Magic City Fly Fishers (TU Chapter 582)
The text of Senate Bill 375 (Crow Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act of 2009) mentioned in the previous post is now online. Of particular importance to FOBR is that it does contain the Streamflow and Lake Level Management plan.
Click here to view it.
Montana Senator Jon Tester, a friend of the Bighorn River, recently revived a $527 million bill that would finally settle the Crow Tribe's water rights claims. The bill is co-sponsored by another friend of the river, Senator Max Baucus.
The bill would resolve claims by the tribe that go back to a compact signed years ago between the tribe, the state of Montana and Dept of Interior and would entitle the Crow to 300,000 acre feet of water annually from Bighorn Lake and 500,000 acre feet from the Bighorn River. A similar bill was opposed last year by Wyoming lawmakers, but Senator Tester is confident differences can be worked out this year.
Friends of the Bighorn River hasn't seen the bill's text yet, but the original compact protected the Bighorn River fishery by dictating minimum flow requirements, and it is presumed the new bill contains that important criteria.
| River Releases | Lake Level |
| ... | ... |
Current Report
Flows are down to 3,000 and should stay there (Sounds familiar doesn't it?)
Special Report
Hatches have been very prolific.
One-Week Fishing Forecast
Low to mid 90's through Saturday with a chances of thunderstorms every day.
http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Fort+Smith&state=MT&site=BYZ&textField1=45.3128&textField2=-107.936&e=0
Hot Fly Patterns
Dry flies- Try a Flint's Stone to immitate the yellow sallies in size 14-16 (or similar pattern) PMD patterns have also been working. The PMD cripple patterns have been working throughout the day as well(16-18). Lastly, Rainy's Grand Hopper (tan, sizes 12-14) and Morrish's Hopper in pink have been starting to get hits.
Any black caddis pattern (sz 18 -16) will get hits near sundown.
Nymphs- Pheasant tail nymphs are doing well in size 16. Worm patterns are still strong, in the wire variation as well as the San Juans. Use sizes 4 to 6 in brown and red. You can lighten up the split shot finally, water is down!
River Flows
3,500 cfs @ Ft. Smith (Afterbay)
Water Temperature
Ranging from high 40's to lower 50's depending on releases
