USGS (river flows)
June 8, 2009
The rivers are dropping rapidly due to the recent cooling trend. The temperatures at night are keeping that higher elevation snow from running into the valleys (and of course, the rivers). The North Fork of the Flathead River is well below its average for this time of year. I was just up in Polebridge, Montana, and the river is just about fishable. It seems like a great time to float, whether it be in a raft, an inflatable kayak, a canoe, or a drift boat. All of these vehicles would suffice to float from the Canadian Border down to Ford Cabin and beyond. The river right by the Ben Rover Cabin is greenish and coming around. I would always check with either a local from the North Fork area or one of the guide services to get the up-to-date flows and hazards that may exist. Springtime in the Canadian Rockies is extremely variable and conditions may change without warning. Montana Raft/Glacier Wilderness Guides (same company) have a great staff if you are looking for a rafting trip.
I floated the Middle Fork of the Flathead River recently from Bear Creek through the Paola Creek area and down to Cascadilla. The Middle Fork was moving and it was quite easy to cover that much water then. Things have already changed due to cooler temperatures and lower flows. I did manage to catch a few native westslope cutthroat trout and one rainbow trout. Fish and Game does not love the rainbows as they are non-native species and vie for the same food source as the native and wild cutthroat. A fish is a fish in my book and I'm just glad they ate my flies.
Look for the mainstem of the Flathead River to keep dropping with all its forks doing the same. Understand that if temperatures get drastically warm again, the Flathead may not be done pumping "chocolate milk".
My business partner, Justin Lawrence, is guiding over on the Missouri River right now so we will have an updated report soon.
My report from the Missouri River consists of information from Holter Dam past the Wolf Creek Bridge and Craig all the way to Mid-Canon. I fished it for 4 days last weekend while it was between 11,000 and 12,000 CFS. It was a nymphing game throughout most of the day, with some Caddis dry fly action on the lower river just before dark.
I would say the bite was on more in the mornings as it was the coolest point of the day. We did have some action on streamers, but nymph fishing was where the productivity lay in terms of sheer numbers of rainbow and brown trout. The funny thing for me was the lack of whitefish our group caught. The Missouri River usually is responsible for some massive whitefish and if you were here targeting the "Rocky Mountain Bonefish", you would have left a little disappointed.
My next report will have some information on both the Thompson River and the West Fork of the Bitteroot.
That's all for now boys and girls!
Tight Lines. Quit Wishin' and get Fishin'!!!
Thanx.
Brendan Friel
Westslope Troutfitters.
|
