As dated down by today's flow chart, the story of the 2018 flow is one right out of The Wind In The Willows (with, per Group Oner Trina "Boots" Clausen's observation on the scene of it all this morning, no willows to be seen riverside--the high water has submerged the river bank and has set TWO 100 year high water records in just this past week!), as it, indeed, is Mr. Toad's Wild Ride with today's epic flow logging in at a whopping 4,260 cfs (exactly three times the median flow over the last 45 years!). And, still, there is 150% of historical snow water content resident in the upper climes yet to come downhill...
What does all this mean, you again ask??
Well, as I confessed to daughter Boots just a few minutes ago, simply stated, we are in uncharted territory and, just three weeks out from the arrival of the Magnificent Ones, I am still not sure exactly whether which if any of our three groups will be fishing local waters or those of the Mighty Mo. Group Two veteran Brad "Maven" Miller asked earlier in the week what it our target flowage to be able to fish local waters (or, to put it as he did, "What should I be rooting for?") and the answer to that question is that in order for our targeted local Missoula rivers (the Clark Fork of the Columbia River, the Big ["A River Runs Through It"] Blackfoot River and the Bitterroot River) to have the clarity of water and safeness for drift boat fishing, Rock Creek should be flowing in the 1,500 cfs range (as has been the case in the vast majority of the 15 years we have hosted our Extravaganzas as evidenced in our historical flow chart).
Will things calm down to make that eventuality a reality?? I simply do not know (a tough admission for any lawyer at any time!) nor do I know anyone who can shed intelligent light on that question.
What I do know is that there is still plenty of snow in "them thar hills" to come downstream, gang, and believe you me we will be keeping all of our eyes on its progress and I will keep you fully in the loop as we head towards the home stretch and E-18's Opening Day three weeks hence.
Best to all in awe of it all,
Rock Creek Ron
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