It was a pretty cold day on the Bitterroot but the fishing was good. Doc Bolton is a good friend that has property on the Bitterroot River. He lives here part-time and is fortunate to have some time here right now. He and his nephew fished with Jack the other day. I am just now getting to the photos. See them all in the slideshow below.
Dusty, Don, Jim, and Peter are from San Diego. They (and a few others of the group that didn’t make it this year) have been fishing with Wapiti Waters for many years. Spring is when they come, braving what ever weather the year brings for them. They are fun, great sports and always catch fish. Day one, on the Clark Fork, was nice weather. Day two and three were on the Bitterroot and it rained. We were thrilled to get the moisture and I think the catching was good.
This group stays at the Bitterroot River Lodge
1182 U.S. 93
Hamilton, MT 59840-9751
(406) 363-0708
Larry is visiting Victor, MT and fished with Jack for a few days. It was spring, it was cool, but what a nice cutthroat in these photos!
We have a group from San Diego coming in today. The weather is supposed to be nice for a few days, then cooler. You never know!
Jack and Joe fished the Bitterroot on Tuesday. The water was still a bit low and the weather was cool, but the fish were biting. Here is a photo of one of the fish. To see all the photos, view the slideshow below.
Billy caught this cuttbow on the Arkansas River in Colorado. Thanks for sending the photo in!
We would love to share other photos. Send them in with comments about where and how you caught them!
Going fishing today with Montana TU Director, MT TU board member, Conservation District Board member and a group of conservation minded outfitters. We will post photos this week of some rip-rap projects, comments and hopefully some fish, too.
Tom and Cheryl fished with Jack this week. It was a beautiful day, NO wind, and the fishing was great.
The water is a bit lower this year. Our snowpack was only about 50% of normal. Even with the warm weather, there wasn’t much mid-elevation snow to melt and bring the river up. There will be run-off, but who knows when and how big the rivers will get. It won’t be like last year.
To see a comparison, visit our blog post of last years run-off.
We are enjoying the spring and looking forward to seeing many of you this spring, summer and fall.
Missoulian story by Joe Nickel – Pike story: Big fish in Bitterroot – but good luck hooking one
via Pike story: Big fish in Bitterroot – but good luck hooking one.
Also see on Facebook link below.
Jack fished with Jeff today. They fished the lower river and in spite of no skwala hatch to speak of there was some VERY good fishing. They caught pike and trout, big pike and trout.
The weather was cold in the morning, but it warmed up to about 66 degrees. There were a lot of boats and wade fishermen out.
To see what Jack and Jeff’s day was like, see the photos below.
Tuesday, 3/16, 6:30 – 8:00 PM in the Westview School gymnasium located at 9th and Main in Hamilton. Enter through the east doors facing 9th St.
Beginners Pattern: Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear
Advanced Pattern: Bugmeister
Speaker: Chuck Stranahan – Flyfishing Etiquette, Stewardship
Don’t forget to pick up a raffle ticket each night you help – there will be a drawing for volunteers in April for a framed Monte Dolak print valued at over $300. The more you attend, the better your chances!
Attention Hamilton kids!
We’ll be judging flies each night for those students choosing to enter. Be sure to pick up a judging criteria sheet when you arrive.
Questions?
Call Jeff at Western Flies and Guides (406) 363-9099
Ria of the Keystone Discovery Enrichment Program (406) 363-5996 or
Greg Chester of BRTU (406) 363-0033
Thanks in advance for your valued assistance – for more information about the sponsors, visit:
See the slideshow below of photos taken by Greg Chester. If you see yourself in a photo, leave a comment. If you want to see yourself in a photo, come on down!
FWP biologists will describe the state of the fishery at the 2nd anniversary of the removal of Milltown Dam, with special focus on the upper Clark Fork and Flint-Rock drainages, as well as the Clark Fork-Blackfoot confluence.
RSVP to info@clarkfork.org – Call 542.0539 with questions
140 S 4th Street West
Missoula, MT 59801-2703
(406) 542-0539
Get directions
In the meantime, help improve the fishery by weighing in on bull trout habitat today! As Montana’s largest native trout and our primary indicator of watershed health, it’s important to safeguard the rivers, lakes, and streams that bull trout call home. Help us make sure the USFWS proposed critical habitat for bull trout is clean, cool, and connected.
SUBMIT COMMENTS today, and ask to include critical habitat for bull trout in the upper river.
