May Meeting: Ned Parker of Breckenridge Outfitters

"World Class Fishing in the Colorado High Country" - a presentation from Ned Parker, owner of Breckenridge Outfitters.May 15th, 7pm at South Metro Denver Realtors Association.In Colorado we are blessed to have remarkable fishing available right in our proverbial backyard. Just in time for summer, Ned Parker will take you on a tour of the outstanding fishing that is available within 45 minutes of Breckenridge - including the South Platte above Spinney Mountain Reservoir, the Middle Fork and South Forks of the South Platte, the Blue River from Breckenridge to Lake Dillon and from Silverthorne to Green Mountain Reservoir, and several high alpine lakes and streams.Whether you are looking for ideas for a high-country weekend, or for waters that are close enough for a great day trip into the mountains, you'll hear about some great angling destinations that you'll want to include in your summer plans.About Ned Parker Ned Parker has been the owner of Breckenridge Outfitters for the past five years, has guided out of Summit County for ten years, and has fished the area for twenty years. He looks forward to sharing some of what he has learned during those years on his home waters with you!

South Platte Erosion Control at Trail Creek

Trout Unlimited

 

And

Field & Stream “Hero-for-a-Day”

 

 Project

South Platte Erosion Control at Trail Creek

                                                  Saturday May 12, 2012

Our Trail Creek Restoration Project, organized in conjunction with the Coalition for the Upper South Platte (CUSP) and the National Forest Foundation has been selected by Field & Stream magazine as one of its ten national Hero-for-a-Day Conservation projects.  For more detailed information on this program, please refer to http://www.fieldandstream.com/hero-for-a-day. This special selection provides a great opportunity to focus attention on our volunteer efforts to restore the Upper South Platte watershed on both a statewide and national level.  This event is co-sponsored by Field & Stream and Toyota.  A film crew and host from Field & Stream will be present to film our work, help out and interview volunteers.   In addition, all participants 18 years or older can enter the Hero-for-a-Day Sweepstakes.  The winner will receive a trip for 2 to the Heroes of Conservation Gala in Washington DC as well as a fishing trip along the Potomac River!   Field & Stream /Toyota gift bags will be available for every volunteer. Here is what you need to know:We are expecting 25 to 50 volunteers for this special project.  This will be an educational and fun project requiring a strong team effort. Spouses and kids 8 years and older are welcome!  Please come out and help the Cutthroat Chapter heal and preserve our valuable watershed.Workday: Saturday, May 12th, 2012 Project Location: Meet at Mt. Communities (West Creek) Fire Dept., (directions below) Project Times: Meet at 9:00 am, work until 3:00 pm, with a 30 minute lunch break around noon Lunch:  Will be provided by the Cutthroat Chapter of Trout Unlimited!  What we will be doing: Crews utilizing natural materials such as burned trees and boulders have already begun raising the height of the creek  and stabilizing steep eroded banks to re-create more natural flows, and fighting erosion through retention ponds and in stream structures. Your help is needed to build erosion control structures, plant willows or pine, re-seed native vegetation, mulch and/or build log fencing to protect restoration efforts. Your efforts will help improve the overall health of the Upper South Platte River Watershed as well as preserving and protecting fisheries, aquatic insect and wildlife habitats.What to bring: Hip boots or waders, sun screen, any applicable medicines, sun glasses (or safety glasses), gloves, water bottle, and a jacket are recommended.  Long pants are required and long-sleeved shirts are also recommended. Tools, hard hats, willows, other supplies and instructions will be supplied by CUSP.Two ways to get there:  (Map below)We plan to carpool from the RTD lot At University and Dad Clark Drive, just off C-470 in Highlands Ranch. We will be leaving by 7:15AM sharp so please plan to be there by 7:00AM.If you drive by yourself, volunteers will meet at the Mountain Communities Fire department at 9:00AM. Please try to be there a little early. We will be consolidating vehicles (preferably high clearance), for the drive to the work site on Trail Creek. Please contact the event organizer, Jim Klug at (303) 953-8046 to sign up or obtain additional information.We plan to complete work by 3:00PM, leaving time to fish on the way home!Hope you can join us!

April Monthly Meeting on Czech Nymphing with Steve Parrott. Special Guest Dave Sweet on the Yellowstone Lake Cutthroat.

Steve will be giving an in-depth presentation on the Czech Nymphing method with rigging instructions, fly placement and ideal waters to fish. The presentation will be at the normal meeting place, South Metro Denver Realtors Association, at 7:00pm, doors open at 6:30pm.Czech Nymphing, also referred to as European Nymphing, is a style of nymph fishing that is readily catching on here in the United States, especially in Colorado. It is a very effective technique that is perfectly suited for the many fast waters of our state. This style of short line nymph fishing often uses longer rods, no yarn or foam strike indicators and a level construction designed to get your heavily weighted flies, often three, down to the bottom quickly. All of the weight used in a Czech Nymph rig is added to the flies themselves not the leader.Steve has spent the last 12 years researching and experimenting with the Czech, French and Spanish Nymphing methods also referred to as the European Methods.  Steve is a veteran of the industry with over 17 years of experience guiding clients all over the globe.  Steve moved to Colorado in 2006 and has since focused his efforts on learning every facet of the European Nymphing Methods and sharing these through instructional classes and DVD's.  Steve is also co-owner of the Blue Quill Angler Fly Shop in Evergreen, Colorado.

Dave Sweet on the Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Populations.

Dave Sweet, Yellowstone Lake Project Manager for the Wyoming Council of Trout Unlimited, will present on the devastation being caused to Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout populations in Yellowstone National Park by Lake trout.  There is hope and Dave will outline an aggressive plan to help bring back the native cutthroat trout!

Our First Conservation Project for 2012

Hayman Fire RehabilitationTransplanting Native Willows Along Trail Creek

Our first conservation event of the season is scheduled for Saturday April 21, 2012. We are working with the Coalition for the Upper South Platte (CUSP) and supporting Mr. Lake McGill's Eagle Scout Project with the Boy Scouts of America.We will be preparing and transplanting native willow slips in drainages damaged by the Hayman Fire. This project will help reduce erosion and enhance stream bed stabilization in drainages along the main stem of Trail Creek. These sites are part of major restoration efforts to protect the water supply from sedimentation. The project will likewise improve damaged aquatic and wildlife habitat.This will be a  challenging project requiring a strong team effort. We need 15 to 25 volunteers, so come out and help the Cutthroat Chapter heal our watershed.New for 2012!  We have brand new Cutthroat Chapter Conservation Volunteer T- shirts complete with the TU logo on the front for project participants. Quantities are limited so get yours while they are still available. Bring your lunch or enjoy the lunch being provided by the Eagle Scouts. Hip boots or waders, sun screen, any applicable medicines, sun glasses (or safety glasses), gloves, water bottle, and a jacket are recommended.. Long pants are required and long-sleeved shirts are also recommended. Tools, hard hats, willows and instructions will be supplied by CUSP.Please contact the event organizer, Jim Klug at (303) 953-8046 to sign up.The project starts at 9AM in the parking lot at the Mountain Communities Fire Department. We plan to carpool from the RTD lot At University and Dad Clark Drive, just off C-470 in Highlands Ranch.  We will be leaving by 7:30AM sharp so please plan to be there by 7:15AM.If you drive by yourself, volunteers will meet at the Mountain Communities Fire department at 9AM. Please try to be there a little early. We will be consolidating vehicles (preferably high clearance), for the drive to the work site on Trail Creek.We plan to complete work by 3:00PM, leaving time to fish on the way home!Hope you can join us!Thank you,Jim Klug

2012 Conservation Volunteer Recognition Award Raffle

Come out and support our many Conservation, Preservation and Restoration Project Volunteer Opportunities!  This year we will be making several great fishing awards available to our volunteers through a new raffle to be held at our annual Conservation Auction in November.

To be eligible for one of these awards, just participate in Conservation Projects, River Watch and Temperature Monitoring Activities.  You will earn one raffle ticket for each event you take part in.  The more you volunteer, the better your chances of winning!  The raffle will be held at our annual auction and you must be present to participate in the drawing.This year, the first place award will be a float trip on the Colorado River donated by our Cutthroat Chapter member Ray Carney.  An additional fishing oriented awards will be announced soon.Come join us!For additional information, please call Jim Klug @ 303-953-8046.

2012 Conservation Projects Listing

Just Released !  

Important Conservation, Preservation and Restoration Projects for 2012!

Please take a look at the following listing of Cutthroat Chapter Conservation Projects, mark your calendars and plan to participate in these important volunteer opportunities to restore and improve our local fisheries. The first five projects are in conjunction with CUSP (Coalition for the Upper South Platte) and the dates are firm. And the focus of these projects is Hayman Fire Rehabilitation on the main tributaries to the South Platte at Deckers. New for 2012 !  We have brand new  custom Cutthroat Chapter Trout Unlimited CONSERVATION VOLUNTEER T- Shirts to be awarded to project participants!  Come join us on any project and earn your CONSERVATION  shirt.  One shirt per person while supplies last!As usual, there will be time for FISHING as well after the work is done!•April 21 Trail Creek Restoration and Willow Planting with the Eagle Scouts. This project starts @ 9AM at the West Creek Fire Station. We plan to carpool from the RTD lot At University and Dad Clark Drive, just off 470 in Highlands Ranch . We will be leaving @ 7:30AM sharp so please plan to be there by 7:15AM.Work day is over at 3PM, Time to Fish!  For full details and please call Jim Klug @ 303-953-8046 to sign up.                                                

                                                             Trail Creek

•May 12      Trail Creek Restoration (Field and Stream: Hero for a Day Program)May 18(Friday) Alternate date for the Hero for a day Program•June 30        CUSP Restoration TBD•July 14         South Platte Clean Up @ Deckers (McFarland)•August 25    CUSP Restoration TBD•September  8  Clear Creek Clean Up @Idaho Springs (Carney)•October  (Date TBD) South Platte Park Restoration (Aaron)•River Watch (Honeyfield) Dates Announced Monthly•South Platte Temperature Monitoring (Rasmussen & Snoy) Dates Announced MonthlyFor additional information, please contact Jim Klug at 303-953-8046.

Defend the Upper Colorado River

Help Us Spread the Word: DON'T SUCK the Upper Colorado River Dry!Dear Sharon,With your help, our campaign to protect the Upper Colorado continues to build momentum.  After two successful rallies - one outside of the EPA Regional Headquarters and one on the steps of the State Capitol - we have now launched a billboard on eastbound Interstate 70 in Golden:Every day that this billboard runs, nearly 180,000 pairs of eyes will see it as they commute to work or return from ski trips in the mountains!  With your help, we can keep this message in front of Denver-area residents.  If 300 friends of the Upper Colorado each contribute $25, we can cover the costs of keeping this billboard up for an entire month - putting this message in front of literally millions of Front Range residents.  Click here to help us today with your tax-deductible donation.  With your donation, you'll also receive a "Don't Suck" bumper sticker - and with a donation of $100 or more, you'll receive a "Don't Suck" t-shirt.Why a billboard?  Because Coloradans need to know that our namesake river is fighting for its life.  Water diversion proposals - expansion of both the Windy Gap (Colorado River) and Moffat (Fraser River) projects - could reduce the Upper Colorado River’s flows to less than 20 percent of its historic levels. As currently proposed, the projects fail to include measures that will keep the Colorado and key tributaries like the Fraser cold, clean and healthy.  Without stronger protections, these once-mighty rivers face a long, continued decline and a potential ecological collapse.Our Defend the Colorado coalition’s recent January rally in front of EPA building was a rousing success, with more than 100 sign-carrying, chanting supporters calling on EPA to “be a hero” for the river.  A few weeks later, EPA issued a letter that fully vindicated and supported our position on the need for further river protections in the Windy Gap Firming Project.  It was an important victory, but final decisions are still pending on permits for Windy Gap and the Moffat - including what protections for rivers may be required.  Our job is not finished.Help us keep the pressure on our state and federal decision-makers to do the right thing for the Upper Colorado watershed.  Let's spread the word to our fellow Coloradans:  we need to save our rivers before it's too late.  Your donation toward the "Don't Suck" campaign will help us make a difference. Together, we can make sure that we don't suck the Upper Colorado River dry.Thanks for all you do!P.S. If you haven't yet, please take a moment and sign our online petition on the Defend the Colorado website.

March Monthly Meeting a Fly Tying Extravaganza

March 20th, 7pm at our normal meeting location, SMDRA.Are you a fly tier or interested in starting? Well, this is the time of year for you. There are a number of places and events where you can watch local legends perform their magic. This month’s membership meeting is just one such place. It’s a great opportunity to sit with some of your favorite tiers and not only learn their flies and recipes but the little tricks you can only get from watching them.The list of talented fly tyers this year includes, but not limited to Pat Dorsey, Al Makkai, Brian Kuchynka, Jay Core, Bud McAllister, Bill Searles, Frank Prekel, Jim Schmidt, Kent Higgins, Jim Neiberger, Bob Dye and event organizer Richard Pilatzke. If you fall into the 'interested in getting started' category, Ross Custer and John Aaron will have a beginners table where you can learn to tie your first fly from experienced and patient instructors.In addition to the fly tying clinic, chapter members are encouraged to dig out your old, but still serviceable, gear and bring it to the meeting. It will be sold at the meeting in a silent auction and the proceeds will be applied to three of the outstanding chapter projects – Trout in the Classroom, Riverwatch, or the Colorado Youth Camp.As a personal attestment, I sat by myself at Jim Neiberger's table and learned a great wire-body technique that I've been using extensively ever since. It's a great opportunity to actually interact with some of our local fly tying talent.Also, thanks to Richard Pilatzke and his team to putting this all together.  See you all there!

Schedule of Events for 2012 - Updated!

Here’s a list of some of the events we have planned so far for 2012. Use this list to reserve spots in your calendar.  Any of the “Area TBD” items will most likely be one of the CUSP focus areas which are Trail Creek and Happy Meadows.Here are the dates and events we have so far:January 17^th – Meeting: Speaker Mark Lance on “The Many Landscapes of Trout”February 21^st – Meeting: Speaker Pat Dorsey on “Fly Fishing Colorado”March 20^th – Meeting: Fly Tying ClinicMarch 31^st – Education: Fishing on the Fly classApril 7^th – Education: Fishing on the Fly classApril 14^th – Education: Fishing on the Fly classApril 14^th - 18^th – Fishing Trip: Green RiverApril 17^th – Meeting: Speaker Steve Parrott on “Czech Nymphing”April 21^st – Education: Fishing on the Fly classApril 21^st – Conservation: Trail Creek RestorationApril 28^th – Education: Fishing on the Fly classMay 12^th – Conservation: Trail Creek with Field & Stream's Hero for a Day ProgramMay 15^th – Meeting: Tim Wade, Owner of North Fork Angler in Cody Wyoming, on "The Otherside of Yellowstone"June 19^th – Meeting: Robert Younghanz, "The Bug Guy", on Entomology for the FlyfisherJune 30^th – Conservation: Area TBDJuly 14^th – Conservation: Deckers Clean UpAugust 25^th – Conservation: Area TBDSeptember Date TBD – Conservation: Clear Creek Cleanup; Working with Idaho Springs to reserve the ParkCheck the website for details on any of these events as the date approaches.  Also, check the website for events that are, as-of-yet, unplanned.

1st Annual Conservation Awards Raffle

The Conservation Awards Raffle at this year’s Annual Auction was created as a way to say “Thank You” to the 76 volunteers who contributed 1100 hours working on 10 Cutthroat Chapter sponsored projects.  These projects focused on conservation and restoration efforts primarily in the Upper South Platte River Drainage.Some of this year’s accomplishments:

• We planted over 15,000 willows on Trail Creek and Horse Creek.
• We cleaned up over 8 miles of stream frontage on the South Platte near Deckers and another 12 miles along Clear Creek at Idaho Springs.
• And River Watch efforts monitored water quality while our temperature sensors gathered valuable data at 5 sites in the South Platte below Cheesman Reservoir.

Again, our chapter is very grateful to all who supported these efforts.  To show our appreciation, we had 6 great prizes to raffle.

• 1st place: Custom Built Fresh Water Sage Fly Rod, donated by Kent Higgins.  Won by Bill Wiebesiek who participated in 15 events!
• 2nd place: Lamson V2 Velocity Hard Alloy Fly Reel, 6-weight, donated by CCTU.  Won by Alan Whitehead who participated in 6 events!
• 3rd place: Fishpond Yellowstone wader bag, donated by CCTU. Won by Jerry Shin who participated in 3 events!
• 4th place: Rio Light WF5F Fly Line, donated by CCTU. Won by Kris Buros who participated in 6 events!
• 5th place: Box of Custom Flies tied by Richard Pilatzke. Won by Jim Rasmussen who participated in 20 events!
• 6th place: Box of Flies by various tiers donated by CCTU. Won by Duane Van deVenter who participated in 2 events!

Thanks again for supporting our Conservation Projects!Also, thanks to Kent, Richard and CCTU for donating the GREAT prizes!And last but not least, thanks to our Conservation Coordinators Jim Klug and Jim Rassmussen who, with a little help from their friends, organize and orchestrate each one of the conservation events.