Major earthworks begin at the confluence of Rock Creek and the Clark Fork Rivers (updated 4/2015)

Remember that long, ugly berm that you drive past as soon as you cross the Clark Fork River on Rock Creek Road?  It's the one with the mullein forest growing on it that has served as a recruitment area for noxious and invasive weeds for the past couple years.

Well, it's being torn down and there is a big story behind it...

At the mouth of the Rock Creek Valley there is a beautiful, 200 acre swath of land. The borders are defined by the mouth of Rock Creek, the Clark Fork River, Rock Creek Road, and an adjacent property.  This property was almost destroyed - for ever- by an out of state developer who (origionally a Montanan).

The first known European settlers of the property were Paul and Anna Rinaldi, Italian immigrants who worked for the railroad and ranched the land.

The Rinaldi's Cabin?

The land continued to be utilized for agriculture for the next 100 years or so until it was purchased by Michael Barnes, an Oregon-based real estate developer.

It was Michael's plan to develop a 36 plot, Mcmansion filled subdivision on the property complete with a large, stocked trout pond!  Everyone knows that the one thing you need when you live right next to one of the world's finest wild trout streams, is a pond full of stupid stockers.

In 2006, Mr. Barnes went right to work tearing up the property with heavy machinery and installing infrastructure without some of the necessary permits.  He dug a massive, 5 acre pond and used the diggings to create that berm that went along the road.

Mr. Barnes' subdivision idea did not sit well with the locals and conservationists. Remember all those "No Rock Creek Subdivision" stickers?  Local groups formed and expressed their discontent to the Missoula County Commissioners who delayed and then tabled the plan.

Then in 2008, the housing market crashed and the property went on the market.

In 2012, Five Valleys Land Trust bought the property and have since:

• Worked with adjacent property owners to put over 500 acres of land under permanent conservation easement. 
• Removed tons of garbage, fencing, and huge agricultural equipment.
• Built a public access, parking, and trials to the Clark Fork River.
• Installed a bunch of bluebird boxes.

They've also worked with Trout Unlimited and the University of Montana's Wildland Restoration Program to develop an ecological restoration plan for the berm, pond, and the severely eroded banks of the Clark Fork River.

The major restoration work has just started.  Yesterday, I headed out there to check it out and talk to Grant Kier, the Executive Director of Five Valleys Land Trust.   

Tearing down the berm (ripping)

Tearing down the berm (grading)

The pond

Mr. Kier says that eventually, the entire property will be opened to the public; complete with trails and access to the confluence.

This is one of the rare cases where conservation won over development.  In this case however, I guess we owe a thanks to Wall Street bankers and their sub-prime mortgages for crashing the market.

I also went fishing (F-ing duh).  The creek is still pretty big and wading was sketchy.  Some big fish have moved up into the system with the elevated flows.  Most of the fish are hanging in side channels and winter-style water.  The big brown trout made a greater than average showing and the rainbows were especially hot.  The water is warm enough now that they're starting to perform big acrobatics.  I saw many skwalas and numoras, as well as a solid march brown hatch.  There were some rises but not enough for me to cut off my super productive nymph rig.

Western Montana Dry Fly Report

Cut off your nymph rigs.  The bugs are here!

Mating midge swarm on the lower Bitterroot

Rock Creek:  You may want to wait to cut off your nymph rig until you actually see rising fish here.  I'd bet money that some BWO's and march browns float by and interrupt your nymphing.  Along with the regular winter nymphs, incorporating baetis and larger mayfly nymphs on a short leash system can be really fun.

The Bitterroot:  The fish in the lower river are keyed into the large sized midge hatch which is occurring daily at noon.  These midges are just a bit smaller than BWO's and the hatch is very similar.  The mating swarms even look the same (see photo).  These midges don't cluster so patterns which suggest a single hatching midge is the only way to go.  Yesterday was the first day I observed Skwala adults floating on the surface.  It was pretty funny to watch them wiggle through pods of large rising fish and go totally unnoticed!  I've noticed Numora in the air and on water and have been hearing those great sounding rises the fish make when they are on to them.  The weirdest thing, NO BWO's yet.  I've never seen Skwala before BWO's.  I hope they still come!

The Clark Fork:  The reports from the fly shops are saying that the lower river (below Missoula) is in great shape and that there are good hatches of BWO's and march browns daily.  When the Skwala's get going here, it's the real deal.  There are 500X more of them and 600X less guide boats, dudes, and fair-weather fisherpeople than on the Root.  The Clark Fork is my favorite stream and this is my favorite time of year.

The Blackfoot:  If your still looking for winter nymphing, go here.  You may see some fish looking up but there are safer bets for finding dry fly opportunities right now.

Area Lakes:  Beavertail Pond, Frenchtown Pond, and the secret bass pond are mostly thawed.  Detailed reports will come soon...