Cutthroat Chapter-Trout Unlimited
Angling trip to Montana’s Bighorn River
May 21-26, 2008 (updated
March 18, 2008
)
Cutthroat Chapter-Trout Unlimited is organizing a trip to Montana’s Bighorn River to fish 13 miles of tailwater below Yellowtail Dam, near Fort Smith. The river is a celebrated fishery, with many robust 16-22-inch browns and rainbows.
Any TU member may register. The party will stay at Cottonwood Camp, near Fort Smith, a 520-mile drive from Denver (nearly all interstate highway.) The party will arrive on Wednesday afternoon, May 21, will fish the river Thursday through Sunday, and return to the Denver area on Monday, May 26. Carpools will be arranged.
As rental boat and lodging space is limited, mailed registrations with $100 deposit checks will be accepted in the order received. Preference will be given to TU members planning to fish all four days, or agreeing to pay their share of four-day boat rental and five-day lodging, should they elect to stay a shorter time. Later-received registrations will have checks returned, or held on a waiting list, at the sender’s option. Below is the registration form.
Lodging in the camp’s bunkhouse is available for a modest nightly fee (around $20.) It features shared sleeping rooms with bunks equipped with blankets, flannel liners, pillows and towels. It has two bathrooms with showers, a living area with satellite TV, a well-equipped kitchen-dining area and a covered patio with gas grills. A duplex may also be reserved (if available), featuring a small kitchenette-dining area, bathroom and two double-decker bunks. These are comfortable for two, and snug for four. (Nightly rate: $75 for two persons, $10 per additional person) Cottonwood Camp also has sites for campers and tents. NOTE: The only phone at camp for incoming calls goes to manager Rhoda Blakely, so please leave her number at home for emergency calls only: 406-666-2391.
Several good fly shops, including one at the camp, sell whatever angling gear you don’t bring with you. Most anglers prefer to bring and prepare their own meals, but at least two nearby restaurants serving dinners and breakfasts will be open.
Anglers fish the Bighorn tailwater by wading, but rely on driftboats for transit between holes. Anglers in the party should be able to row, or willing to learn. The river is generally broad, with no significant rapids. An experienced Bighorn angler will be assigned to each boat. Most veterans are willing to offer fishing tips on request. However, this is not a guided trip, and is not recommended for novice anglers.
Four three-person drift boats have been reserved, at $135 a day each. The camp staff will place and retrieve the boats each day, and will transfer anglers’ cars from the launch ramp to the take-out ramp. Anglers who bring a drift boat or pontoon boat will not share boat rental costs, but will pay a modest fee for daily car/trailer transfer.
A liability release is required for all participants. Please fill out and mail the Liability Release Form with your registration form and check. Reservations will be confirmed by email, with further trip information emailed late in April. Meantime, please direct any question to Jim Crawford at (303) 220-5450 /crawfish1@comcast.net
Registration for Bighorn River Trip
May 21-26, 2008 (Download this FORM)
A $100 deposit per person is required with your registration. Make checks payable to Cottonwood Camp. Complete this form and mail with check to: Jim Crawford, 7383 S. Fillmore Circle., Centennial CO 80122.
Name: ____________________________________ E-mail: ___________________________
Address, City & Zip: __________________________________________________________
Phone: Home __________________ Work __________________ Cell __________________
Member of what TU chapter? ______________________________
Will you drive? _____ If so, who will ride with you? ________________________________
Do you want riders to share costs? _____ How many? _____ Do you need a ride? ______
Do you plan to arrive May 21 and depart May 26? ______ If not, what are your plans?
____________________________________________________________________________
If staying a shorter time, will you share five-day lodging and four-day boat rental costs? _____
Circle your lodging preference: Bunkhouse / Duplex. (if available)
If Duplex, who will share it with you? _____________________________________________
Are you bringing a camping trailer or tent? _____ Will you need to share a rental boat? _____
Are you able to row, or willing to learn? ________________________________
Have you fished the Bighorn tailwater before? ____ If so, about how many days? __________
Are you bringing a boat? If so, who do you plan will share it? _________________________
Can your boat be available to any other anglers? ______ If so, to how many? _________
If your registration is received after all vacancies are filled, do you want your check to be returned promptly, or held until mid-May on a waiting list? Returned:____ Held on waiting list: ____
(Download Registration Form)
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