Extravaganza Update

 

 Well, Extravagant Ones, the deposit balloting is in and, keeping with long-standing but earlier in jeopardy tradition, the veterans of Group Two are, as they were last year, the winners of The First Fully Deposited Group!! 

 

Congrats "Tattooi's" (who garnered their name by showing up to E-08 with Rockin' C [our MT house logo, rookies] tattoos strewn literally all over their bodies (see the fifteen minute, three part Journey To The Soul video that we did that year which can be found either on YouTube ("Wildlife Films--Extravaganza") or by going directly to our 2008 blogsite, www.montanaextravaganza2008.blogspot.com where the video is posted.  Ah, just think Tattooes (that's multiple Group Twoers in tatooese, btw), you are now renowned not only by this ably earned additional distinction but, after E-09's errant attempt at alphabetization of our groups, also are forever to be known as "The Group Formerly Known as B"!!

 

On other fronts, as many of you know, for the past year and a half your Hostess With The Mostess, Kocktail Kathy, and I have been involved in the construction of a second Montana home located on the internationally famed Blackfoot "A River Runs Through It" River.  Miracles of miracles, six months late and substantially over-budget (each traditions with our marvelous contractor, "Bruce The Builder"), I received a most welcomed and awaited phone call from Bruce The Builder last week announcing that our new home is "finally done".  I say "our home" because this wonderful new 3,000 sq ft addition to the Montana landscape is now co-owned by us with long time Extravaganza veterans Tim & Shanna Rodgers and Brian Shepard (and their families) and will be officially anointed as an additional Extravaganza locale during E-10, to be occupied by Brian and his three wonderful adult offspring as they fish in Group One and by Tim & Shanna and the inimical Lori "The Fawn" Ware during Group Two--the latter are going to "hold over"  and be with us for Group Three to be joined on the Blackfoot by our Extravaganza Coordinator Extraordinaire Patty Gallia and her two wonderful daughters.  Kathy and I leave for MT this coming Wednesday to take delivery of the final product and (finally!!) take delivery of and install the furniture and artwork that we purchased for this magnificent structure last year.  Photos to follow while we are there!!

 

The only critical open item of Extravagant import for each of you to attend to at this point in time is for each of you to nail down and purchase you air flights into and out of Missoula.  Links to email correspondence that provides you with E-10's recommended travel schedule can be found on (y)our E-10 blogsite, www.montanaextravaganza2010.blogspot.com and then get that travel data to E-10's coordinator Patty Gallia so we can log your info into our master Extravaganza travel calendar.  If you are planning on driving, or as is the case with Group Two's Ralph McLeran flying your own plane, let Patty know that as well, as, yet five months before your first arrival(s), we are already deep into the planning stages for this year Extravaganza.  Remember:  (a) follow the recommended itinerary, only; (b) purchase your round trip tickets NOW, and (c) unless your name is Group One's Brad "I Fly United" Colton (who, after multiple errant years, has yet to see the errors of his United ways), make your reservations on Delta Air Lines only. 

 

Today marks the end of the first month of 2010, believe it or not; as our time together in Montana rapidly courses its way towards us, your Hostess and I wish you the very best of New Years and I will next pictorially report back to you next week from the glorious scene of it all!!

 

Best to all in anticipation of it all,

 

Rock Creek Ron

 

 

 

  

El Nino y La Extravaganza

January tidings, fellow Extravaganzers!

 

'Tis the time of year that we turn our eyes towards the accumulating snow pack in the Bitterroot Mountain range to begin our forecasting of what type of water conditions we might experience during Extravaganza 2010--and, indeed, over our prior seven years we have seen the gambit of excessively high waters (as in E-08 when local rivers around the Missoula area were so turbulent and high that we spend four of our fishing days trekking over the the Missouri River north of Helena [a 3 hour jaunt each way to great fishing, nonetheless!]) to excessively low waters (as in E-07 when the water levels were so low [and resulting water temperatures so high] that our last groups were arising when it was fully dark and getting off the rivers shortly after noon).

 

What we seek out is "normal" which, in weather-ese, is defined as the rolling 20 year average of snow pack and water levels, but, as we found out last year when water levels were indeed "normal" and "perfect", those levels need to receive "normal" water temperatures where, as last year, although the water levels were at norm, due to chilly upper level conditions, the water temperature remained unusually low such that bug activity and prime time fishing was delayed by several weeks.

 

Thus, the nirvana that we seek with modicums of annual success is a "normal" snow pack that results in a "normal" runoff come May and early June when the snow pack melts off and, hopefully, "normal" water temperatures.  As noted above, each year is a bit different and, hence, much like poker (where if you were dealt the same hand each time you would quickly tire of the game), each year we are dealt a different weather hand upon which we base our fishing experience.

 

What does 2010 hold out for us, you ask??  Well, as in prior years, Montana has been experiencing and is going to continue to experience the result of a "moderate strength El Nino", where the warming of the Pacific Ocean waters is going to bring drier winter conditions to the Western Rockies.  Indeed, a look at snow pack early returns bears truth to that prognosis where the snow pack average in the Bitterroot basin, as reported in Missoula's only decent paper of repute, The Missoulian,  is 60% of normal.

 

From my perspective, that is great news!  Too much water is just that, "too much" and to have too little fishable water leads to logical and obvious poor fishing conditions, such that I will settle for between 50% and 90% of normal any day of the week.

 

Thus, viva la Extravaganza as El Nino de 2010 greets its affectionate cousin, la Extravaganza of 2010!

 

Best to all in anticipation of it all,

 

Rock Creek Ron

 

p.s. More on "the runoff" and our desired prime fishing conditions in a later report.

 

Spring Fishing Video with John Gould & Double Up Outfitters

 

 

Extravagant Ones:

 

Below is a message from our Montana Outfitter par excellence, "John the Great" Gould.  Toggle over using the provided link to see Extravaganza guide Dave Heimes and Sir John dance with and talk to huge browns, rainbows and cutthroat trout on our E-10 prime targeted river, The Bitterroot.  The video opens up with (very rare) footage of John white-watering his raft (we don't do that, gang!), followed by Dave Heimes showing the Montana fishing way and then by some (equally rare, as he is always guiding) footage of John with his modest net and scorpion-tattooed arms catching and releasing multiple fish of the twenty plus inch variety.

 

It is nice to know that, indeed, we fish with the best and to see what we all will be fishing in six short months!!

 

RCR

 

 

Happy 2010,

    Just wanted to say "Hi", and send you a link to our latest spring fishing video...in HD if you like to!

    Just click Here to watch.

    I know I'm ready to wet a line this spring after putting this video together. We've had some great water conditions the past few years, and our trout are as big, healthy, and happy as they'll ever be. Did I mention the big one is ready for a snap shot with you this year to! Hope you can join us this season for some of the best dry fly fishing anywhere.

    Hope 2010 is a great year for you, and all your fishing yields great memories this season. Thanks, and...

    Fish On!

 

John Gould
Double Up Outfitters LLC
PO Box 2261
Missoula, MT
59860

Phone: 406.240.9498

Double Up Outfitters web site
Blog for Double Up
Our Latest Fishing Video!!!

Fishing the Sacramento Delta

Extravagant Ones:

 

Just because it is cold and wintry out doesn't mean that fishing needs to wait months. 

 

Witness:  This past Friday, long time Extravaganza veteran "Downriver Dave" Studeman and I spent a day on the Sacramento Delta waters with legendary guide Captain Mike Costello (who fishes only 240+ days/year) fly fishing for and to the illusive but nonetheless prolific anadromous striped bass (the stripers spend their winter months in the fresh Delta water and, annually, migrate out through the Golden Gate straights to spend their summer months in the Pacific Ocean--"anadromous", as with steelhead and salmon, meaning fish having the ability to survive in both salt and fresh water).

 

What a workout the day was:  We fished for over nine hours heaving 9' nine weight rods (such as to make the strongest arms cringe at the end of the hundreds of casts), casting streamer flies (as shown in the attached photo)  60-75' with the assistance of shooting heads and lead forward weighted lines which are then "stripped" back into the boat using a two stroke, jerking retrieval method. 

 

In the course of the day we hade eleven "grabs", successfully landing four fish, the largest of which was an 8 1/2 lb striper shown with the birthday boy above. 

 

For those of you who are interested in learning more about this near-to-the-Bay Area odyssey, I highly recommend Mike Costello's newly released coffee table book Fly Fishing The California Delta, an autographed copy of which can be viewed any day at my office.

 

What fun!

 

Best to all,

 

Rock Creek Ron

 

 

 

FW: An Extravaganza Overview

Fellow 2010 Extravaganzers:

As the beginning of a soon-to-be if not already steady stream of emails to each of you, particularly for you rookies out there who will be experiencing your first Extravaganza with us, I thought it would be helpful to begin this year with an overview of the Extravaganza and, a full six months early, to provide a backdrop to what we are all in for this coming year.

As you know by now, our 65 participants are divided into three groups (Group One, Group Two and Group Three), with 23 participants in Group One, 22 fisherfolk in Group Two and 18 in Group Three (the reason for the reduced number of Group Three-ers is that our Extravaganza Coordinator Extraordinaire Patty Gallia and her two wonderful daughters are going to join us for the Fourth of July bash). Each of our groups will fish three days, two to a boat with their own assigned guides. With only a few exceptions, our pairings each day with fisherfolk and their guide will be the same, such that, regardless of your fishing prowess, at the end of your three days fishing with the same guide everyone will be fishing at a higher level than on day one (with perhaps the exception of my old SRHS '64 high school buddy, veteran Group Oner Brad "I Go United" Colton , who, after multiple years of Extravaganzas, proudly fishes at the same [low] level as he did on day one, year one--when you see him, ask him about the fish that, year after year, he continually catches on his back cast--arm swings of "10 to 2" being perpetually illusive to this left-hander!).

As with last year, the Extravaganza is blessed to be served by our two land-based operators: (1) Doug Persico and his Rock Creek Mercantile (the fly shop located at the foot of our own Rock Creek Road) who handles all of our licensing and ground purchases and (2) our outfitter John "The Great But Propaneless" Gould and the (wonderful) cadre of guides associated with his Double Up Outfitters, LLC ( for your rookies, a "double" or "double up" is when both fisherfolk in a boat have a fish on at the same time). This coming year we will launch well over 100 drift boats during E-10, making the Extravaganza one of the single largest fishing clientele in Western Montana. To provide you a(nother) measure of just what that means, with each of our boats drifting an average of seven miles a day, if our first boat were to launch in San Francisco Bay, our last boat in tandem would take out in San Diego Harbor.

By "drift boats" we mean just that: each of our fishing vessels is quietly and blessedly engine-less. Each day you will travel with you guide to the "put in" spot and (depending on your guide and river conditions) either your two-person-plus-guide raft or hard-bottomed drift boat will be launched at the location chosen by your guide on the river du jour selected by him and, from that point, you will drift downstream to a pre-determined "take out" spot (where, during the day, the guide's truck and trailer will have been "shuttled" downstream to meet you upon your end-of-the-day arrival. During that eight hour experience you will witness rivers just as Lewis & Clark did over 200 years ago, fish for all-native Montana trout (rainbows, cutthroats, cutthroats, bull, and cuttbows--the latter a cross breed of the former two) with barbless hooks, ALL of our fish being caught and (post photo) released to return to their environs.

While with us you will fish one or more of three rivers (more on each of which to follow at a later time): (a) The Clark Fork of the Columbia River; (b) The Bitterroot River; and (c) The Big ("A River Runs Through It"--yes, the river written of in McLean's fabled book of the same name) Blackfoot River. Which place on which river, you ask?? Well, that is decided by your guide on a day-by-day basis depending on weather conditions, fishing conditions, recent experience and his "guesstimate" of just might be the best locale for that particular day. Regardless of the river, your guide will provide you with any and all necessary fishing gear that you might require (including rods, reels, line and flies), tie your flies on for you, land your fish for you and, were that not enough, mid day cook you a hot streamside lunch.

As part of the Extravaganza, all transportation and lodging is included. We will have a gaggle of vehicles available for our collective use, you will stay either at our house on world-renowned Rock Creek (about a 45 minute drive from the Missoula airport) or the 3500 sq. ft "Bunk House" located a half mile further up Rock Creek Road that we rent for the Extravaganza; evening festivities are at our home, where you are treated to the wonderful Southern Hostess hospitality of your Hostess With The Mostess, my bride 'Kocktail Kathy" and at a place where the bar is always open.

Do we catch any fish, you ask?? Well, yes, indeed, we do--over the past several years, our Extravaganzas have averaged landing over 1,750 fish (or over 25+ fish per participant) averaging over 16" in length which, as any veteran fisherman will tell you, "ain't too shabby".

As with prior Extravaganzas, Kocktail Kathy and I reserve the right to treat you extravagantly from the moment of your arrival until the time of your departure, so, as you finalize getting your deposits posted and as you purchase your air line tickets, veterans and rookies alike, "strap it on" as you are in for one extravagant time!!

(Much) more to follow, with the above designed to whet your appetite for this year's extravagant event!

Best to all early in the timing of it all,

Rock Creek Ron

E-10 Flight Information

Happy New Year, Fellow E-10 Extravaganzers!!

As the deposit season hits its high water mark (they being due by next Friday, gang), it is nary too soon to be looking to book your Delta Air Line reservations for Extravaganza 2010.

As in the past, we fervently request and strongly recommend that (a) you book your Extravaganza reservations into and out of Missoula now (especially those of you in the Fourth of July weekend Group Three) and (b) do so only on Delta Air Lines using only the recommended flights for your respective group (see email to you of even date). Other air lines fly in and out of Missoula and, as veteran Group Oner nee United Airliner Brad Colton can personally attest to, taking any of those is ill-advised and greatly improves your chance of not being with us on time.

As you veterans know, Kathy and I meet and greet each of you upon your arrival as we transport you to our traditional first day luncheon at The Montana Club. Having all on the same flight accomplishes this task, with the caveat that if you find yourself on another (often delayed) air line, your back up plan is to rent a car and catch up with you as and if you can. Our first day arrival is action packed as it is, going from lunch to tour our then-to-be completed Blackfoot house and to license and gear up with our ground outfitter, the Rock Creek Mercantile, followed by a trip up Rock Creek, settling in and making sure that our always-open bar is working to your satisfaction, prior to/concurrent with you casting tune up on one of our two casting lawns.

Pricing is going to be very much of an issue this year. We have posted the cost of flights as of yesterday next to each of the round trip departure points of SFO, OAK, and SMF which shows that (a) round trip air prices are already about $100/person higher than last year; (b) flying out of OAK is running about a $100/person cheaper than SFO and/or SMF; and (c) that Group Three Fourth of July weekend prices are already running about $100/person higher than for the other two groups.

As space becomes more dear on these 50 seat Missoula incoming Delta Canadian Regional Jets (our first two groups will occupy almost half of those seats!), the longer that you wait, the more it is going to cost for the same experience.

SO, as in previous years, "BOOK 'EM, DANNO" and, once you get your reservations either email them to our Extravaganza Coordinator Extraordinaire Patty Gallia at [removed] and/or fax them to her attention at the fax number below so that we can begin logging you in on our master travel list (yes, as now-veteran Group Three CPA Bruce Mowat has noted on more than one occasion, "more goes into planning an Extravaganza than went into Desert Storm!").

Also, gang, (y)our very own Extravaganza 2010 blogsite is now officially up an running—check it out at www.montanaextravaganza2010.blogspot.com and mark this under your "favorites" as announcements like this one will permanently be posted to Der Blog for your future reference.

Best to all in early anticipation of it all,

Rock Creek Ron

Welcome 2010 Extravaganzers!

 

 

Greetings to all 65 (count em'!) of you 2010 Extravaganzers; welcome to your very own Blogsite!!

 

Marking our eighth foray into the glorious wilds of Montana (Ritz Carlton style, that is), "E-10" is already measuring up to be a(nother) memorable Extravaganza with all three of our groups already fully subscribed a full six months before the first flight alights in Missoula on Saturday, June 19th.

 

As with last year, we will have three (not four) groups, with each group fishing three days each.  Unlike last year, however, when our former Group 2, by way of example, was errantly referred to as Group B, we are ditching the alphabetical denomination of our groups and going back to our years-long tradition of "One, Two, Three"...phew!!

 

To that end, the traditionally ignominious reprobates of Group One (who, during E-10, will be re-bolstered by the return of The John Kruger Gang of Four only to be exacerbated by the Houston entry of dear friend Tom "Tree" Kennerly, Esq. and his other hard drinking rookie fishing sidekicks--is that a fit, or what?!?), as indicated above, will arrive on the Missoula scene on Saturday, June 19th, fish Father's Day June 20th [with eight (count 'em!) father-son/daughter combinations, I might add], June 20th and June 21st, returning home on Tuesday, June 23rd.

 

After a day of (much needed) post-Group One rest, the venerable veteran group of Group Two arrives in town on Friday, June 25th, fishes the 26th, 27th and 28th, and returns home on Tuesday, June 29th, followed in due course by the magnificently elegant veteran-filled Group Three that arrives on Thursday, July 1st, fishes on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th {hosting our annual Fourth of July Guide Celebration Pig Roast [a whole pig, not a guide, gang!] and Eighth Annual Rock Creek Fly Casting Competition}, and returns home to culminate Extravaganza 2010 on Monday, July 5th.

 

Once deemed "a guys trip" back in its earlier days, the Extravaganza has wonderfully matured (except for Group One, that is!) into a husband-wife [10 of those], father-son [8 of those], father-daughter, brother-brother, brother-sister [one each all] affair with Kathy and I reserving, as we have done so many times in previous years, to treat all Extravaganza participants extravagantly upon and during your arrival(s) in God's own backyard:  Montana.

 

More...much more...to follow!

 

Viva la Extravaganza!!

 

Rock Creek Ron