In life we're often reminded of times of fear and uncertainty -- with relatives, friends, employment and yes, even the rivers we fish.
Without question, we are in one of those cycles. The good news...everything's going to be just fine...eventually. The river's seen far worse in recent history and just as with every previous flood, the river, its quality of fishing, and pleasing scenery will recover in short order (and by short order I don't mean this month...but probably sooner than later).
As anxious anglers, how dow we cope with the void in immediate fishing options and the perceived doom and gloom on the Lower Owyhee River? The answer: We stare down the issue and face the facts -- honestly and as they are.
What's Going On -- Point by Point:
- More water is coming out of the Owyhee Mountains than what fits in the Owyhee Reservoir (obviously).
- The Owyhee River's primary responsibility is to provide water to the agricultural community. Fisheries management is a distant second. Yes, a happy medium can exist, but that would require bureaucrats learning how to formulate snowpack/runoff scenarios (math). When it comes to the choice of proactive (intergovernmental agency) management or kicking back
braindead asleep at the switch, my money's on the latter.
- Fishing conditions are not ideal at this time. The Owyhee River is flowing at an extremely high level (as of April 01, 2011) -- bouncing between 6,000 and 11,000 CFS.
- The 'immediate' fishing quality (early to mid 2011) will suffer. April and May will likely be less productive than in recent years.
- There is no 'magic number'. Many folks (present company included) have their eyes fixed on the flow gauges. When will they come down? When the Owyhee Irrigation District feels incoming runoff can maintain at capacity reservoir storage without overwhelming the integrity of the dam.
- What does the river look like at these excessive flows? Here are a few photos taken on Monday, April 04, 2011 -- click on the thumbnail photos for a larger view of the area.
- The Lower Owyhee River has an extremely wide floodplain. As you can see from the photos, fish have several places to hold/rest out of the main river channel.
- The lush willows and vegetation (the thick greenery along the banks) will likely be gone for 2011. Obviously it will begin to grow back throughout the summer, but the banks will look a bit barren as flows decline and return to normal.
- There is a possibility water clarity will be off (tea colored) throughout a good portion of 2011.
- The place is going to smell like a BC salmon river for a few weeks once the water comes down -- the trees and remaining willows will be decorated with decaying bass and bluegill.
- The river will fish this year. It may not be as aesthetically pleasing or consistent as in years prior, but it will definitely fish when flows are back to normal (220 CFS).
- Bug numbers will shift as they did following the 2006 flood. Aquatic insects reliant upon weed beds and slower moving water for habitat (Callibaetis, Pale Morning Duns, and Tricos) will likely take a hit. Stoneflies (Skwalas and Yellow Sallies) and Caddis numbers will increase in the 'new' clean, rocky stream bottom.
- Fish kill is an absolute certainty. Unlike socially overreaching governments, the river is a 'Serengeti plain' of sorts. The strongest fish will advance to the medal round and the old, weak and sick will become farmer Ted's fertilizer. Think of a flood as a 'broodstock' NFL (National Fishing League) draft -- the river's only keeping the best performers.
- The river will recover in short order (within the year). Nature is far more resilient and less fickle than man.
In the scheme of things, everything will turn out rosy...eventually. Soon enough, you'll remember the Owyhee River as it typically is, and not what happens to it on occasion.
Above: The Owyhee at 9000 CFS (left) and the Owyhee at 225 CFS (right) - Same piece of water.
These are but a few of the facts -- at least the ones likely to be at the forefront of concern and conversation.
Questions? Contact us here at the Trout Lie.
