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#228: July 12, 2021
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Trout Suffer from Low Flows and Warm Waters
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As reported in a number of recent BRTU E-News, including the most recent one, fisheries and other aquatic treasures are being hammered as Montana and the rest of the northwest is smothered by unprecedented drought and a persistent heat dome of high barometric pressure. The effects are being seen in unbelievable places like the Pacific coast of British Columbia where entire littoral marine ecosystems are turning into clambakes.
It should come as no surprise that our streams and our trout are suffering. No apparent relief is in sight. And today, as smoke infiltrates our valley, the Bitterroot National Forest raised the Fire Danger to extreme! There is increasing evidence that temperature changes in the western Pacific Ocean are driving some of these impacts. A global analysis is even more ominous. The operative term is "tipping point," at which the changes become irreversible. Have we reached that already?
Few landscapes are more susceptible to these impacts than Montana, because our state is largely a snowpack and snowmelt based economy. That is true for agriculture, recreation and our natural resources. Unfortunately, it appears that Montana will not be part of the solution, because the state just withdrew from the US Multi-State Climate Coalition, a bi-partisan group of several dozen governors dedicated to combatting climate change. Hopes are being pinned on aspirational advances in innovation rather than the clear and immediate benefits of conservation.
Coming back to fishing, as I noted in the last issue, there are still no restrictions on streams west of the Continental Divide. And fishing reports from the Blackfoot and upper Bitterroot are pretty good, but some friends have told me that the fishing on the upper Bitterroot is declining. Indeed there are credible reports of dead cutthroat between Hannon and Wally Crawford Fishing Access sites. That, coupled with water temps at Darby nudging 68 degrees in early July, must certainly be taken as an ominous sign!
Our regional MFWP fisheries staff is monitoring the situation and is prepared to implement "hoot owl" restrictions if temperatures exceed 73 degrees for 3 days. In addition, newsletter readers may recall that several years ago cutthroat mortality was observed on the mainstem of the Bitterroot River below the West Fork, and there was consideration of reducing the temperature for instituting hoot owl down from 73 degrees to 68 degrees. It would not surprise me if MFWP decided to do some "mort" floats in the very near future. It may prove necessary to implement measures even more restrictive than "hoot owl", if conditions merit it.
And the water situation is also looking bad. In his July 7 Painted Rocks report, DNRC engineer Larry Schock noted that the lower flows he is seeing are about a month early. The lack of rain couples with increased evapotranspiration due to the persistent heat to degrade storage capacity in lakes and reservoirs. As an example, the Mill Lake irrigation district informed our association this weekend that the water in Mill Lake is 2/3 lower than it should be. If this is a widespread phenomenon, the numerous wilderness lakes on the west side may not be able to act as a cold water balm late in the season.
So what can you do? Well.... fish early in the day and don't catch every trout you can. Avoid stressing the trout by using a decent sized tippet and horsing them in, and Keep 'Em Wet! And of course, there is always the option of not fishing.
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Home Waters: a chronicle of family and a river by John N. Maclean. 2021. Published by Custom House/Morrow
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"Home Waters" adds to the Maclean family story!
The last time I had dinner with John Norman Maclean and his wife Fran at their home in Northwest Washington, DC, the dining room table was covered with an assortment of fishing gear. As I recall, there were a flybox with some well-worn flies including a Bunyan Bug or 2, an old fishing vest, an aged and tattered Montana fishing license and an old flyrod. Of course, we could probably find a table like that in many of our homes, but what made this special was that all the gear had belonged to John's late father, Norman Maclean.
John and I met on the movie set of A River Runs Through It in summer 1991, and we became friends due to our mutual interests in fishing, conservation, literature and the history of wildland fire. As is the case with a number of my best fishing friends, John and I have never been on a river together, but that hasn't been a serious impediment to our fishing experiences.
After dinner, John let me know that he was working on a book about his family to complement the stories related in his father's writings. That book is Home Waters and it was just recently published. The subtitle - A Chronicle of Family and a River - perfectly summarizes the book. It is a beautifully written book and has the feel of a personal conversation with John in which every question is anticipated. The review in Kirkus Reviews is accurate.
I expect that most BRTU E-News readers will want a copy. By special arrangement, if you order a copy through Chapter One Book Store in Hamilton, they will donate 10% to BRTU for our youth education programs. Simply email or call (406-363-5220) Marissa.
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Following is the complete July 6 update on Painted Rocks from Larry Schock.
Hello Everyone,
Painted Rocks Reservoir continues to spill (barely), and the inflows continue to drop. With the inflows to the reservoir dropping off daily, we are getting close to base flow conditions. Unfortunately, these lower flows we are experiencing this year are about 3-4 weeks ahead of schedule.
In preparation for the upcoming contract delivery season, we anticipate making a small gate adjustment tomorrow to switch the flows from the spillway to the low-level outlet. Therefore, a small gate adjustment will be made tomorrow.
Currently about 80% of the outflows are coming out of the low-level outlet and 20% over the spillway. As the inflows continue to recede the percentage of flows from the low-level outlet will continue to increase. The dam will be operated in a manner to ensure that the outflows match the inflows, and a very small amount of water will always be flowing over the spillway to ensure that the reservoir remains full, and no stored contract water is lost. However, the vast majority of the water will always be flowing out of
the low-level outlet.
This status will remain in effect until contract water deliveries are called for by the MT Fish Wildlife and Parks (FWP), and/or the Painted Rocks Water Users Association (PRWUA).
The FWP utilizes the stored water in Painted Rocks Reservoir to keep water in the river at Bell Cross. Prior to the utilization of the FWP contract water, the Bitterroot River used to go dry at Bell Crossing up until the late 1980's. The river flows at Bell Crossing continue to drop, and it is anticipated that if conditions remain the same that Fisheries contract deliveries may start as early as this Friday.
Historically, irrigation water contracts will start delivery within a couple of weeks.
These projections are very weather and field condition dependent.
I want to take time to remind everyone how Painted Rocks Reservoir is managed, and how releases are made.
1. The DNRC does not determine when contract water is delivered.
The DNRC ensures that the reservoir is filled in a timely fashion and kept
full until water is requested by the contract holders. Release
adjustments will generally be made in 50-75 cfs increments. Whenever possible, gate adjustments will be made mid-week, however this is condition/contract delivery request dependent.
2. Decisions regarding the timing and size of the contract water
releases are made by:
a. Fisheries Contract Water: Jason Lindstrom, FWP, 363-7169,
b. Irrigation Contract Water: JR Iman, PRWUA President,
Larry A. Schock
DNRC MRO WRD
Civil Engineering Specialist
406 542 5885
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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.
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Jay's Patuxent Special tied with a large beadhead on a size 8 Mustad 9672. Tied by Jay Sheppard (2021).
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This week's picture of a "Patuxent Special" fly comes from Jay Sheppard. Jay, a retired Fish and Wildlife Service ornithologist who lives in Laurel, Maryland, is a regular reader of BRTU E-News and winner of previous BRTU Puzzlers. Jay started fishing with his grandmother at age 3 in Ohio during WWII using a cane pole; he's a past president of the Potomac-Patuxent Chapter of TU in Silver Spring, MD, and was Vice-Chair of the Mid-Atlantic Council of TU.
Jay is also what I refer to as an omni-angler, that is to say, he loves for fishing for whatever gamefish is at hand and has traveled widely, including many trips to Montana.
Jay is also a superior flytier, and sent the following story about and tying directions for the Patuxent Special, which he devised in 1997. I should add that Chuck Stranahan was so taken with this pattern that he plans to start offering Jay's Patuxent Special in his shop.
The Patuxent Special was discovered in a desperate attempt to catch some trout on the Savage River in western Maryland in early April 1979. After several hours with only one strike on a dozen different patterns, I tied on a #8 'Michigan wriggler' left from an earlier steelhead trip and was immediately rewarded with two strikes on the first swing of the fly! Over just the next 90 minutes I caught over a dozen trout and twice had three visible strikes on ONE swing of the fly. It had gone from a cold, gloomy, spring morning to a great day of fishing! I did not really invent this variation of the woolly worm out of thin air—Great Lakes anglers use a similar fly to imitate the large Hexagenia nymph for the steelhead and other fish of those waters. I have modified the wriggler by eliminating the shell back, adding weight, and making other minor refinements.
After trying this simpler pattern and numerous variations on several other streams, most notably the upper Patuxent River not far from my Maryland home, I started giving out this secret fly to my fishing buddies. We have tried varying the colors of the three visible materials and the sizes of the hook and proportions of the hackle and tail, but the basic one described below is still the most consistent producer. The chenille is a golden ginger color. The same shade of hackle is also needed along with the natural fox squirrel tail hair tips.
I tie this pattern to survive many fish chewing on it; the extra measures below reflect my concerns on making as durable a fly as possible. It is not unusual to catch 30 trout or smallmouth in a few hours on just one fly. (Be sure to check your tippet just in front of the fly from time to time!) That is a lot of teeth grinding into the fly! The few extra steps save time and flies on the water. Another very interesting feature of this fly is its great ability to be easily retrieved from a tree branch: a gentle tug usually flips the fly back off the twig (the extra-large hackles v. small hook gap help).
The presentation of the well-weighted fly is the real trick of this fly pattern. Dead drift gets ZERO trout and smallmouth! The fly is most effective when stripped rapidly across a pool in very brisk, relatively short, strips. (Slow water=long and rapid strips, fast water=short nudges or strips.) The pause should be no longer than about the time to reach up and grab another 10–20" of fly line, as any longer pause of about 1 second or more and the fish will not take it. It must be heavily weighted and can be fished when it hits the water or allowed to sink deeper before starting the retrieve. Add a large split shot about 12–15" in front of the fly for deep or very fast waters or, better yet, use a large bead or cone head on the fly. Keep the rod tip low to keep the fly as deep as possible. Casting directly upstream can be as effective as directly across, etc. When cast upstream in heavy water, only a tiny nudge to show that it is "alive" is often all that is needed to provoke a strike. A 3X or 4X tippet is best: strikes are often violent! Rapidly jigging it directly in front of a log jam or similar cover while standing upstream works well, too. Cast close to the far bank or against a log or rock, if that is possible, and allow to sink for a moment.
Precisely what this fly imitates, I can only guess: a small crayfish seems the best answer. Smallmouth, naturally, delight in smashing these, too. Several friends and I have caught many fine steelhead and salmon on this fly using a dead drift in upstate New York and Alaska. It has caught bonefish, redfish, sea trout, yellow perch, crappie, walleye, carp, and a large variety of other game fish, including many trout and other salmonids in western and Alaskan waters (sockeye love them!). It does work, so try it, you'll like it! If you are not catching fish, you are probably not fishing over any fish or not moving the fly briskly enough (except bonefish and steelhead) or you are letting it pause and sink too long between the quick strips.
Tying Instructions—Jay's Patuxent Special
Hook: #6–12, Mustad 9672 3XL (#10 is only size I usually need, or #8 with a bead/cone head); flatten barb down before starting (use stainless hooks for saltwater versions—sizes #4–8).
Lead underbody: Wind shank with .030" or .035" lead wire and wrap tightly around entire hook shank starting just in front of where butts of tail will be placed and leaving room for the head. If using cone/bead head, force wire up inside rear of it. Gold, brass or black cone/bead heads are preferred.
Thread: Black, 3/0 (210 denier) best; start at rear of hook shank; do not prewrap hook shank with thread. Wrap several turns of thread forward over the wire underbody, making 8–12 turns in front of wire to allow the chenille to 'ramp down' off the wire; wrap thread back to rear; repeat if desired for added security.
Tail: Fox squirrel tail (NOT red squirrel or red fox); I avoid using any hair from the top side of the squirrel's tail that has more than one black band; the sides of the tail have bright ginger tips with a single distinct black band across the hair. I also avoid the hair around the tip of the tail, as the ginger tips are too long for the standard #8–10 flies (they would be fine for larger flies). Tied leaving just a short amount (ca. 3/16") of the subterminal black band of the hair showing just outside the end of the body, and tips only approximately evened. Hold hair at right angles to tail bone before cutting across base of the hair, later across the middle or base of the black band after cleaning the cut bunch and evening tips slightly. Total length of tail should equal the length of body. Tail is very bulky—not sparse as in a nymph! Lash the hair tightly to hook to avoid "fallout" by making one later wrap of the thread at very rear that is only around the hook shank before returning to wrapping around tail butt.
Body: After tail is secure, tie in the hackle (see below) and then chenille (golden ginger, size medium for #8–10). Next wind thread forward over the lead wire to head. Apply clear nylon nail polish or head cement over wire and thread wrappings around hackle and chenille butts. Wrap chenille forward, first making one complete turn behind the hackle stem so that the first turn of the hackle starts UP on the chenille body; the still tacky body will hold the chenille to the wire. Tie off chenille, leaving room for a small head or behind cone/bead head, if being used.
Hackle: Dark to medium ginger best or very light honey brown (matched to colors of chenille and fox squirrel tail tip). It should be very large: 3X the hook gap is ideal; I like the large hackles found near the middle rear of a #1 neck. Most saddle hackles do not work, ex. for smaller hooks (e.g., #14). Tie in by the butt and wrap the hackle dull side forward in 4–5 even turns, working it down into chenille as much as possible to help ward off teeth. Tie off with a 'double‑lock' of the hackle tip: 3 thread wraps with hackle forward, then 3 with hackle tip pulled back before trimming, which can be left to mimic tail of crayfish. Good stiff hackle gives more action. Whip finish and apply head cement.
Super Patuxent Special: Same as above but on a slightly larger hook (e.g., #8 Mustad 9672) with a small to medium gold, brass or black cone or bead head and gold, copper or pearlescent orange Krystal Flash running down each side and extending into tail. After wrapping the chenille over the lead wire but before palmering the hackle, I tie in about ~8 strands of Krystal Flash on the near side behind the conehead and then double it back over the top (i.e., right behind the conehead) to run down the other side. The hackle holds this material in place on the sides of the body of the fly; a counter-wound copper wire that was tied in first after the tail and wound last over hackle and Krystal flash would be better for real durability. The tips of the Krystal Flash do not extend beyond the tip of the tail; I also trim them unevenly. This modification is very effective for Great Lakes salmon and steelhead, and for many other sport fish that are in deeper and faster waters.
Please send your photos and stories to me. Your picture might end up as the Picture of the Week!
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This BRTU Puzzler is another submission by Jerry Kustich. Jerry started out in the bamboo flyrod business working with Tom Morgan and Glenn Brackett in the halcyon days of RL Winston Rod Company. When Tom sold RL Winston, Glenn started Sweetgrass Rods in Twin Bridges and Jerry came along with him. As part of product testing, Jerry ranged up and down the Ruby River and other trout waters of Southwestern Montana.
Several years ago, Jerry "retired" to northern Maryland in order devote more time to fishing and writing, but still serves as the East Coast rep for Sweetgrass. His books, like Holy Water, are really terrific.
Although he now resides in the East, Jerry thought that this photo would make an excellent entry for the BRTU Puzzler.
Please send your best guess as to the location of this iconic scene to BRTU Puzzlemaster Marshall Bloom. If you submit the first correct answer, you will win the BRTU Puzzler.
Chuck Stranahan has generously offered a prize to all winners of the BRTU Puzzler. The winner of this week's BRTU Puzzler can claim his prize of hand-tied trout flies by contacting Chuck.
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Bitterroot Water Forum Upcoming Events...
The Bitterroot Water Forum has several upcoming events, and Ellie DeVos has asked that we pass on the information.
RUN FOR THE RIVER 5K: Friday, August 13th 6-9 pm
Join the Bitter Root Water Forum for the Run for the River 5K on Friday, August 13th! This family friendly run/walk begins at 7pm and follows a scenic trail course beginning and ending at the River Park in Hamilton.
Children 10 and under are encouraged to participate in the Splish Splash Dash at 6:45pm. No pre-registration necessary for the dash.
Run registration is $40, and includes a Bitter Root Water Forum Hydro Flask (while supplies last).
Proceeds support bringing the community together to protect, enhance, and restore the Bitterroot watershed we all rely on.
BITTERROOT RIVER CLEAN-UP: Saturday, August 14th 5-8 pm
Join the Bitter Root Water Forum for the Bitterroot River Clean-Up on Saturday, August 14th! Volunteers sign-up in advance for stretches covering all 155 miles of the river from Sula and Painted Rocks to the confluence at the Clark Fork in Missoula. We hope you will help and walk or float a stretch of the river during the clean-up.
Clean-up bags and gloves will be available at all Valley Fly Shops and at the Water Forum office at 178 S. 2nd St in Hamilton during the two weeks leading up to the event. Please feel free to use your own supplies as well.
You are welcome to begin and end your clean-up effort at any point on the 14th. We encourage you to drop your trash between 5-8pm at Hamilton’s Kiwanis River Park and stay for a community celebration with live music from Pinegrass and local food trucks! Fun prizes will be awarded at 7:30pm.
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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 now being held virtually 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
Vice President - OPEN
BOARD MEMBERS
Gavin Marston (student board member)
GENERAL FACTOTUM AND NEWSLETTER PUBLISHER
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