Canadian Coal vs Bull Trout

Click here for the Western Native Bull Trout website showing a bull trout location map and an assessment document.

Once again, our friend and New Heathens band member, Nate Schweber in New York (but from Missoula) has impressed me with his social blogging.

An excerpt of Nate's blog: A Canadian mining company wants to dig up coal at the headwaters of the North Fork of the Flathead River, which forms the western boundary of Glacier National Park. I go fishing there every summer. Boooo! Read on for his "double boo" and "triple boo." Please visit his blog about Canadian Coal vs Bull Trout.

Click here for a Missoulian newspaper story,
Canada: Mine planned atop habitat for bull trout By MICHAEL JAMISON of the Missoulian.
Nate found the story and has the link on his website (thank you Nate).

Happy Thanksgiving from Wapiti Waters

In honor of our wild goose friend, Swisher

In early May, Jack was floating the Big Hole river with clients when he noticed this lone gosling had been following his boat for miles. At the end of the day he thought of it's fate if he didn't rescue it. He scooped it up in his net and brought it home. We put it under a light until it could survive being in the coop with out it. It stayed with us in our yard until mid August. One day I came home from work and he was gone. I have to believe he flew away with other geese as he should. Maybe one day Swisher will come back to our ponds with a mate and nest.

Here is a slide show of Swisher from May through mid-August. I hope you enjoy it.

View Album

Get your own

If you click "View Album", then "Slide Show" it will show in full screen mode. If the photos don't quite focus, slow down the speed to 5 or 6 seconds per photo.

Note: I don't know if Swisher was male or female. I just found myself calling Swisher "he."

Canada Goose - Montana Field Guide

2008 Hunting season, warm weather makes for nice walking but difficult stalking

Above is a photo of an elk herd (actually only part of the herd) that hangs on private land during hunting season. They are so much fun to watch as they move from field to field just on the edge of timber and Forest Service land.

We are still hunting for my whitetail doe and/or buck and of course for the elusive elk. It is fun, but we would love for it snow so their behavior was a bit more predictable and we could see tracks. It is our privilege to hunt in these beautiful mountains and be able to experience the wonderful sights and sounds as the sun rises and the day begins.

Here is a slide show of a few of our hunting photos. We did an eastern Montana antelope hunt in October. Jack went back in November and bagged a 4x4 whitetail buck. He didn't get any photos on that trip. It was rainy and mucky.

View Album

Get your own

If you click "View Album", then "View Slide Show" and slow the photos down to 5 or 6 seconds - it should show in full screen mode.

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 Fly Fishing Adventures, 1% For The Planet, and Bayern, Inc.

Stream Access Law - Mitchell Slough ruled open to recreation - Bitterroot River

By Perry Backus - Ravalli Republic

In a case with statewide implications, the Montana Supreme Court decided Monday
the Mitchell Slough is open to recreation under the state’s stream access law.

....The court did offer a caveat on the issue of public access.

The slough runs through private property and the public only has the right to recreate under the terms of the state streamside access law, which allows access on the water and up the ordinary high-water mark on the slough’s bank, the court said.

Read the full story AND readers' comments here: http://www.ravallirepublic.com/articles/2008/11/20/news/news47.txt

Nov 20 Bitter Root TU Meeting to feature Future of Montana Rivers and Fish

Click on photo for larger image.

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.

Read the Ravalli Republic Story.

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).

Reminder for Anglers from Montana Fish and Wildlife

Friday, November 14, 2008 Fishing Link to FWP.MT.gov:

General fishing season on most of Montana’s smaller rivers and streams in the western and central fishing districts closes Nov. 30.

In the eastern fishing district, the season on rivers and streams extends year round. Fishing is also open year round on all of the state’s lakes and reservoirs.

Emergency regulations are sometimes in effect to protect a fishery, for example when low water flows combined with winter freezing present a threat. Signs are posted on waters with emergency fishing regulations in effect.

To check in advance for emergency regulations call 406-444-2449, or go to the FWP Web site at fwp.mt.gov under Fishing, click on Regulations and then on Emergency Fishing Closures.