Posts from — August 2008

Catching fish and getting paid for it. To good to be true? Not!

The Northern Pikeminnow Sport-Reward Program is paying $4-$8 for each northern pikeminnow caught in the lower Columbia (mouth to Priest Rapids Dam) and Snake (mouth to Hells Canyon Dam) rivers. This year’s qualifying tagged fish will be worth $500.

In my hierarchy of preferred gamefish these guys rank a couple branches down from Whitefish and usually become airborne missiles with a general trajectory toward the bank someplace. But I’d be willing to drag a load of these around in my truck long enough to cash in and go fishing for say, Bass on the John Day, or Steelhead on the Deschutes.

Kbarton over at Singlebarbed can now pack up the rods, a box of Jean Paul Lipton’s X factor nymphs, and go on a working vacation. The only caveat being that he will probably have to buy some stovepipe to slip over his waders from the knees down to cut down on the fang punctures. If its not mosquitoes, its something else. But if those X Factor nymphs are as good as it sounds he should be able to pass on the questionable Weenies and Bacon in a Blanket for something a bit more eclectic.

Sounds like an adventure in the making to me.

If you think a Trout can be finicky and Bass eat anything, anytime- you are in for a surprise. Being in the beginning stages of my assault on Bass with a fly rod I am finding that Bass, Largemouth in particular, are as willing to flip you off as the most persnickety Trout.

The morning began in the reeds, flushing birds out and probably most of the fish.

I watched this fellow for awhile and he had about as much luck as we did so I was not feeling to bad till we moved to some shelves near the shore that dropped into deeper water. Here we watched some Largemouth of the tanker size totally snub everything we had. While the notion crossed my mind to return to the truck for depth charges we decided to move on to another lake to try for some Smallmouths.

The Smallmouths were, well- small. But they were willing and we caught several, a little salve for our wounded egos after being shunned by Largemouths that would have ate them for breakfast. The bug I used was Rickards Seal Bugger. I added weight to mine, a little lead wire and a bead. I also caught a couple on a BWO parachute on top.

My personal opinion is that Smallmouth Bass have a lot more scrap to them than any Largemouths that I have tied into so far and they are as fun any day as trout. Damn bucket mouths anyway.

Thank god for “no child left behind”. At least we know it wasn’t the Mercury in the fish he ate during his early childhood.

This is the latest on low flows from Montana NRCS. Almost all are a month behind where they were last year. So, as summer comes to an end it looks pretty good going into fall. With temperatures climbing (Missoula and Kalispell set records today, 100° and 98° respectively) the hoppers are flourishing. Time to break out the foam bugs.

Blackfoot River at Bonner updated August 18, 2008.

Assuming average precipitation the Blackfoot River should reach 700 cfs between August 25 and August 29.

Assuming below average precipitation, the Blackfoot River should reach 700 cfs between August 20 and August 25.

Assuming well below average precipitation, the Blackfoot River should reach 700 cfs between August 13 and August 20.

This year the river reached 700 cfs on August 17. Last year (2007) the river reached 700 cfs on July 23. This year the river receded to 2,000 cfs on July 14. Last year the river receded to 2,000 cfs on June 21. This year the river receded to 1500 cfs on July 19. Last year the river receded to 1500 cfs on June 28. This year the river receded to 1000 cfs on July 30. Last year the river receded to 1000 cfs on July 8.

This is the final update for this year.

Big Hole River near Wisdom updated August 18, 2008.

Assuming average precipitation and normal management, the Big Hole near Wisdom should reach 20 cfs between August 28 and August 31.

Assuming below average precipitation and normal management, the Bighole near Wisdom should reach 20 cfs between August 25 and August 28.

Assuming well below average precipitation and normal management, the Bighole near Wisdom should reach 20 cfs between August 21 and August 25.

This year the river receded to 150 cfs July 11. Last year the river receded to 150 cfs June 16. This year the river receded to 60 cfs on August 5. Last year the river receded to 60 cfs June 21. Last year the river receded to 40 cfs June 22.

This is the final update for this year.

Big Hole River near Melrose updated August 7, 2008.

Assuming average precipitation and normal management, the Big Hole near Melrose should reach 250 cfs between August 27 and September 1.

Assuming below average precipitation and normal management, the Big Hole near Melrose should reach 250 cfs between August 21 and August 27.

Assuming well below average precipitation and normal management, the Big Hole near Melrose should reach 250 cfs between August 13 and August 21.

This year the river receded to 1000 cfs on July 20. Last year (2007) the river receded to 1000 cfs on June 24. This year the river receded to 500 cfs on August 4. Last year the river receded to 500 cfs on July 4. Last year the river receded to 250 cfs on July 30. Last year the river receded to 200 cfs on August 2.

The next update will be when the river recedes to 250 cfs.

Smith River near Fort Logan updated August 7, 2008.

Assuming average precipitation the Smith River near Fort Logan should reach 100 cfs between August 9 and September 3.

Assuming below average precipitation the Smith River near Fort Logan should reach 100 cfs between July 30 and August 24.

Assuming well below average precipitation the Smith River near Fort Logan should reach 100 cfs between July 15 and August 9.

This year the river receded to 100 cfs on August 6. Last year (2007) the river reached 100 cfs June 20.

Dearborn River near Craig updated August 15, 2008.

Assuming average precipitation and normal management, the Dearborn River near Craig should reach 60 cfs between August 24 and August 29.

Assuming below average precipitation and normal management, the Dearborn River near Craig should reach 60 cfs between August 19 and August 24.

Assuming well below average precipitation and normal management, the Dearborn River near Craig should reach 60 cfs between August 11 and August 19.

This year the river receded to 150 cfs on July 24. Last year (2007) the river receded to 150 cfs on June 26. This year the river receded to 80 cfs on August 14. Last year the river receded to 80 cfs on July 9. Last year the river receded to 60 cfs on July 19. Last year the river receded to 40 cfs on August 1.

The next update will be when the river recedes to 60 cfs.

Gallatin River near Gateway updated August 13, 2008.

Assuming average precipitation, the Gallatin River near Gateway should reach 500 cfs between September 1 and September 6.

Assuming below average precipitation, the Gallatin River near Gateway should reach 500 cfs between August 27 and September 1.

Assuming well below average precipitation, the Gallatin River near Gateway should reach 500 cfs between August 21 and August 27.

Last year (2007) the river reached 500 cfs July 22. This year the river receded to 1500 cfs on July 24. Last year the river receded to 1500 cfs on June 21. This year the river receded to 1000 cfs on July 31. Last year the river receded to 1000 cfs on June 29. This year the river receded to 800 cfs on August 12. Last year the river receded to 800 cfs on July 5.

This is the final update for this year.

Jefferson River near Twin Bridges updated July 31, 2008.

Assuming normal management and average precipitation, the Jefferson River near Twin Bridges should reach 400 cfs between August 10 and August 15.

Assuming normal management and below average precipitation, the Jefferson River near Twin Bridges should reach 400 cfs between August 4 and August 10.

Assuming normal management and well below average precipitation, the Jefferson River near Twin Bridges should reach 400 cfs between July 27 and August 4.

This year the river receded to 2500 cfs on July 10. Last year the river receded to 2500 cfs on June 16. This year the river receded to 1500 cfs on July 14. Last year the river receded to 1500 cfs on June 22. This year the river receded to 1000 cfs on July 27. Last year the river receded to 1000 cfs on June 26. This year the river receded to 600 cfs on August 1. Last year the river receded to 600 cfs on July 5. Last year the river receded to 400 cfs on July 23.

The next update will be when the river recedes to 400 cfs.