rod designer and builder Tom Morgan. Some years later, they moved the shop to uptown Butte in what Glenn calls a near perfect location situated amidst 2 breweries and a distillery. Now another change is afoot, and Sweetgrass is permitting BRTU E-News to be among the first to inform the angling coterie.
Jerry wrote to say: There are changes on the horizon for Sweetgrass Rods. Since its inception in 2006 one main objective of the company’s mission was to establish a long-range plan for the business to outlive its founders. For several years now, as sole proprietor, Glenn has been diligently working behind the scenes to make that goal a reality. So, in that spirit, Sweetgrass will begin phase one by starting to move its base of operation to Livingston coming in the fall of 2022.
For the past couple years Glenn has been mentoring David Serafin from Livingston to eventually guide the company into the future. Not only has David used his Architectural degree designing and building houses for the past thirty years, but in his “spare” time he has also become an accomplished bamboo rod builder and fly angler. Also, before well-respected bamboo importer Andy Royer passed away in 2016 from a terminal illness, David took it upon himself to visit China two times with Andy connecting with established Chinese growers so that he could fill the void Andy would leave behind. By selecting some of the best bamboo culms for rod building ever imported, David has made them available to builders around the country. Subsequently he has traveled the land distributing culms as well as getting to personally know many of the cane craftsmen across the nation.
At present David is working to expand his shop outside of Livingston on Hwy. 89 South. Sweetgrass will eventually be headquartered there. Although the move will continue to be a work in progress until David is totally up and running in a few years, the shop in uptown Butte will be closed after this summer.
At first David will do all of the milling process in his shop along with building rods. Glenn will continue to do much of the finish and oversight work in his Butte garage shop for years to come. I will maintain assembling a variety of rods as needed at my shop in Maryland as well.
Leaving Sweetgrass in good hands has always been the goal from the beginning, and now the process has begun. Not only is David talented, but he is genuinely a nice guy too. Under his capable leadership, the legacy of Sweetgrass Rods will continue.
|
|
BRTU Meetings to Resume in January 2022 - Not so Fast!!!!
|
|
The cases of the COVID-19 in Montana are starting to surge dramatically. This is likely the result of the highly contagious omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and there are some predictions that the case numbers will increase even more rapidly after all the holiday travel. Ravalli County is at particular risk due to the low vaccine uptake. Therefore, after consultation with the speakers and BRTU Board, we have decided to postpone the January 2022 meeting.
This meeting was to have been a panel discussion with 4 speakers about Painted Rocks Lake, and was likely to draw a large crowd due to the intense interest in this topic. It was rated simply too risky to hold a meeting in person, and the number of speakers made a virtual format problematic. We will reschedule this meeting later this spring, when we will also have a better idea of our snowpack projections.
If conditions permit, the February meeting will be in person, or we will do that one on line.
Thanks for your patience.
Although the emergence of the omicron variant of COVID-19 has injected some uncertainty, by hook or by crook, we are planning to resume BRTU Chapter meetings in January!
The meetings will be held at 7:00 PM in the large auditorium at Hamilton City Hall - the Bedford Building. The board selected this venue so that we can achieve a measure of social distancing and still accommodate a decent sized audience.
It is our intent to have these meetings in person requesting that people be vaccinated, wear masks and maintain distance, but we may be able a hybrid in-person/virtual format if necessary. Final details will be provided as the date approaches.
Here is the confirmed schedule for the spring meetings:
-
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
-
March 17, 2022 - "The mechanics and ergonomics of flycasting, including exercise to enhance casting and wading," Chris Andersen, Physical Therapist.
-
April 21, 2022 - "What's up with President Jefferson's River?," Chris Edgington, Jefferson Watershed Project Manager, Montana TU
|
|
BRTU Caps Available in January!
|
The BRTU caps all sold out last summer and they are no longer available at Chuck Stranahan's shop.
However, despair not. A new batch is on order and will be for sale at the next BRTU meeting. They will only be available through BRTU.
Thanks to Chuck for helping us sell out so quickly!
|
|
Photo courtesy Les Korcala. |
|
This week's Picture of the Week was submitted by Les Korcala.
As Les continues his project to create replicas of all the fly plates hand-painted by Dr. Ed. Burke that were published in Ray Bergman's Trout, he sent along this latest collage of 2 gorgeous wetflies - the Cassard and the Calder from Plate No. 2.
Along with the photo, Les wrote "I wanted to share with you Cassard & Calder Collage from Bergman’s Plate #2 . They are very colorful wet flies , if I am correct the first ties go back to mid 1800 ‘s. Sometime prior to 1890 Brown trout eggs were transplanted to US from Germany and rainbow was spottily stocked. Most of Dr. Ed Burke's painted flies in the book “ Trout “ were used in the east coast to fish for native brook trout at the time as well in salt water. "
Please send your photos and stories to me. Your picture might end up as the Picture of the Week! Any photos related to fishing and conservation are welcome. We prefer pictures of released fish in the water rather than in the hand, but won't turn down a great photo.
|
|
There have not yet been any correct answers to this distressingly easy BRTU Puzzler!
This week's BRTU Puzzler was submitted by Les Korcala. The gorgeous image is of the last fly that Les tied during the year of 2021, and you can likely deduce that it is named the Golden Ibis. The fly is part of Les's effort to recreate all the fly plates in Ray Bergman's Trout.
The Puzzler is to identify the origin of the name of the fly, and all the materials used in the dressing. Send your entries to BRTU Puzzlemaster Marshall Bloom.
The first correct entry will win the BRTU Puzzler. Chuck Stranahan has generously offered a selection of his personally hand-tied flies to winners of 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 rather than in the hand, 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
Ty Balser; (student board member)
GENERAL FACTOTUM AND NEWSLETTER PUBLISHER
|
|
Company Name | Phone | Address | Website |
|
|
|
|
|
|
