Looks like there may be some changes coming
http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-…ec66976586.html
Regards,
Scott
The expression “cumulative effects” springs to mind. 218 thousand angler-days per year, how many times does each fish get caught? Drift boat hatches also spring to mind. This is why I try to fish it in howling blizzards midweek.
I thought some of the ‘angler hours’ were a bit scary as well. We have the privilege of fishing some of these places at off times but sitting on the Yellowstone watching the driftboat parade or seeing the frustration of anglers trying to get a spot in the line to launch their boat is getting bizarre. With the attitude of some of the less courteous anglers it can be downright frightening.
Are they going to manage just the float boats?
The problem is that too many anglers think of Montana, or at least the rivers of the West are the end all be all fly fishing destinations. How about a little respect for the residents of those states and back off a little. Who fills up most guides boats? Stay home and be realistic about who is causing the congestion.
[CENTER][b]I just recieved this in an e-mail message
MADISON RIVER RECREATION PLANNING UPDATE:[/b]PUBLIC MEETINGS SET, CITIZEN ADVISORS SOUGHT[/CENTER] BOZEMAN—Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks will host four public meetings in the upcoming months as the first step towards developing a recreation management plan for the Madison River. FWP is seeking input on how the public views recreational use on the river. This information will be used in the preparation of a draft management plan, which will then be circulated for additional public comment. The goal of the plan is to help preserve the quality of recreational experiences and protect natural resources. FWP is also seeking applicants to serve on a citizen advisory committee that will be asked to develop recommendations for managing recreation on the Madison River. The committee application form and information about the planning process are available on the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov/recreation/management/madison/default.html. Applications are due by March 16, 2012.
The Madison River is highly valued for the quality of its recreation opportunities and is often the most heavily fished river in the state. Due to this popularity, concerns have been raised about congestion on the water and at access sites, as well as social conflict between different user groups. The scheduled public meetings are as follows: Ennis, Wednesday, February 15, 6-8PM at the Ennis Middle School Bozeman, Thursday, February 16, 6-8 PM at the Comfort InnWest Yellowstone, Tuesday, February 28, 6-8 PM at the Holiday InnWhitehall, Thursday, March 1, 6-8PM at the Whitehall High School If you are not able to attend one of the scheduled meetings you may complete an online survey at fwp.mt.gov/recreation/management/madison/default.html or comment by sending an email to mrrp@mt.gov. Comments will be accepted throughout the planning process. For additional information on the Madison River Recreational Plan, please visit the FWP website at fwp.mt.gov/recreation/management/madison/default.html. Any questions may be directed to the River Recreation Manager, Cheryl Morris, at 406-994-6359. [CENTER]-FWP-[/CENTER]
Yeah, we’ll all stay home and see how you’re state tourist dollars dry up. Sure every outfitter would love that. If you think the boats are filled by locals you need to get out more.
Oh, please do stay home.
#1 I could really care less about tourists and their money.
#2 I could really care less about outfitters, they are just as much the problem as their clients.
#3 The fact that boats aren’t filled with locals was my point. Sorry for the misunderstanding.
#4 I would get out more, but all the highways are filled by pretentious out-of-staters.
#5 YOU’RE-- I am what? I think you mean YOUR, as in mine.
Glad you can live without tourists and their money; unfortunately in states like Montana a good portion of the economy is dependent on tourist’s dollars. Could the “industry” (outfitters, guides, flyshops, publications, shows, etc) do something to alleviate the crowding on some of the name rivers? Sure; there’s lots of outstanding water in Montana, Idaho, Wyoming that doesn’t get fished very much at all while waters like the Madison, Snake, Bighorn in high summer or during major hatches resemble the Normandy beaches at D-Day (without the close air support).
Hard to convince novice and casual anglers that it would be better for the fishing community as a whole to spread out a bit when all those catalogs and magazine articles show that driftboat floating down the Snake with the Tetons in the background and the guy in the spiffy outfit at the flyshow is running a video loop of sports tuna-boating 20" cutthroats during the salmonfly hatch. THAT’s where they want to fish, not Goober Creek, even if it has clockwork hatches and is full of 16" rainbows that are suckers for dry flies. I’m sure it’s easier for the outfitters, too, to stick to the standard fare since they’ll be about as reliable as anything can be in fishing and putting trout in the boat does tend to lead to happy clients and often repeat clients.
Sorry, but that’s trout fishing in the year 2012, and if you’re going to live in “Trout Heaven, SE Idaho” you’re going to have to deal with it, 'cuz it’s not going away.
Regards,
Scott
ps - “I could care less?” I think you mean couldn’t (but if you could care less, please feel free to do so)
I remember fishing the Madison and the Beaverhead among others around 1955. I don’t remember seeing very many other anglers or any boats or rafts at all even though there were probably a few. Thanks for the update. I was kind of thinking of a trip back for old times sake but i do believe I have changed my mind.
Tim
I did not want to pick a fight, but I don’t have courteous keyboard either. When I looked at the post that you started with, I followed the link and read the article. From this and personal experience, I gathered that Montana residents have a problem with the constant influx of repeat and additional non-resident anglers. Why would the State of Montana go through the trouble of management meetings? Do you not think they know the “value” of tourist dollars? Obviously they recognize the over usage problem and are trying to fix it. We don’t have to deal with anything. Is this why you travel out West? Are you dealing with the ruined fisheries in your backyard by running away from them? Where are we going to go to find solitude? It may not be what you are used to, but it is for me and I don’t appreciate you putting the privilege you have been given to fish out here above the rights of those who only want to protect it.
With family having moved back to Montana, I’ve been very fortunate to get to spend about 1 month/year there for the past 25 years and within the next 12-15 months my wife and I will be full-time residents
Actually, the trout fishing here is outstanding. Shenandoah National Park has numerous streams with healthy, native, stream-bred brook trout populations, some of the most beautiful fish I’ve ever seen. Shad, which suffered serious population declines for years have made a comeback, and fishing for them every spring along the Potomac River is something I look forward to.
The Chesapeake Bay is another story and is indeed a fishery facing serious threats from pollution (industrial, agricultural, urban & suburban sprawl); I support the efforts of the Chesapeake Bay Foundation as best I can & try to minimize my impact on the Bay (no lawn fertilizer, pesticides, fungicides). Could I do more? Sure.
Probably not in places like the Henry’s Fork during the major hatches, but there’s plenty of water that receives very little pressure and a person could fish without ever seeing another soul.
I was a bit snarky in that post and could have worded my response better. I value the privilege of fishing those waters (as I do those at home), support every effort to protect and better the quality of the fisheries and look forward to becoming an even more active participant.
Regards,
Scott
Good Luck! I hope the best for you and your family. One thing I might add, is that with all the blessings I have living where I do, I have had to remind myself that without complete diligence towards its future, it can all go away. Not only does my ignorance blind me, but it also muffles the good things I have to say.
Sincerely,
Louis
Has out of state tourist traffic still been high with the long recession and high gas prices? Busy rivers like Madison, Big Horn, etc. are not high on my priority lists because they are zoos.
A lot of waters in the west are on federal property, and are no more the locals’ waters than they are anyone else.
A lot of people living in and around SW MT tare not real Montanans anyway, but are outsiders that transplanted there. They perturb the multigenerationals more than tourists do, and they hate Californians and northeastern yankees the worst (isn’t that the way that it is everywhere?).
I think higher gas prices and a slower economy are keeping people from taking “big” trips (overseas, cruises, etc); doesn’t seem to be effecting crowds on the rivers much. As for Montanans hating Californians, all I can say is a number of them (not all Cali’s but a lot, many of them famous) came to Whitefish in the late 80’s, built huge vacation homes on Big Mountain (which they inhabit 2 weeks in the summer and 2 weeks in the winter), drove up the cost of living in the town so that it seems a majority of the people living there are wealthy or barely scraping by. Not the only town this has happened in either.
Regards,
Scott