CCTU board member Peter King led the culminating portion of the chapter’s Gill Trail Bridge project. On Thursday 10/17, the full signage was erected by CCTU members and Forest Service employees, marking the end of an excellent project that will have solid long-term impact on the area. The Gill Trail is the primary byway for fly fishers seeking to fish the legendary Cheesman Canyon. Access to the trail involves crossing Wigwam Creek, and the bridge was in serious need of repair. In June 2019, volunteers from CCTU joined forces with US Forest Service employees to take down the old bridge and rebuild it. The Chapter also donated the lumber for the reconstruction and designed and paid for the commemorative sign. This was a great collaborative effort that was very much appreciated by the Forest Service.
AUGUST PICNIC AND 2019 RAFFLE WINNERS
CCTU had a great annual picnic last Tuesday. Jonathan Walter and his team from Clear Creek Casting did a fanastic job with the casting demo and individual tune-ups. Thanks to John Cristantiello for all the food, David Coward for the grills, and for Ray, Ken and Stephanie doing the cooking. Allen announced all 40 of the 2019 Raffle Prize Winners and we handed out the prizes to those that made it to the picnic. Deb Holmberg won the highly coveted Scott Tampa custom bamboo rod, and her shriek of surprise and joy when she heard her name announced was priceless. While no one wanted to hear John Aaron’s name called again, given how many tickets he purchased, everyone was happy he pocketed a number of prizes. We ended up with 144 tickets sold, and with no real costs due to all the donations, netted approx.. $14k for the raffle. Thanks to all that helped volunteer at the event, thanks to everyone that brought food to pass (we had tons and it was wonderful) and thanks to all the 2019 Raffle Prize donors. Can’t for next year’s program and picnic.
TRIPS & LESSONS WINNER
Cast & Blast for 2 with Rudy Schreider—private fishing/hunting lease……Barry Wiebe
Dunoir Fishing Adventures, Wyoming—Guided Float Trip for 2, 2020 season……John Aaron
Pat Dorsey Guided Fly Fishing Trip for 2—guides choice water, 2020 season……Gary Deguero
Sunrise Anglers Guided Float Trip for 2—Thomas Schneider……John Aaron
Brian Young Guided Fly Fishing Trip for 2—private water……George Franklin
Guided Turkey Hunt for 2 with Rudy Schreider—private lease……..John Burke
Sunrise Anglers Guided Cutthroat Fly Fishing Trip for 2 with Brian Young……Ray Nagashima
GEAR Colorado Guided Tenkara Fly Fishing Trip for 2 with Graham Moran……Rich Benn
Wyoming Anglers North Platte Guided Float Trip for 2 with Tyler Soulek……Richard Wheeler
Colorado River Float Trip for 2 with Lunch—Matt Moskal……Peter King
The Bluffs at Valhalla 1/2 Day Pheasant Hunt for 2……Wayne Peterson
Bass Fishing Trip for 2 on private water with Pilatzke/Schreider +4 doz flies……John Aaron
Colorado River Float Trip for 2 with Lunch—David Densmore……Barry Wiebe
Florissant Ponds Fishing Trip for 2 with Pilatzke/Schreider +4 doz flies……Jim Klug
Fishing Trip for 2 to Rainbow Falls Mountain Trout with Greg Ledges……Linda Mills
Fishing Trip for 2 to Rainbow Falls Mountain Trout with Keith Simpson……Jerry Arni
Clear Creek Casting 3 Hr Fly Casting Lesson for 2 with Jonathan Walter……John Aaron
EQUIPMENT AND FLY ASSORTMENTS
Custom Bamboo Fly Rod—Scott Tampa design and build……Debbie Holmberg
Orvis Clearwater Euronymphing Outfit—10ft 3wt rod, Tactical Line, Reel….Nathan Bennett
Custom 9ft 5wt Fly Rod from Dan’s Fly Shop—with Clearwater II Reel and Line……Neil Corvino
Tenkara Outfit, Region Fishing—Rod, 3 lines, 3 spools, Nippers, 24 Flies, Box..Richard Wheeler
Fishpond Nomad 37” Net (Colorado Edit), Lanyard and Smith Creek Holster……Jim Morris
Colorado River Dries & Emergers Box, 6 dozen—tied by John Vevurka……Jason Hearle
River Road Creations Tying Basket—foam, cutters, wings, tying book, more…Ryan Rotramel
Colorado Terrestrial Fly Box, 6 dozen—tied by Richard Pilatzke……Mac Ishii
Colorado Fly Selection 10 doz midges/1 dozen streamers—tied by Greg Ledges……Allen Adinoff
Rocky Mountain Fly Design Streamer Box, 2 dozen streamers……Duane Vandeventer
South Platte Favorites Box, 5 dozen—tied by Richard Pilatzke……David Baker
Stillwater Chironomids (3 dozen) and Mice (1 dozen) Box—by Richard Pilatzke……John Aaron
Tiny Colorado Midge Box, 8 dozen—tied by Jerry Shin……Stephanie Young
Colorado Streamer Box, 6 dozen—tied by Bud McAlister……Darrell Kleeman
ARTWORK, FOOD & DRINK
Dave Whitlock S&N Framed Print……..Ken Hunter
Dave Whitelock S&N Framed Print……..Jim Mills
Full Dress Salmon Fly—tied by Scott Stisser……..Bob Beitscher
“Autumn on the Truckee” S&N (132/500) Framed Print by Fred Boyce……..Marty Buys
Rainbow Trout S&N (4/10) Framed Print by Tim England……..Tim Priser
Red Rainbow Giclee Print on Aluminum by Richard Pilatzke……..Rich Hus
Framed Photograph by Brian Kuchynka……..CJ Allen
Yeti Cooler and Rambler Tumblers……..Steve Stulock
2 Bottles Rare Wine—2000 Chateau Troplong Mondot, 2010 Janzen Napa Cabernet...Tom Corr
CCTU and Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing – Denver Trip to Crystal Lake
On Thursday, June 27, CCTU and Project Healing Waters Fly Fishing – Denver had another great trip to Crystal Lake outside Leadville. Eleven vets joined the group and had a great day on the water with the team. Thanks to Richard Pilatzke and Jim Cowell for organizing as they always do, John Cristantiello for a delicious lunch, and all the CCTU and PHWFF members that attended the event. All the vets caught fish and it was a great time getting to know them on a beautiful day in a fantastic setting. Damsels, Quigley Cripples, and Squirmies were all working well. Everyone looks forward to doing it again next year.
Brian YoungVice President - Cutthroat Chapter Trout Unlimited
Ladies Fishing on the Fly Recap - May 11-12 at Highlands Ranch
Cyndy Scholz and her team of volunteer instructors had a great time with the 15 students at this year’s spring Ladies Fishing on the Fly. Friday night was the classroom session from 6-9pm. They learned about equipment (rod, reel, line, leader, tippet & more), how to read water, tied the two knots, and had a brief entomology session with CTU’s Cam Chandler. Saturday from 8:30AM to 1PM, after a casting lesson from Buzz Soard, they put into practice what they learned at the Fly’n B Park pond in Highlands Ranch. They had a blast catching bluegill, sunfish and even some rainbow trout. Thanks a ton to the HRCA for setting up and for all the CCTU volunteers that participated. The Fall program runs August 24-25. Get tickets at the Highlands Ranch Eastridge Recreation Center (9568 University Blvd, Highlands Ranch), at www.HRCAonline.org or by calling (303) 791-2500. Any chapter members that would like to help with instruction, please contact Cyndy at cyndyscholz@msn.com or (303) 507-3068.
Spring Bear Creek Conservation Project and Fishing Contest Recap
A TON ACCOMPLISHED AND A GREAT TIME HAD BY ALL
April 28 was a beautiful spring day…the kind of day the City of Lakewood and CCTU were hoping to get for the annual spring planting and clean-up day at Bear Creek Lake Park. This year, 19 CCTU volunteers partnered with the city to help conserve, protect, and restore a stretch of urban Bear Creek. These industrious folks helped revegetate the stream side by planting 350 red osier dogwoods, willows, buffalo berries, and star bushes along with eight good sized cottonwood trees. All native plants! In addition these folks built a barrier wall to block and restore an unauthorized equestrian stream crossing. The twist this year was all these materials were purchased through funds earned by our own CCTU fundraiser and the support of all our CCTU chapter members. After the work we held a tongue-in-cheek fishing contest on that same stretch. Data from that contest goes to Colorado Parks and Wildlife to help them manage what is hoped will become a proper urban trout fishery in time. Contest awards were given for quickest fish landed (two hours 11 minutes), largest trout caught (6 inches) and most flies lost (11). A fun and rewarding time was had by all, and many thanks to our volunteers!
Hayman Fire Rehabilitation, Horse Creek CONSERVATION PROJECT RECAP
The scene was eerily appropriate for the weekend before Halloween. Charred skeletons of trees stood like tombstones against the barren soil. It is one thing to see the Hayman Burn from the highway as one speeds to a new fishing spot near Deckers. It is quite another thing to be standing in the middle of the Hayman Burn and taking in the immensity of the destructive power of fire. On October 28 a crew of 16 CCTU volunteers and 16 volunteers from UCD joined together to help a small part of that area to recover. After a 4x4 trip of about a mile, and with the help of our partners at CUSP, we seeded drainages that have yet to recover from that 2002 fire. The rains of fall and the snows of winter will help nourish the mix of quickly sprouting sterile oats and native grasses that we sowed over almost two acres. These grasses will help stabilize the soil and stop a portion of the tons of silt that annually wash down the slopes into Horse Creek and then move on into the South Platte River. There are hopeful signs of progress. In some spots the native grasses and shrubs have begun to return on their own. The occasional young fir tree can be seen among the charred trunks. With our help and the steady progress of nature this area will eventually recover.The CCTU Board of Directors would like to thank all the CCTU volunteers who have helped make the five conservation projects of 2017 so successful. The Board will be having its annual planning meeting in early January. One of the topics for discussion will be conservation projects for next year. If you have any suggestions or comments about conservation projects please send them to George Franklin. He can be reached at (303) 902-9827 or at georgefr@aol.com.
CLEAR CREEK CLEAN-UP – PROJECT RECAP
The Watershed Festival had been cancelled and there was a change in venue due to road construction. The day began with wind and rain. In spite of that 43 volunteers from three TU chapters and other sources gathered at Anderson Park in Idaho Springs to carry on a two decade old tradition of conservation effort. The clouds parted and a beautiful fall day resulted allowing the Clear Creek Clean Up on September 16 to be a tremendous success. Seventy contractor bags of trash and countless large discarded objects found their way from the creek to the roadside where they could be properly disposed of. Ray Carney of CCTU, who originated this effort long ago and still runs it tirelessly with Jim Klug, has nothing but praise for all the generous folks who took the time an effort to help this little jewel of a stream.All of us at CCTU would like to thank the City of Idaho Springs and Clear Creek County for their continued support over the years. Local merchants such as Starbucks and Beau Joe’s Pizza helped feed the workers. Mile High Rafting, Clear Creek Outdoors, Colorado Adventures, and Orvis Park Meadows supplied raffle prizes. The West Denver TU. Cherry Creek Anglers TU, and CCTU all provided raffle prizes and workers. Without the generosity of all these people this event would not be possible.
May Meeting on Secrets of Clear Creek
CLEAR CREEK SECRETS. A presentation on fishing Clear Creek (the one that flows through Idaho Springs) by Josh Paterson of Clear Creek Outdoors. Clear Creek is Josh's home water and it is often overlooked by anglers. Josh is here to tell us why it should be our next destination rather than a blur on the way to somewhere else.The meeting is May 19th at 7899 S Lincoln Ct, Littleton, CO 80122. The doors open around 6:30pm for fish tales and other socializing. The meeting begins at 7pm.Free admission.Don't forget the fly raffle! New members/attendees get a free raffle ticket. Raffle winners receive a choice of a dozen flies tied by a local tier for local waters.Also, there may be some CCTU logo hats still available!
April 21st Meeting - Stillwater Fly Fishing for Dummies
Join your fellow members at our next Cutthroat Chapter meeting Tuesday April 21st at 6:30pm to expand your fly fishing knowledge in the arena of High Mountain Lakes.
Cutthroat Chapter resident Alpine lake and stillwater expert, Richard Platzke will be sharing techniques, strategies (and hopefully lake locations) to help you get the most out of a day of fishing on a Rocky Mountain lake in his presentation, Stillwater Fly Fishing for Dummies. From Damsel to Callibaetis, Richard knows it all and will make himself available for questions following the presentation. Using a fly rod as your tool of choice on a Rocky Mountain lake can provide many rewarding opportunities. Not only are alpine lakes scenic and serene, but they also play host to vibrantly colored, native Cutthroat Trout.Richard is an accomplished lake fisherman and fly tier. His flies have appeared most recently in the book "Modern Terrestrials", by Rick Takahashi and Jerry Hubka and also in Pat Dorsey's book, "Fly Fishing Tailwaters".Fellow Cutthroat Chapter member Jim Rassmussen on Richard:
I fished with Richard a few years ago at a local lake. We both fished ant patterns. His worked, mine didn't. His were better by design.
Doors open around 6:30 pm. The meetings start at 7:00pm and are held at the South Metro Denver Realtors Association building at the corner of South Broadway and West Mineral Avenue. Here's the address: 7899 S. Lincoln Ct., Littleton, CO 80122.Note: Come with cash if you would like to purchase your very own Cutthroat Chapter Hats with redesigned logo ($20).
March Monthly Meeting a Fly Tying Demonstration
"The joy of creating a fine fly is so great that it is often difficult to distinguish between the basic needs and the urge to possess that which delights the sensitivities."-"The Philosophical Fisherman" by Harold Blaisdell
Join your fellow members at our next Cutthroat Chapter meeting Tuesday March 17th at 6:30pm for a night of fly tying instruction and demonstration.Bring your own fly tying gear and show us your skills or learn tips and tricks from our on-staff experts. 15 unique fly tyers will be making an appearance and providing instruction (as well as a few free flies!). Don't miss this opportunity to meet some of Colorado's most notable fly tiers, authors and angling experts.*Another Upslope Brewing sponsored event.Featured Tyers:
- Pat Dorsey
- Greg Garcia
- Jim Neiberger
- Patrick Oppenheim
- Jim Schmidt
- John Keefover
- Bud McAllister
- Ed Berg
- John Aaron
- Richard Pilatzke
- John Vevurka
- Stephen Johnson
- Bob Getz
- Jerry Shin
- Doug Garvey