Montana TU has weighed in on FWP’s proposed changes in the boating regulations for the Clark Fork, Blackfoot and Bitterroot Rivers. We linked to an article in the Missoulian when the issue surfaced last week; the issue’s drawing a bit more attention this week.

Here’s Montana TU’s spin on the issue -

In recent years the use of jet powered watercraft and personal watercraft has expanded significantly on Missoula-area rivers, significantly increasing safety risks and creating conflicts with other users and landowners. After prodding by TU, riverside landowners and others, Montana FWP has proposed changes to boating regulations on the Blackfoot, Clark Fork and Bitterroot Rivers near Missoula.

You can contribute to safer, quieter rivers by:

• Attending FWP’s public meeting June 16 in Missoula at FWP Region 2 Headquarters (3201 Spurgin Road) at  6 p.m.
• Writing FWP and telling the agency to adopt improved regulations for motorized use on Missoula-area Rivers.

Comments are due by 5 p.m. June 27, 2011.

Comments can be submitted

• Online via the comment form at the link above
• Via e-mail to: shrose@mt.gov
• Via Mail to:
  • Sharon Rose
  • Attn: Boating Regulation Changes
  • 3201 Spurgin Road
  • Missoula, MT 59804-3101
• or Via Fax: 406-542-5529

In your own words:

Thank FWP for considering reducing motorized use on these rivers.  Remind the agency that as recreational river use increases, SAFETY will be a larger challenge, and the time to protect river users is now. Large, high-powered watercraft moving up and downstream when a majority of use is float traffic moving downstream is a recipe for disaster.  Applaud the agency’s proposal to make the Clark Fork above Kelly Island non-motorized year-round.  Tell the agency not to include personal watercraft (“jet skis”) in any category of small-horsepowered craft.

Tell the agency to adopt these specific regulations:

Bitterroot River

The Bitterroot River is not an appropriate water body for large motorized craft like jet boats and jet skis. Tell FWP to change its proposed regulations to make the full reach of the Bitterroot off limits year-round to engines that exceed 15 hp. FWP is recommending that jet boats and other high-powered craft be allowed on the Bitterroot between Florence and Buckhouse Bridge between May 1 and June 15. Tell the agency to instead make the river non-motorized for its full reach, except allow traditional small motorized craft of 15 horsepower or less, such as those used for duck hunting, between Oct. 1 and Jan. 15.

Clark Fork River

FWP is proposing a confusing, difficult to enforce patchwork of closures restrictions and unrestricted motorized use from the mouth of the Blackfoot to Alberton Gorge. FWP is proposing to sanction the use of jet skis and large motorboats in the small reach just upstream and downstream of Petty Creek fishing access site, thereby creating a loud motorized zone that will conflict with floaters and landowners. Tell FWP to improve public safety by simplifying the rules by closing the Clark Fork to motors from the mouth of the Blackfoot (motors are already prohibited in the upper river above Milltown), through Kelly Island down to St. John’s Fishing Access Site, EXCEPT allow small motorized craft of 15 horsepower or less from Kelly Island to St John’s FAS year-round. This exception accommodates traditional use for waterfowl hunters and some anglers.

Blackfoot River

The current rules allowing motorized use on Milltown Reservoir are out of date. Support FWP’s recommendation to make the old Milltown Reservoir river reach through Missoula and down to Kelly Island off-limits to all motors year-round.

Our spin – from our overtly and admittedly biased fly fishing perspective, it’s particularly important to make the Bitterroot and Blackfoot off-limits to larger motorized rigs year round, as well as the Clark Fork above Kelly. The Clark Fork’s proposed reg changes will be more controversial, though we agree that big motors and jet skis don’t belong from the mouth of the Blackfoot down to St. John’s FAS.

Take note – Montana’s FWP has a useful page up here, with links to the Rule Proposal Notice, the related Environmental Assessment, and a Public Comment Survey (multi-page) that you can use to submit your two cents electronically.

Tags: Access

From today’s Missoulian…..

The Clark Fork and Bitterroot rivers near Missoula would be closed to high-speed watercraft under a proposal by the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

Increasing conflicts between homeowners and non-motorized boaters on one side and speedboaters on the other prompted the plan, according to FWP fisheries manager Pat Saffel.

The issue reached a boiling point last summer, when the agency got so many objections to powerboat use on the Clark Fork, it dropped plans for a new concrete boat ramp at the Harper’s Bridge fishing access site west of Missoula.

“It was brought to us largely as a social concern,” Saffel said. “The wildlife and natural resource impacts are plausible, but likely minimal. On other hand, we got lots of input from the public that socially and safety-wise, it’s an issue.”

Greg Munther was one of those who raised both the social and safety questions. A 35-year homeowner along the Bitterroot near Maclay Bridge, he said the jet-powered boats and personal watercraft were both a nuisance and a threat.

“When we first moved here, there were no motors,” said Munther, a retired Forest Service district ranger. “Lately, we’ve seen the conflicts with canoeists, rafters and tubers and the jet boats. We’ve observed close encounters with boats and rafts. And another thing I’ve observed – all the birds, great blue herons, osprey, eagles, geese – have to leave when the boats go by. They’re all displaced.”

More here.

Tags: River - Bitterroot

Hollywood Rainbows from Ivan Orsic on Vimeo.

Tags: River - Clark Fork

Another short and sweet report today; there’s fishing to be done but you better be ready for some winter.

Tags: River - Clark Fork

In my report on the Bitterroot yesterday I talked about the forecast for the week not looking bad.

The Clark Fork is in somewhat similar shape to most of our rivers over here, there’s nymphing to be done in the mornings with the shrinking dry fly window narrowing to the warmest of the afternoon hours.

I’m still getting used to standard time again – my guess is that anywhere from 130 to 330 will be the BWO window and there might still be some mahoganies around too.

The bitch on the Clark Fork is the wind; with it cooler now when the wind is blowing this can be a pretty tough river to fish.  Watch the forecast – today looks better than tomorrow wind wise.

Drift boat model pic from River’s Touch – impressive models and kits.

Tags: River - Clark Fork

There’s been some damned nice fishing to be done on the Clark Fork lately; I was lucky enough to do a bit with my daughter this weekend.

We floated the upper river (above Missoula) on Sunday and did very well on BWO and mahoganies in the afternoon; the wind was manageable and fish were really keying on the BWOs while the hatch was on.

Otherwise we had steady action on soft hackles swung through / to the slow side of more gentle seams, even when the hatch was cooking, though who the hell wants to nymph when some of the last real dry fly action of the season is upon us.

The news over here will probably be the weather for the next few days.  From the forecast it looks like it’s going to be pretty messy through Tuesday night (winter storm warning above 4500); the kicker for fishing will be the wind which should calm down to reasonable levels by late Tuesday or Wednesday.

Clouds all week should be the BWO’s friend.

Tags: River - Clark Fork

I’m late today – meetings in Missoula and it took me a while to track down my daughter who fished the Clark Fork this weekend.

She said the river (they were above Missoula) fished well during the afternoon with Mahoganies, best for them with sparkle duns and cripples.  They found the best window from about 2 to 4 on top, but did well emergers for nearly two hours before the hatch clicked on around 2.

Kingfisher’s crew is also reporting on their web site today that “on the deeper water foam line pods, smaller soft hackles slowly drift drag-drifted JUST subsurface with a tightline are the devil”.  Sounds good to me.

Sorry about no picture, I’m on the road today.

Tags: River - Clark Fork

I’ve told you before that my family has been in the area for some time; this is one of the coldest October spells, at least for the first half of October, that I’ve seen in over a decade.

I just talked to my daughter in Missoula and it was 9 degrees on the way into work there this morning and they didn’t break the freezing mark yesterday.

As you’d expect with several days of cold temps the river temps have fallen like a rock which will blow the hell out of dry fly fishing for a few days.  The forecast looks better later in the week and we should be fishing Mahoganies and BWOs by then.  Today will be a streamer day or a deep nymph day – I’m traveling to Helena for some damned political work but will be on the Missouri tomorrow, probably doing the same stuff.

Better fish the dwindling fall while you can.

Tags: River - Clark Fork

I must say I’m happy we’re not having the weather over on this side of the state that they’re having over in the greater Yellowstone area – we’re not going to have snow down at river levels here, thoughrain showers will likely keep rolling through.

The biggest weather issue we’ve been dealing with has been wind and the Clark Fork as most of you know can be a real bear in the wind as it funnels through parts of the canyon.  Plan ahead, this can be a real trip killer.

The baetis and mahoganies have been out in good numbers with Tricos tailing off somewhat as it cools.  My daughter said they saw some Drakes late last week too, and even had a few hits on a hopper dropper rig though it was still warmer then.

Carry a nice and broad assortment of flies to cover your bases here, the normally not so picky Clark Fork trout can really get target lock on a certain size and pattern when the fall mayflies are out.

Don’t forget the rain gear.

Tags: River - Clark Fork

The Clark Fork is fishing decently these days; to be honest none of my crew was able to get out on the water this weekend (my daughter was in Boise on business with the family), and I was on the Missouri with friends.

Sounds like the upper most and lower most sections of the river have been the most consistent; it’s been warm enough to use terrestrials with droppers, and morning Tricos and afternoon Mahoganies have kept hatch hounds busy.

We need some clouds and cooler weather to get the streamer mania going – looks like we’re due this week for a long awaited weather change.

Tags: River - Clark Fork

According to my daughter and her husband the Clark Fork has been fishing pretty well over the past few days.  During the unsettled weather Saturday and Sunday they even saw some olives out on the upper river – like the golden color spotting the hills seeing olives on the river is one of the surest signs of fall in these parts.

There are still good Trico hatches, but they had their best fishing over the weekend throwing what she calls ‘skinny golden stones’; she is good friends with one of the guys at The Kingfisher Fly Shop in Missoula and that was apparently one of their tips for the week; I’d recommend the shop in a heartbeat to anyone – expert or novice, they run a very nice operation there and treat folks very, very well.  There are a few shops around that don’t treat folks so well – these guys have a great sense of humor on most days too.

The weather is going to stay clear, sunny and warm this week by this morning’s forecast – we need some clouds and cool weather…..

Tags: River - Clark Fork

Had a great day on the Beaverhead yesterday, I’ll have some pictures sent to Mark to post in a day or two.

The Clark Fork is going to come around here before you know it; even though the summer Caddis Fest we’ve been enjoying on the hot days will peter out, the river’s mayflies will more than make up for it.  Right now in the transition window fishing is not what you’d call red hot, but there’s fishing to be done.

Before long there will be Gray Drakes, Blue Wings, Mahoganies, and Sulphers around; there are still some terrestrials making things happen once it warms up around noon or so.

The week looks pretty warm as of last night’s forecast; no clouds until Thursday and highs in the low 80s.

Pic of Orvis’ Dun Variant (Mahogany)

Tags: River - Clark Fork

Last night I had the enlightening opportunity  to visit with my good friend, sometimes mentor and sometimes antagonist, Al the Pal from Hamilton.

Regular readers of our blog know that Al has spent his life running a family ranch in the Bitterroot Valley and that he’s a diehard fly fisherman with a good sense of humor and a great command of the waters in the southwestern part of the state.   We forgive him his occasional stabs at Bozeman; from the viewpoint of a multi-generation Montana rancher, I suppose we do have a fair number of manicured, trust-funded carpet baggers living in the neighborhood, whom Al supposes all spend the day sipping lattes and ‘eating cupcakes’.  He’s correct in noting that ‘workin’ the ranch they ain’t’.

Al is also a successful entrepreneur;  Al says that even though the term has been sullied by those who take a more collectivist view of life and society, he actually likes being called a capitalist if that means one believes mightily in individual freedoms and takes their individual responsibility to be a contributor to society and provide for their family seriously.   Most days I call his views damned refreshing, and while folks just don’t talk like that anymore, it’s readily apparent that Al truly believes it.

But I digress.

Al reminded me that the Missoulian, in his description ‘Missoula’s principle newspaper and endless regurgitator of news from the hard left end of the spectrum’ has been running a three part series on the Clark Fork cleanup.  He noted a couple of interesting points in our discussion.

First, most folks don’t realize that the upper Clark Fork is the largest federal Superfund cleanup project in the US in terms of geographical scope – we’re talking 120 miles of river from its headwaters down to the site of the old Milltown dam.

Second, much of the actual damage was induced by a catastrophic flood in the river system 101 years ago which dumped hundreds of thousands of tons of toxic crap into the system.  As we discussed bits and pieces of the story last night our conversation drifted to pondering what a 100 year or 500 year flood would do to Pebble or countless other similar constructs around the world.

For the record, Al notes that here in Montana the extraction industries have been and continue to be  a critical part of the state’s economic engine, and that mining science has changed dramatically since the great Clark Fork flood of 1908.  We agreed that it’s hard not to look a river like the Clark Fork without a flood of emotions, including some anger and resentment at delays in cleaning the damned mess up.

I don’t know how long the links below will be good, but here are the three pieces of the Missoulian story published Saturday, Sunday, and Monday of this past week,.  There are some interesting pics included on the newspaper’s site; they’ve have a particularly onerous policy in terms of sharing content, so none are provided for your review here.

Part 1 -  Restoration river:  Work to begin soon on cleaning Upper Clark Fork

Part 2 -  Restoration river:  Some Landowners coming around on Upper Clark Fork repairs.

Part 3 – Restoration river:  Unlocking Upper Clark Fork’s potential for recreation, wildlife.

Butte’s Berkeley Pit photo via NASA

Tags: River - Clark Fork

I’ve been enjoying a family reunion of sorts this weekend here in Missoula, and this will be our fifth straight day on the fine waters of southwest Montana.  There’s been more sun and heat than we’d of liked to have, but the fishing has overall been good.

Since joining this project back in April, I’ve shared on several occasions that my daughter and her husband in particular enjoy the Clark Fork.  She can leave her office or the courthouse, run home and change, and be on the river in about 25 minutes from their house in Missoula.  I’m there this morning as we’re headed out on the Clark Fork today.

The afternoon and evening Caddis that draw most fishers to the CF have slowed a bit, and will become less of a target as the weather cools and the mayflies take the river back over.

Today’s cool and clouds should make for a nice day on the water – we’re looking for some straggling Spruce Moths near timber, Gray Drakes, and maybe a sulpher or two.

The bad news is that the weather guys are forecasting some wind today out of the northwest, which tends to funnel down the CF canyon and make for challenging conditions.  We’re going anyway, but we’ll see if we’ve made the right choice tonight.

We’ve been playing with the Furimsky’s Gray Drake picture above – nifty fly.  Pic via Almont Anglers.

Tags: River - Clark Fork

The Clark Fork is trying to turn the corner to fish a bit more it does in the fall, though I’m not sure the weather is going to cooperate much this week.

Yesterday’s clouds were welcome, and did produce a more robust (nifty word, eh?) mayfly hatch from what I hear along most of the river.  We’ve got a shot at clouds for the next couple of days but by midweek the weather is going to feel a lot more like summer than fall.

You need to be ready for the hatches we’ve been talking about for the past several weeks, though as it get less cloudy and warmer as the week progresses my guess is that we’ll be back to the evening Caddis being the star of the show.  Large attractors and terrestrials with a variety of droppers have been garnering enough attention during the heat of the day to keep it interesting.

Tags: River - Clark Fork