A Different Sort of FishingBy Jocelyn MertensOn July 11, the Colorado Division of Wildlife and the Cutthroat Trout Unlimited Crew collaborated to rescue fish on 4 Mile Creek above Deckers. Water levels are down, and water temperatures are up, making for rough conditions for the fish. Jeff Spohn, aquatic biologist for Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW), hatched a plan to use our TU manpower to help move the fish to the Platte for safety. 
CPW technicians "Electrofishing" Spohn, our fearless Division of Wildlife leader, divided 4 Mile Creek into upper and lower sections above and below the bridge. The first group on the lower creek had great success under CPW technician Scott. CPW technician Andrew's group followed Scott’s with the “Second Pass” doing just as much work for a lot less fish n’ glory. Spohn led the Upper group to the greatest numbers of baby HoferCrosses and other species. Paul from CPW led the “Second Pass”. The whole process was certainly noisier than fly-fishing and yet hypnotic in a similar way: The sweep of the electrode, the constant lookout, the pursuit, the net, and a fleeting thrill with each little glinting fry.Our CPW guys led the charge with their “shock backpacks”. They looked strangely like Transformers and we half expected them to lift off the ground into the sky. We were all glad we didn't have to heft those loads but we didn't hear any complaints from them. The motors sound like a weedwacker on caffeine. Each Fish Stunner had two TU Bucket Mates trailing to accommodate the netted fish. The terrain was varied, the creek narrow. There was some thrashing through the willows, paired with mosquito swatting. Sometimes the banks were pretty steep which is always a calamity in waders. Rasmussen was kind enough to lend me his hip boots. He’s a size 10 and my feet are 7.5 ladies so I felt oddly like a clown, especially since I was carrying a bucket of water (think Fireman Clown…). Until recently, fishing has not been known for high fashion but I was, literally, stunning.Jim Rasmussen and Kris Buros were at the helm of our lower creek truck, ferrying buckets of cool water from the tank. They were the keepers of the count from each bucket. Most of the take were 1-3 inch fish, but a few larger browns were netted. When the Browns were placed in the tank with the fingerlings, we saw first hand the meaning of the phrase “small fry”! We were all intent on rescuing the young HoferCrosses, a strain of Bavarian trout crossed with a Cutthroat, that’s resistant to Whirling Disease. They’re kind of like Piscean prodigal sons, starting as American rainbows and evolving on farms in Germany only to return to their homeland.Aside from fish the day was interesting from a naturalist’s standpoint. One bucket brigand whose name will go unmentioned ( John) was munching raspberries. Then, I wondered why I suddenly wanted a Mojito when I realized the wild mint scent was surrounding us as our boots tromped through. The foe of poison ivy rested innocently here and there, waiting for a brush with unwary skin. Stinging nettles: self-explanatory. Flowers greeted us at every bend, as the fingerlings darted under rocks and cress. Insects, some silent, some obnoxiously buzzing, added to the summer bounty. A different kind of fishing trip, indeed, with the same perils and beauties we remember over time. And we can brag that we caught over 3,000 fish. 
Cutthroat Chapter members participating in days work; Jocelyn Mertens, Bill Wiebesiek, Dereck Hankins,Kriss Buros, John Roenfeldt, Adam Beede, John Aaron, Jim Long, Duane Van de Venter, Andrew Medina, Jim Rasmussen
July Meeting All About Streamer Fishing with Reid Baker, July 17th at 7pm
Join us for the July meeting at South Metro Denver Realtors Association building at 7pm featuring Reid Baker, owner and guide manager of Freestone Outfitters out of Littleton, CO. Freestone Outfitters supply guides for many of the Front Range shops. Reid is a consistent contributor and supporter of TU and our mission. Some of you may have taken advantage of the discount he offered to TU members who booked a guided trip on private water this spring. For his presentation, he will be sharing some of his hard-earned experience on streamer fishing in Colorado.Growing up on the trout and steelhead waters of Oregon, many of Reid’s earliest memories revolve around fly fishing trips with his father. He is a graduate of the University of Colorado, where he was president of the University of Colorado Fly-Fishing Club and earned a degree in English and Creative Writing. It was during his college career that his love for teaching, fly-fishing, nature and writing came together and he decided to dedicate his life to sharing these collective passions. Since becoming a professional guide, he has come to understand how much he truly lives to watch his infectious excitement for the sport rub off on others.Reid is an Owner and Guide Manager for Freestone Outfitters. He is an avid writer and his work has been featured in The Flyfish Journal. When not guiding, he travels the world, fly rod in hand, constantly amazed by the remarkable people and places fishing has shown him.I hope you can drop by!
South Platte Clean up 2012
Join the Cutthroat Chapter of Trout Unlimited and the Coalition for the Upper South Platte on Saturday, July 14th to pick up trash, and anything else that does not belong along a river, in the Deckers area of the South Platte.We have been performing this cleanup for many years. Lunch will be provided. Please let Jim know if you are going to attend so that we determine how many lunches to provide.We will start about 9 AM behind Flies and Lies in Deckers, work till noon and finish with lunch. If you want to car pool meet me at the RTD parking lot West of University Blvd., South of C-470 and accessed from Dad Clark Drive. We will be departing the parking lot at 7:30 AM. We will also be taking along our big bug net to see what is living in the river this year.Contact Jim Rasmussen via phone (303) 773-2772 or e-mail jiber2@msn.com to sign up.
Field and Stream Hero-for-a-Day Video
Field and Stream has posted a Hero for a Day video on their website documenting our work on Trail Creek. It is titled 'Planting an Erosion Barrier on the South Platte Watershed" and can be viewed at http://www.fieldandstream.com/hero-for-a-day/videos . Please take a moment to check it out! And thanks again to all the volunteers who made it a successful project. 
Cutthroat Chapter to host Project Healing Waters veterans
Cutthroat Chapter will host 8 veterans from the Project Healing Waters program for a day of fishing at Crystal Lake, which is located near Leadville. Chapter members will be able to fish with the veterans on Monday, July 9th. This will be a chapter fishing trip and all participants will gather at the South Suburban Board of Realtors parking lot for a departure at 7:00 AM. It is about a two hour drive to the lake.Crystal Lake is located at 9860 feet in elevation and has excellent wading conditions and shore access. A trail leads from the parking lot all around the lake. The lake has an excellent callibaetis mayfly hatch and also a good number of damsels. It provides excellent dry fly fishing and is ideal for beginners and intermediate fly fishers.For information on the trip, call Richard Pilatzke at 303-979-8425 or Kent Higgins at 303-791-1163.
Chapter fishing trip to Crystal Lake June 23
Richard Pilatzke will lead a chapter fishing trip to Crystal Lake on June 23. Crystal lake is located about five miles from Leadville on the upper Arkansas drainage. It is an easily accessible lake with good shore access, but float tubes and pontoon boats are allowed. The elevation of the lake is just over 9000 feet. It has great callibaetis mayfly and damsel hatches and we expect lots of dry fly action. It is a great lake for beginning and intermediate fly fishers. Richard will tie several fly patterns for Crystal Lake at June's Chapter Meeting this Tuesday, June 19th at 6:30pm (meeting details).
June Speaker: Robert Younghanz aka, The Bug Guy
Join us at 6:30pm on June 19th at the South Metro Denver Realtor's Association for a presentation by Robert Younghanz on aquatic entomology. Robert will give us just a small portion of his vast knowledge on the water-borne and stream-side insects that inhabit our home water system of the South Platte River.
Robert Younghanz, a.k.a The Bug Guy, is an internationally known Fly Fishing Guide and instructor. Robert has been involved in the Fly Fishing industry for close to 20 years. Having traveled to over 60 countries, he is an accomplished angler, teacher and guide for fresh, salt, tropical and warm water species. His passion and expertise in the field of Aquatic Entomology ( the study of insects) has enabled him to travel the world collecting Insects, as well as studying, researching, curating and teaching at Colorado State University, and Front Range Community College. In addition, Robert is a published researcher and has described several new species of aquatic insects in Colorado and Oklahoma. Robert has been a guest lecturer across the Western United States on the topic of Aquatic Entomology.As a contributing writer to Field and Stream’s blog, “Fly Talk”, “The Bug Guy” offers helpful advice on entomology and fly selection to fly fishers all over the globe. Robert is a featured presenter at the International Sportsman’s Expo in Denver, CO, a Simms Ambassador and Orvis Endorsed Guide and has conducted entomology classes for both Simms and Orvis guides at their national gatherings, as well as for Trout Unlimited and other local organizations in the Rocky Mountain West.Robert teaches monthly lecture and streamside classes at The Angler’s Covey Fly Shop in Colorado Springs. Look for Robert on WFN (The World Fishing Network) and on-line where he discusses insects, and well as fly fishing on Southern Colorado numerous rivers, lakes and reservoirs. Be sure and check out Robert’s newly released 2 set DVD: The Bug Guy: Entomology For The Flyfisher. For more information about Robert check out his websites:www.the-bug-guy.comwww.robertyounghanzflyfishing.com
Field & Stream Hero-For-a-Day Project Completed
Trout Unlimited
And
Field & Stream “Hero-for-a-Day” Project
South Platte Erosion Control
Was successfully completed FRIDAY MAY 18, 2012
Thanks to our 25 hardworking volunteers from three local Trout Unlimited Chapters and the film crew from Field & Stream, the South Platte Erosion Control project at Trail Creek was completed and exceeded expectations for the day. During the six hour work day, 750 native willow shoots were prepared and planted above an erosion control structure located at the confluence of two large ephemeral draws. These hearty willows will quickly root and establish a structure that both absorbs the energy form runoff water and prevents further erosion in the draws. In addition over 100 Ponderosa Pine seedlings were strategically planted along the banks of the draws to further stabilize the soil. These plantings will prevent sedimentation from reaching Trail Creek and ultimately the South Platte River.
This effort was organized in conjunction with the Coalition for the Upper South Platte (CUSP) and the National Forest Foundation and is one of Field & Stream magazine’s ten national Hero-for-a-Day Conservation projects. Video coverage of this program will be posted shortly on the Field & Stream website: http://www.fieldandstream.com/hero-for-a-day.This event was co-sponsored by Field & Stream and Toyota who provided thank you gift bags to all volunteers. In addition, all participants 18 years are eligible for the Hero-for-a-Day Sweepstakes. The winner will receive a trip to the Heroes of Conservation Gala in Washington DC as well as a fishing trip along the Potomac River! Again, I would like to sincerely thank the volunteers who came out on a weekday to work hard and support this program. The Cutthroat Chapter is grateful for the support of the Denver and Cheyenne Mountain Chapters in this effort. The work was not easy but it was very rewarding and in the end makes for many happy fish! 
Thank You,Jim KlugDirector, Conservation, Preservation and RestorationCutthroat Chapter, Trout Unlimited
Sept. 20th Meeting – Jeff Spohn “State of the So. Platte River”
September 20th Chapter Meeting - 7 PM. Jeff Spohn is CDOW's aquatic biologist for the Upper South Platte River Basin. The Upper South Platte River is the Cutthroat Chapter's "home waters". Jeff knows more about this section of the state than anyone you're likely to meet. Jeff will spend the first part of his presentation discussing the biology, management, and issues with the fishery in the Spinney, Cheesman and Deckers areas after which he will take questions and topics from the floor.Jeff graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a BS in Limnology & Fisheries and a second degree in Aquatic Biology. Don't miss this chance to hear him talk about what's going on in our own "backyard".