We prayed for rain and we got it. What we didn't pray for was 2 landslides in the Line Creek Canyon and we got that as a side salad to our wishes. After an epic start to the season with Golden Stoneflies and Drakes generously feeding fish, the Elk suffered a set back when 2 natural slides came down the steep canyon and dirtied the river quite badly. 'Shit Brown" was the term used to describe the Elk to me as I'm currently enjoying the clean waters of the Columbia in the West Kootenay.
The fortunate part is that the slide is on Teck (mine) property and is blocking the access to their mine so remediation work is in full swing and the expect to have the road operational by early August. That may not mean the end of the siltation but it will lilkey be greatly reduced. Left on it's own it may take weeks if not months to clean up as it is holding water back and damming the river. The diversion of the water will hopefully provide some relief from the silt but we won't know how things will turn out and will have to update as it progresses.
It will give the fish a break although crowds were not much of an issue and really we needed some rain to help fill the aquifers in the valley and cool down the temps. These cutts have shown their ability to handle the muddiest and siltiest of conditions so I'm not too concerned about their situation as the population was extremely healthy this year. The higher water temps present a great risk to the fish and that warming trend has been somewhat alleviated by the cool rains and we have cold nights in the forecast which should keep the Elk in the safe zone as far as temps.
So it's time to explore as most of you have done over the years here and as those who have been here before know there is a lot more to this fishery than the Elk. So hello Elk tribs, St. Mary's, Bull, Wigwam, Flathead, St. Mary's AB, Oldman, Waterton, Columbia etc.. I prefer guiding many of these rivers myself as it's a bit more of a challenge and in some cases provides a completely different angling experience.
Water levels are good, bugs are good, fish are good, Elk is poo. Other than the poo factor it's game on.
The fortunate part is that the slide is on Teck (mine) property and is blocking the access to their mine so remediation work is in full swing and the expect to have the road operational by early August. That may not mean the end of the siltation but it will lilkey be greatly reduced. Left on it's own it may take weeks if not months to clean up as it is holding water back and damming the river. The diversion of the water will hopefully provide some relief from the silt but we won't know how things will turn out and will have to update as it progresses.
It will give the fish a break although crowds were not much of an issue and really we needed some rain to help fill the aquifers in the valley and cool down the temps. These cutts have shown their ability to handle the muddiest and siltiest of conditions so I'm not too concerned about their situation as the population was extremely healthy this year. The higher water temps present a great risk to the fish and that warming trend has been somewhat alleviated by the cool rains and we have cold nights in the forecast which should keep the Elk in the safe zone as far as temps.
So it's time to explore as most of you have done over the years here and as those who have been here before know there is a lot more to this fishery than the Elk. So hello Elk tribs, St. Mary's, Bull, Wigwam, Flathead, St. Mary's AB, Oldman, Waterton, Columbia etc.. I prefer guiding many of these rivers myself as it's a bit more of a challenge and in some cases provides a completely different angling experience.
Water levels are good, bugs are good, fish are good, Elk is poo. Other than the poo factor it's game on.
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