Does Montana Count As "PNW"?

[Richard Olmstead]

Speaking from the perspective of someone who has struggled to define Pacific Northwest formally based on vegetation cohesiveness (see Flora of the Pacific Northwest, 2nd Ed., UW Press), we include all of Montana west of a line roughly extending from Henry's lake and Madison River, north past Helena (barely excluding Helena) and up the eastern front of the Rockies to the Canadian border (and beyond, roughly following the BC, Alberta border). We included most of Idaho, excluding the Snake River plains and south, roughly an arc from Boise around to Henry's Lake. We particularly struggled with that area around Yellowstone and were a little conservative at drawing the line at the Madison and not going a bit further east to include the Gallatin, considering that there are elements of the Great Plains flora that creep up into that area.

I think this would be pretty much consistent also with respect to the nature of the fisheries. It would exclude some prominent Montana fisheries, including the Yellowstone, parts of the Missouri, and Gallitan, for example.

 

[Breck]

I watched some guys fishing below the Libby dam in the late 90's. They were drift fishing just like you fish steelhead. Saw some incredibly huge fish swimming around there. Fly fished the Kootenai a couple of days out of my drift boat and only caught relatively small fish. The highlight of the trip was when my wife wanted me to row back up to the put in because a black bear decided to swim across the river right in front of us.

They were very likely after the kamloops. There’s also a hefty population of bull trout in there as well.

No shortage of bruins in these parts. Black & grizzly.

 

[Dogsnfish]

It depends. I am from eastern WA and Mossback's map has always been what I thought of as the PNW. But, I teach many students from the I-5 corridor and to them the Pacific Northwest stops at the Cascade Crest when you are heading east on Snoqualmie Pass.

 

[Dogsnfish]

Speaking from the perspective of someone who has struggled to define Pacific Northwest formally based on vegetation cohesiveness (see Flora of the Pacific Northwest, 2nd Ed., UW Press),
View attachment 3973

I need to break down and get the 2nd edition!

 

[Richard Olmstead]

I need to break down and get the 2nd edition!
View attachment 3979

Dogsnfish,
That's a classic. The pale blue binding marks it as a first edition, first printing. Needless to say the binding didn't hold up well! I have a couple copies held together by duct tape. Subsequent printings were in a darker blue cloth and were much sturdier. With more than 1000 new taxa included and many, many name changes in the 50 years since the 1st edition was published in 1973 (and that was a one-volume summary of the 5-volume set that was published between 1955 and 1969), if you have a continuing interest in our native flora (and that book would say you do!), you should pick up a copy of the 2nd Edition.

 

[Mossback]

I'd probably exclude that southern Idaho section on the map I posted, but keep the northern cal part, as well as all the BC parts.
Definitely include NW Montana...and SE Alaska.

 

[Guy Gregory]

Welcome to the board.


Since when?

Since I was asked my opinion. I think of the entire Columbia drainage when I think of Pacific Northwest. I include the geographic areas of Cascadia and the Coast Ranges too. I suppose Id rather not include the Klamaths, but if you want I’ll not object. Actually, I’ll not object at all.

 

[Rio Grande King]

Is Rock Creek part of Washington?

 

[SSPey]

At least one fishy definition of PNW is “anywhere a salmon can get to” ... which expands it greatly based on historic ranges.

 

[Banned user]

I like sspey's definition. That means that most of Montana is not in the PNW.

 

[SSPey]

I like sspey's definition. That means that most of Montana is not in the PNW.

It also means parts of Nevada are in !

 

[JACKspASS]

Is Rock Creek part of Washington?

It is the first week of Sept

 

[Breck]

At least one fishy definition of PNW is “anywhere a salmon can get to” ... which expands it greatly based on historic ranges.

One of the “Montana-isms” that made me chuckle when I first moved here is that they call Kokanee “salmon” here, which technically they are, but when I was asked if I “fish for salmon”, my first thought was toward the larger anadromous varieties.

 

[JACKspASS]

I like my fishing buddies definition, Montana is in the Midwest, sealice and steelhead can't get there... So, by his definition everything over the mountains is defined by Midwest and then the Mideast..lol

 

[cedarslug]

PNW regions predominately root for the Mariners. We're a bunch of sick masochists too

 

[Breck]

PNW regions predominately root for the Mariners. We're a bunch of sick masochists too

As well as the loathsome Seahawks.

 

[Evan B]

As well as the loathsome Seahawks.

At least you're back in Donkey country

 

[Breck]

At least you're back in Donkey country

Well, yes & no. The asshole seachickens still get 1st priority when it comes to televised games. If the Seahawks and Broncos are playing in the same time slot, the Broncos get hosed.

 

[Old Man]

Is Rock Creek part of Washington?

There is also a Rock Creek in Washington. I asked about it once on the other web site. And got my fingers slapped for asking. I always felt if it was listed in the regs that you could ask about it. I guess that it was somebody's secret.

 

[Old Man]

I like my fishing buddies definition, Montana is in the Midwest, sealice and steelhead can't get there... So, by his definition everything over the mountains is defined by Midwest and then the Mideast..lol

If there was no dams in the way from the Pacific Ocean, there would be Steelhead here In Western Montana. Just follow the Columbia up stream.