Greetings, fellow Extravaganzers, on the eve of my first fishing foray into the wilds of Western Montana—I leave early this Friday morning for my annual “Montana Sprint Swaree” and am scheduled to fish this coming Sunday with our Double Up Outfitter John “The Great But Propaneless” Gould and our Montana Matters Troubadour Shane “Crisco” Clouse. This annual and cherished trip is planned well in advance, well before the reality of what the year’s “Spring” really means.
Well, this year, as suggested above, the blessed warming event that all Montanans desperately look forward to (Montana has been appropriately referred to as “nine months of winter and three months of guests”) has yet to make its appearance, although a look at the calendar would dictate otherwise. What is in the forecast for our Sunday venture?, you ask…well the most current “guesstimate” is for Sunday to boast snow mixed with rain with a blistering high of as much as 47 degrees before factoring in the chill effect of predicted 15 mph windage! When asked by me earlier this week, the ever optimistic (and perhaps sorely housebound) Propaneless replied, “don’t worry they are really hitting dry flies…trout love 45 degree temps, you know!” To which I responded with a burry “riiiight” but nonetheless confirmed the day on the water with him. Not only is John the best guide I have ever fished with but he is one heck of a salesman! Picture to follow the blessed event; “don’t worry!”
Winter is still in full force and effect in Montana, with the most recent SNOTEL readings continuing to track both year to date precipitation and snow water equivalents at 125% of twenty year norms, boding well for our quickly approaching June fishing prospects. In taking a look at long term forecasts (a fool’s errand by anyone’s Montana barometer, btw), high temperatures in the low to mid 50’s are the prediction for the balance of April, meaning that, come May (traditionally the wettest month of the Montana year) we can expect temps to sneak up into the 60’s and then 70’s and begin to trigger this year’s runoff/melt of the snow accumulated in upper climes. This is an important event that we track on an almost daily basis come May 1st, and, as we have done for each of the prior eleven (count ‘em!) years, will begin preparation and distribution of the flowage of this year’s runoff, using our Headquarters’ home base Rock Creek as the baseline for prior year comparisons.
So far, unlike the past three years, it looks like we have avoided an early season runoff, which is great news, as we want our fishing waters to be abundant in volume and mild in temperature to assure the best possible Extravaganza fishing conditions. So far, so good!!
I will next report to you from the soon-to-be scene of it all complete with current pictures and, according to Propaneless, perhaps even a pic or two of some pectoral friends that we are to dance with come Sunday.
Best to all in the cozy indoor warmth of it all,
Rock Creek Ron
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