BRTU E-News
Because there's more to fishin' than just fishin'!
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#244: Jan. 24, 2022
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BRTU On-Line Winter Raffle. |
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You're out fishing and notice that the angler just downstream or in the next boat is knocking 'em dead while you are wearing the old horse collar? And it is very annoying because the joker can't cast and has a gillnet worth of drag, but is catching fish after fish like an osprey. You conclude that it must be the fly, but no way are you going to ask them what they are using!
If you've been in this situation, and I suspect most of us, help is on the way! With a pair of Svaroski CL Companion 10X30, you'll stand a decent chance of not only being able to identify the fly pattern but also the tippet size, the type of knot, and if the fish are taking it dead drift or dragging.
We have decided to do a couple of on-line raffles over the next few months, and the first will be for a pair of these elegant Svaroski compact binoculars. The optics are unmatched and the clarity of the image is incredible. Some of the best guides in Western Montana always have a pair of these in the boat.
There will be a limited number of tickets for sale during the raffle and the price per ticket will be very reasonable - about the cost of a dozen flies. So keep an eye peeled, because details will be provided in the next few weeks. The Information will be in BRTU E-News, but posters will also be up around the valley. We expect the tickets will sell out quickly!
The plan is to do several raffles before fishing season starts, and after the binoculars, the next prize will be....
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Predicted changes in habitat occupany by native and non-native trout over the next 6 decades. Source: Bell et. al. Sci. Adv.
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Climate Change Predicted to Impact Native Trout Species! |
It isn't every day that a story about native trout or a photograph of the Bitterroot River makes the pages of the Washington Post! But there in the January 9 edition was a story with a picture of the upper Bitterroot.
The story is primarily based on a scientific article in Science published late in 2021 by a number of Montana biologists, including several from MFWP. The scientists analyzed fish surveys that had been done in Western Montana since the late 1980's and observed that on a landscape scale, native westslope cutthroat and bull trout had declined, while non-native rainbow and b rown trout increased their range, and that this trend was expected to continue and worsen. The article's abstract or summary stated that "the occupancy of native bull trout and cutthroat trout declined by 18 and 6%, respectively (1993–2018), and was predicted to decrease by an additional 39 and 16% by 2080."
Of course, a key factor is the presence of the non-native species, but much of the blame can likely be pinned on climate change as water temperatures rise and stream flows decline. An interesting conclusion was that the cutthroat may do OK if the non-natives can be controlled. The Science Advances article is a little technical, but the Washington Post piece is good and easy to read.
Of course, much of the information comes as no surprise to folks who have attended BRTU meetings over the last few years or read the newsletter. In addition, many of us have caught nice browns up the East Fork where there ought to be bull trout. And we've seen first hand how cutthroat are stressed and suffer when caught if the water temperatures are too high.
These stories should illuminate why BRTU's focus on cold tributaries and native trout is so important. If our unique fish are to have a fighting chance at survival, we have to protect the key habitat, especially cold water tributaries, and prevent its degradation. We also have to make a concerted effort to push water management in a direction that recognizes the impacts of climate change, reduced snowfall, low streamflows, and a warming climate. And of course, we need to review fishing regs to make sure they are conservative enough to protect the native species.
If you'd like to get more involved with our projects, the fish can sure use the help! Just send a note to BRTU President Dave Ward. And if you're not a TU member, consider signing up.
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February 17 BRTU Meeting Moves to Zoom! |
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The cases of the COVID-19 in Ravalli County are continuing to explode dramatically. Therefore, after consultation with the speakers and BRTU Board, we have decided to move the Feb 17 meeting to Zoom.
The on-line meeting will start at 7:00 PM and the program will remain the same. Look for details in the next newsletter.
As soon as conditions permit, we will move to in person meetings.
Thanks for your patience.
When we move to in person, 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.
Here is the confirmed schedule for the spring meetings:
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POSTPONED. 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.
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February 17, 2022 - "The Upper Bitterroot/West Fork Recreation Plan: status report and future prospects," Chrissy Oschell and Jason Lindstrom, MFWP
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March 17, 2022 - "The mechanics and ergonomics of flycasting, including exercise to enhance casting and wading," Chris Andersen, Physical Therapist.
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April 21, 2022 - "What's up with President Jefferson's River?," Chris Edgington, Jefferson Watershed Project Manager, Montana TU
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BRTU Caps Available in January!
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The BRTU caps all sold out last summer and they are no longer available.
However, despair not. A new batch is on order and will be for sale at the first in person BRTU meeting. They will only be available through BRTU.
Thanks to all for helping us sell out so quickly!
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Photo courtesy Les and Cheryl Korcala. |
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This issue's Picture of the Week and accompanying text were submitted by Les Korcala.
"Great opening for 2022 fishing in very windy conditions on the Missouri. Despite a temperature of 40 F it felt like back home at 15 F!
Cheryl and I put in 6 hrs working very slow deeper waters - up to 6 feet deep.
Its the time of the year when you can score a trophy or even the trout of a life time! But you can not fish the lovely riffles and seams like in the spring or fall. The fish don't waste energy in these waters in winter.
In 6 hrs you might come up empty handed (happened many times in past ) or you might have few bumps here and there!
In winter I fish either rusty bodied wet flies, pink/ purple scuds or black midge pupa soft hackled patterns - all sized 16-18 or smaller.
This was an exceptional day despite 30 mph winds all day long. I was using a 12 foot 4 weight switch rod with tandem wet flies and fooled 4 nice fish. First was a rainbow 18," second was a 31” hog rainbow. My biggest brown on this stretch of water was the 26” one in the photo- it took my wife’s winter soft hackled black midge pupa.
Then, surprisingly, I saw a few fish rolling on the surface but my rod was set up to slowly swing wet flies and it was too cold to change to 6X in silly windy weather. So, I just switched the point fly to Cheryl' s dressing, and boom! The biggest rainbow for this and last year.
Tight lines everyone and happy fly tying. Les and Cheryl"
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.
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This week's BRTU Puzzler was lifted from a scientific article.
Researchers were surveying the seabed south of Baja California when they came across an enormous colony of breeding pairs of notothenioid fish that spanned about 150 miles - "about 1/3 the size of London." There were an estimated 60 million nests.
The Puzzler is to identify the fish, how they got their common name, the location of the colony and why this is such an unusual find. Send your entries to BRTU Puzzlemaster Marshall Bloom.
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.
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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 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
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