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For Stream Access Day, the fearless Tom Malloy volunteered
to scout the river route in advance.

Remember, Tom is very experienced at
this sort of thing and what he says is easy
may not be the same for us novices.

We will be gathering at the public park in Twin Bridges around
9 A.M Sunday. Due to the increasing interest in Sunday's float we are
asking the Madison County Sheriff or a representative to be there and set
out what they will expect of us.
Jackie Corr


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Any comments, ideas, suggestions questions -

Tom Malloy cell (490-4286)
Tom will be in the Ruby area Saturday night.
Tony Schoonen at 406 - 782 - 1560
E-mail
Jackie Corr at





Stream Access Float Day, Sunday July 17th, 2005
TOM MALLOY REPORTS


Ahoy Missoula area water people,

The Ruby River Recon Team, that'd be me, floated the Ruby River Sunday July 10th, 2005. I floated alone in a 12 foot aluminum rowboat, very successfully.

My observations follow, along with my understandings and recommendations for the Stream Access Float Day on Sunday July 17th, 2005.

Two Floats - Short and Long

The Long Float of 5 1/2 hours, is from Lewis Lane Bridge to Twin Bridges.

The Short Float of 2 1/2 hours, is from East Bench or Seyler Lane Bridge to Twin Bridges.


The Ruby River joins the Beaverhead River one hour below the ( lower ) Seyler Lane Bridge.
Minimal time was spent fishing. Detailed directions to each bridge are provided below.

Bridge to River Access

Both bridges had at least one spot where a single person could lower a lightweight craft "relatively easy" to the water below. Any additional assistance from a buddy already below at the water would make it very simple, although it may not be entirely necessary. We hope to have lots of buddies and volunteers to assist other buddies.

On the Lewis Lane Bridge, the best access to the river bank is on the north-west corner, although it is very tight-up against a thick willow stand. This is where I entered the Ruby.


Be careful of barbed wire and electric wire attached to the bridges !
Although annoying, . . . It is easily passable.

On the East Bench Road Bridge, the best access to the river bank is on the south-west corner


Vertical drop from the bridge decks to the water is only 5 to 8 feet, or less, dependin' on if and where you hit the side bank. A 10 to 15 footrope will be more than adequate to lower your craft to the water and to tie it off on the bridge. All gear can be lowered or tossed from bridge to bank (buddies and/or ladders help again).

I had an extension ladder, but chose to jump the 4 feet to the side-bank in the willow bushes. I'll be bringin' my extension ladder again. Ladders, ropes and assistance will hopefully be provided by buddies and/or volunteers.

Float Craft

Regardin' craft selection for the float itself, any small craft will do.

The ideal craft would be lightweight and maneuverable. I did perfectly fine in a 12 foot auminum rowboat with oars. I believe any canoe would do fine. A small raft would also do fine, being cautious that the river does get shallow and narrow at places. The channel can change quickly from narrow (20 feet), deep and swift, to wide (100 feet), slow and shallow.

You could walk almost the entire length of the float without swimming, . . . almost. In several narrow spots, I would've preferred a canoe with paddles, as opposed to a wide rowboat (or raft) with wide-reaching oars.

Bein' alone, my fat arse didn't sit too deep in the shallows, although I did drag bottom 2 or 3 times. Additional weight would've resulted in more bottom-draggin' and less maneuverability. I never once had to walk or drag the rowboat because of shallow water.

I would also highly recommend large inner-tubes.

River Channel

The Ruby channel is very serpentine and the floater needs to be continuously adjusting course. There are thousands of turns in the river. There are numerous small islands which require the floater to quickly choose between two small flows. There are numerous beaches suitable for walk-abouts, . . providin' you don't pass the high water mark ! Eroding river banks in many places are directly vertical from the water surface.

River H A Z A R D S ! !

Approximately 150 to 200 yards below the ( lower ) East Bench Road Bridge, a small irrigation diversion structure (12 to 18 inch vertical drop over river stones) was easily passed over on the floaters-right. I chose to fish the upper and lower pools and lowered my boat over the rocks. Approximately 100 yards below that, the channel gets very narrow with one very visible wood snag. Easily passable, but BE ALERT ! !

No man-made obstructions (e.g., barbed wire or any other fencing) across the river were observed.

Water Quality

Water temperature was very comfortable for wading and walking. Water clarity was somewhat cloudy, I suspect from silt from irrigation side-channel returns. The river bottom was visible to a depth of approximately 2 to 3 feet. Water velocity was mostly very slow and lazy with isolated strong currents on the bends.

Fishing

Fishin' was best accomplished by beaching the craft and wadin' the stream. Every turn in the channel presented an excellent deep pool and a backwater eddy. Caught one small brown on a spinner. Surprisingly, I did not see a
lot of fish surfacing despite numerous hatches. No specific recommendations.

Wildlife - A real plus

But warning - mosquitoes are predatory ! I still prefer long pants.

Observed hundreds of whitetailed deer, including one very very large 4 point buck in velvet.

Also observed antelope, elk, bald eagles, hawks, sand hill cranes, owls, geese, ducks,
beavers, muskrats and one human.

Humans

I believe I was video-taped and photographed the entire time I was there.


Not one person said a single word to me before, during or after the float.

Two large new 4-door pickup "ranch trucks" (one with duelly's - both with Madison County license plates - both with multiple radio antennas) "circled" up and down the road as I was entering the river. I believe they were either circling, lost, or really, really confused. One driver was apparently holding a small video camera as he repeatedly drove slowly by.

Once upon the float, I observed the same truck and same driver, paralleling my progress down the river as he drove across miles of hay fields. The large "ranch truck" repeatedly stopped 40 to 100 yards away, to point a supposed camera in my direction. I could see the driver was clearly lookin' in my direction, and clearly pointin' somethin' in my direction.

So's, . . . I smiled and waved at the camera every time !

When I returned to my vehicle from Twin Bridges ( in the dark - on my mountain-bike - 7.2 miles ), I am certain I was followed back to Twin Bridges by the same two "ranch trucks", which did not disappear until they discovered where I had stashed my mountain-bike and where I had beached my rowboat.

And just 'cause I'm paranoid doesn't mean they were'nt really followin' me.


Directions to East Bench Road or Seyler Lane Bridge ( Short 2 1/2 Hour Float )

From Twin Bridges, proceed south on State Highway 41. After about 1.7 miles (at Mile Marker #41) turn west on to East Bench Road, and proceed on about 1.5 miles to the Ruby River Bridge.

Directions to Lewis Lane Bridge ( Long 5 1/2 Hour Float )

From Twin Bridges, proceed south on State Highway 41. After about 3.5 miles (at Mile Marker #39.4) turn west on to Middle Road, and proceed on about 1.5 miles to a marked right turn onto Lewis Lane, which has no street
name posted. Then proceed on about 1.5 miles to the Ruby River Bridge.

Vehicle Parking / Shuttles

I parked immediately nearby the Lewis Lane Bridge, as far off the road as I possibly could, clearly not blocking anybody's right-of-way, nor trespassing. I had no problems. There would be lots of room for other similar vehicles, but ya' might have to unload your gear at the bridge, then park aways down the road and walk back.

I recommend everyone first check-in at Jessen Park in Twin Bridges to see about having a buddy or a volunteer shuttle their vehicles.

Recommendations

Be at Jessen Park in Twin Bridges around 9 a.m. on Sunday July 17th ! !
If more convenient later will do. We plan to float the river all day.
I will be in the area Saturday night and will answer my cell phone listed above.

Parking at the bridges may be a problem. Check at Jessen Park for buddies and/or volunteers to shuttle your vehicle.

Bring beverages to hydrate.
Sunscreen.
BUG SPRAY ! !

Hot dogs and pop at Jessen Park when we're done.
Shuttles back to your parked vehicles if necessary.

If ya' can't make the float, or ya' don't have a canoe or an inner-tube, or ya' can't swim,
show up in Twin Bridges Sunday afternoon and volunteer to shuttle vehicles or cook
hot dogs or listen to the speakers.! !

This scenic park is next to old Montana State Orphanage and across
from the Madison County Fairgrounds.



And, just to show your Support for Legal Stream Access in Montana !
Be sure to . . . . Smile at the cameras !


Ahoy, Tom

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