Drama on the banks of the Bitterroot River

If you haven't been following the story of Harriet and Ozzy over the last few years, you've been missing out.  For the past few years, I've been linking to the Hellgate Osprey Cam on the banks of the Clark Fork in Missoula.  This year, due to an unfolding story, we'll check out on an osprey nest a couple of miles to the south in Lolo on the banks of the Bitterroot River.

The background of this story goes like this:  Ozzy and Harriet were the bonded couple that have utilized this nest on the Dunrovin Ranch for years. Ozzy was killed (of natural causes) in 2014, stuffed, and put in a museum in Helena. People wondered what would come of Harriet and if she would ever find a new mate.  Harriet had a couple of suitors and then settled on Hal (supposedly short for Hallelujah) and their first attempt at reproduction was a flop. As osprey do each fall, they took off to the south for the winter.

Harriet usually returns around this time of year.  Will Hal come back with her?  Will they succeed in making a baby osprey this year?

Plot twist: On Sunday a great horned owl was filmed in the nest.  What will happen when Harriet comes back and finds this great big owl in her nest?

You'll have to watch to find out!  I can't believe that it's already time for the osprey to coma back. Winter flew by this year!

Check out the Dunrovin ranch website to chat about the unfolding event.
Check out this Missoulian article for more detailed information.

Fly Fishing Entomology Workshop

Join Dr. Mike Bias, a fishing guide and entomologist, on the banks of Montana's Big Hole River to learn or polish up on your aquatic macroinvertebrates knowledge. This sounds awesome and the proceeds all go the Big Hole Foundation to boot!

Dun Magazine - April/May

Read it HERE

Restore Our Creek brainstorming session tonight

The Montana Standard and the Restore Our Creek Coalition are "co-sponsoring a public workshop from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday at the Mining City Center, 400 W. Park St., to give Butte residents a chance to give input about the eventual outcome for the mile-long stretch from the Civic Center to the visitors center" (mtstandard).

Happy St. Pat's from Butte, America!!

The Travona

Happy St. Patrick's Day from the St. Pat's capital of the west.  If you can't make it to Butte this year, check out this live stream from the M&M!  Be safe and get ready for spring fishing.

Welcome to the Bitterroot Valley, ditch pickle capital of the west!

Photo by Perry Backus of the Ravalli Republic

WTF!?  I mean WTF!?  This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen.  That is too big of a mistake to be brushed off as ignorance.  How in the hell do you live in the Bitterroot and can't tell the difference between a nasty-ass ditch pickle and a trout?  They may as well have used an image of a hunter chasing a gazelle with a spear.  Or maybe they could have had people climbing palm trees for coconuts. And a plug?  Really?    

The Big Hole has awoken

The Big Hole River is awake and fishing well.  I fished up near Dewey yesterday and caught some nice fish.  A bunch of jumping rainbows, some nice browns including one bruiser, and a dainty grayling made for a great day.

Fishing a Marvin (Pat's rubber legs) in the right spots got attention.  Skwala's will be on the menu soon.  Slow swung streamers moved the big fish.  There were some great rainbows in the canyon section but you'll have to bust your ass to get where they are.

George Grant TU banquet a great success!

Last night the George Grant Chapter of Trout Unlimited banquet sold out for the first time ever!  I'm so proud to have been a part of the historic turnout.  This year's location was very nice and very large, the food was great, and the prizes and auction items were unreal.  Go Butte!  Go GGTU!

I had a ton of fun seeing all the people that I have met over the past year in the coolest town in Montana.  It was very different from last year when I was the new guy in town.  I had to indulge in some silent auctioning this year as I was so broke last year, I could barely afford the banquet ticket.  I made out like a bandit!

Thanks to the guys and girls at GGTU, The Stonefly, Zip Trip, Restore Our Creek, and the many other individuals, businesses, and orgs. that made such a fun night happen.

George Grant Chapter of Trout Unlimited Banquet TODAY!!

The George Grant Chapter of Trout Unlimited's annual banquet is a mere 1 week away! This year, the event will be at the Butte Plaza Event Center 3100 Harrison Ave, in Butte, Montana.

There are plenty of raffles, giveaways, a silent and live auction with tons of great stuff to bid on. The food is catered by Casagranda's Steakhouse and is fantastic.  The Clark Fork Watershed Education Program will be there with their live aquatic bugs for you and your children.  There are kids games and a bar.  Everything benefits GGTU and their mission to protect and restore Southwest Montana's cold water fisheries.  I don't know if you could ask for anything more.

Click here to buy tickets and while you're on the GGTU website, be sure to become a member of Trout Unlimited today!