As the sun sets on 2015...

Georgetown Lake, Montana

This last year was one of the best since I've been on this planet, and I've had some good ones.  I completely fell in love with my new city, Butte, and I fished, played, worked, and learned like never before.  Thank you 2015!

Happy new year to everyone out there!  I hope I'll see you on the river, lake, flats, slope, trail, or ice next year.  Until then, watch out for traffic jams...

Traffic jam on MT Hwy 1

"Stand up for the Beaverhead" - an op-ed by Wade Fellin of the Upper Missouri River Waterkeeper

Beaverhead River moose

There is a great op-ed in the Missoulian today from Wade Fellin, Program Director for the Upper Missouri Waterkeeper, Inc.  It is a call to action for the Beaverhead River's recent algae issues and is critical of the proposed hydroelectric use of the Clark Canyon Dam.  

Read it here.

Dun Magazine Winter Edition 2015 - I love this magazine!!

Click here to read Dun Magazine Winter Edition 2015

"Be a Part of the Story" - Clark Fork Coalition

George Grant Chapter of TU will meet to discuss cleanup and restoration of Clark Fork R. and Silver Bow Cr. (updated)

The George Grant Chapter of Trout Unlimited is holding a Board of Directors meeting and the public is invited.  Some folks representing TU and the MT DOJ, as well as, Joe Griffin (retired MT DEQ hydrogeologist and all-around bad-ass) will be giving a presentation on the restoration and mine waste cleanup on Silver Bow Creek and the Upper Clark Fork River.

Updates:

• Casey Hackathorn of Trout Unlimited (national) will present on the Upper Clark Fork and its tributaries.
• Jason Lindstrom of MT FWP will present electro-fishing data from Silver Bow Creek.
• Pat Cunneen of the BNRC will likely present on efforts to remove the Parrot Tailings, Diggins East, and Northside Tailings from the banks of Upper Silver Bow Creek in Butte.

This is not one to be missed!!

The meeting is Monday, December 14, at 6:30 pm in the Business Development Center @ 305 W. Mercury St. in Butte, Montana. 

Don Thomas (the guy DU fired) is presenting at the Westslope Chapter meeting tonight!

Today, Wednesday, December 9th, 2015, Don Thomas will be giving a presentation about fly fishing in Alaska at the monthly Westslope TU meeting in Missoula, MT.  This is the same Don Thomas who was fired from DU for writing an article critical of James Cox who is leading the fight against Montana's Stream Access Law in the Ruby Valley.

While the focus of Don's presentation will be on his many years of fishing SE Alaska, he is also planning to discuss the Ducks Unlimited fiasco.  Click here for more information on the meeting.

Come on, WTF MT-FWP!?

The area of the Upper Clark Fork which has been closed for years and then re-opened on September 15 is now CLOSED again!  Come on!  They just put a sticker over 2015 and extended the closure for another year.

I completely understand wanting to protect the newly restored and revegetated streambanks (ecological restoration and plant ecology is my job and what I study), but this is a bit extreme.  The ridiculous amount of browse protection is doing more damage to the vegetation than the tiny handful of people that fish down there, but I digress.  This just really sucks.

The stupid sticker

New vid from Missoula River Lodge - "15 Seconds Fishing Montana"

Ok, that's either one crazy-ass UFO or a salmon fly!  I'm thinking UFO...

Fly Fishing is a Joke

Here's a great video by The Weekly Fly.

Jerry Kustich, Co-founder of Sweetgrass Rods, criticizes DU in the Standard

Jerry Kustich wrote a great Letter to the Editor for the Montana Standard about the Ducks Unlimited/James Cox ordeal.  He has lived in Twin Bridges for the last 30 years (the area where Cox's contested bridges are).  He's also the co-founder of Sweetgrass Rods, a bamboo rod company in Twin Bridges.  

Great article Mr. Kustich!!

After a long wait, the M&M will open again in Butte this Friday!

According to the MTStandard, the M&M will reopen this Friday in time for the Christmas Stroll. Come see Butte all decked out for the holidays and take a break and get a drink in the historic M&M Cigar Store!


Lots of events going on, not enough fishing!  It's also the end of the semester and it has been freezing freakin cold out. There's a lot of pink on the tying desk (dining room table) as I prepare for a winter full of nymphing for the big guys.  

Restore Our Creek Fundraiser at Headframe Spirits

Next Tuesday, December 1,  the Restore Our Creek Coalition will host a fundraiser from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Headframe Spirits, 21 S. Montana St. in Butte, America

"Coalition members will provide information and discuss the need for removal of contaminated waste from Silver Bow Creek.

The coalition includes Project Green, Butte Citizens Technical Environmental Committee, Butte Natural Resource Damage Restoration Council, Trout Unlimited, Citizens for Labor and Environmental Justice, and other concerned individuals and groups." -MTStandard

This is a great reason to have some great cocktails for a great cause!!  See you there.

Bitterroot Water Forum Holiday Party

It's my time!

Early winter on the Bitterroot

I love to fish in the winter.  There is just something about it that makes it more mysterious or something.  I always catch the biggest fish in the winter which may be part of it.  Also, there is no one around, no tubers, no dudes, no noise.  I certainly love the spring and fall but winter holds a special place in my heart. Summer can go suck it!

 

Most people spend the winter tying flies or skiing and I do enjoy that too.  However, if it gets above 32 deg F, I'll be damned if you don't find me mining a winter run for some silver and gold.  In the Butte area we have a solid couple of winter options to choose from.  We've got the newly restored tailwater section of the Upper Clark Fork below the Warm Springs Ponds, the Beaverhead is a wintertime must, the Ruby will be on the radar big-time this year, and the mighty MO is an hour and a half away.  That's just a start really...

  

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Researchers discover the cause of whirling disease is a "micro jellyfish"

Photo from: http://science.peru.edu/ 

Researchers from the Univeristy of Kansas have determined that the Myxozoa that causes whirling disease in Salmonidae are included in the jellyfish phylum (Cnidaria).  They are composed of just a few cells and have "one of the smallest animal genomes ever reported: about 20 million base pairs only."

Read more about it here.

Montana Tech Restoration Ecology Seminar presents: Dr. Cara Nelson of the University of Montana

Dr. Cara Nelson is the Associate Professor of Restoration Ecology and the Undergraduate Program Director for Ecological Restoration.  She is also the Vice Chair (former Chair) of the Society for Ecological Restoration, an international nonprofit committed to promoting "ecological restoration as a means of sustaining the diversity of life on Earth and reestablishing an ecologically healthy relationship between nature and culture."

She is also one of my mentors, previous boss, and great friend.

Her talk is titled "Setting Appropriate Goals for Restoration."  The seminar is on the Montana Tech Campus in Butte, Montana in the Chemistry and Biology Building (room 102) today November 18, 2015, @ 4 pm.

Vive la France

Ducks Unlimited fires columnist who criticized landowner fighting MT's Stream Access Law

Photo by Lane Coulston of the Jefferson River Canoe Trail Association

An article in the Montana Standard today described that a columnist for Ducks Unlimited Magazine was fired after he wrote an article critical of James Cox Kennedy's legal battle to deny the public their constitutional right to access the Ruby River in Montana.  Kennedy was formerly a board member of the organization and is a large donor. 

Kennedy is a huge financial supporter for conservation organizations and programs, but I assume he only thinks rich landowners should have access to these public (see MT constitution and Supreme Court Rulings) conserved lands or waterways.

  

Although I see this as duck egg on the face of Ducks Unlimited, they also do great work in the conservation world and according to the article, Ducks Unlimited has not taken a stance on stream access (although this move seems to make a statement).  

Superstition Ball - A fundraiser for the Clark Fork Watershed Education Program

The Clark Fork Watershed Education Program is a great organization!  They are holding a formal Ball as a fundraiser in the Grand Hotel in Butte, Montana this Friday, November 13, 2015.

"The Clark Fork Watershed Education Program (CFWEP) has been a leading provider of environmental and restoration education programs and services in western Montana since 2005. Based at the Montana Tech Institute for Educational Opportunities in Butte, Montana, CFWEP offers multi-disciplinary science and history programs for schools, teachers, and students in and around the Upper Clark Fork Basin. CFWEP also offers public education and outreach services such as tours, events, and publications that connect the public with the science and history of the amazing landscape of western Montana.
The CFWEP is fully equipped to provide education and information regarding watershed health, ecosystems and biota in uninjured, injured and restored stream reaches, anchored by historic and environmental context. Along with our staff of science and education experts, volunteer scientists and environmental experts working in western Montana design research and monitoring programs and provide up-to-date information, often working directly with students, teachers and citizens who want to learn more about the natural world around us.
The CFWEP staff is supported by an Advisory Board of education, science, and local experts. CFWEP also works extensively with government agencies and community groups around western Montana.
If you are interested in learning more about the history of CFWEP, past successes, and some of the educational programs we provide, download the “CFWEP: Place-Based Science-Inquiry Education in a Superfund Site” PowerPoint Presentation."
-From cfwep.org

Crown of the Continent and the Greater Yellowstone Magazine - Summer/Fall 2015

Check out this fabulous publication from the University of Montana.  There are some great articles on the battle against invasive lake trout in Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks.

Montana Tech Orediggers beat #1 Southern Oregon for conference title!

Congrats to the MT Tech football team for beating the #1 ranked Southern Oregon Raiders for a share of the Frontier Conference Title!!

Montana Tech Restoration Ecology Seminar Presents: Len Ballek of Herrera Environmental Consulting

Len Ballek is the Senior Ecologist for Herrera Environmental Consulting and has a ton of experience with ecological restoration all over the West.  His talk is titled "Basics of Effective Native Plant Restoration"  The seminar is on the Montana Tech Campus in Butte, Montana in the Chemistry and Biology Building (room 102) today November 4, 2015, @ 4 pm.

Revegetation is a major aspect of both land and stream restoration, as seen in this picture in the Upper Clark Fork Area. Plus, it provides a place for the dog to hide...

Biologists are puzzled by the cloudy water on the Beaverhead River

Starting in mid-July, we watched as the Beaverhead River became cloudier and murkier by the week. It started out with a glacier-like blue/green silty color.  A couple of weeks later, it was down right blown-out looking,  The fishing really sucked as well.  I had never seen the Beav like that and it turns out, neither had a lot of other people.

State biologists are "stumped" by the condition which showed up for a couple of weeks last year but lasted all summer this year.

There is a great article in the Bozeman Daily Chronicle about it.

The Beav is one of my favorite places to fish.  I hope this can be figured out!

Here is another great link which provides a couple of hypothesis given at the meeting in Dillon on Oct. 27th.

Walleye found in Swan Lake, Montana

Photo from: http://www.mnnature.org

Two 17-inch, mature Walleye were caught in Swan Lake, Montana during the fall gill netting to remove invasive lake trout.  Walleye are not native to the Flathead drainage and have the potential to become invasive in Swan Lake which is one of the last remaining strongholds for bull trout in Montana.  

These fish were recently introduced by some asshole bucket biologists.  If you have any information call 1-800-TIP-MONT.  There is a $15,000 reward. 

Read more about the story at:  http://www.dailyinterlake.com/

Mint condition Martin MG-7 fly reel!

My new, mint condition, Martin MG-7

I scored this never-been-used Martin MG-7 from an estate sale here in Butte, Montana.  I don't even know if this beauty has ever seen the light of day!  The research I have done, dates this model to the late 70's.  It came with the original leather pouch, a warranty, and instructions pamplet complete with the little metal logo.

I've been debating whether to put it on the shelf as a museum piece or to fish it.  I'd love to put it on a glass rod!  I think I'll fish it and cherish it.  You should hear the sounds it makes!  I can't wait to hear it scream!

(Updated after work)  Ha ha ha.  I wrote this post in a huge hurry before work today.  I didn't realize how bad my grammar was and that I put the same picture on there twice!  Sorry, fixed it.

Clark Fork Coalition hosting Modesty Creek restoration presentation in Missoula (updated)

Photo from clarkfork.org

Next Tuesday at 12:00 pm, the Clark Fork Coalition will be having a presentation about the recently restored/reconnected Modesty Creek as part of their "Walks and Talks" series.  The presentation will be at their office in Missoula at 140 S. 4th St. W.  The  restoration site is upstream from the town of Deer Lodge.  Modesty Creek is a tributary to the Upper Clark Fork and has been diverted and disconnected from the Clark Fork for a long time.

Visit the Clark Fork Coalition's website for more information on the project and the field trip.

Autumn is about more than just brown trout...

Giant Georgetown Lake brook trout

I absolutely love brown trout!  I live in a part of Montana which is lousy with tons of huge, angry browns and fall is like the Superbowl of brown trout fishing.  However, it's always good to remember that there are some other great fall spawners worth pursuing as well.

Georgetown Lake, Silver Bow Creek, and the Big Hole River all hold larger-than-average sized brook trout.  The monster male shown above was over 20" long!  I bet folks back east didn't know they could get that big.  Our brook trout here in SW Montana (especially in Georgetown Lake) rival those found in Labrador, Newfoundland.

Other fall species to chase in Montana are:

• Kokanee salmon (landlocked sockeye) - great fun and good food
• Lake Trout moving out of Flathead Lake (yes, in the fall you can catch them on streamers in shallow water and the Flathead River)
• Bull Trout (only in the South Fork of the Flathead!!)
• Pike seem extra feisty in the fall and are easy to spot in the Lower Clark Fork and Bitterroot
• There is even a strain of fall spawning rainbow in the Upper Missouri (above all the dams)

For all of these fish, you'll want to throw streamers.  Check out the streamer factory on my dining room table.  Priorities.

Red Boat Mark's dining room table

It's fall, get out there!!

Montana Fly Fishing Magazine - Fall 2015!

In this issue:

“Moments” photo essay by Travis Bradford

“The Bighorn River” by Steve Galletta

“Artist Profile: Kelsey Dzintars” by Greg Lewis

“Try Hot Melt Glue” by Joe Nicklo

“The Unknown Angler” a photo essay by Greg Lewis

“The Legend of Pishkun” by Chris Hickman

“Complete the Circle” Poetry by Jesse Bussard, Art by Ben Whitehead

Gear Reviews

Don’t forget to tell your friends about this magazine, and that it’s absolutely free

Click the image below to read:

Public meeting on Beaverhead and Big Hole rules this week

Beaverhead River, MT

Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks is hosting two public meetings next week to take comments and questions about the Beaverhead and Big Hole River Recreation Rules.

The meetings are from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. @:

Dillon: Wednesday, Oct. 21 at the University of Montana-Western Block Hall #311
Butte: Thursday, Oct. 22 at the Butte Ranger District, 1820 Meadowlark Drive

"Two Rivers" the movie about the Milltown Dam story premiers Sunday!!

I am so excited and can not wait to see this movie!!  High Plains Films, the makers of "Against the Storm" about the bison in Yellowstone, the award-winning "Libby, Montana" documenting WR Grace Co. and the asbestos insanity and "All the Labor" about the band The Gourds as well as many other films will be premiering "Two Rivers" this Sunday at the Top Hat in Missoula!

Just watching the trailer made me emotional.  I live in Butte now, went to school with all the people from the Stimson mill who were laid off, and cut my teeth in restoration down in the Milltown floodplain.  I can not wait to see this!

Montana Tech Restoration Ecology Seminar Presents: Casey Hackathorn of TU

Casey Hackathorn is the Upper Clark Fork Project manager for Trout Unlimited National.  His talk is titled "Watershed Scale Restoration Planning for the Upper Clark Fork."  The seminar is on the Montana Tech Campus in Butte, Montana in the Chemistry and Biology Building (room 102) today October 14, 2015 @ 4 pm.

Read more about the restoration and trout conservation in the Upper Clark Fork Drainage here.

Indigenous Peoples Day

This image was taken from montanatribes.org.  Please take some time out of your day to learn about and celebrate the tribes and cultures of Montana's first peoples.

The Big Hole River, Montana in the Fall

Maiden Rock Bridge

The Big Hole is arguably one of the most beautiful rivers anywhere.  In the Autumn, it is really out of control.  This river is predominantly a brown trout stream, making Fall even more mystic and exciting!  This is my first Autumn in Butte and the closest large river is the Big Hole.  I have a lifetime of exploring to do here and I'm really happy about it.

Yesterday, the fishing was great.  I'd rather have been in my raft all day but this was a quick after-work fix. The streamer bite is on!!  Yellow bunny streamers and darker Skiddish Smolts were the ticket.  The fish were in faster knee-deep riffles and absolutely pounded the fly.  It felt like I'd hit a boulder and then there'd be that brown trout, throbbing head-shake.

I had the place to myself with the exception of this guy who fished for a little while in one spot.  He had brought his wife and kids who waited stream-side in their truck.  Poor bastard!!

It was mostly cloudy but when the sun would break through, the Fall colors were outstanding.  I saw some really slappy rises from big fish here and there and figured there must be some remaining October caddis.  I put on an appropriate foamy and skated it over a shallow riffle and Boom, rainbow trout!

There were some signs that the spawn is getting going.  I caught a couple rainbows on egg-type stuff and a guy came by and told me that he saw some browns sitting on redds in the upper river by Wisdom.  He also mentioned that the fishing was slow up there and that is was really weedy.  He was from out-of-state so it may just have been him.

The Fall has really just begun here in Southwest Montana.  I can't wait to float the Jefferson for the first time, hit the awesome streamer maddness on the MO as always, the Yellowstone beacons as does the Madison, and there's huge brook trout on the spawn in Georgetown Lake.  Not to mention the Upper Clark Fork and the brookies in Silver Bow.

Too much awesomeness, too little time!!

Dun Magazine is awesome!

Their Mission Statement:
"Dun exists to celebrate women who flyfish, woman as diverse and amazing as the waters around the world."

Read this issue here

I love women who flyfish more than bull trout like sculpin!

Tell Congress to sustain funding and reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund

"Please tell Congress to sustain funding for trout and salmon conservation and to reauthorize the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) What are the issues? Federal budget: conservation programs that benefit trout and salmon are at risk."

Click here to be linked to an email template which is automatically sent to your state's representatives!  This is quick and easy.

If you are not a TU member, just delete that part of the pre-written message.  Also, if you are not a TU member, you should seriously consider becoming one!!

Harold's Club AKA "Milltown Union Bar" closes in Milltown

Harold's Club AKA "Milltown Union Bar" shut down in Milltown, Montana yesterday.  The place has been a blue collar bar for over 100 years.  There is a great Missoulian article in the paper today.

Irrigation in the Bitterroot Tour

Irrigation in the Bitterroot Tour

Tuesday, October 13th    9:00am - 4:00pm

Meet at Bitterroot Valley Board of Realtors Building

224 N 4th St. Hamilton

This tour begins with a classroom introduction to irrigation in Montana and follows with a field trip to Bitter Root Irrigation District and Daly Ditches Irrigation District infrastructure.  Water resource professionals will speak at three different field stops. 

Open to all.  Realtors can gain Continuing Education Credit through attendance.

Registration is free thanks to sponsorship by the Bitterroot Valley Board of Realtors.

For more information or to register call Carolyn at (406-375-2272) or click here.Please register before October 6th.

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Come pick up your Run for the River T-shirt!

T-shirts are in!  Come by our office (in the Forest Service building in Hamilton, 1801 N 1st Street) between 9am-4:30pm for pick up.  Or call us at (406) 375-2272 if you need to make special arrangements.  

The coolest icebox, bull elk, and Mammoth Hot Springs

Derek DeYoung painting on the ice chest at the Gardiner Market

Here's a couple of cool pictures to get you excited about fall (or to waste time at work).

SW Montana bull elk at twilight 

Mammoth Hot Springs under the moon

MT Tech's Restoration Ecology Seminar presents: Rayelynn Connole of CFWEP

Rayelynn Connole's talk is titled "Remedy or Restoration."  The seminar is on the Montana Tech Campus in Butte, Montana in the Chemistry and Biology Building (room 102) today September 16, 2015 @ 4 pm.

This guy sucks...

James Cox Kennedy - Photo From Forbes.com

This Atlanta billionaire has been leading a calculated and well-funded opposition to public access to the Ruby River in Southwest Montana.  So far, he's not done so well. 

Learn more here:

MT Standard article "Hearing set Sept. 21"   

and

"A River Runs Through Cox Land"