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I'm smart enough to marry a RC property owner and dumb enough to move to CA. Couldn't wait to get out, and now all we do is try to get back!!
RC is fishable from A to Z, top to bottom, up and down,... Larger fish more towards the bottom, more fish towards the top. There are some places where the river flows away from the road, but never so far that it can't be accessed by a little stroll. There is lots of private property though, so stay below high the water mark and you'll be OK. There are seasonal floating regs also.
Winter access depends on the amount of snow and how active the plows are. Stay lower where the river is bigger and the valley warmer. Fishing can be great in the winter, I have caught my biggest fish at that time of year - migratory browns. Lots of whitefish though, which can be avoided if you fish upstream of them just a little bit where the water is faster - also, "lose" the beadheads.
Stop by(support) The Rock Creek Mercantile for info and supplies. The owner is a former Bay Arean(not arIan!).
In ONE day I have seen moose, deer, elk, coyote, sheep, black bear and all the usual little critters. Never heard/seen of grizz in the area, but I would not bet against it.
Yes the road from I-90 to P-burg is a pain in the a$$ to say the least. They have graded it and made it even narrower in some spots. If you want to fish the top, it is easier to take I-90 to Drummond and head south to P-burg and then come down the river. Many campgrounds make it a great river for a multi-day trip.
IF(big IF) this mine goes thru, I find it hard to believe that the traffic would flow down river and not thru the above mentioned route. Traveling down river in 4x4 F150 is a pain in the a$$, can't imagine doing it in any sort of industrial vehicle(can you imagine industrial traffic on that road?). But that won't prevent any potential downstream run-off effects.
Residents in the area(greater Msla area too) are very environmentally aware and active, I have no doubt this will be fought tooth and nail. There is a Rock Creek group(don't remember the name) that is very active. They have helped thwart a McMansion development at the bottom of the river near The Clark's Fork. They tried to get us to sign a promise that we would not put any permanent structure on our property. There was also a gold discovery and planned mining up around Lincoln on the Upper Blackfoot that was shot down by locals.
These miners will have a War on their hands if they want to try and go thru with this. There is mounds of red tape and bureacracy(Can't believe I am actually thankful for that! In this case ONLY. Am I a NIMBY? I guess so, hang me if you want.) in place against anything that potentially harms the environment. I have no doubt that there will be a grass roots fight against this. That does not mean that they will be successful though.
I will keep all informed with the status, as well as how we can help.
Signed your's truely-
Nimby John
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