I had a couple days off in the past week so I figured I'd take a little trip to one of my favorite small creeks. It's not too far from the Missouri and is conveniently located midway between Great Falls and Helena. A few years ago it seemed to be a fairly secluded gem with few people recognizing it's potential as a fly fishing stream. It now is evident that people are pounding it from all sides; the avid fly fisher as well as the local campers. I won't talk too much about the fishing as it was fair but not spectacular. I'd rather bring attention to the absolutely horrible condition people have left this stream in the past few years.
I parked the truck at an un-designated campsite and right away began taking inventory of how people have began the process of destroying this river. There was a fire-pit filled with bottles and cans and other debris waiting to get blown around in the wind. Broken glass littered the entire site, which concerned me as the dogs ran around rummaging for bits of food left behind. Directly under the railroad bridge near the site, an old microwave had 'found' its way into the river. It was obviously used for some kind of target practice as it was pretty busted up and filled with holes. Just down-stream, the remains of a washing machine showed itself; rising up out of a pocket in the bend of the stream.
We drove down-stream and parked at a bridge access and witnessed an older man; white beard and beer belly walk to a pool, drop a line in from a spinning rod, pull up about an 16 inch brown trout and whack it with his pocket knife. Don't get me wrong; there are creel limits for a reason and I come from a long line of fish eaters from the Midwest but there are better fish to eat than the browns in that system. To each his own though so as long as you follow the rules, have at it.
With two other trucks already parked at the bridge we decided to go back up-stream and find a new place with hopefully less trash. We parked again a an un-designated camp-site and fished for a little while before hanging it up. While loading up the truck we called for the dogs and when one wasn't listening, I walked over to see what he was into. He had his nose burried deep in a used diaper. As I looked around I saw several diapers just lying on the ground in the deep grass along to site. Are you kidding me? This is ridiculous!
If you haven't figured out where I was yet, let me break the news. It was the Little Prickly Pear and no, this wasn't an exaggeration. I've fished this creek for about 8 years now and have seen the rapid decline recently. There's a couple things I'd like to say that probably won't sit well with some of the locals. On the weekends, specifically holiday weekends, this creek gets pounded with campers from Helena and Great Falls. There are campers lined up along its banks from the Sieben Ranch to the Chevalier Ranch. There are no designated camp sites and folks will park where ever they can find a spot. You all ought to be ashamed of your damn selves.
As a guide I've heard all the complaints about how we are destroying the rivers and the resources by bringing all these people out here. Let me just say this; there isn't a guide in Montana that would treat a river the way I've seen many of the local campers and floaters treat our area streams and I'm appalled and quite honestly, embarrassed. Leave no trace is something I've taught young campers in the roles I've had in the past and what I practice now as a professional in the field. Nobody is perfect as I continue to be a better steward of the resources. But what I saw on the Little P.P. was ridiculous and to say there was a lack of effort would be one of the bigger understatements of the decade. I guess what this means is that those few that care like Mariah, an area rafter who led the first Upper Missouri River Clean-up and Trout Unlimited will have to step in and clean up again after those who literally could give a crap.
Keep 'em where they live...
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