Montana Camp List for E-10

 

MONTANA CAMP LIST

 Yep, it is beginning to happen folks, so, as promised, here is your Extravaganza 2010 packing list:

In preface, June is the wettest month in Montana.  The earlier in the month, the wetter it typically is--most often laden with afternoon thunder storms but sometimes the beneficiary of all-day rain.  So the earlier in the month you are (and that's you, One-Of-A Kind Group One, which arrives on June 19th) the greater the probability of temperatures in the 50's to 70's with afternoon showers; and the later in the Extravaganza you are (and that's you, Group Three, which arrives on July 1st) the greater the probability of no rain and temperatures in the mid 70's to 90's--yes, folks the change is that dramatic in just the few weeks that we fish together.  For each group, however, your packing list is the same--plan on coolish mornings transitioning into mid-day warmth, that will then be subject to afternoon cooling off and rain (when cells pass through the temperature often drops over 20 degrees is fewer than that in minutes), followed by coolish evenings as we sip (guzzle, in the case of Group One) wine, throw horseshoes in the back yard and exchange our tales of the daily blessings that have been bestowed upon us.

The list below is broken into "MUST HAVE" and "CAN HAVE" sections.  Regarding the latter first, through our outfitter extraordinaire, Double-Up Outfitters, rods and reels are available to our groups, gratis.  Feel free to bring your own gear if you have it [see below in that regard].   Regarding the need for waders and wading boots, if you have them, bring them, but (particularly in as much as we most likely have low(er)/warmer water conditions this year) we most often fish in shorts and sandals (with fleeces and rain jackets aboard in all cases). 

So, here it is, your Official Extravaganza 2010 Camp List: (NOTE:  MOST ALL ITEMS LISTED BELOW CAN BE PURCHASED AT THE ROCK CREEK MERCANTILE [WITH YOUR 10% STORE-WIDE DISCOUNT] ON YOUR ARRIVAL IN MT., IF YOU WISH)

 MUST HAVE:

         1. Polarized sunglasses (these are an absolute must); mine are prescription (because I am nearly blind without glasses) and the Merc has not only a great selection of regular polarized sun wear but also very comfortable sets that can overlay your prescription glasses--just like skiing goggles, but a little more chic/stylish.

         2.  A rain jacket (not a water resistant jacket [which really just absorbs water at a slower pace], but a poncho or truly water resistant lightweight/medium weight rain repellant--we have had the weather change from warm blue skies to cold (as in really cold) torrential rain and then back again all within an hour--if you get wet on the river it is not a pleasant experience--See 3, infra).

         3.  A dry bag/boat bag for a complete change of clothes for the river. 

        4.  Fast drying fishing shirts and pants.  (In the past, the former has been a staple of what we hand out to you as you arrive--history will repeat itself, by the way.  As to pants, I highly recommend the fast drying, zip off pants which serve as long pants in the morning hours and shorts in the afternoon.)

         5.  Brimmed fishing hats.  (Yes, history might just repeat itself here again regarding a baseball type hat; for those of you who are sunlight sensitive, I recommend a fully brimmed hat with a tie-string [so that the famous and inevitable MT wind will not decrown you].)

         6.  Layered clothing.  (Imagine that you are going to a Niners game in September--you never know what you are going to get at The Stick, so you wear a short sleeved shirt with a long sleeve shirt over it, carrying with you a fleece and a warm jacket/raincoat--voila!!)  We have washers and dryers available to you if needed, so don't bring the whole wardrobe but certainly pack an extra day's supply (remember that boat bag and its contents-to-be in 3, supra?!?)

        7.  Waterproof sandals/fishing shoes.  (90% of our fishing will be in the boats, but you will be getting in and out for entry, potty breaks, lunch and return, and will get wet to your knees as you embark/debark.  Tennis shoes are an alternative if you don't mind changing their color [permanently]  Yes, fishing sandals are an excellent Merc purchase upon arrival--they have multi-uses and will last forever.)

         8.  Sunscreen and Bug-spray.  (Bring sunscreen rated 15 and higher even if you think you don't need it, as you will be on the water, unprotected, for up to 10 hours each day--enough to challenge even the crustiest lawyer's skin!  The bugs are nothing like Minnesota and usually are not a problem at all, but have some on hand and that normally makes the experience totally uneventful.)

         9.  Fleeces (long and/or short sleeved).  (These are going to be your best friend, both early in the morning and late in the evening after a fully sating day.  Temperatures during your stay see average highs in the 70's to 80's and evening lows in the 40's and 50's.)

         10.  Casual wear.  This is not a black tie event, folks; shorts and levis are standard fare [even in Missoula's finest restaurants, I might add] both on the boat and at the house.  Our fishing focus is exclusively on the brightness of the color bands in your rainbow trout, the brownness of your brown trout and on the scarletness of your cutthroat's gill plates.

  CAN HAVE:

         A.  Fly rods and reels (5 and 6 weight rods are the order of the day--again, these are included in the Extravaganza package so only bring yours if you have them and want to fish them).

         B.  Waders (more so in Group One; less so in Groups Two and Three.

         C.  Expensive digital camera gear that you would like to get wet and destroy (Yes, folks, as in the past, we are going to have 5.0 megapixel digital cameras for your usage in each of your boats (which don't get ruined even even if you drop them in the water) . As in the past, we will assemble all pictures taken by group onto a CD and mail it to each of you, post E-10.

        D.  Booze (We have it all folks, so make your request in advance so e can have a supply on hand and leave it at home--only water and soft drinks on the boats, by the way.)

                                                 *                *                    *                *                *                *

 There it is folks, your Official Extravaganza 2010 Camp List.  Take notes, however, from Group Three's veteran Mark Grassi, who (even though this year he is going to  driving up from his new Sun Valley digs) typically alights from the plane with his one carry on bag and fishing rod in hand--yes, as with all that we do, "less is more".

 May the blessings of May be upon each of your as we stretch out towards the glories of Montana, shortly ahead for each of us in just a few weeks!! 

Call me directly if you have any questions or concerns.

 Best to all in preparation for it all,

 Rock Creek Ron

    ----<'///><

   

FW: Leland Fly Fishing Ranch Rocks [and Rocked]!!

Group Three's John "The Rookie" Mowat weighs in:

 
Thanks for the GREAT party and everything you and Kathy do for your group of friends.

Bruce M Mowat

Mowat Mackie & Anderson LLP

   

FW: Leland Fly Fishing Ranch was great. Thank you!!!

From Group One veteran John Rosenbaum:

 

We had a wonderful time at the Leland Fly Fishing Ranch on Saturday.  What a great event and a great day.  Now,  we are all very excited for Montana (more excited than we have already been).  Everything was excellent, and thanks to Stephanie and Patty too for all their hard work putting the event together.

 

Look forward to seeing you soon.  Best regards,

 

John

   

FW: Leland Fly Fishing Ranch Rocks [and Rocked]!!

...and from Group Three rookie "Match Me":

 
Once again you (and your beautiful bride) have outdone yourselves.  Truly a wonderful way to spend an afternoon!  Thanks so much for including me and my family (the kids wanted to go fishing again today!).   A good time was had by all.

Very much looking forward to July,

David "Match the" Hatch

   

FW: Leland Fly Fishing Ranch Rocks [and Rocked]!!

A nice note from Group Two's Lori "The Fawn" Ware:

  

Thank you ever so much for such a lovely May Day event!  A very sweet treat as well as the new knowledge of this special place so close to home!

See you soon on blog and rivers.

Love, Lori

   

Leland Fly Fishing Ranch Rocks [and Rocked]!!

Extravagant Ones:

 

May Day saw our first ever pre-Extravaganza confab on the glorious Leland Fly Fishing Ranch on a glorious Sonoma afternoon, and what a blast that was!  With five (count 'em!) professional fly casting instructors overseeing more than 15 fly rods in action virtually non-stop for four hours, E-10 veterans and rookies alike got a sampling of just what Extravaganza 2010 will be offering up in just over 45 days now.

 

This event was the first "big party" for the Leland Fly Ranch and, based on the raves of all 70+ that were there, it will be the first of many to come (including our already booking the same weekend for 2011).  Under the wonderfully watchful guidance of Heidi and Eddie, the Leland staff was "lights out" in all that they did:  The facilities were perfect, the food was marvelous, the setting was idyllic and, for me, the best part was the introduction of fly casting to a whole new generation of Extravaganzers--the spouses and children of our core fishing group.

 

The attached pics tell it all, starting out with Kocktail Kathy (your Hostess With The Mostess) greeting rookie Group Oners Cal Walters & family, followed by (a) also Group One rookie "Minnow Mel" McCormack [right is style, Group One-wise, that is--casting with wine glass in hand!], (b) the sweetness of our office's chosen "mascot" Natalie "The Natch" James two-handing a 5 wt rod (with a gaggle of casters in the background), (c) Group Threers Bruce "The Rookie" [yes, there IS a story there, as he will forever be known as "The Rookie"!] Mowat with true rookie David Hatch [what a great fishing name, btw!], (d) Group One's Michael Downer overseeing long-in-the-tooth Steve "Da Judge" Graham (seated to the left next to his bride Terry), (e) followed by a close up of one of the marvelous deserts prepared by CLG office manager [as in, "she runs the show"] Stephanie "Mother of The Natch" James.

 

The folks at Leland's are our newest-found Extravaganza friends and, while you are at home near a computer, you have the opportunity to do your "retail therapy" as, soon, you will be able to access a special section of their website though a link to be posted on Der Blog and have access to their entire, extensive inventory of fly fishing products where 8% of your purchases will then be donated to the Montana Matters campaign (see also the link to that wonderful MM site already on Der Blog).  Also, "The Ranch" is nearby to all Bay Area locales, is open seven days a week, and fly casting lessons by the hour are available upon advance reservation by calling any of the wonderful Leland staff at (707) 939-6913.  Thanks again, Heidi and Eddie--the two of you rock!

 

As we have so dearly found through the Extravaganza, gang, folks that fly fish together quickly become friends together--'tis a beautifully beautiful thing.

 

For those of you who joined us yesterday to celebrate the coming of spring, the nearness of E-10, and RCR/KK's eleventh wedding anniversary, we thank you...indeed, as you witnessed first hand, it rocked!! 

 

Best to all,

 

Rock Creek Ron & Kocktail Kathy

      ------<'///><--------<'///><

Our Annual Water Flow Watch Begins!

Extravagant Ones:

In this, the next of a now continual spate of email communications coming your way, with the advent of May, we now begin our annual watch of the water flows in Montana. To that end, here is a chart that will soon now be posted to Der Blog for easy review that track the water flows that we have experienced in Montana over the last three year, with this year's flowage reports to be laid in weekly in red.

For your rookies out there, what will now happen in Montana is, that as temperatures rise, the snow pack in the high mountains will begin to melt, sending turbidity (i.e., "dirt")-filled water downstream in thousands of tributaries that flow initially into our primary fishing rivers, the Bitterroot River and the Big ("A River Runs Through It") Blackfoot River, each of which then joins into the Clark Fork of the Columbia River at or near Missoula. As the turbidity rises, the clarity of the water decreases and, eventually, the fish stop feeding on the water's bug life (which, itself also goes dormant--thank you, Mother Nature!), until the water regains its clarity. The process is called "the runoff" and, at its height, not only will the volume of water that flows through each of the rivers dramatically increase (sometimes to 10x normal flowage levels) [making the rivers dangerous in their own right] but also the water will turn to the color of creamed mocha coffee reducing visibility for the fish to near "zero".

Over the last three years we have witnessed the extremes of the runoff:

(1) As you veterans will recall, 2007 was a "low snow, low water year"--that was the years that, by the time of our E-07 July last group, water and air temperatures had soared to such a high rate that the MT Fish, Wildlife & Parks Department (as they always will when river water temperatures reach into the low sixty degrees) restricted fishing statewide to "Hoot Owl Hours", where fishing was banned from 2:00 p.m. through midnight every day and we were arising at 5:00 a.m. to get on the water by 7:00 a.m to get our fishing in before the 2:00 p.m. shutdown [the reason for the shutdown being that, with high temperatures, the oxygen level in the water reduces and the fish cannot re-oxygenate après being caught, making them enfeebled and easy prey for their daily true fishing nemeses, the eagle and osprey].

(2) And, by marked contrast, those of you that Extravagantly fished two years ago in 2008 remember the continued high water runoff (that ran all the way through July!), where and when local Missoula water levels were so high that our first two groups found themselves trekking over the Continental Divide to fish the Missouri River (with phenomenal results, btw).

As your look to the chart (now your very best E-10 fishing barometer), using our home Rock Creek as a measuring stick, note what I regard to be the "perfect curve" that we had last year for E-09: (a) We had a "normal" snow pack to begin the runoff; (b) we had a great spike in snowmelt (due to high May temperatures) such that water levels literally spiked upwards (flushing/cleansing the rivers with great efficiency and relocating fish from their familiar winter haunts to unfamiliar haunts when we came on the scene); and (c) the water levels dropped perfectly for the 6/21 commencement of E-09 (unlike in 2008 when water flows continued to be too high, and unlike 2007 when, due to the paucity of beginning snow levels, they continued to plummet to unusually low levels).

To check you out on the chart, water flowage is measured in "cubic feet per second", or "cfs". Using Rock Creek as our barometer, what we want to have happen is just what happened last year (the black line)--a high spike into 3,000+ cfs and then, upon our arrivals, having that flowage drop to around 1800 cfs--the perfect scenario for our fishing experience. Our goal is to be on the scene just after the waters have re-cleared and just after the peak flowage has occurred.

As we begin the process for E-10, blessedly, with recent MT precipitation during the months of March and April, opening snow pack levels in the Bitterroot Mountain Range are currently at 63% (up from the low 50%) of average, so we have a better than even chance of having a "good runoff" this year...we will see, however, as we monitor Mother Nature's progress on a now weekly basis. Follow the red line as it progresses on our chart--my hope is that, with lower-than-last-year beginning snow pack levels, the line will climb to around 3,000 cfs around the end of May and then gradually decline to the 1500 cfs level come June 21st--that would be just about perfect for us. We shall see however!!

Welcome to our discharge watch, gang; this is like watching the end of a baseball season to see just who will be in the playoffs!!

Best to all in observation of it all,

Rock Creek Ron