Spring 2017

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Home Grown in Idaho
ooted in the outdoors
Original Designs
by American Artists

Montana Fly Fishing Magazine
Spring 2017
Volume 5 Issue 1
Three Forks Publishing
www.MontanaFlyFishingMagazine.com
Senior Editor:Greg Lewis
Graphic Design:Suzann Crist
Contributors:
Eric Adams
Ed Anderson
John Arnold
Pat Clayton
Suzann Crist
Justin Edge
Walter Foster
Greg Lewis
Mark Raisler
General Inquiries and Submissions:
mtflyfishmagz796@yahoo.com
Cover Image and This Page:
Pat Clayton
Copyright © 2017

Letter from Editor Final 2017
Welcome back!
We’ve gathered some amazing contributors and have another creative issue in store
for our readers. Best of all, this online-magazine remains 100% free to view and
subscribe!
While the new cover-design and overall layout has clearly been revamped, and there
was a year or so long hiatus between the last issue and this one, rest assured; you’re
still receiving Montana Fly Fishing Magazine from one of its’ original developers -
Greg Lewis.
I am now solely the magazine’s owner - senior editor and will control its future
content cover-to- cover. The only reason to make this distinction is to protect my
former business partner, as well as the many contributors I have gathered, from any
potential repercussions. While I always enjoy great feedback and compliments, if
someone should take umbrage with a particular piece in an issue of the magazine,
those feelings should be directed toward me.
We’re heading into new territory with this new issue as I intend to tackle some
controversial topics along the way. There are several key issues taking place in our
state that the general public is being kept in the dark about. Many of these will have
dramatic and negative effects on our rivers due to pollution and overdevelopment.
With a local mainstream media focused on living the dream without mentioning
upcoming nightmares; we, as outdoorsmen and fishermen are continually left chasing
after permits that got past us, versus getting a chance to fight.
While the magazine will continue to be loaded with original fly fishing related and
positive content, given what is occurring in our state connected to our rivers being
harmed and public-access being targeted, I intend to tackle one such topic per
quarterly-issue. We will collectively explore what is occurring in-depth, add no
nonsense reporting by professional independent journalists, and inform our readers to
what is coming; so, they too will have a say-so in what is at stake.
Just like Montana Fly Fishing Magazine was originally launched in 2012, with the
intent of helping the states’ creative artists, photographers, and guides, recover from
a financial-disaster that was occurring at the time; I have now chosen to relaunch the
magazine to address some topics many are unware is occurring - in an effort to save
The Last Best Place from becoming just like everywhere else.
Greg Lewis

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JACKSON ROCK - PHOTO BY MARK REISLER

BIG CAST, BIG RIVER- PHOTO BY MARK REISLER

MIDGE WALL - PHOTO BY MARK REISLER

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40th Anniversary Gray’s Sporting Journal Cover Artist | Featured Artist

From Alaska to Cuba. Europe to Africa.
In bull riding chutes or on a flats boat, Ed Anderson’s life
is a unique experience. As an artist he seeks to tell his
stories. Borrowing from his training as an architect and
ripping pages out of his journal, his compositions have
received international recognition. With bright colors
and bold gestural lines, his pieces describe a wide range
of subjects. In the end he hopes to catalogue Americana
and beyond.
208.724.6991 | edandersonart.com
with Sun Valley Summer Symphony, BigLife Magazine, & Fly Rod & Reel

Valley
exte
your
FL
Wint
MONTANA FLYFISHING

nd
Y FISHING
er Fishing on the Paradise
season
Spring Creeks by Eric Adams | Photography by Greg Lewis

Beautiful surroundings, reliable hatches and
plentiful sight fishing opportunities have resulted
in worldwide admiration of the Paradise Valley Spring
Creeks: DePuy, Armstrong and Nelson. While widely
known, and fished throughout the summer, the winter fly
fishing on these creeks has less notoriety. The select few
anglers who take advantage of this year-round fishery
enjoy ice free waters, good insect hatches, ample trout,
and most importantly, solitude. As anglers and guides
on these creeks for nearly 20 years, we’d like to share
some late winter tactics for those who want to start
expanding their fly fishing season throughout the winter
months. We’ll focus on how to prepare for a winter day
of fly fishing and offer a few suggestions once you hit
the water with an emphasis on sight fishing.
MONTANA FLYFISHING
Preparation for
Winter Fishing
Best Weather Bet…
Getting prepared is one of
the more overlooked aspects
of fly fishing in the winter
months. Not only does it
apply to your fishing gear
and clothing, but even to
planning your day based on
the weather. Let’s start with
how to pick the best weather
day. Those of you familiar

with the Livingston area know that it can be a rather windy
location and there’s nothing more challenging than sight
fishing to selective trout when the wind is blowing upwards
of 20mph. Late winter on the Paradise Valley Spring creeks
isn’t always windy, but knowing how to pick the best day to
plan your trip is crucial to your fishing success.
Warm usually equals windy. While it’s certainly nice to take
advantage of the days that climb above 40 degrees, we’ve
found that these temperatures usually equal the wind speed.
So if it’s 50 degrees outside you’re likely to have 40-50mph
winds. Why? High pressure in the surround-ing mountains,
particularly in Yellowstone National Park can fall drastically
down to the lower pressure, narrow valley floor which acts
like a funnel. In turn this produces the unfavorable fish-ing
winds. Our suggestion is to watch the local forecasts from
the National Oceanic and Atmos-pheric Association (NOAA).
They provide excellent, detailed local coverage of weather
and wind forecasts. We’d also recommend not choosing the
first or last day of a warmer series of days. These tend to be
the windier days as the front arrives or as it leaves. Ideally a
string of 4 or 5 days in the 30’s with light snow in the forecast
will give you the best opportunity to test your an-gling skills
on the trout rather than the wind. It will also provide some
overcast skies and in-crease the chances of steady hatches
of midges or mayflies.
Win the Cold War…
Now that you’ve made a best guesstimate on the weather,
being prepared with the right fishing gear will keep you on
the water longer. There’s nothing worse than getting frozen
toes right when the fish start getting active. While the water
temperatures in the Creeks remain relatively constant at
MONTANA FLYFISHING

MONTANA FLYFISHING
around 50 degrees,
standing in it for hours
at a time combined
with cold air temperatures
can lower your
body temperature and
cause an early end to
your fishing day.
A well prepared
winter angler will have
breathable waders,
thermal layers, heavy
socks, and a warm
hat. Winter specific
anglers should also
have at least one pair
of warm, windproof,
finger-less gloves.
Often a second dry
pair of gloves is a good
idea if the first pair
gets too wet. We also
add hand warmers to
pockets and gloves
(on top of the hand) to ensure we can tie on small flies and
fine tippet with unfrozen fingers. Your gear list should include
some oversized wading boots to accommodate warm socks
and provide enough room to wiggle your toes. Upsizing one
shoe size is usually the best bet. Additionally, felt sole tend
to collect snow and ice which build up on the bottom of
the shoe making for challenging walking along the creekside.
The rubber-ized soles are much better in this regard.

One thing experienced winter anglers consistently battle
is frozen rod guides. This occurs when water from the fly
line collects on the rod guides and freezes with the cold air
temperatures. The line will actually stick to the rod guides and
it makes casting accurately quite difficult. There are a number
of remedies to combat this issue. Many Steelhead anglers will
spray their rod guides with non-stick cooking spray (i.e. Pam
or similar product). However, we’ve had good results us-ing
Mucilin with Silicone (it’s the one with the green label). Apply
the paste to your dry guides and on the rod itself above the
guides when first rigging up. You’ll likely have to re-treat the
guides a couple times during the day depending on the air
temperatures. If all else fails you can dip the rod into the 50
degree water and much of the ice will melt. This method isn’t
recom-mended as ice will quickly return and it’s really best
to take a few minutes to re-treat the guides.
Finally, hatches in late winter can be sparse or come in waves
throughout the day. Being com-fortable and on the water as
much as possible looking for active fish is crucial. One of the
best ways to do this is having a hot beverage nearby. There’s
nothing that will warm you up quicker than a hot cup of tea,
coffee or even soup. Packing a thermos and setting it creek
side for easy access will help you accomplish this and keep
you out there longer.
Winter on the Water
Walking & Stalking…
The Creeks are a sight fishing angler’s dream. Thingamabobbers
and streamers can be effective, but we’ll be focusing more
on sight fishing tactics. Fishing the Creeks is quite a bit
MONTANA FLYFISHING

MONTANA FLYFISHING
different from wading a freestone like the Yellowstone or
Madison Rivers. Using common tactics for those rivers won’t
necessarily translate well to the Creeks so you’ll have to be
willing to change it up a bit. Spend more time walking and
stalking. Not only will this keep you warm, but it will give you
a chance to find active fish, even if there isn’t much surface
activity. Finding active trout is the key to getting into fish
throughout the day. Often times looking in slow to medium
speed water is a good place to start. It provides good visibility,
and if there are no mayfly hatches pre-sent, fish will tend to
opportunistically feed on midge larvae or emergers.

Sneaky Hatches…
As previously mentioned winter hatches can be sparse
or intermittent. The most prominent hatches will include
midges, and baetis (A.K.A. Spring Baetis, BWO’s, Blue-winged
Olives). Al-ways be prepared for these to occur. Having
said that, winter anglers should also have well supplied fly
boxes consisting of insects that aren’t currently hatching,
but are living in their aquatic forms. mayfly nymphs such as
Pale Morning Duns (PMD’s), various caddis species in their
larval stages, crane fly larvae, damsel fly larvae, and dragon
fly larvae are present in the Creeks most of the year. Also,
don’t forget about the aquatic insects including sow bugs
and scuds. These are all quality trout food that anglers often
forget about when hatch activity is lim-ited. Remember that
trout will actively search for, or opportunistically eat larvae,
nymphs, and aquatic insects in the winter months.
Up Top…
Now that you’re fully prepared and you’ve targeted active
trout, getting them to eat is the final challenge. Watching the
rise form is the best way to approach your rig set up and fly
selection. Aside from the obvious head breaking the water
surface eating dry flies, dorsal fins or tails will identify trout
targeting emergers. These rise forms will most likely suggest
a midge or baetis hatch in progress. We recommend a 9
foot to 6X leader and low profile fly imitations for dries and
emergers. Over the years, we’ve also gotten away from 2 fly
rigs as the additional tippet and fly can increase the possibility
of micro-drag in the multiple currents present in the Creeks.
MONTANA FLYFISHING

Down Low…
The observant angler will also look for subsurface trout
feeding. This is a bit harder, but with a little practice you’ll
notice subtle movements of a trout and often the white of
its mouth opening underwater. If your target is consistently
feeding a short nymph rig is your best bet. Again a 9 foot
6X leader with a single fly is a good start. Midges, scuds,
nymphs or the various larvae pat-terns previously discussed
are wise choices. Most of the active feeding areas, especially
when sight fishing, aren’t overly deep so having both lightly
weighted and unweighted flies is a must. For indicators we
prefer either the New Zealand Strike Indicators or the Palsa
Pinch On, mainly because they can be trimmed very small.
We’ve found the trout in the Creeks tend to shy away from
large, colorful indicators.
MONTANA FLYFISHING

Gist of the Drift…
Finally you’ve recognized the feeding activity of the trout,
are rigged accordingly and have cho-sen a couple good
flies. Now it’s all about understanding the presentation and
drift. The Creeks have so many subtle currents a standard
upstream or up and across technique is difficult to manage.
We recommend a slightly across and down technique when
sight fishing. Slowly ap-proach your target and line up your
downstream shoulder on the head of the trout (or a few feet
upstream). Cast slightly upstream in the trout’s feeding lane,
preferably with a reach cast. How-ever, if an on water mend
is needed make sure it happens prior to your fly reaching
the feeding zone of the trout. The fly should be drifting as
naturally as possible within a 2 to 3 foot area sur-rounding
your target. This technique is not exclusive to winter fishing,
but when fishing smaller flies to intermittently feeding trout,
it’s a great method to increase your catching opportunities. If
the trout doesn’t show interest, change your mend or move
MONTANA FLYFISHING

up or down stream slightly before changing
flies. Often times it’s the drift and not the
fly selection.
Summary…
Few anglers will complain about extending
their fishing season. Winter fly fishing on the
Paradise Valley Spring Creeks is a perfect
way to enjoy the solitude and quality fishing
here in Montana when most rivers are far
too cold and icy. Taking advantage of these
year-round fisheries will have you bending
a rod before most anglers take their fishing
gear out of storage.
About Eric Adams
Eric Adams is the owner of
Montana Fly Fishing Guides based
in Livingston, Montana. He has
been guiding for over 15 years
and been involved in the fishing
industry in various forms for over
20 years. His passion for fly fishing
occupies most of his time even
when not guiding—from fishing
destination travel to volunteer
work that supports the health and
protection of Montana’s fisheries.
Montana Fly Fishing Guides
https://www.MontanaFlyFishingGuides.com/
MONTANA FLYFISHING

MONTANA FLYFISHING

Fishing For A
Get Hooked On Our Back Issues...
G

ood Read?

Big Sewer Co
Written by Greg Lewis,
Publisher of Montana Fly Fishing Magazine
MONTANA FLYFISHING

untry 2020
MONTANA FLYFISHING

When I first became aware that
Big Sky was planning to discharge
hundreds-of-millions of gallons
of wastewater annually into
the Gallatin River, it came at a
surprising time – April 2016, only
one month after the well-publicized
Yellowstone Club’s effluentreservoir
collapsed, sending 30
million gallons into that very body
of water.
Explore Big Sky, reported the news
of Big Sky’s intent to discharge
wastewater into the river and
accompanying the article was the
proverbial quote from Big Sky’s
Sewer District GM, Ron Edwards,
stating:
“I’m over storage ponds…I’m over
relying on third parties to manage
this stuff…We need another piece
of this that is 100 percent under
our control…and that piece is a
pipeline to [the Gallatin] River.”
This single pull-quote, written
in large bold font, grabbed my
attention and invariably launched
my year-long quest to uncover, what
exactly did Big Sky developers
have in store for our state’s most
cherished rivers?
Never did I expect my little
investigative-reporting odyssey
would lead to what turned out
to be an elaborate and ongoing
collaboration, including even leaders
from our most popular conservation
organizations, which plan to use
a Wild and Scenic designation to
mask a 1.5-million-dollar pipeline
to directly-discharge Big Sky’s
wastewater into the Gallatin.
Along with my investigation, I
discover much of the motivation
behind all of this lies upon the
notion that the DEQ will enforce
a moratorium on development in
Big Sky in the year 2020 if there
is no viable wastewater disposal
mechanism in place, as it will have
reached capacity, as well as little
fresh water supply left for build-out.
MONTANA FLYFISHING
MONTANA FLYFISHING

I realize wastewater discharge is not
the most interesting topic to read
about in a fly-fishing magazine,
but this topic goes far beyond the
usual questions of whether or not
trout can survive the conditions
at hand. This story has to do with
greed over common sense, and the
very real potential that a handful of
developers could ruin the last best
place forever.
Far too many anglers assume,
“oh, they’ll put a stop to it
and block it,” referring to
conservation organizations or
environmentalists, but this is not
the case anymore when it comes to
important environmental issues in
the Big Sky area.
A Little History
Some visitors assume the
unincorporated resort community
of Big Sky already discharges their
wastewater into the Gallatin River.
Not so, the Gallatin remains one
of the few rivers left in America
without a significant wastewater
discharging-mechanism upstream.
Instead, since 1993, an innovative
sewer system has protected the
water from sewage discharge, using
what has become to be known as the
closed-loop system.
The innovative sewer system, which
entails spraying the ski resort’s
treated-wastewater onto the areas
2 main golf courses (in upwards
of 1.2 million gallons per-day can
be applied during summer) isn’t
something the developers came
up with on their own. Instead,
those developers who intended to
further grow the resort community
beyond what the vital Yellowstone
ecosystem could sustain, were
forced to not pollute the Gallatin
back in 2000 by the influential
conservation-group, at the time
known as the Greater Yellowstone
Coalition, along with other key
conservation organizations. These
groups collectively accomplished
keeping the Gallatin free and clear
by suing the developers and the Big
Sky Water Sewer District.
MONTANA FLYFISHING

In celebration of this agreement
between the conservation
organizations and the developers,
the GM at Big Sky Resort, Taylor
Middleton, made an announcement
at a national travel company
convention (quoted in a Bozeman
Daily Chronicle in 2000). Middleton
stated:
“Never in the history, past,
present, or future, will Big
Sky ever discharge treated
effluent into the Gallatin
River.”
Taylor Middleton is still, 17 years
later, Big Sky’s Resort GM. In fact,
he was awarded the Chet Huntley
Lifetime Achievement Award
in 2015 for honesty and being a
positive role model. Good old Mr.
Huntley made a similar statement,
which preceded Mr. Middleton’s,
when he first envisioned Big Sky as
he promised, “we will never pollute
the Gallatin.”
What happened?
“About 10 years ago, developers,
the mining industry, and well
anyone who wanted to accomplish
something negatively impactful
on an important resource, that
environmental orgs wouldn’t
approve, said ‘if we can’t beat them,
let’s buy them’” (local angler: K.R.).
My first assumption after reading
that Big Sky’s Sewer District GM,
Ron Edwards, wanted to build a
pipeline and discharge directly
into the river was that the Gallatin
River Task Force had been recently
corrupted by the sewer district’s
manager, as by then I’d learned he
was on their organizations’ board of
directors.
It turns out Mr. Edwards has held a
seat on that board for over 10 years.
Concerned, I reached out to Kristen
Gardner, the director of GRTF (in
early April 2016) for clarification on
where the organization’s board of
directors stood on this key issue.
I wrote to Kristin requesting a
formal statement from her as
Executive Director, “where do you
stand on the recently proposed
pipeline discharging millions of
gallons of effluent directly into
the Gallatin River on an annual
basis?” Along with, if Ron Edwards
as a longstanding board member of
GRTF speaks for the organization’s
stance?
MONTANA FLYFISHING

Kristin replied to me stating, “Ron
Edwards is one member of the Task
Force board, which consists of eight
members. His opinion on discharge
stated in EBS was his opinion and
not that of the Task Force board…
The Task Force board has not
taken an official stance on direct
discharge. When and if the board
has to take an official stance, they
will do so by evaluating if direct
discharge falls under our mission,
which is, “to partner with our
community to inspire stewardship of
the Gallatin River watershed” and
if it will help us obtain our vision
of “a healthy Gallatin watershed for
future generations.”
After more investigation, I
discovered legal public records
of Big Sky Water Sewer District
meeting minutes, wherein
collaboration with developers
and board members are identified
and verified. Packy Cronin,
President of BSWSD, on June
30, 2015 addresses the issue of
discharge with board members, as
well as Kristen Gardner and Ron
Edwards of Gallatin River Task
Force: The following information is
verbatim.
...........
COMMUNITY-WIDE
WASTEWATER & WATER
CAPACITY STUDY Mike
Ducuennois (Yellowstone Club)
reviewed their engineer’s (WGM
Group) findings of the resort area
wastewater analysis using a 20-
year build out plan. The highlight
from the report is the collaboration.
Including Moonlight Basin,
Ducuennois reviewed the graphs
of estimated wastewater generated
in 2035, disposal capacity, and
shortage. Ducuennois would like
to jointly explore options for the
community’s targeted wastewater
disposal needs. Both Edwards and
Ducuennois stated that a discharge
permit has to be pursued in addition
to other year-round disposal options.
President Cronin
“wants the District to
document its efforts for
disposal without discharge
and to start now at developing
a public relations campaign
for discharge.”
MONTANA FLYFISHING

A Road Map
In following BSWSD meetingminutes,
over the following months,
it was learned direct-discharge was
discussed into not only the Gallatin,
but also the Madison River, via Jack
Creek, between Kristen Gardner,
Ron Edwards, Michael Ducuennois,
and others. This series of meetings
culminated with the beginnings of a
stakeholder forum being proposed
in November 2015. Initial funding
for this forum was provided by none
other than Yellowstone Club and
Lone Mountain Land Company, the
two key-sources of new wastewater
introduction due to rapid and out of
control development.
Following the interconnecting
minutes of these past meetings
of BSWSD and GRTF, as well as
the Big Sky Area Resort District
(BSRAD), provided a virtual road
map for a choreographed directdischarge
campaign.
One of the issues so telling is the
need for public approval through
a PR campaign in an effort to sell
the likely unpopular proposal of
sending sewage into the historic
gem of the Greater Yellowstone
Ecosystem. As fisherman flock to
the wild and calming waters of the
Gallatin River, many would believe
this is a centerpiece of environmental
protection, but the truth and reality is
saddening and disheartening.
One would think an organization
with the name Task Force within it
would be a protector of the entire
river system bearing its name, but
with a board consisting of people
who fall outside of the spectrum of
conservationists, little good is to
be expected. Board member Ron
Edwards found little need to worry
about opposition to proposals from
other conservation groups as he
conveyed to me in an April 2016
interview that he, “doesn’t see GYC
or TU as litigious as once were back
in the day,” and doesn’t anticipate
strong backlash. He continued to tout
that perhaps, “one environmental
group might take run at them,”
but suggested they would win the
discharge permit from DEQ.
Greater Yellowstone
Club?
But, GRTF is not the only nonprofit
undermining and disserving our
beloved river. I reached out to other
groups only to receive discouraging
responses.
trout pose
MONTANA FLYFISHING

When I asked Bob Zimmer, of the
Greater Yellowstone Coalition,
“what if I wanted to stop directdischarge?”
He replied, “You’ll need $200,000
and 35,000 signatures, based on my
experiences with Wild and Scenic.”
I was visibly discouraged by this
answer and he seemed rather
pleased with this reaction. There I
was, reaching out to a key member
of one of the largest conservation
organizations in the country to share
what I’d gleaned so far: that Big
Sky was pursuing direct-discharge,
and he spends the better part of the
conversation attempting to shake me
off the story, to dissuade me from
pursuing it further, and then shoots
me down with figures in both funds
and signatures he assumed I’d have a
difficult time acquiring. This meeting
too occurred in early April 2016.
Mr. Zimmer’s attempts were
especially troubling given I’d by
then logged-in to GYC’s website and
learned the organization he works for
operates on an annual budget in the
range of $3 Million and has 40,000
members.
…………
During the months of August
through September, the Big Sky
Sustainable Water Solutions Forum
commenced (aka: the PR campaign
for discharge) and though I followed
the proceedings and notified anyone
that would listen what exactly was
going on, I was forced to turn my
attentention away for a few months
due to the Yellowstone River fishkill.
Montana TU
By October 2016 I’d heard and seen
enough, and at the recommendation
of people equally concerned, I
reached-out via email to the other
main conservation group involved,
Bruce Farling of Montana Trout
Unlimited, to share what I had
uncovered and offer to further
communicate with him as I learned
more.
MONTANA FLYFISHING

I conveyed to Mr. Farling the overall
troubling sense I was feeling that
the developers and those in charge
with running this unincorporated ski
resort area, along with the two most
powerful conservation groups, Trout
Unlimited and Greater Yellowstone
Coalition, might not be opposing
direct-discharge into our rivers this
time around.
Big Sky Developers were even
so confident of this that
they announced a 10-year, $150
Million-dollar ski resort upgrade on
the same exact week in August of
2016 as GRTF launched their public
relations campaign for discharge.
Mr. Farling, of Montana TU
responded, “we, or at least
Montana TU, has not
talked to Ron Edwards nor
anyone else associated with
Big Sky, the Yellowstone
Club, or Moonlight. So,
anyone associated with the
development community who
says they know what we’re
thinking is not getting their
information directly from the
source.”
Mr. Farling continued, “Frankly,
direct discharge of treated
wastewater might be unavoidable.
The problem is that the Big Sky area
has mushroomed, and it is continuing
to grow rapidly. The wastewater has
to go somewhere.”
“As long as members of the
community, as well as the many
outfitters and guides and other folks
ignore pressing local government
to institute an effective, regulated
growth policy that recognizes limits,
the developers will continue what
they’re doing — which is to expand
the development footprint around
Big Sky and stress the river and its
tributaries…As long as promoters
of tourism, skiing and fly fishing
— including the outfitting industry
and angling publications that make
money from the waters around
Big Sky — continue to advertise
the Gallatin and Madison as great
destinations, people will want to
come there, and want to have their
piece, which often means more
McMansions more condos and more
demand on water sources.”
MONTANA FLYFISHING

TU National
While Mr. Farling correctly suggested it
was up to the general public and those
in the many associated businesses to
act, and that Montana TU has not been
intimately involved, Trout Unlimited
National on the other hand, under the
representation of Pat Byorth, has in
fact been to Big Sky and has spoken at
length with Ron Edwards, as well as the
key developers at YC and Moonlight,
on multiple occasions over the previous
three months.
Mr. Byorth has been floating the idea of
rewarding the very Big Sky developers
who have been causing the pollution and
diminished inflow rates for years, with
what are called mitigation credits, from
what is known as a Mitigation Bank.
This is an appealing program when
it relates to discussing water rights
with ranchers - those diverting a vital
tributary’s inflow - but to suggest
swapping fresh water inflow to
accommodate future development with
treated-wastewater seems ludicrous.
It has been further suggested in
meetings, that in order for this mitigation
credit swap to occur, the existing
wastewater storage-ponds at BSWSD
treatment facility could be used.
Michael Ducuennois, VP of Yellowstone
Club Development, suggested just that
in a stakeholder-meeting on the topic of
mitigation credits on Nov. 3, 2016:
“These empty ponds with fresh, or
a mix of reclaimed water, could be
used…then you could have your August
and September types of releases there,
which would be helpful.”
That scenario of course, could only
be accomplished if a pipeline directly
leading from the treatment ponds to the
Gallatin River were built, satisfying
the precise wishes of Ron Edwards and
the developers he works for (ex: Mr.
Ducuennois) who sit on BSWSD’s board
of directors.
Here we have Big Sky and Yellowstone
Club developers who have been
diverting the surface water and draining
the groundwater for the second-home
market usage for years, replacing miles
of native grasses with pavement, as
well having a recent history of fouling
the very stream - the West Fork – with
30-million-gallons of effluent.
So, for Mr. Byorth representing
Trout Unlimited National to initiate a
recorded conversation and propose
awarding them with some type of
mitigation credit is confusing, and
warrants further clarification from
those involved. And preferably
sooner and before DEQ permits are
filed, rather than later; when it’s too
late.
MONTANA FLYFISHING

Irreversible Impacts
The reality of the pipeline and
wastewater discharged into the
environment could mean that main
stem flow-rates would increase.
While it is assumed that trout
should survive the discharge, there
are no promises to be made as to
whether this added, unnaturally
treated wastewater entering a low
and warm river could sustain such a
flowrate, without any way to control
temperature.
The pipeline and where it’s being
proposed, would be located in the
dead-center of the river, coming from
beneath the bedrock.
“Unless you’re standing over it
wearing waders you wouldn’t even
know it’s there,” said Ron Edwards.
“The days of a big pipe visibly
entering the river are a thing of the
past.”
Given its central location, the
effluent mixing-zone would be
significant and would reach shore
to shore for hundreds of yards.
Fisheries biologists have suggested
this mixing-zone could cause a
temperature-barrier trout may not
move upstream of.
There are also potential impacts
on aquatic life by the 18
pharmaceuticals that were recorded
by DEQ as present within the
effluent pond at YC, which breached
MONTANA FLYFISHING

last year. A pipeline going directly
into the river would mean all 18 plus
likely many more, would be found
within the Gallatin, and as Ron
Edwards admitted, “there currently is
no way to control pharmaceuticals.”
Added to that, Big Sky now has a
full-scale hospital located ¼ mile
away from the West Fork. According
to DEQ, there are no federal water
quality criteria for pharmaceuticals,
nor does Montana have any adopted
pharmaceutical water quality
standards.
Wild and Schemic
Then I discovered this by diving
into even more BSWSD meetingminutes:
A deal was pitched to the
district back on April 28, 2016, by
Greater Yellowstone Coalitions’
Waters Conservation Associate,
Charles Wolf Drimal.
Unedited from BSWSD minutes:
Drimal assured the board
that the GYC would
not get in the way of a
discharge permit.
He feels that discharge
can be a benefit to the
quality of the Gallatin
and believes that there
are positive aspects
of discharge. If GYC
supports discharge, there
is a positive political
aspect of the District
supporting the “wild &
scenic” designation. The
board was in agreement to not
take action on Drimal ‘s request
today. The board suggested that a
management level person of GYC
engage with the board, answer
questions regarding degradation, and
provide formal written answers to the
board’s questions and concerns.
...........
That management level person at
GYC is Bob Zimmer, who currently
sits on the steering-committee of the
PR campaign for discharge. Within
that same meeting, Kristen Gardner
of GRTF was also present, as well as
a dozen key-players in the Big Sky
community. Direct-discharge to the
river was discussed multiple times
MONTANA FLYFISHING

throughout Mr. Drimal’s Wild and
Scenic proposition. Then the subject
moved on to the Big Sky Sustainable
Water Solutions Forum and the
suggestion that Big Sky’s current
wastewater capacity has reached
nearly 80%.
April Foolishness
It’s important to point out this GYC
proposal took place during the
same month, April 2016, when I
communicated with Kristen Gardner
of GRTF about whether they were
for or against direct-discharge, also
when I spoke directly with Ron
Edwards and Bob Zimmer at length
on the subject, and more importantly
only one month after the Yellowstone
Club’s wastewater pond had
breached sending 30-million gallons
of effluent into the river.
The Greater Yellowstone Coalition
used to be considered a large group
of conservationists and feared
litigious organizers, but under its
current leadership and direction,
those days appear to be a thing of the
past. Instead, collaboration, and in
some cases collusion with developers
and those posing as stakeholders, is
the new approach taken. This would
explain the over-development boom
throughout the Montana region, not
only in Big Sky, but Bozeman and
surrounding cities, despite the costs
associated with the impairment of
downstream waterways, destruction
of wildlife, and the fragile
environment.
Moonlight Toilet
Basin
Kevin Germain, of Lone Mountain
Land Company, is another key player
in all of this and is fond of repeating
at the meetings: “With existing rules
and regulations we can keep spraying
the forest with it, but I think this is a
poor use of a precious resource”.
What Mr. Germain is referring to is
his company’s current wastewater
disposal method. He’s talking
about his company’s effluent being,
“a precious resource,” not the
freshwater originating from the
headwaters his company Moonlight
Resort sits upon.
…That pure water is the most
precious resource of all, it is the
primary source of life the tributaries
leading toward both the Gallatin
and Madison River’s, down the
mountain, require in order to survive.
MONTANA FLYFISHING

MONTANA FLYFISHING

The Solution
Since Montana DEQ, DNRC, and
FWP, has in its possession the
scientific data and can predict that in
2020 the unincorporated ski town of
Big Sky will be beyond wastewater
capacity and its wells will begin
to run dry, any conservation
organization involved should be
pushing for a permanent buildingmoratorium
going into effect by
2018.
Any further discussion or collusion
on a pipeline directly-discharging
effluent into the Gallatin River, by
any of those involved in Big Sky,
should cease immediately!
Especially since they too are privy
to the facts and figures - showing
both the West Fork and the mainstem
of the Gallatin River are already
negatively impaired by existing
pollutants originating from Big Sky’s
past and current development.
I’ve lived in Big Sky full-time for 5
years now and can attest that the last
thing this town of 2,800 residents
need are more second-homes and
condos, those which are only
inhabited by their wealthy owners on
average 60 days per-year.
Even by the Resorts’ own 2016
figures: There are only 10 days per
year the resort area is over 90% full.
Otherwise, they’re floating in the
50% to 30% capacity.
In fact, as you’re reading this both
Big Sky Resort and Yellowstone
Club are closed. This happens
twice a year, during what are called
shoulder-seasons. Their seasonal
foreign staff, those arriving on
J-1 visas and paid minimumwage,
housing per diems, and ski
passes; are now back in their native
countries.
For another glaring example of how
unnecessary any future development
is in Big Sky, we have Mr.
Ducuennois, VP of Development at
Yellowstone Club, who when asked
recently “how many of the current
570 club members are year-round
Montana residents?”
He responded: ”I don’t even have to
take off my shoes to count that high,
last time we counted, we only had 5
or 6.”
MONTANA FLYFISHING

MONTANA FLYFISHING

So Long,
winter
Photography by Justin Edge

the odd couple
MONTANA FLYFISHING

the
with Walter Foster
by Ed Anderson
MONTANA FLYFISHING

swift water rainbow
“I’m not an inside guy”
Walter Foster tells me as we
ride toward one of his favorite
fishing streams nearby in
Utah. Foster discovered
this after graduating from
Southern Vermont College
and trying to fit into a
corporate life. “I aspired
to be an environmental
scientist…out in the field…
working. That’s not how it
was. I tried three separate
times to work in a firm and
found I got to stare at a
computer screen all day.”
So, the artist found himself
standing in rivers. “I’ve been
fly fishing my whole life.
While hanging out in a fly
shop in Truckee, I showed
the guys some of the fish I’d
been catching on the flies
I’d been tying. ” The rest is
history. Foster has been a
professional fishing guide
for over 20 years.
MONTANA FLYFISHING

“Capturing a
moment of time on
the river that will
last forever in my art
will always inspire
and challenge me in
the studio.”
He now runs Trout Tales
in Utah, guiding the many
great waters around Park
City, and doing colored
pencil drawings of the fish
his clients catch. When
asked if that has always been
his M.O., Foster responds
with an emphatic “No. I’d
always done art as a kid, but
put it away for a long time.
I was guiding and working
in restaurants. There really
wasn’t much time to draw.”
It was only six years ago
when Foster put a client into
a 30-inch brown trout and
the pencil box got opened.
“There was some rust, but
I remembered how much
I loved it.” He says the first
takes weren’t brilliant, but
it gave him the thirst. With
no formal art education, he
jumped online. “There’s so
many resources out there.
Between YouTube and social
media, I was able to study
up and get lots better fa st.”
Another Utahn proved to
be a big influence. “Travis
Sylvester was cranking out
unbelievable work. Watching
him manipulate pencil
MONTANA FLYFISHING

MONTANA FLYFISHING

trout pose
MONTANA FLYFISHING

was really encouraging.
Who else influenced you?
“There’s a long list, but I
was definitely watching
AD Maddox, Mark Sussino,
Yusniel Santos. There’s also
an incredible portrait artist
that blew me away, Heather
Rooney.”
Walter got spun up pretty
fast. His drawings are now
adorning sought-after
gallery space in Park City,
and Foster’s work is generally
sold once it’s finished. He
admits his process is very
time consuming, but he’s
evolving every time he sits
down to a piece.
You’ve got a good working
relationship with Montana
resident and Fish Eye Guy
photographer, Pat Clayton.
How’d that come about? “I
saw his work on the web,”
says Foster, “and thought it
was great. He let me use a
photo for a project. I always
try to take care of great
photographers when I get
to work with them. I’m really
looking forward to using
more of his unbelievable
photos for reference.”
The future for Foster is
looking good. His guiding
business is slammed and he’s
got enough commissioned
work to keep him busy for a
few months. “I need to hire
an office manager. Running
multiple guides requires a
lot of administration. It’ll put
more hours in the day.” And
we can all hope Foster gets
that time to create more of
his brilliant drawings.
MONTANA FLYFISHING

a cutt above
“Every spot on every trout is unique, like no
one fingerprint is the same.”
MONTANA FLYFISHING

onafide
Finally, do you have a soft
spot for Montana? Spent
any time fishing there?
“We did a big loop through
Montana and Idaho a couple
years ago. My wife and I fell
in love with a little creek up
there…. You probably don’t
want to publish it. We were
only supposed to be there
a night and stayed three. It
was unbelievable fishing.
We’re definitely going back.”
MONTANA FLYFISHING

stream leopard
MONTANA FLYFISHING

MONTANA FLYFISHING

networthy
MONTANA FLYFISHING

IdahoA

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olympic
the
peninsula
From the Ice to the
Words and Photos by Patrick Clayton | www.fis
MONTANA FLYFISHING

Ocean
heyeguyphotography.com
MONTANA FLYFISHING

Washington State’s
Olympic Peninsula is
the lynchpin to west
coast salmon and steelhead
recovery. It is the fulcrum
in conservationists and
fisherman’s hope to return
salmon runs to their historic
abundance. Brawling glacier
and rain fed rivers pour from
the slopes of the Olympic
Mountains, descending in
all four directions, while
streams of salmon ascend.
The cycle of life humming
at an increased intensity
beneath the towering green
canopy of forest so vibrant
it seems to breathe.
Radiating like spokes from
a wheel and fueled by
direct hits from The Pacific
Ocean’s strongest storms,
the legendary rivers of the
Peninsula still hold some of
the most productive rearing
and spawning habitat in
the lower forty eight. Their
headwaters lay protected in
the Olympic National Park
to remain undisturbed in
perpetuity. This is a place
where the sky turns into
a grey sliver above the
towering old growth forests,
a crack of light as crystal
clear cold water rushes
from the glaciers a high.
With better management,
continued preservation,
rehabilitation, and lessening
reliance on hatcheries this
zone could become the
anchor in recovery efforts
in both directions. Great
strides have been made. The
north slopes premier river,
the mystical Elwha River,
has undergone a historic
dam removal project and is
MONTANA FLYFISHING

Sculpted by ice,
battered by waves,
and drenched
in rainfall, the
Olympic Peninsula
is a biological gem
and geological
masterwork.
recovering at break neck
speed. Stray fish heading
eastward up the Strait of
Juan De Fuca seemingly
smell opportunity in the
water pouring down this
canyon and take a right turn.
The gauntlets of gorges
that lie upstream are the
ultimate test piece and the
survivors of this Herculean
journey historically were
known to produce mutant
king salmon to a hundred
plus pounds. Iconic Rivers
like the Sol Duc, Hoh,
MONTANA FLYFISHING

MONTANA FLYFISHING
barred owl
fairy slipper

king salmon
King Salmon are what
you want if you feel
like getting in a tug of
roosevelt elk
war with a leviathan.
MONTANA FLYFISHING

the olympic mountains
MONTANA FLYFISHING

Quinalt and innumerable
tributaries emerge from the
mist, in but a few short miles
fill river bottoms become
salmon highways. Sculpted
by ice, battered by waves
and drenched in rainfall,
the Olympic Peninsula
is a biological gem and
geological masterwork.
Fishermen come from
around the world for a
chance to tussle with these
ocean-fueled vagabonds.
These fish represent the
survivors of intensive
logging, industrial scale
commercial, and sport
fishing. The most iconic of
them all is the steelhead,
known for reel busting
runs and notorious for their
nomadic movements, the
few remaining wild fish
need to be treated with the
utmost reverence. Guides
have gone so far as to curtail
their pursuit of them leaving
them be to reproduce and
in time create a stronger
fishery. The chances are
slim but just knowing the
possibility exists is enough
for many, a chance to stand
amongst the massive groves
MONTANA FLYFISHING

steelhead salmon
MONTANA FLYFISHING

This place will
soak into your
soul like the
rain does your
gore-tex.
MONTANA FLYFISHING

of trees in water fresh from
ice fields or the sky itself.
If one chooses to pursue
these remnant fish, utilize
heavy tackle to quicken the
fight, barbless single hooks,
and minimize any handling.
Every species of salmon ply
these waters. Pinks fill up
riversheds in odd numbered
years, Coho Salmon provide
great sport as they come
upriver with the rain, King
Salmon are what you want
if you feel like getting in a
tug of war with a leviathan.
Coastal Cutthroat provides
fun fare given you can find
them. Whatever it is you do
or don’t hook into, this place
will soak into your soul like
the rain does your gore-tex.
To coastal dwellers, salmon
have a mythic pull on us.
They represent something,
maybe a leaving of the nest in
search of something greater
to return home in all their
glory, years later stronger
and wiser. Returning to the
exact spot they whence
came from only to sacrifice
themselves for the next
generation and the place
they came from, the cycle
perpetuating. More work is
needed and groups like the
Wild Fish Conservancy are
fearlessly advocating for
salmonids. Wild Olympics
is a proposal to protect
adjacent land and will make
great progress in protecting
these watersheds. The
resilience and fortitude to
survive heavy abuses in
the past, shows that these
silvery torpedoes, if given
half a chance, will continue
to fill our hearts with love.≈
Words & photos by Patrick Clayton
www.fisheyeguyphotography.com
http://wildfishconservancy.org/
http://www.wildolympics.org/
MONTANA FLYFISHING

coho and steelhead
MONTANA FLYFISHING

sc
fis
then and now: the olympic peninsula has
a lengthy history with logging.
MONTANA FLYFISHING

Fishermen come
from around the
world for a chance
to tussle with these
ocean-fueled
vagabonds. These
fish represent the
survivors of intense
logging, and industrial
ale commercial and sport
hing.
washington’s hoh river
coho salmon
MONTANA FLYFISHING

chum salmon
MONTANA FLYFISHING

MONTANA FLYFISHING

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