As it seemingly always does in here in southern Montana, the transition from late spring into early summer is passing in fits and starts again this year.
Not that many weeks ago there were snow flurries in the air. Since then we’ve seen days in the 90’s followed by days in the 40’s; tank tops and miniskirts one day, hats, gloves and fleece jackets the next. Pretty, green, imminently fishable water one day and a blown river two days later.
The warmer weather push, arriving again this year in one fell swoop, flushed millions (if not billions) of gallons of cold, dirty water into area streams and rivers, turning them almost overnight into frothing torrents all but impossible to fish. There has been the usual wailing and gnashing of teeth, migration to the area lakes, completion of chore lists around the home front, and even some catch up fly tying done in the interim.
Take heart – the weather genies have smiled on Montana this past week, and will again this weekend.
Most of the week in the neighborhood passed under a dense cloud cover with temperatures in the 40s and 50s, with rain and snow showers wandering the mountains and river valleys like children lost at the mall. We’ve enjoyed a nice 36 hours of sun and are now looking forward to another weather system with clouds, rain, and cool temperatures – weather made for mayflies and bug hatches on much improved area waters.
It’s amazing what a cooler week can and has done for runoff on many of the area waters; dropping flows and clearing water are showing up around the state – conditions aren’t perfect, and yet the PMDs, baetis, Caddis and Stoneflies are doing just fine.
John Juracek says the Firehole has been fantastic this week – that’s good enough for me. See you on the river.
Tags: Weather
