BRTU E-News
Because there's more to fishin' than just fishin'!
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#257: June 12, 2022
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High water: be very wary!
Unless you are on another planet or in a drought stricken part of the country, you know that recent rains and snowpack melt have brought the Bitterroot river and its tributaries to extremely high flows. Indeed, there are flood watches in effect through tomorrow.
The river at Darby this morning is between 6,000 and 7,000 cfs; at Bell Crossing it is right at 12,000 cfs. The creeks are also raging, and most other local rivers are also very high. Big pines and cottonwoods are bobbing down stream like toothpicks and shrubberies.
Recreating on the river is extremely hazardous and anyone venturing out should exercise extreme caution and perspicacity.
The long term outlook will depend on the weather and snow melt, but it seems near certain that flows at least for the first part of the season will be high. That means increased chances to capsize a raft, drift boat or canoe, and get dumped in cold, fast dangerous water.
Almost all boating and rafting deaths involve a person who was not wearing a personal flotation device (PFD) or life jacket. The MFWP report on Boating Accidents in Montana states:
- Average of approximately 30 -40 reportable accidents annually
- Average of 7 fatalities annually and approximately 8 injuries
- 70% of fatal accidents result from non-motorized boating activities in rafts, canoes, kayaks, and drift boats. This is often higher on high runoff years.
- Motorized boating fatalities result from collisions with other boats or fixed objects/shoreline and often involve alcohol.
- Motorized vs non-motorized collisions very rare and none to date on a river
So, I would like to push our annual plea to use a high quality PFD. The best one is the one that you will wear! Northwest River Supply has some dandy ones that are tricked out as fishing vests. I have used one for about 5 years in all sorts of weather and they are quite comfortable.
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BRTU kids camp in the rain. |
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Raincoats were de rigueur as MTU education specialist Bill Pfeiffer and BRTU members set up for the June 11, 2022 BRTU Youth Fishing Camp at Hieronymus Park. Source: BRTU |
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The rain was coming down as campers sheltered in the rain for Bill's lessons. Source: BRTU. |
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Campers pay rapt attention to Bill in spite of the downpour. Source: BRTU. |
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MTU's Bill Pfeiffer explains why TU is so focused on habitat protection and water quality for native trout. Source: BRTU. |
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Two campers rig up to practice casting at the 2022 BRTU Youth Fishing Camp. Source: BRTU. |
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Camper Drew Carroll is all smiles as he displays the native northern pikeminnow at the BRTU Fishing Camp. Source: BRTU. |
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The rain was coming down and the ground was soaked, but spirits weren't dampened on June 11, 2022 at the 2nd annual BRTU Youth Fishing Camp at the Hieronymus Park pond.
After lunch, provided by BRTU, the focus shifted to fishing and, as the rain let up, the campers strung up their rods and did some casting for fish. Drew Carroll caught a small northern pikeminnow. Although looked down upon, these are also native fish as Bill took pains to explain.
The pond at Hieronymus Park is where the Trout In the Classroom trout were released, so the fishing might be better next year. The pond is also stocked with trout by MFWP, but our camp preceded that stocking by one day. So it goes!
Bill was ably assisted by several waterproof BRTU board members and volunteers, including Greg Chester, Dave Ward, Donna Haglund and Steve Davis. The camp was organized by Board member Charlie Harris, who was unable to attend.
The BRTU Youth Camp along BRTU's Bitterroot Buggers and Trout in the Classroom are the basis of our chapter's serious efforts to educate youth about conservation, and fishing. If you would like to learn more about BRTU's youth programs, please contact Greg Chester or Dave Ward.
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BRTU and Ravalli County Museum partner on Fishing in the Bitterroot. |
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All photos are from the Fishing in the Bitterroot exhibit being mounted at the Ravalli County Museum. Source for all: Dave Ward |
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The grand opening with wine and cheese will be sometime in July, but you can stop by now and see the Fishing in the Bitterroot exhibit at the Ravalli County Museum. A nice thing to do during high water or on a Saturday morning after the Farmer's Market.
BRTU President Dave Ward has been working closely with the museum staff to put together this show. The displays feature vintage and historic flyfishing gear, like Russell wading brogues, flyboxes and a collection of historic flies that were tied in Missoula. Chuck Stranahan donated some beautiful old bamboo rods in display cases and some antique reels.
According to Dave, the exhibit stresses the importance of maintaining and protecting trout habitat according to the 4 C's: clean, cold, connected and complex.
The Museum's hours are 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM on Thursday, and 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM on Saturday.
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A small non-native brown trout from Blodgett Creek. Source: Seth Cooley |
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This issue's Picture of the Week was provided by Seth Cooley.
Seth caught this little brown trout 10 days ago fishing on Blodgett Creek about 1.5 miles up the trail. The fact that he caught the fish on a large Prince nymph where there we should catch westslope cutthroat and bull trout is another sign that the non-native browns are moving up into habitat previously thought unsuitable. Evidence of climate change and subtly warming water temperatures? Perhaps.
Seth first thought this fish might be a brookie and until you closely inspect the spotting pattern, that would be an easy mistake. Although not a formal Puzzler, the first reader to send me the characteristics discriminating this fish from both a brook trout and a bull trout will receive a gift certificate from Chapter One Book Store.
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Whygin is appalled that there has only been one entry for this BRTU Puzzler given the number of worm dunkers he knows. He has asked me to leave it up. He added a hint that he also read about this acrobatic annelid in the Guardian. OK, worm dunkers - do some research and you can win the BRTU Puzzler!
This week's BRTU Puzzler was submitted by long-time BRTU member and supporter Whygin Argus.
Whygin had just finished one of Mark Twain's best known stories - The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County and decided to do some research on Wikipedia about jumping critters. Well.... we all know what happens when we start perusing a dictionary or encyclopedia. Sure enough, he came across this annelid and started berating me to use it as a BRTU Puzzler.
The BRTU Puzzler is to provide the common and binary designation of the animal. You also have to explain its origins and why it is more of a concern to the environment than our own night crawlers.
Send entries to the BRTU Puzzlemaster. The first correct answer will be the winner of this BRTU Puzzler.
The BRTU Puzzler now has a new sponsor - Chapter One Book Store in Hamilton. Chapter One is offering a $10 gift card to each winner but it must be picked up in person. The book store is a long time BRTU supporter and has an unbelievable inventory of books and magazines. If Chapter One doesn't have the tome you want, they can get it in a jiffy. Shouldn't we be patronizing local small independents rather the big online services?
If you have a cool fishing or conservation related photo, consider submitting it to BRTU Puzzlemaster Marshall Bloom for the BRTU Puzzler. BRTU E-News will no longer publish grip and grin photos of native fish out of water but will highlight photos of actual fish in the water.
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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 the Montana TU office at 406-543-0054.
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
Vacant, Treasurer;
BOARD MEMBERS
Charlie Harris; E-mail: hmgharris@gmail.com
JuliAnne Thomas; E-mail: thomasjulianneh@gmail.com
Ty Balser; (student board member)
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