Ice flows down the river most days now, so steelhead fishing is erraticuntil spring. Our snowpack at this point is below average, after being lowthrough the fall. Early snowfall is important to river flows the followingsummer. The fall snow seems to pack down, freeze hard, and last better. Latewinter snow may bring the snowpack average up, but it doesn't seem to last--atleast, that's my notion formed over the last 35 years. The lower flow meansthat June Middle Fork dates will be more viable,less likely to have water toohigh, while we would begin flying late-summer trips into Indian Creek earlier.On the Main Salmon, of course, low water is not an issue.
Last winter was moderate, with somewhat below normal snow pack--offset by avery wet June, so that we had decent river levels through the summer. Our highwater was a long, even, moderate peak--no high, flushing, spikes. The blowoutsof 08 in the upper river remained, but were not a big problem. There was arumor of a storm in that area in the early fall that put more material in theriver in both spots, but I haven't been there to see. The blowout in Tappan IIIthat occurred in the same storm changed a lot in high water, still a dramaticrapid but not the risk of 08.
We have space available on most of our summer trips at this point, withmore calls and reservations so far than at this point in the last couple ofyears--maybe an indication that the recession is wearing out. Give me a callabout space or group composition on specific trips.
We have again scheduled a special alumni trip from University of Central Missouri,which Peg and I attended (Central Missouri State College, then), starting on 30July on the Main Salmon. CMS had an active outing club at the time we werethere, with canoeing in the Ozark streams a frequent activity. We were bothinvolved in the club. I took a turn as president, scheduling trips, and here Iam 40 years later still scheduling river trips. The sponsors of the club, OzHawksley and Jack Reynolds, apparently were the first to float the completeroadless section of the Selway, though they have never gotten much recognitionfor it.
Although we have not actively solicited such trips, we occasionally andmore frequently get requests from people who want to join our trips with theirown boats. They get the fun of running the river themselves, with benefit ofour experience on the river. They don't have to deal with the logistics of aprivate trip--permit, meal planning, packing and prep--just get into camp, tieup, take a hike, show up at mealtime. We have to be cautious about theexperience level of participants, but these days there are many competentprivate boaters who can afford to turn over the logistics to an outfitter. Ifthis is of interest, give us a call. I know many people who have taken tripswith us have gotten their own equipment and do private trips and are still onour mailing list.
Among the trips we offer, the Lower Salmon in September, is a sleeper.September is the best time to be on that section of river, after the summerheat has moderated in that low-elevation country. September is still summerthere, and more pleasant than July or August. Small mouth bass fishing is good.Few people are on the river at this time of the year, after the traditionalsummer vacation period. These trips are especially attractive for people withina few hours drive of the Lewistonarea, since they are scheduled to be extended weekend trips, without a majorvacation commitment. You can drive to the area after work on Thursday, floatFriday-Saturday-Sunday-Monday, and return home in time for work on Tuesday--onelast chance to swim and wiggle your toes in the sand before cold weather comes.
Also among the variety of trips we offer is a trip on the Main Salmon usinglodges instead of camping, either in the summer or during fall steelheadseason. Sometimes instead of a complete lodge trip, people will choose to spendone or two nights of a trip at a lodge to break up the camping. We can alsoarrange to drop people at Shepp Ranch on the Main Salmon after five days withus, to spend a few days of riding, fishing, and lodge stay. We can also do acouple of nights at lodges on the Middle Fork. We have always had access to theFlying B, but now the facility at Loon Creek has begun accepting overnightstays, too. We arrange the horse-back/float combinations with these people.
We had a good run of steelhead this fall, and I expect good numbers of fishthis spring. Ice was late this fall, holding off until after Thanksgiving, butwater temperatures during November was consistently below 40 degrees--so Ithink that that retarded the migration to this section of the river, and thatthe bulk of the run is still downstream--let's hope for good fishing conditionsnext spring. This fall Stephanie took steelhead fishermen a number of days,often running a "girls boat" when we had couples while I took the guys. Seemedto work out well for everybody--I'm sure over the years some wives have gottendamn tired of hearing their husband and me talk all day about hunting elk.
There was a good run of salmon last summer, enough that there was a seasonin the Salmon -Stanley area--only the second time since the 70s. I had no timeto participate, as we were busy with Middle Fork trips at the time. The Salmonissue continues to be very controversial, complex and confusing. While we had agood run of fish this year, other parts of the west coast were in bad shape.There really haven't been obvious changes in management in the Salmon River that would account for the dramatic increasein fish. We hear about favorable or unfavorable ocean conditions affecting fishnumbers, and of course ocean harvest is a big consideration. There is serioustalk of removing dams on the Snake River,which a few years ago would have been inconceivable. That would surely help,but I don't believe resolve, our salmon problems.
