By Michael Howell
Low water flows in the river combined with extremely high water temperatures for the season have led the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks to place “Hoot Owl” Fishing Restrictions on the Bitterroot River. Following three straight days of unusually high water temperatures, and dozens of dead trout found floating in the upper section, FWP placed “Hoot Owl” Fishing Restrictions on the river from the confluence of the East and West Forks to its confluence with the Clark Fork River. The same restrictions were placed on the Clark Fork from its headwaters to its confluence with the Flathead. Hoot Owl Fishing Restrictions also became effective on the Blackfoot River, the Big Hole River, excluding Dickey Bridge to Maiden Rock Fishing Access Site, the entire Jefferson River, on Flint Creek, from below the Hwy 1 bridge near milepost 53, downstream to the mouth, and on Silver Bow Creek from its confluence with Warm Springs Creek (near Warm Springs) to the confluence with Blacktail Creek (in Butte).
FWP’s drought policy calls for angling restrictions when flows drop below critical levels for fish, when water quality is diminished, or when water temperatures increase to levels that stress fish for three consecutive days.
According to Pat Saffel, Region 2 Fisheries Manager in Missoula, all these waters have experienced high water temperatures combined with diminishing river flows and sustained high air temperatures, means that limiting fishing to the cooler morning hours is critical to reduce stress on fish right now.”
The preferred water temperature for rainbow and brown trout is about 55-65 degrees. Temperatures of 73 degrees are stressful for rainbow and brown trout. Temperatures in the mid 60s are stressful to native bull and westslope cutthroat trout and can lead to death.
Although the water temperature did reach 75 degrees near Missoula last week it only got up to almost 70 degrees in the upper Bitterroot River. But this was much earlier than on most years and was warm enough to precipitate mortality among some fish, especially the westslope cutthroats.
On June 29, MFWP fisheries biologists Chris Clancy and Leslie Nyce observed 37 dead fish on a 15 mile float between the lower West Fork and the Wally Crawford fishing access site. Of those, a whopping 23 were cutthroats. According to Clancy, cutthroats represent about 20 percent of the trout in the river but constituted 60 percent of the dead fish observed. Twenty-two dead fish were observed between Victor and Stevensville, he said, but only eight of them were trout.
“This is higher than other years,” said Clancy. He said they didn’t generally see many dead fish on the first float of the year like this. Clancy said the first release of Painted Rocks Reservoir water was made to enhance instream flows and does serve to cool down the upper part of the West Fork but doesn’t do much to lower temperatures down below in the main river.
It’s going to be a struggle this year,” said Clancy.
Marshall Bloom of Trout Unlimited said, “In stressful years like this, we are lucky to have dedicated MFWP fisheries biologists like Chris Clancy and Leslie Nyce to watch out for our trout and a great water commissioner like Al Pernichele to make sure that limited Bitterroot River water resources are allocated equitably. These professionals have been working overtime to protect natural resources while still allowing anglers to fish and agriculturalists to irrigate.”
However, in years like this, rumors and suspicion are rampant, and misinformation can be downright damaging on all ends of the spectrum. In an effort to increase awareness and communication, BRTU is providing a forum for Clancy and Pernichele to explain the current situation and discuss what options are available.
The public meeting will be on Thursday, July 16 at 7 p.m. at the Hamilton Elks Club at 203 State St in Hamilton.