Fishing the Clark Fork River with "Trout Unlimited On the Rise"

Trout Unlimited On the Rise
Clark Fork River: Missoula, MT
Sat, Jan 24, 2:00 PM Run Time: 30 min.
OUTDR 153 on Dish Network
Genre: Sports, Sports non-event
First Aired: Jan 23, 2009
Topic: Fishing the Clark Fork River

I know this is a Bitterroot TU blog, but in this episode, Bitterroot Trout Unlimited Board Member, Jack Mauer, is fishing with Host Frank Smethurst. Check it out.

Milltown Cleanup Update for Guides

On Wednesday, Feb. 4, from 5:30-7:30PM, the Clark Fork Coalition and Montana Trout Unlimited will co-host Guiding Without the Dam, an update for guides on the Milltown cleanup project, at the Coalition offices at 140 S. 4th St. W. Free pizza and beer will be served.

Please RSVP to info@clarkfork.org or 406-542-0539.

Click Montana Trout Unlimited or Clark Fork Coalition for more information on the projects and issues they are working on.

Winter in the Bitterroot

I am sharing photos of the Bitterroot valley, river and mountains in December. View the slide show or click on it to view the web album.

View Album

We had rain, then snow, then FREEZING COLD, then rain, more snow...a very unusual early winter. There is a lot of moisture, much beauty, and I need to mention the avalanche danger again. If you aren't fishing in this cold, you might be hiking or skiing. Be safe. Visit the website Avalanche Information for West Central Montana for a current avalanche danger report.

DRIFT, the acclaimed fly fishing film! Showing in Missoula Nov 25th

Presents

The highly anticipated Missoula screening of

the acclaimed fly fishing film, DRIFT

Tuesday, November 25th at 8:00 PM

Historic Wilma Theatre

131 S Higgins Ave

Missoula, MT 59802

(406) 543-3432 Get directions

Ticktets: $7

Beer, Wine & refreshments available. All proceeds help
Montana TU conserve, protect & restore coldwater fisheries throughout the
state.

Tickets available at the door, or call Montana TU to purchase in
advance: 543-0054.

To see a trailer and learn more about Drift go to:

http://www.confluencefilms.tv/

Sponsored by: The Drake Magazine, Simms, Hatch Outdoors, Gore-Tex, Yellow Dog Flyfishing Adventures, 1% For The Planet, and Bayern, Inc.

November 20 TU Meeting to feature Future of Montana’s Rivers and Fish

Click on photo for larger view.

The next general meeting of Bitter Root Trout Unlimited will be at 7:00 PM November 20, 2008. The program will be presented by Montana TU Executive Director Bruce Farling.

At the meeting, TU’s indefatigable state leader will give an overview of issues impacting rivers across the state. With a crashing economy and a new administration in the White House, Bruce will talk about what is likely to change and what might stay the same – or get worse. He will give an update on various projects and programs that TU is doing across the state, and also give a preview of some issues that might surface during the upcoming Montana legislature. Everyone seems to be saying that we are in a time of change, but experience tells us that change is not inevitably progress.

The meeting will begin at 7:00 PM at the Hamilton Elks Lodge, 203 State Street. The meeting is open to the public and there is no charge for admission.

For additional information, contact Bitterroot TU president Geoff Fitzgerald (fitzes91@yahoo.com) or Doug Nation (363-2137, douglas.p.nation@gskbio.com).

Brief History of Bitterroot Chapter of Trout Unlimited

Brief Chronology of Bitterroot Chapter of Trout Unlimited
by Marshall Bloom

• 1974 – Chapter chartered as Bitterroot Chapter of Trout Unlimited (BRTU), #080. Charter members included John Moreland, Steve Benedict, David Odell, Andy Carlson, Marshall Bloom.
• Late 1970’s – BRTU, under leadership Chapter President Dave Odell, sponsored float trip with members of Bitterroot Conservation District (BCD) down Bitterroot to highlight dewatering of river’s midsection from Hamilton to Bell Crossing.
  
• Painted Rocks Lake water –
  In early 1980’s, BRTU , under leadership of BRTU Chapter President Marshall Bloom, worked with Pat Graham, MFWP staffer for Northwest Power Planning Council, to convince BPA to fund 2 year study of effect of supplementing instream flows during summer with 10,000 acre feet of water from Painted Rocks Lake.
  Results were so compelling that MFWP agreed to lease water from Painted Rocks on an annual basis.
  
• Throughout the 1980’s, under leadership of Chapter President Marshall Bloom BRTU worked with local legislators, local irrigators, BCD, Ravalli County Fish and Wildlife Association, and MFWP to create Bitterroot River Water Users Group and to establish long-term lease of 10, 000 acre-feet. Lease was underwritten by Montana Power Company (MPC) as off site mitigation for damage to fisheries incurred by projects downstream on Columbia River owned by MPC. This water was to be managed by MFWP on behalf of the Bitterroot’s sportsmen and supplemented 5,000 acre-feet purchased in perpetuity by Western Montana Fish and Game Association in 1959. Impact of these efforts cannot be overestimated.
  In mid-late 1990’s, BRTU worked with Montana Water Project lawyers Laura Ziemer and Stan Bradshaw, to arrange more permanent acquisition of the water.
  
• Mid-1980’s- BRTU funded studies of trout losses into ditches by Dr William Good. Studies were the first to demonstrate significant losses into Hedge Ditch and were published.
  
• Mid-1980’s – BRTU was major force pushing for special regulations and special management sections on the Bitterroot River.
  
• Mid-1980’s – BRTU convinced MFWP to institute Voluntary Catch and Release regulations for cutthroat. Popularity of voluntary program led to acceptance of mandatory C&R for cutthroat when proposed.
  
• Mid-1980’s – BRTU was major commenter on the Forest Plan for the Bitterroot National Forest. Comments developed by David Carr, Marshall Bloom and Doris Milner.
  
• Mid-Late 1980’s – BRTU, under leadership of Bill Good, carried out annual fall rescues of trout trapped in ditches and returned them to river.
  
• Late 1980’s early 1990’s – BRTU was major force lobbying for full time MFWP biologist for the Bitterroot. Result was hiring of Chris Clancy.
  Early 1990’s –BRTU was among first Montana TU chapters to support Arctic Grayling Recovery Program and has contributed annually to the program since its inception.
  
• 1990’s – BRTU held first Women’s Flyfishing Classes with Jennifer Olsson (ne Smith) as instructor. These efforts continue.
  
• 1990’s – BRTU established Bitterroot Buggers Club. Program continues.
  
• Early 2000’s – BRTU, under leadership of former Pres Jack Mauer, conducted float trips to highlight extent and impact of stream stabilization projects. BRTU supported MFWP biologist Chris Clancy’s efforts to modify 310 enforcement and project requirements.
  
• 2002- BRTU was founding member of the Ravalli County Advisory Council, the first RAC to be chartered in Montana. Marshall Bloom served as the first Chairman of the RAC. BRTU continues to be RAC member, represented by Greg Chester.

We will be updating this history as time permits.

Annual Banquet for BRTU, September 26, 2008

This is an invitation to attend the 29th annual Bitterroot Trout Unlimited Banquet. The banquet will start at 5:00 PM on Friday, September 26 at the Bitterroot River Inn in Hamilton. Tickets are $45.00 per person – same as last year - and can be reserved or purchased now at Fishaus Tackle. Click the hotlinks (names) for addresses and/or maps.

There will be a gourmet dinner prepared from local ingredients and catered by Riversong Catering. Silver Coin is in charge of the beverage table and we will again be featuring premium microbrews from Bitter Root Brewing! We will have special awards, drawings, door prizes, live and silent auctions. Premiums will include gourmet dinners, fine wines, elegant jewelry, fishing trips on the fabled Middle Fork of the Flathead, the Kootenai, the Madison, Big Hole and Bitterroot River, tackle, and artwork by local artists and craftspersons.

Here are a couple sneak previews! Tom Morgan of Tom Morgan Rodsmiths, also know as the “Rodfather”, is donating one of his exclusive new fiberglass rod blanks. We have also secured a stay in a flyfishing lodge in New Zealand. Other special items include #2 of the Monte Dolack print that our chapter commissioned last year, and a special outing to Lake Como with dinner for 8 at the Hikers Lodge.

Why should you come? Besides having a great time, swapping fishing stories, meeting people and visiting with your friends, here are just a couple of other reasons. We continue to work hard on the conservation and education side of things. Chapter representatives are deeply engaged in youth education, water quality monitoring, stream setback efforts, native trout restoration, habitat restoration, and a host of other issues designed to make sure that the quality of our streams and fisheries will be in good shape for future generations.

This banquet is our only fundraiser, and we are strictly a volunteer organization. Importantly, all of the money we raise stays in Montana, most of it here in the Bitterroot. Your support is what makes it happen! So, please plan on attending now.

The doors open at 5:00 PM, so there will be plenty of time to visit with friends, buy raffle tickets, view the items and bid on the silent auction. Dinner will be at 6:30 PM and will be followed by the live and silent auctions, door prize and other drawings.

Tickets are on sale at Fishaus Tackle (363-6158, fishaus@montana.com). The $45 ticket price is a real bargain. VISA and MasterCard are accepted. Please remember that the last five years’ banquets were totally sold out at least a week before the event and seating will be limited, so reserve your tickets early. And of course, you don’t have to be a TU member to share in the fun.

If you would like to participate in our Sponsor Program, please contact Marshall Bloom (363-3485, drtrout@mtbloom.net) or Bill Bean (363-6158, fishaus@montana.com)

For more information, to make a donation, or help out, contact Marshall Bloom (363-3485, drtrout@mtbloom.net), Bill Bean (363-6158, fishaus@montana.com) or Doug Nation (363-3127).

By September 26, summer will be over and everyone will be ready to have some fun. So, come help us celebrate. Hope to see you there!