October 2014 – The 52 Rivers Blog

Fish, turkeys and bees

shelleyw — Mon, 20 Oct 2014 02:38:07 +0000

I’ve started my new job as the Library Director of a small, innovative library in Bayfield, CO, called Pine River Library. They won Library Journal’s “Best Small Library in America” last year. I can’t think of a better spot to return to my library career after my two years on rivers and writing my book.

Bayfield is about 10 miles east of Durango, where I’ve written about as my second home. This whole area is so beautiful and almost spiritual in how it captures you. On my hike today, I spotted fish in Hermosa Creek, bees sucking up their last chance at pollen and some wild turkeys waiting out the last four days of hunting season.

Although I won’t visit 52 rivers this year, I may be able to find time to write at length about one or two rivers. We have the Animas, the Pine, the San Juan and the Piedra all within an hour of where I live. Once again I find myself thinking I need another lifetime to be able to accomplish all I would like to!

Till Next Year, Montana

shelleyw — Sun, 05 Oct 2014 15:53:41 +0000

My second visit to Montana this year ends as I head south to Salt Lake City for a couple days. Excited to see my friend, Marianne McKinney and fellow librarian Peter Bromberg. If you haven’t yet come across the amazing organization Casting for Recovery please take the time to do it. They are so important to women and breast cancer and the giving you do for them is returned 100-fold.

This weekend was their annual fundraiser in Hamilton, MT and like last year, it was beyond special. I listened the story of a 23-year old woman who’s life was upturned by a diagnosis of breast cancer and how it wasn’t until she joined up with CFR that her life was really turned around. I met folks from the World Fishing Network and TFO Fly rod makers who are devoted followers and contributors to the cause, and I met volunteers galore who regularly devote their time.

On top of it all, I spent a day on the Bitterroot on an absolutely perfect weather day – deep blue skies, warm breezes and abundant sunshine. It was a one-fly contest but I took off my beautiful creation after an hour. Peggy kept hers on all day! The fishing was slow, but it didn’t matter – we still caught some rainbows and one beautiful, hefty brown. Our guide, Travis Craft from the Missoulian Angler worked hard to help us find fish, and we enjoyed his company and appreciated his volunteering to float us down the river.

Sigh. The memories of this weekend will last a lifetime.

Memorable Moments in Montana

shelleyw — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 23:12:55 +0000

October 3, 2014. Drove up to Stevensville to the Lee Metcalf Wildlife Preserve where I didn’t see one person on the hike I took. There were thousands of ducks – skittish with just a single hiker – that occupied the marshes that spread out over 160 acres. I had to peak through the Tourist Center’s windows to get a view of the taxidermal creatures. I actually love studying the hawks, which I have a hard time identifying.

Then, on the opposite end of the spectrum, I visited the Daly Mansion – the 25 bedroom summer retreat of the Copper tycoon in Montana. The grounds were beautifully maintained with Linden, Oak, Pine and Maple trees everywhere. The fall colors were gorgeous as I meandered throughout the property spotting the ice house, the laundry house and the greenhouse! The wind and rain finally disappeared making for a picture perfect day.

Nothing Tart about the Bitterroot

shelleyw — Fri, 03 Oct 2014 03:15:17 +0000

October 2, 2014. Unlike most of the big Montana Rivers, the Bitterroot only flows about 75 miles before emptying into the Clark Fork River. The Lee Metcalf National Wildlife Refuge is located on the Bitterroot. Over 235 birds have been identified in this area that covers 160 acres. That is my destination for tomorrow.

I chose the campsite where I’m staying because it’s situated right on the Bitterroot. Anglers come and go from the boat launch that I can see from my Scamp’s door. The riparian life today included lots of insect hatches including midges and caddis and the occasional osprey and eagle flying overhead. When the trucks and cars stopped their incessant noise from the nearby highway, I could hear the slow, mellow trickle of the fall flow.

I hung up my waders and boots today and instead concentrated on my website and other details of life that I’ve left undone for the last six months as I finished writing my book. Now, I need to read up on the latest library news since I’ll be taking the job as director of the Pine River Valley Library in Bayfield, CO. This amazing little library won the honor of “Best Small Library in the Country.” Pretty impressive. For now, though, I’m going to focus on my last three days in Montana and enjoy the company of the folks who are participating in the national Casting for Recovery fundraiser this weekend.

I Have Books to Sell!

shelleyw — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 22:47:31 +0000

I’m so excited to share my amazing year of 52 Rivers with you. I no longer have books for sale on Amazon.

1. Directly from me. If you would like to order the book directly from me, please contact me directly at Shelley@52rivers.com, and I will reply with instructions. I am selling the books for $20.00 + $5.00 shipping.

2. Independent Book Store

Maria’s Bookshop – Durango, CO
960 Main Street
Durango, CO 81301
970.247.1438

I do programs at libraries, bookstores, service clubs and fishing clubs – or any other group that would like to hear my story!

I welcome other invitations to speak, and you can reach me at Shelley@52rivers.com

Thank you for your interest!

Dries in October

shelleyw — Thu, 02 Oct 2014 05:26:33 +0000

October 1, 2014. I drove up to Missoula in the dark this morning with sunrise not happening until after 7:30. I met up with a guide from the Missoulian Angler – Travis Craft – to fish the Clark Fork River. The Clark Fork meanders over 300 miles under Interstate 90 in a northwesterly direction. You wouldn’t know it when floating in a drift boat that it encompasses the largest Super Fund site in the US. Wow, what we do to our rivers is unbelievable…

However, for me it was a good fishing day. The rain finally stopped, although it was cloudy all morning. When we pulled up to the boat ramp, low and behold, I ran into one of the guides from our Smith River trip last summer – Jason (sorry, I can’t remember your last name.) You can read more about our Smith River trip in my book! Jason and I shared stories about our great trip and fly-fishing in general, with no apparent rush to start our day on the river. It was a great beginning.

About 2:00 the sun came out intermitently, but the wind picked up to 30-35 mph gusts, making for some difficult casting. We fished with dry flies all day and I caught some really nice rainbows after I finally got my rhythm. I fished with my relatively new Hardy Zenith 4 weight rod, and I must say, that rod really suits me well. When I switched over to my Sage VXP 6-weight later in the day, I had quite an adjustment to make.

Travis and I will fish the Bitterroot with Peggy Stevenson on Saturday. Peggy is also coming to Hamilton for the Casting for Recovery (CFR) fundraiser. Peggy is the volunteer director of the CFR events in Colorado and is a new friend. Looking forward to the one-fly event. Any suggestions?