by Merle Ann Loman | May 20, 2009 | Bitterroot, i Spring
The photo is of the Bitterroot River south of Victor Crossing. It was taken yesterday about 2:00 pm. Since then, it rose about 3000 cubic feet per second (CFS) – from approximately 10,000 to 13,000 CFS.
The National Weather Service has issued a flood warning, as of Tuesday afternoon, for the Bitterroot River in the Darby and Victor areas.
With tributaries rising on the heels warm weekend temperatures, officials with the National Weather Service say rapid snow melt has raised the likelihood of flooding.
The Bitterroot River was measured at 7.3 feet late Tuesday morning, with flood stage at 7.5 feet. The National Weather Service warns that flood waters can be expected to inundate several roads in Ravalli County.
The service issued a flood watch for the South Fork of the Clearwater River near Stites, Idaho. The South Fork of the river is expected to reach flood stages late Tuesday or Wednesday morning.
From the RAVALLI REPUBLIC Online.
Click here for Wapiti Waters links to USGS Streamflow Data – River water level information.
I will post a slideshow soon of the river from normal levels, to higher levels, to flood stage (if it happens) at Victor Crossing.
by Merle Ann Loman | May 14, 2009 | Bitterroot, i Spring
The photo to the right is from May 11 at Victor Crossing which is about the middle of the Bitterroot. You can see that it is fairly clear and big, but not bank-full or in the run-off stage.
The weather this spring has been cool, cool, cool. The photo below was taken May 12. Yes, it was snowing. The snow-pack in the mountains is growing not shrinking.
Take a look at the weather widget to the left in the sidebar. It is forecasted to be 85 degrees this Sunday and Monday. That is going to be interesting!
Jack and Casey went to the Clearwater Chain of Lakes yesterday. It was cold and a bit windy but they caught some pike. No camera, so I can’t post any photos of that trip.
Tomorrow, Jack is going to the Missouri River to fish near Craig, Montana. It might still be cool and windy, but we will find out how the fishing is.
Stay tuned for a look at our rivers. I will be posting photos when I can.
See the sidebar for links to USGS water data and if you go near the rivers, please be very careful. The water is very, very cold, approximately 38 degrees.
by Merle Ann Loman | May 13, 2009 | Bitterroot, i Spring, Take Your Kids Fishing
It was a couple of cold days in May! Dave came down from northwestern Montana and his daughter KJ came over from Idaho to fish two days with Jack.
It was great to see them both and to catch some trout. Thanks to you both, hope to see you again soon.
All the photos are from KJ’s camera, thanks for sending them in – see them in the Picasa slideshow below.
by Merle Ann Loman | May 8, 2009 | Bitterroot, i Spring
Fly shop owner dies in rafting accident
by PERRY BACKUS and WILL MOSS – Ravalli Republic
The owner of a Hamilton fly shop died in a rafting accident on the Bitterroot River Wednesday.
Richard “Dick” Galli, 72, drowned after the raft he was riding in overturned just south of Hamilton at about 2 p.m.
Ravalli County Sheriff Chris Hoffman said the three men launched their boat from a fishing access site at Anglers Roost.
Just downstream, they apparently hit a brush pile and the boat overturned, Hoffman said. It landed on a tree limb and the men were ejected….
…While the Bitterroot River isn’t running bank full, Hoffman said it has reached the point in the spring when floaters need to be very careful.“It’s always a fairly tricky river to float, but the danger increases in the spring,” Hoffman said. “We urge people to use extreme caution and maybe consider waiting to float until the river drops enough so they can see debris.”
Click here for the full story at the Ravalli Republic.com – Fly shop owner dies in rafting accident
Dick and Jack were friends. Jack stopped in the shop often. He liked and respected Dick. He will be missed. Our condolences to his family.
by Merle Ann Loman | May 6, 2009 | Bitterroot, i Spring
Wet and rainy, yes it was, but Jeff and Jack still wanted to fish. They had a great day and here are some of the fish Jeff caught.
I will upload one and do a slideshow of a few more photos. Enjoy!
The weather is getting wetter and warmer and the river is on the rise.
by Merle Ann Loman | May 4, 2009 | Bitterroot, i Spring
Best laid plans: On May 1, Jack had a great day of fishing with John Hickman and Terry Nobles.
Yesterday, May 2, he and I were going to fish – acually scout, but if I get to go along, I get to fish! We pulled into the access and I (and a few other cars) hear Jack yell, “What the heck happened!” As, I look at the river, I see what he means. Water that was gin clear the day before is chocolate brown, muddy as heck. We had looked at the hydrographs and there was no surge in run-off. This meant that a “ditch” up-river had blown and deposited sediment, a lot of sediment, into the river. Jack has a client day today and tomorrow. He was visibly concerned. All we could hope was that somehow, it would clear. It did and Jack is fishing his clients.
In the photo below, taken at the same access early this morning, the water is clear. Maybe it isn’t gin clear, but it is very clear and fishable. We are happy campers even though I didn’t get my boat fishing in. So that is the 3 day “In, then OUT, then In” story.
It is a tough business. According to some shuttle drivers, there was a flurry of shuffling guide boats and rigs up, and up, and up river to try to find fishable water on May 2. I hope they found some.
