BRTU E-News
Because there's more to fishin' than just fishin'!
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#259: July 4, 2022
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Yellowstone Flooding update. |
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A residence floats down the Yellowstone River during the recent floods. Source: Yellowstone National Park. |
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The Gardiner River has its way with the road in Yellowstone National Park between the North Entrance and Mammoth. Source: Montana Free Press. |
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Mallard's Rest Fishing Access Site at the peak of the flood. Source: OutsideOnline. |
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Signs like this were posted all along the Yellowstone. Source: Outsideonline. |
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It was officially declared by the USGS that the recent floods on the Gardiner and Yellowstone were 500 year events; that is, a flood of that magnitude can be expected on average once every 500 years.
Due to the herculean efforts of the staff at Yellowstone National Park, 93% the park has already been reopened although the northern and northeastern entrances remain closed due to the extensive upheaval that erased major access roads. In addition, impacts to gateway communities like Gardiner, Cooke City and Silver Gate are yet to be fully realized.
As for the fishing on the Yellowstone, the reports from outfitters, shops and MFWP so far are pretty optimistic. In the July issue of the Sweetgrass Rods newsletter (not available yet on the website), David Serafin wrote the following Yellowstone River Flood Report from their shop in Livingston:
"As bad as the flooding was in Yellowstone this month, it could have been much worse. If the rains had fallen north of the park, many more structures and roads would have be affected. It’s a miracle that no lives were lost.
Flooding occurred on the other side of our world this month as well. Heavy rains fell in Guangdong province, where our bamboo is sourced. They are accustomed to annual flooding in some areas, but this year the water was particularly high.
I’m looking forward to exploring a new Yellowstone river this summer, with new channels and braids. It’s always a little different after the snow melts and the runoff ends. This year will be spectacular."
And long-time TU supporter and outfitter par excellence Brant Oswald wrote me in a note dated June 27 that "It’s been crazy here the last 2 weeks. I did lose a few days of spring creek bookings around the time of the flood but I have been working through the changes since then... Guiding every day...."
So, I guess we will wait and see how things evolve in Paradise.
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Contest for New BRTU Logo. |
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The Bitterroot Chapter of Trout Unlimited (BRTU) has announced a contest to design a new logo for the chapter. BRTU is encouraging amateur and professional artists to submit logos for consideration by August 15, 2022.
For several decades, BRTU has used a logo based on the venerable Montana Trout Unlimited logo which featured three of Montana's native trout species - the westslope cutthroat, the bull trout and the artic grayling. The current logo is featured in the header of our newsletter. Recently, the BRTU Board decided that it was time to have competition for a new logo tied more closely to the Bitterroot Valley.
Amateur and professional artists are invited to submit entries. There is no fee to submit artwork for the contest, and the artist of the winning submission will receive a $350 award. Anyone interested in submitting a logo for consideration should visit BRTU’s News & Events website page for more specific details about the contest. Artists may submit up to two logos and must sign an acknowledgement form that BRTU will own and have full rights to use the winning artwork.
“We’re excited to have a new look for the Bitterroot TU Chapter,” said JuliAnne Thomas, BRTU board member. “There are so many talented artists in the valley and the surrounding regions, and we look forward to seeing new concepts presented for our logo. We ask those who are interested in submitting artwork to read the rules on our website carefully! It will help them in designing a quality logo.”
The BRTU board members will review the submissions in late August and will notify the winner in early September. The new logo will be unveiled at the BRTU banquet on October 21, 2022 at the Bitterroot River Inn.
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July 14 Grand Opening for "Fishing in the Bitterroot" at Ravalli County Museum. |
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All photos are from the Fishing in the Bitterroot exhibit being mounted at the Ravalli County Museum. Source for all: Ravalli County Museum or Dave Ward |
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For over a year, BRTU President Dave Ward and others collaborated with the Ravalli County Museum staff staff to mount a Fishing in the Bitterroot exhibit. The exhibit features 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 exhibit's grand opening with wine and cheese will be on Thursday, July 14 from 6:00 PM to 7:30 PM. There is no charge for admission and the public is invited to attend.
The exhibit has been open for a couple weeks already and a number of people have stopped by during the week and after the Saturday Farmer's Markets.
The Museum is located at 205 Bedford Street in Hamilton and regular 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 trigger fish. Source: Steve Gunderson |
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This issue's striking Picture of the Week was provided by BRTU supporter Steve Gunderson.
The fish is a triggerfish, so named for their feeding behavior of locking into the bottom of the coastal flats and waters where many live. The jaws are adapted for crushing shells.
Steve wrote the following about the fish:
My wife recently took me on a vacation to a remote Caye located alongside the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System near Dangriga, Belize. Took a walk with my trusty 8 weight and travel spinning rod at sunrise each morning on a high tide and again each afternoon on the incoming tide on a mix of reef rubble and turtle grass flats. The walks were filled with good shots, eats, and even occasional leader touches on triggers, bonefish and permit.
As a career seasonal wildland firefighter and lifelong angler, I've been fortunate to travel across the equatorial belt over the last 20+ winters fishing some amazing flats and triggerfish have long been my secret favorite to target.
This fish, which I found at first light one morning in a full trigger 'handstand' in a group of reef rock, was caught in about 18" of water on a trigger fly pattern I've developed over the years. This version was tied on a 1/16th oz Buggs Jighead (Orange color). I was able to steer this fish into a deeper shoreline hole after a good battle and snap a few pics before it was released (and swam right back to its feeding location!).
Fly Pattern:
Hook: Buggs Bonefish Jig, Orange, 1/16th oz, Size 1 Eagle Claw 413 Hook
Thread: Mono tying thread
Body Dubbing: mix of tan and pink dubbing
Medium Silver Beadchain Eyes
Legs: 4 Clear/Orange Sili Legs (small) doubled back
Flash: 4 strands of black Crystal Flash doubled back
Underwing: White/Light Tan Deer Hair
Overwing: White/Tan Marabou
Weed Guard: 50 lb Mono
Adhesive: Zap-a-Gap
Keep up the great work there with the BRTU. Whether it's a cutty in the Bitterroot or a Triggerfish on a remote atoll we all need to keep up the fight and keep raising the awareness out there to folks to help maintain these wonderful fisheries from the constant pressures and strains on their ecosystems. I also really appreciate the newsletter! It keeps me up to date on the local and state issues when I'm out on fire assignments across the US all summer.
Please send me any cool fishing or conservation pictures. Send in a file that is less than 5 MB. I don't use "grip and grin" photos of native fish out of water anymore, but ones of fish being released or in the water are mighty fine!
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This BRTU Puzzler was submitted by long-time BRTU member and supporter Otis B. Driftwood. Mr Driftwood encountered the photo in a climate change story he read on his way home from a night at the opera.
The challenge is to identify what is in the photo Mr. Driftwood supplied and how does it relate to climate change. Please submit your entries to BRTU Puzzlemaster Marshall Bloom. The first correct entry will win a $10.00 gift card from Chapter One Book Store.
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
Vacant; (student board member)
GENERAL FACTOTUM AND NEWSLETTER PUBLISHER
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