CTU River Conservation and Fly Fishing Camp

CTU is thrilled to announce that registration is open for the Colorado Trout Unlimited (CTU) Camp - an unforgettable river conservation and fly fishing experience designed exclusively for youth aged 14-18.

Camp Highlights:

• Dates: June 9th – 15th, 2024

• Location: Spend a week in the picturesque mountains near Almont, CO, surrounded by the beauty of nature.

• Community: CTU Camp is a special place where acceptance and lifelong friendships flourish among teens who share a passion for the river, fly fishing, and conservation.

• Experience: Be a part of a hands-on program that blends conservation and all levels of fly fishing. 

• Camp Size: Limited to 20 campers, ensuring an intimate and engaging experience for all.

Camp Details:

• Eligibility: Open to youth aged 14-18.

• Cost: $650 (tuition), plus a $50 registration fee. (includes all meals and a fly fishing rod and reel combo.)​​

• Scholarships: Scholarships are available to support passionate individuals.

• Application Deadline: April 1, 2024.

CTU Camp is not just a week in the mountains; it's an opportunity to inspire the next generation of river stewards and conservation-minded anglers. In our safe, fun, and inclusive environment, participants will explore the profound connections between conservation, a love for the outdoors, and the art of fly fishing.

Don't miss out on this chance to be part of an extraordinary community that values conservation, camaraderie, and the thrill of fly fishing. We look forward to welcoming you to CTU Camp and creating lasting memories together.

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please feel free to reach out to Natalie Flowers at natalie.flowers@tu.org or 720-879-0271.

Should I Stay, Or Should I Go... Fishing?

Some of you may recognize the iconic line from The Clash’s song, but to be honest, the question has been torturing me lately. As I examine my non-hook punctured fingers and dry, cracking knuckles I realize that they’re dry not from releasing yet another gift from the fishing gods but from diligently washing my hands to prevent the spread of this awful virus that has frozen many of us in our track. Yes, I’m desperate to stand in any one of my favorite rivers and cast to those ‘fishy’ locations but I’m struggling because all of my favorite rivers are an hour or more from my home in Arvada.

I have used the justification I’ve heard stating that fishing can be a solitary sport and that I wouldn’t even come in contact with anyone. But then I saw Kyle Clark on 9News’s program, Next, scold those that were still heading to the high-country to get the fix on whatever mountain addiction ails them. He emphasized that despite your best intentions of staying away from people and towns, through no fault of your own, you may end up needing assistance from any of our brave first responders. And now you’ve exposed them and every single person they will come in contact with for the next several hours or weeks. I was devastated, but the argument makes total sense. I stayed home.

Finally, I came across an article from Kirk Deeter on Angling Trade’s website that really confirmed my begrudgingly made decision to stay home. I’m sharing that article here for those that are stuck in the Denver Metro area and desperate to get on the water, like I am. I hope it helps you feel better about following the rules that will help us all in the long run.

The Coronavirus elephant in the fly-fishing room: Is it OK to fish and should we be “promoting” fishing?

Until we get the all-clear, support your local fly shops and guides by buying gift cards and whatever supplies you need online. Or visit our Partners page and support one of those business in the same way.

Stay Strong. Stay Safe. We’ll be back on the water in due time.

Mike Myers

CCTU Board Mentors Alma Youths in Fly Fishing

Cutthroat Chapter Board has supported the Alma Riverwalk for the last couple of seasons. This ambitious project by the Town of Alma was formed to permanently conserve and protect a stretch of the Middle Fork of the South Platte as it flows through the Town. The Alma Foundation has aided in the purchase of 24,000 acres of critical wetlands habitat by the City which will help protect this essential headwaters from encroachment by mining and housing development. The Riverwalk will provide ADA access and educational opportunities via a 1800 foot trail that is now under construction. When CCTU approached the Foundation about helping them this season we learned that the Foundation had plenty of young boots on the ground in the form of the Southwest Conservation Corps.The Corps is a non-profit based in Salida that provides conservation service programs for local youth. What the Foundation hoped was for us to spend the day with these youths and demonstrate to them some of the finer points of headwaters recreation. The Foundation was hoping we could give these high school age youth a lesson in fly fishing. We were happy to oblige! Four members of the CCTU Board and Alma resident David Andersen spent the morning of August 2 teaching a version of the Fly Fishing 101 and 201 classes taught by our partners at Orvis. Many thinks to Brian Young for providing his expertise leading the instruction and providing Orvis rods for the experience. After a casting lesson we moved to a local pond where the youth put their lessons into practice catching a few of the local trout. After fishing the Foundation provided a nice lunch for all, thanks to the South Platte Brewing of Fairplay. After lunch the youth were happy to take us on a hike to show all the tough trail work they had accomplished. We wish the Foundation all the best as the Riverwalk construction moves forward. They are optimistically hoping to compete construction by the end of next season, at which time there will be ADA accessible trails complete with interpretive signage funded by our Cutthroat Chapter. To learn more about the Alma Riverwalk please be sure to attend our October chapter meeting when we will hear a talk by the Foundation's representative and Alma native Jara Johnson.

How to Ethically Fish During the Trout Spawn from Our Friends at Ascent Fly Fishing

Peter Stitcher at Ascent Fly Fishing put this email together and we think it’s an important reminder for everyone heading out into the rivers in Colorado this spring. Read the article here: https://ascentflyfishing.com/blog/how-to-ethically-fish-during-the-trout-spawn/

Not sure what to look for when crossing your favorite river? Try these pictures, too.

Great Info in October CTU Chapter Leadership Email

Please take a look at CTU's October Chapter Leadership newsletter. There's some great info there including some rarely issued guidance on voting!Click here to read the newsletter.

CCTU and Greenback Reintroduction Project

On June 25, George Franklin, Bill Wiebesiek and Greg Ledges helped out on a Greenback reintroduction project up near Rock Creek.  CCTU donated funds for design of a fish barrier on Rock Creek and CCTU members have worked CTU projects up there as well.  This latest project was on adjacent Black Canyon Creek, which flows into Rock Creek and is part of that same project.  We notched beaver dams and drained beaver ponds in preparation for treatment of the creek to remove brookies and browns.  Check out the full article at the CTU website https://coloradotu.org/blog/2018/6/p7g37e3emjwgv7w6nlwjpdam9olio6

CCTU/CPW Electroshocking Survey on Lower Bear Creek - Post Event Summary

 Hidden in Plain Sight: Anatomy of an Urban Fishery – Article by Richard PilatzkeOn a cool morning in September, a group of volunteers and Colorado Parks and Wildlife(CPW) personnel thread their way between homes and condominiums and adjacent to a golf course.  Their destination is Bear Creek, a small tributary of the South Platte River in the Southwest metro Denver area.  It is a small drainage, averaging only fifteen feet in width. It is considered a transitional fishery, as it is a combination of cold water and warm water habitat for fish.  It is supported by stocking of fingerling brown trout, which thrive in the temperatures in this habitat. This group is there to conduct an electrofishing survey to gauge the health of the fish population.A project like this is an example of cooperation between a cold water conservation group like Trout Unlimited (TU) and Colorado Parks and Wildlife.  The event was organized by the Littleton-based Cutthroat Chapter of TU.  The volunteers range in age from 16 to 76.  This project is an integral part of Cutthroat’s aggressive conservation agenda.The day starts with the CPW personnel forming a phalanx across the stream with their electrodes that will stun the fish nearby. The TU volunteers man nets and floating fish carts to store the fish as they are recovered. Two reaches of the stream are sampled, each approximately 100 yards long.  The stream seems narrow and shallow in many places, but there are some surprisingly deep holes, some as deep as 5-6 feet. As the electrodes are passed through the water, fish start to float to the surface, stunned by the electric current.  They are carefully netted and passed to a floating net.  They are then placed in a larger holding net for counting. The CPW personnel carefully measure length and weight and the fish are released.  The results of the survey are surprising.  Out of this little urban stream we have collected three brown trout between 18 and 19 inches – beautiful buttery brown healthy fish.  We also collected more than a dozen other brown trout between 14 and 18 inches.  Also present were a group of Colorado native fish – longnose dace, whiter sucker, creek chubs, and longnose sucker.  These minnows provide an ample food source for the brown trout.The results of our survey revealed a thriving brown trout fishery in the middle of a suburban setting.  This stream had not been electro-fished by CPW previously, so they are encouraged by our findings. Joggers, walkers and bikers pass the stream on a regular basis and most don’t know what secrets it contains.  Only a few fishermen frequent this little gem of a stream, but the rewards can be surprising. This urban fishery is clearly hiding in plain sight.

Photos from Fishing on the Fly

The 2016 Cutthroat TU Ladies on the Fly for the Highlands Ranch Community Association was a great success.  We had a great turnout of TU members.  Love the involvement!We had a lot of fun, and the ladies were great.  I think that most did catch or at least hook up before the weather turned on us on Saturday.I have attached some photos from Mimi Epling from all three days.-- Cyndy Scholz, Ladies on the Fly organizer

Fishing on the Fly in the News

Fishing on the Fly is a women's-only program that the Cutthroat Chapter has been hosting in conjunction with Highlands Ranch Cultural Affairs Association to introduce women to the sport of fly fishing. The most recent class completed in September and was written up in the Highlands Ranch Herald. Check out the story here.A big thank you to organizer Jim Long and all the volunteers that made it happen!

The Outdoors column you won't be reading in The Denver Post

From: Scott Willoughby [mailto:swilloughby@denverpost.com]Sent: Friday, August 21, 2015 5:40 PMTo: scottrwilloughby@gmail.comSubject: The Outdoors column you won't be reading in The Denver PostAs some of you already know, today was my last day at The Denver Post. I've been fortunate to have the opportunity to contribute to "The Voice of the Rocky Mountain West" as an Outdoors writer, photographer and columnist for the past 20 years, joining the full-time staff to launch the Outdoor Extremes section before graduating to Outdoors Editor for the last 11 of those.I'll be taking some time to celebrate the birth of our daughter next month before wading into the job market as a free agent. Those who would like to keep in touch can find me via email atscottrwilloughby@gmail.com. My cell phone remains the same (970-390-3676).There's not much left to say that isn't included in the farewell column (below) that my editor opted not to print, except to reiterate my heartfelt thanks for the opportunity and your enthusiastic support.It's been a good run, although the work is never done. Here's to the next chapter. 

By Scott WilloughbyThe best stories have always originated in the outdoors.Be it the fireside tale that never grows old no matter how many times it’s told, or a modern classic born of the latest adventure, the wild outside has always offered the ideal backdrop for compelling drama.Like the rest of the world, the genre has evolved over time, taking us beyond the campfire to the Ted Trueblood era of Field & Stream, establishing local newspaper legends like Charlie Meyers, Bob Saile and Ed Dentry before making its way to the cutting edge of social media and contemporary brands like Yeti Coolers that urge through advertising: Be the guy with the story about the bear.Along the way, it found folks like you and me: Drawn in by nature’s allure, hooked by the sensations of adventure, dedicated to enriching and sharing the experience so that others might come to understand our collective passion for the outdoors and embrace it as their own. The stories are the things that connect us best to the land, the water, the wildlife and one another.There will always be a place for compelling outdoor stories and storytelling in Colorado, just no longer here on these pages. Or perhaps just no longer here by me.As of this week, The Denver Post has decided to do away with its traditional Outdoors pages, and by extension, my position as Outdoors writer, photographer and columnist. I’ve been invited to continue writing stories about Rams, Buffaloes and Falcons, but like those college sports mascots, the gesture feels symbolic at best. In all likelihood, this is the final column, outdoors or otherwise, I’ll be asked to write for The Denver Post.Among those outside the paper already aware of this decision, the disappointment has been universal. The pervading sense of loss has less to do with me personally than to Colorado’s collective outdoors community as an entity. In the absence of an uprising — and likely even in its presence — the voice of that community expressed for so long on these pages will soon fade to black. So many stories are left untold.It can be easily argued that these stories of wild places and the people drawn to them are more important now than ever. As our sprawling world grows ever more crowded, battle lines drawn over resources in greater demand, such places offer respite and reward that can’t be found or recreated anywhere else. And they require the voices of those who know and love them best to keep the fire lit.My ambition is to continue down this path, although where it leads is anyone’s guess right now. After two decades dedicated to the cause of Colorado outdoors, the mission and message remain as compelling as ever. It’s the job I was born to do (and yes, I am open to offers).First though, my heartfelt thanks are due for the opportunity I’ve had to do the job I’ve most aspired toward. While there is much more to achieve, for a time, at least, I could lay claim to the best job in Colorado.But like the campfire that gave birth to so many stories and outdoor traditions, this chapter is about to go up in smoke. I have no doubt the fire has not gone out, however. The flame will reignite and grow. The stories — maybe even some told by me — will linger. And new ones will emerge.The void is great. But the tale is never-ending.-30---Scott WilloughbyOutdoors Editor (former)970-390-3676New email: scottrwilloughby@gmail.comFind me on FacebookTwitter: @swilloughby