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2010 Spring Fishing Update

As many of you know snowpack this past winter was well below normal with most drainages in the area running around 65-70%.  Low snowpack can equate to lower water levels as our summer progresses and this can make fishing more difficult and can be hard on the fish as well.  To make matters worse our early spring was very warm and runoff started a couple of weeks earlier than normal.  It was hard to be upset with daily highs in the mid 60s but just as soon as we pulled out our bicycles, fishing rods and hiking boots Mother Nature has another surprise for us…we went from Spring back to Winter.  Over the past couple of weeks temperatures have gone from 15 degrees above normal to 15 degrees below normal.  In addition, it’s been raining and snowing almost every day!  While this temperature drop upsets many, I, for one, am very happy!  With every snow storm and cold day, this adds to the snowpack which in turn, helps our streams for the summer.  The creeks look great and I am very excited to show you the stream restoration work that was completed on Blue Crane Creek this past winter. 
After 3 years John Merritt has moved on and is now the manager of the Jackson Orvis store.  Please stop by and say hello to John this summer.  I am excited to introduce our new seasonal assistant, Chris Morrell.  Chris comes to us from Bates College in Lewiston, Maine where he majored in Economics.  Last summer Chris worked as a fishing guide at the HF Bar Guest Ranch in Buffalo, WY and this past winter was a ski instructor at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort.  Please join me in welcoming Chris to 3 Creek Ranch.  Many of you will have the chance to fish with Chris this summer.
Our fishing season begins June 1st and I can’t wait.  I look forward to getting back on the water with all of you this summer.  Let’s go fishing!
Jim Brungardt
Fishing Coordinator