Wednesday Flow Chart

My Fellow Extravaganzers:

Greetings from Montana where the flow has now leveled off in all of our
major fishing rivers. In fact, I just returned from our Blackfoot House and
say a Blackfoot River the likes of which I have never seen before this time
of the year--rather than being totally "mudded out" with the turbidity of a
high volume runoff, the river is TOATLLY FISHABLE and, just last evening,
Co-One and Two Groupie Daughter Trina "Boots" Clausen showed me a photo of a
35" bull trout that was caught (and released) by one of her National
Wildlife Federation co-employees just below that house last week--totally
fishable, indeed!

Come to think of it, I think that we will call the Runoff of 2012 a
"walk-off" where, just like hitting a game winning homerun in baseball, the
runoff is taking a nice stroll around its bases leaving nothing but open
spaces and wonderful fishing waters for E-12--an event that begins in just
17 days (but, heck, who's a-countin'!!).

It couldn't be any better folks--it couldn't be any better 'tall!!

Can't wait for it all to begin...

RCR---<'///><----<'///><----<'///><

FW: A Detailed E-12 Flow Report From The E-12 Scene!

From Group Three rookie Shreveport, LA based wonderfuil Dick "Andros" Seale:

Sweet, realy, sweet.

Cheers,
Dick
Date: 05/29/12

A Detailed E-12 Flow Report From The E-12 Scene!

Fellow E-12ers:

Having just taken a gander down Rock Creek Road to talk with the folks in
the know--our great friends at the Rock Creek Mercantile--and having done my
own reconnoitering, I am now in a more than informed position to give you
this detailed flow report right from the scene of it all.

As you can see from the attached and updated up-to-today Flow Chart, the
2012 runoff, indeed, has a fingerprint of its own.

Here's the skinny:

When we began this process, for comparison purposes, we had about the same
snowpack in the hills as we did in 2009 (the black line on Der Chart). As
such, with this chart measuring cubic feet per second, at the end of the
process we will have experienced the same volume of water as we did in
2009--this year, however, things got an early start with an extraordinarily
warm late April and a good deal of that water volume was by us by the time
we began our charting.

The two pictures above (taken just an hour or so ago) really tell our
wonderful story for 2012.

The first of these is taken right behind Headquarters and depicts a very
mild Rock Creek flowing right at 1500 cfs (the very volume point at which we
want to end the runoff process--see where the black line ended up come
6/18). In that shot you can see that, unlike during the last few years when
the runoff was high in its volume, this year the water is relatively clear
[near the shoreline you can even see dem rocks that give Rock Creek its
well-rocked name] the volume level has been very consistently low yielding
rivers that are not "mudded up" with the turbidity that a high water runoff
yields. In a high runoff year the water at this point in time would be the
color of a nicely frothed mocha coffee--not so this year.

The second of these shots show our famous Log-O-Meter which, as you veterans
know, we have used year after year to demonstrably show the water level and
flow rates. This time last year when the flow rate was over 5,000 cfs [it
was flowing so hard and fast then it actually broke the Forest Service's
in-river meter!] the water level was OVER the logs in Der Meter and the
unyielding flow left behind most all of the debris that looks so elegant
this year where water is currently flowing at less than one-third of last
year's record runoff volume.

What does all this mean, you ask?

Well, I just got an update email from our Double Up Outfitter (who usually
is home tying flies this time of the year) who currently reports "big fish
on the Bitterroot"--yes, the 2012 rivers are so user friendly that boats are
on the water and fish are responding to their offerings.

Bottom Line: We are in for one hell of a great Extravaganza 2012, gang, so
you better get serious and break out that Camp List, find that outrageous
Hawaiian shirt and gag up on your guide gifting!!!

Bueno, bueno, bueno from the very extravagant scene of what is soon to be
just so!!

Rock Creek Ron-----<'///><-----<'///><------<'///><

Spring Felling In!!

In our preparation for Extravaganza 2012, earlier this Memorial Day saw the Spring felling of two large Ponderosa pines here in Extravaganzaland—one just by our mailbox as you enter our driveway and  a second on half way down the left hand side.  This was no job for amateurs, so Eric The Landscaper (shown in the last of the pics above transporting the base of the larger of the two trees to our now bountiful wood pile) brought in two professionals who precisely dropped the entry tree exactly parallel to our fence line and then made short work of the smaller 50 ft tree in the meadow.

 

I am headed down to Rock Creek now to take some snapshots of that well-flowing which I will next attach to your Monday flow report.  On that (water)front, things are looking PERFECT here, gang—the waters are in wonderful shape for your now very imminent arrival(s)!!

 

RCR---<’///><

 

  

Happy Memorial Day, Extravaganzers!!

Greetings from Extravaganza Headquarters this Memorial Day, all!

 

1126 miles later (but who is counting?!?), your Hostess With The Mostess and I arrived together here yesterday with your Extraganza mascots Ma’am Da Lab (shown above aside the Big Hole River just outside of Dillon, MT, having abandoned drift boat midstream only to thereafter sit on the bank in a snow storm in penance)  and Sir Da Cocker.  The trip (now our tenth such annual trek) was fully uneventful until we arrived here in the Treasure State, where, deciding this year to stop along the way and “smell the roses” (read: “fish the rivers”), we boarded a drift boat the Big Hole River Saturday morning in somewhat sketchy weather only later to be greeted by a major snow storm that stayed with us most of the day—or at least for the first half of the day, at which time your Hostess said, “get me off this d—mn river—I am freezing my butt off!” and we proceeded to row out the remaining five miles of the float (blessedly) with the snow, sleet, wind and rain at our backs.  If you think I am a-jesting, check out the second photo above taken yesterday (Sunday) morning outside of our Dillon hotel showing the impressive and certainly memorable overnight accumulation of the white stuff that served as our earlier fishing companion.

 

Late May snow in Montana?!?

 

Take a moment this wonderful and special weekend to tip your hat and say a silent prayer in blessing for all of those who give and have given so much so that we can enjoy the bounty that immerses this wonderful nation—simply stated, without those folks in uniform (past, present and future) we would not be doing what we do, in the manner that we want or when we want to…someone else would be dictating that scenario.

 

Best to all from the scene of it all,

 

Rock Creek Ron

    ---<’///><

 

  

We Have A(nother) Winner...A(nother) Clausen!!

 

Elder son Brian provides first hand evidence that he is, indeed, #200 on Der Blog’s counter, making it two for two for the SLO Clausens—way to go both!!!

 

Now, gang, keep it a-rollin’ as it’s onto Visitor # 250 for a bottle of Rock Creek Merlot!!

 

RCR----<’///><

  

 

Here is a PDF of visit #200. San Luis Obispo is cleaning up......

 

Brian Clausen

 

 

FW: A Group Oner Cries "foul"!!

Equal time for a great friend:

RCR, at least a Stanford grad won the first bottle! Thanks for your quick
response, and I must admit I didn't look carefully at the blog site
address.
Best, Eddie"2L"

A Group Oner Cries "foul"!!

Group One/MechBank’s Eddie “Two License” [so known for his propensity to buy more than one fishing license in as many successive days] Downer cries “foul” because I misspelled the link in our search for Der Blog’s Visitor #175 (which somehow did not stop fellow Stanford Grad and Daughter In Law Erin Clausen from becoming #175, Two License!). 

 

Erin still wins but you all now have an even chance to match her by being Visitor # 200 by (a) having Der Blog already in your favorites so that my misspellings don’t interfere with your odds and (b) toggling over to the correct blog address of www.montanaextravaganza2012.blogspot.com –an address that now includes the “x” in it all!!

 

Blog On, Two License et “y’al”—we are already at #183!!

 

RCR

 

  
 

 

 

FW: We Have a Winner: Visitor #175!

E-12ers:

 

Say hello to my daughter-in-law A Wonderful Threer, Erin Clausen, who is our very first E-12 blog-a-thon winner--#175 be she!!  Hailing from San Luis Obispo, CA, Erin, my oldest son Brian and their three wonderful children (being my grandchildren) Evan, Noah, and “Foxy” [really Flannery] will be coming for their first Extravaganza this year.

 

Congrats, Erin—you have just won a bottle of classic 2002 Rock Creek Red which will be presented to you upon your E-12 July 1^st arrival…grape juice for the kids/grandkids?!?

 

RCR---<’///><

---

From: Erin Clausen [mailto:erin@erinclausenphotography.com]
Sent: Wednesday, May 23, 2012 3:00 PM
To: Ron Clausen; Brian Clausen
Subject: Re: Der Blog--Looking for Visitor #175!

 

Wish I knew how to do a screen capture, because I was #175... I'll have to ask my tech support to help me out when he gets home tonight. :)

 

Hope your trip out to MT goes smoothly. Happy travels!

 

Erin

 

 

Der Blog--Looking for Visitor #175!

E-12ers:

 

As we have done in prior years, you already have a running chronicle of E-12 events at here, your very own blogsite..  If you have not already done so, please mark this as one of your favorites and, on a frequent basis, check it for updates and E-12 news bulletins for, as the blessed day of the arrival of the Wonderful Ones approaches [and that is now exactly 24 days away—yikes!!], emails from me to thee will be (blessedly) fewer and further between and all of our announcements and updates will be via Der Blog.

 

Your Blog is also a fertile source of information:  Not only is there a link to our E-08 movie and to that international singing hit, Ode To Rock Creek Ron, but Der Blog also provides you with a Missoula weather button (so you can take a look at the weather forecast—with the dual notes that (i) being a MT weather forecaster is the only job where you can be wrong 100% of the time and still be employed and (ii) MT has a plethora of micro-climates such that, at the same moment, it can be 90 degrees and sunny at one end of a valley and 40 degrees and hailing at the other); with an updated copy of the Discharge Chart; a link to the Rock Creek Mercantile with its daily fishing reports; and with a link to our Double Up Outfitter site with its daily river log and reports.

 

Also, on the bottom right hand side of Der Blog (just below the index of prior postings) there is a counter of visitors to the site and, as here, we award wine prizes to those who hit certain visitation milestones.  By way of example, if you are Visitor #175 just print off that page on your printer, email it to me at headquarters and you will be the proud recipient of a (rare) bottle of 2002 Rock Creek Red—rated by the USA Today wine editor/critic as one of the finest bottles of cab that he has ever tasted.

 

So, Blog on gang—right now the counter reads #159, so that 175 number is right at your fingertips!!

 

RCR---<’///><

 

 

 

The Flow is With Us!!

 

Fellow Extravaganzers:

 

As you can see from the evolving red line on our flow chart, the 2012 runoff has its own distinctive fingerprint (different from each of the five past years that we have tracked the flow on our Rock Creek home river)—in fact, it our E-12 chart is beginning to look like part of the Sawtooth Mountains, with its radical upticks and down strokes!!

 

The evolving flow story for this year is that, at least for Rock Creek, due to high April temperatures, the snow melt began earlier that in any of the prior five years (as depicted with its 2500 cubic feet per second [“cfs”] beginning). In the Pintlar Mountains (which are the source of Da Creek’s runoff), the snow pack is currently just 35% of twenty year norm, and its snow water equivalent is just one quarter of norm…indeed, living evidence of an early 2012 runoff. 

 

To show you how varying Montana’s mountain ranges are and how volatile its micro-climates can be and are, compare our primary-targeted E-12 fishing river, the Bitterroot River (which is literally just one watershed west of Rock Creek) where the current snow pack remains at (a very safe and comfortable) 64% of normal and the adjacent Blackfoot river drainage which currently boasts 90% of seasonal average remaining snow pack.

 

The prognosis, you ask?

 

We are in for one special year fishing the Bitterroot River during Groups One and Two and, you Threes out there, the Big (“A River Runs Through It”) Blackfoot River and its majestic canyon (along with the Bitterroot) await Da Tattoos as well as the Magnificent Threes—all becoming a wonderful place setting for our upcoming Extravaganza adventures together.

 

On my end, at the crack of dawn tomorrow, I have the great pleasure and privilege of driving your Hostess With the Mostess, Kookin’ Kathy, and your E-12 mascots “Sir” our 13 year old cocker spaniel and “Ma’am” our three year old ball of energy/water-nut black lab to E-12’s Headquarters where preparations for your quickly upcoming arrivals will soon be in their final-final stages.  Along the way we are going to take time to “smell the roses” and, more particularly, fish both the Beaverhead and Big Hole Rivers just outside of Southwestern Montana’s town of Dillon, arriving on the scene of it all sated late this Memorial Day weekend’s Sunday.

 

So, I am pleased to formally announce that, flow-wise, we are in for one heck of a good year, gang….viva la Extravaganza!!

 

Best to all in the nearness of it all,

 

Rock Creek Ron

    ---<’///><

 

 

 

 

FW: E-12: "G" is for "Gotcha!!"

From Group Two veteran travel agent par excellence Brian “Captain Four” Robertson:

 

  R4,

Congrats!  Good always prevails over evil.

B4

 

Brian

Brian T. Robertson, CTC

 

FW: "G" is for "Gotcha!!"

From Fawn Lady Lori Ware (who knows!):

 

G is also for Great  and Grand news!

Congratulations  Montana 

FW: "G" is for "Gotcha!!"

Nice words from MWF president Tim “Four More Years” Aldrich:

 

I offer my thanks to you and your group that made this happen.  When I saw the picture and read the article in the Missoulian, I knew that the happening resulted from a long-term focused effort by some great conservation minded individuals.  As you state, it is not often that a development gets the total shutdown, but it is not often that folks have a chance to preserve such an important part of history and the future.  You all did well and I know many are offering silent thanks.  A great part if "my backyard" can now become part of the backyard for my two kids and their children too.  Good goin'!!!  tim 

FW: E-12: "G" is for "Gotcha!!"

A nice note from veteran Napa County Supervisor Group Three Extravaganzer Bill Dodd:

Ron:

 

I know personally what a big achievement this is, great work!!

 

Bill

 

 

E-12: "G" is for "Gotcha!!"

 

Fellow E-12-ers:

 

Can you stand a little (actually, a lot!) of good news?!?

 

As many of you seasoned veterans are more than casually aware, for the past eight (count ‘em!) years I have been one of the three chairs of a campaign launched to save the entry of our Rock Creek from being converted from a historical hay farm into an errant subdivision of 36 single family homes that would be serviced by 36 separate septic systems and an improperly dug 9 acre pond right at the confluence of Rock Creek and the Clark Fork of the Columbia River.

 

Our mounted opposition to this would be project has been nothing short of monumental:  We gathered nearly 4,000 petition signatures; opposed this project in the courts, with MT Fish Wildlife & Parks, MT Department of Environmental Quality, the Missoula County Planning Commission [which unanimously rejected this proposed subdivision], the Missoula County Supervisors, the MT Governor’s Office; we had numerous articles and unsolicited editorials written on our behalf; we found ourselves printing bumper stickers, t-shirts, and posting bill boards and lawn signs in opposition; we led a protest march down Rock Creek Road that made the front page of the Missoulian; and, all-in-all, left no stone unturned such that this project became the first major subdivision in the history of Montana to be unilaterally turned down—the very first ever.

 

Fast forward eight years and feast your eyes on the attached article which announces that the 147 acres that we to be the site of this proposed subdividing debacle to man and nature, thanks to the auspices of Grant Kier [who will fish with us during Group One] and the Five Valleys Land Trust that he runs, are now to be restored and dedicated to public open space in perpetuity.

 

Now, is that good news, or what?!?

 

So, indeed, “G” is for “Gotcha” and for any number of other g-words that will now send this out of state developer back to where he came from with his tail fully between his legs with not-so-fond memories of what it is like to mess around with Mother Nature, good common sense and Rock Creek Ron and his friends!

 

Bueno, bueno, bueno!!

 

RCR---<’///><

 

 

FW: E-12 Flow Chart

From Da Tattoos’ Fawn Lady:

 

Whoo hoo! Kind of looking like that great 07 year!

Lori

  

Thirty Days, Ones!!

 

 

…thirty days from right now you will all be enroute to Extravaganza 2012, Magnificent Ones, and I can’t wait to greet you upon your arrival(s)!!!

 

Strap it on gang, as, more than ever, you are in for one hell of a ride!!

 

RCR----<’///>ß---<’///>ß-<’///><

 

 

 

FW: A First Hand ( Poetic) Mother's Day MT Report...

 

Spoken gracefully and eloquently as the wonderful veteran she is…and the excitement begins:

 

Thank you Tim Aldrich.  Your words painted a beautiful 'picture in my mind' of what is soon to come our way.  Your words brought forth gorgeous memories from past Extravaganzas and the memories always get me so excited for this years event.

Those of you in Group Three are lucky to have Tim in your group.  I met him during one of my past Extravaganza years and he is a lovely, lovely person. He is the perfect person to be Montana Wildlife Federations President.  Enjoy his company group three and tell him that I send my best!  As a preschool teacher, he inspires me to keep our children close to nature each and every day. Nature Deficit Disorder is becoming all too real in our current busy childrens lives.  Stop and smell the roses, watch a wiggling worm, sit and wait for birds to land on a feeder, blow grass blades like whistles through your teeth, and pick up roly poly bugs are all sooo much healthier for children than any video game could ever create!

Happy Extravaganza anticipation to all!

Fawn Lori in Group 2

FW: E-12: A First Hand ( Poetic) Mother's Day MT Report...

From Group Two veteran Tim “Squawfish” Rodgers:

 

 Thanks for sharing  Ron, I want to be Tim (A) in my next life. J

 

Tim R

E-12: A First Hand ( Poetic) Mother's Day MT Report...

…from Group Three’s Montana Wildlife Federation President, Tim “Four More Years” Aldrich:

 

Tis indeed a beautiful Mother's Day here in Missoula, MT.  Sitting on our back deck, relaxing and enjoying coffee with my lovely Bride Carol, the mother of our two lovely children, I have watched no fewer that 20 species of birds doing their spring things while also enjoying the sunshine and warm weather.  Fifteen mule deer just traversed the slope across Miller Creek.  Behind the house the Creek is flowing at what I believe is a normal rate for this time of year; the water is somewhat colored but that too is what I would expect.

 

The snow is gone in the low and mid-elevation areas, but off to the southwest at the southern most end of the Bitterroot Range, I can see Lolo Peak and Carlton Ridge at 9000+ feet above sea-level, standing out as whitened remnant landscapes of a mild winter and somewhat mild spring.  The Rattlesnake Wilderness Area to the north is blocked from our view by the grassy ridgeline that forms the northern limit of our Miller Creek Valley and the southern limit of the City of Missoula, but I know that there too, whiteness gifted us by winter also persists. 

 

This is where I was born and choose to live; a place where you can find summer in the Valley and the continuing blessings of winter in the higher elevations, blessings that will help assure the flow of cold clear water to support our amazing fisheries and the marvelous opportunities we enjoy to fish and just generally be in touch with nature here in Montana.  Montana is ready for and awaits the arrival of the Clausens and the 2012 Extravaganzites! 

 

How's that for poetic license my friend?

 

Best thoughts to you and Kathy on this Day when we celebrate the many gifts of life we enjoy because of a mother's love.  tim and carol      

 Bravo. pal!!!

RCR---<’///><

E-12: Updated Flow Data

Fellow E-12ers:

Attached is the most recent flow data which indicates that Runoff 2012 has
now bebun in earnest. Look for the red line to now soar upwards with
weather marks set to reach the mid-80's in Missoula tomorrow and slowly
recede into the high 60's by week's end.

Our preferred goal is for 2012 now to track the path of 2009's black line--a
nice steady rise followed by a nice even subsidance. Again, it is this
water flow that is now flushing our fishing rivers, cleaning out the past
year's accumulated diterius and paving the ways for ensuing post snowmelt
runoff's warmer water temperatures and increased bug activity.

Bueno, bueno, bueno!!

RCR---<'///><

May the Flow Be With You!!

E-12ers:

 

Attached is the updated information on the water flows in our backyard.  Keep a close eye on this chart as what we now want is a bell curve to ensue ideally with the water flow peaking during the last weeks of May (on or before Memorial Day) and then subsiding to around 1500 cubic feet per second as they did in our last “normal” year, 2009.

 

On the attached chart we have provided flow information dating back to the drought year of 2007 (with ensuing fires that burned a good portion of our Rock Creek drainage—see our blog for that year for a truly harrowing fire log by yours truly), high water years of 2008 and last year’s epic 2011 (each of which years we had to [successfully] trek to the Missouri River for quality fishing opportunities) and the semi-sane years of 2009 and 2010.

 

Again, our flow is based on our backyard’s Rock Creek where SNOTEL is indicating that snow levels (with the recent early runoff) are currently at 82% of normal.  Showing the differences of relatively close other valleys, our targeted fishing waters on the Bitterroot are showing their mountains’ snow pack at 94% of 20 year average and our primo Big “A River Runs Through It” Blackfoot watershed at 110% of “normal” (whatever the heck that is any more!).

 

Summary:  So far, so good—now, may the bell curve be with us!!

 

We will keep you updated on a bi-weekly basis; also, you can see these postings on (y)our blogsite [which you now should be frequently checking] this, Der Blog.

 

RCR----<’///><

 

 

E-12: May the Flow Be With You!!

 

Fellow Extravaganzers:

 

As we enter the month of May, all fishing eyes are now properly focused on “the runoff”:  the process by which snow that, over the winter months, which has accumulated in the upper climes begins to melt resulting in the flow of its contained water downhill(s), first into rivulets, then into streams and then into our target rivers—the Clark Fork of the Columbia River, the Bitterroot River and the Big (“A River Runs Through It”) Blackfoot River.

 

Each year for the past several we have charted this runoff and, just as with individual fingerprints, the “fingerprint” of one year’s runoff is totally unique from any other.  Attached is our accumulated flow chart that uses as a baseline the runoff of Rock Creek which flows in our Headquarters’ backyard.  Its flows are indicative of the flows of our companion rivers in the same geographical area and tell the tale of each year’s runoff and, resultantly, the quality and volume of the fishing waters that we fish during each Extravaganza (we intentionally schedule this event to be right after the runoff, when the rivers have been flushed out, fish have been relocated and, with the dissipating colder snowmelt, water temperatures rise with a resulting bounty of “hatches” (see “E” is for Entomology!).

 

To begin with, our seasonal snow pack and snow water equivalent started with “A” is for Average for the last 20 year’s calculations.  That is good news.

 

What the chart above reflects is that, during The Runoff of 2012, the runoff, due to recent high temperatures, is (a) starting earlier than normal and (b) the flow is higher than normal for this time of year.  Check the chart out:  in each of the four previous included years the runoff started between 500 and 1,000 cubic feet per second (“cfs”) and this year, already, as marked in red, the flow is beginning for us at 2,500 cfs. 

 

That is just the beginning of the tale, however, as it was snowing in Missoula much of this week and, as we watch this year’s runoff flow develop, what we are looking for is a traditional bell curve with the runoff peaking in late May and receding just about the time of Group One’s June 16^th arrival.

 

This chart is now posted to Der Blog and, as we get closer and closer to E-12, you should begin checking out that site for information that will (blessedly) begin superceding this constant stream of email that comes you way from yours truly,

 

Rock Creek Ron

   -----<’///><

 

 

Montana Camp List for E-12

 

 

 

 

MONTANA CAMP LIST

Yep, it is beginning to happen folks, so, as promised, here is your Extravaganza packing list:

In preface, June is the wettest month in Montana.  The earlier in the month, the wetter it typically is--most often laden with afternoon thunder storms but sometimes the beneficiary of all-day rain.  So the earlier in the month you are (and that's you, One-Of-A Kind Group One, which arrives on June 16th) the greater the probability of temperatures in the 50's to 70's with afternoon showers; and the later in the Extravaganza you are (and that's you, Group Three, which arrives on July 1st) the greater the probability of no rain and temperatures in the mid 70's to 90's--yes, folks the change is that dramatic in just the few weeks that we fish together.  For each group, however, your packing list is the same--plan on coolish mornings transitioning into mid-day warmth, that will then be subject to afternoon cooling off and rain (when cells pass through the temperature often drops over 20 degrees is fewer than that in minutes), followed by coolish evenings as we sip (guzzle, in the case of Group One) wine, throw horseshoes in the back yard and exchange our tales of the daily blessings that have been bestowed upon us.

The list below is broken into "MUST HAVE" and "CAN HAVE" sections.  Regarding the latter first, through our outfitter extraordinaire, Double-Up Outfitters, rods and reels are available to our groups, gratis.  Feel free to bring your own gear if you have it [see below in that regard].   Regarding the need for waders and wading boots, if you have them, bring them, but (particularly in as much as we most likely have low(er)/warmer water conditions this year) we most often fish in shorts and sandals (with fleeces and rain jackets aboard in all cases). 

So, here it is, your Official Extravaganza Camp List: (NOTE:  MOST ALL ITEMS LISTED BELOW CAN BE PURCHASED AT THE ROCK CREEK MERCANTILE [WITH YOUR 10% STORE-WIDE DISCOUNT] ON YOUR ARRIVAL IN MT., IF YOU WISH)

 MUST HAVE:

         1. Polarized sunglasses (these are an absolute must); mine are prescription (because I am nearly blind without glasses) and the Merc has not only a great selection of regular polarized sun wear but also very comfortable sets that can overlay your prescription glasses--just like skiing goggles, but a little more chic/stylish.

         2.  A rain jacket (not a water resistant jacket [which really just absorbs water at a slower pace], but a poncho or truly water resistant lightweight/medium weight rain repellant--we have had the weather change from warm blue skies to cold (as in really cold) torrential rain and then back again all within an hour--if you get wet on the river it is not a pleasant experience--See 3, infra).

         3.  A dry bag/boat bag for a complete change of clothes for the river. 

        4.  Fast drying fishing shirts and pants.  (In the past, the former has been a staple of what we hand out to you as you arrive--history will repeat itself, by the way.  As to pants, I highly recommend the fast drying, zip off pants which serve as long pants in the morning hours and shorts in the afternoon.)

         5.  Brimmed fishing hats.  (Yes, history might just repeat itself here again regarding a baseball type hat; for those of you who are sunlight sensitive, I recommend a fully brimmed hat with a tie-string [so that the famous and inevitable MT wind will not decrown you].)

         6.  Layered clothing.  (Imagine that you are going to a Niners game in September--you never know what you are going to get at The Stick, so you wear a short sleeved shirt with a long sleeve shirt over it, carrying with you a fleece and a warm jacket/raincoat--voila!!)  We have washers and dryers available to you if needed, so don't bring the whole wardrobe but certainly pack an extra day's supply (remember that boat bag and its contents-to-be in 3, supra?!?)

        7.  Waterproof sandals/fishing shoes.  (90% of our fishing will be in the boats, but you will be getting in and out for entry, potty breaks, lunch and return, and will get wet to your knees as you embark/debark.  Tennis shoes are an alternative if you don't mind changing their color [permanently]  Yes, fishing sandals are an excellent Merc purchase upon arrival--they have multi-uses and will last forever.)

         8.  Sunscreen and Bug-spray.  (Bring sunscreen rated 15 and higher even if you think you don't need it, as you will be on the water, unprotected, for up to 10 hours each day--enough to challenge even the crustiest lawyer's skin!  The bugs are nothing like Minnesota and usually are not a problem at all, but have some on hand and that normally makes the experience totally uneventful.)

         9.  Fleeces (long and/or short sleeved).  (These are going to be your best friend, both early in the morning and late in the evening after a fully sating day.  Temperatures during your stay see average highs in the 70's to 80's and evening lows in the 40's and 50's.)

        10.  Casual wear.  This is not a black tie event, folks; shorts and levis are standard fare [even in Missoula's finest restaurants, I might add] both on the boat and at the house.  Our fishing focus is exclusively on the brightness of the color bands in your rainbow trout, the brownness of your brown trout and on the scarletness of your cutthroat's gill plates.

  CAN HAVE:

         A.  Fly rods and reels (5 and 6 weight rods are the order of the day--again, these are included in the Extravaganza package so only bring yours if you have them and want to fish them).

         B.  Waders (more so in Group One; less so in Groups Two and Three).

         C.  Expensive digital camera gear that you would like to get wet and destroy (Yes, folks, as in the past, we are going to have 5.0 megapixel digital cameras for your usage in each of your boats (which don't get ruined even even if you drop them in the water) . As in the past, we will assemble all pictures taken by group onto a CD and mail it to each of you, post E-10.

        D.  Booze (We have it all folks, so make your request in advance so e can have a supply on hand and leave it at home--only water and soft drinks on the boats, by the way.)

                                                 *                *                    *                *                *                *

 There it is folks, your Official Extravaganza Camp List.  Take notes, however, from Group Three's veteran Mark Grassi, who (even though this year he is going to  driving up from his new Sun Valley digs) typically alights from the plane with his one carry on bag and fishing rod in hand--yes, as with all that we do, "less is more".

 May the blessings of May be upon each of your as we stretch out towards the glories of Montana, shortly ahead for each of us in just a few weeks!! 

 

Call me directly if you have any questions or concerns.

 

Best to all in preparation for it all,

 

Rock Creek Ron----<'///><

  

FW: An Extravagant Thought Regarding Your Fishing License

 

   …more sage advice from that sage old MWF President Tim “Four More Years” Aldrich:

 

Wow! After that thoughtful poetry and a conservationist's prayer, then cometh a patron of a Minnesota bar waxing philosophically about some important parts of life, and somehow connecting them to his strong support for catch and release.  I may have to ponder the wisdom of this with the help of my wife of 42+ years!!  I think we'll end up saying: What comes from Minnesota should stay in Minnesota."

 RCR---<’///><

E-12: Dignataries Among Us

 

A note from Group Three rookie (gotta watch out for Dem Threes this year, gang!) John “I Say” O’Dea [see, John, you already have your MT nickname!!]:

 

May 12th I will be competing in the quarter finals for the Toastmasters World Championship of Public Speaking.  Two more wins and I am competing to be crowned this years best public speaker globally!  Very tough competition at this next level.   More than a few of my competitors have advanced beyond this stage before.

 

Talk soon!

 

johno.

John O'Dea CLU, CExP

NFP D|A Financial

 Go get ‘em/land ‘em, I Say!!

 

RCR---<’///><

An Extravagant Thought Regarding Your Fishing License

 

…from Group Three’s Dick “Andros” Seale (who, btw, has the longest trek to/fro E-12 from Shreveport, LA!!):

 

 

This Was Found In A Bar In Minnesota ...    Damn, these guys in Minnesota might be on to something!!!