NEWS
SOLD: To the highest bidder, an op-ed by CTU President, Chris Wood
Recently Chris Wood, President and CEO of Trout Unlimited, commented on the shift of conservative values away from protecting and investing in public lands, to recklessly selling them off to the highest bidder. Read the full op-ed below, which has been reposted from the Denver Post.Read it here.
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
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
Alma River Walk Project Visit - 6/18/18
The town of Alma, CO is north of Fairplay in Southpark and at 10, 578 feet, is the highest incorporated town in North America. Alma is an idyllic location with several 14ers nearby and more importantly for TU, the headwaters of the South Platte River are just above and adjacent to the town. Alma is a small town (less than 400 residents) but that is about to change. Up to three new multi-unit housing developments are being planned for Alma so the population will increase substantially in the next few years. The town of Alma and the Alma Foundation are planning a project that will consist of platforms and walkways in the Upper South Platte wetlands for both recreation and fishing access. They wish to create a multi-use area while also managing and protecting these important headwaters for future generations.
On June 8, 2018 a meeting was held to provide TU (Cutthroat and Cherry Creek Chapters) with key information for the Walkway Project, including a tour of the wetlands, a discussion of project options, and solicitation of ideas for improving the project. Attendees from TU included George Franklin, John Aaron, Peter King and Tim O’Connor (Cutthroat Chapter) and Steve Rozendaal (Cherry Creek Anglers). Jara Johnson represented the Alma Foundation and Tim Zingler represented the town of Alma (Director of Public Works). They currently have a contract for a wetlands delineation study (report due the end of June 2018) and they will soon be contracting with a small engineering firm for engineering design and review of alternatives. Colorado Parks and Wildlife has donated $30,000 and TU Cutthroat Chapter has committed $5,000 for this phase of work. Considerably more funding will be required for the construction phase, scheduled for 2019-20. TU’s Cutthroat Chapter is offering to help find corporate sponsors for that phase. Some ideas that TU provided include: giving these headwaters a “Catch and Release” designation to ensure a sustainable fish population; adding large rocks to the stream in selected locations to provide structures for the fish; and dredging the pond next to the planned fishing dock as it is currently very shallow.
Bighorn Trip Recap
On May 14, fourteen CCTU members descended on Ft. Smith, Montana. Their destination was the triple wide trailer complex affectionately known as “The Condo”. Their goal was to erase the disappointment of last year when the normal 2200 cfs spring time flow of the Bighorn River was eclipsed by flows over 14,000 cfs. Last year made this annual Cutthroat Chapter pilgrimage too dangerous for even the most experienced river guides, let alone manageable by serious amateur rowers from our chapter. This year the snow pack was still 260% above normal in that drainage, but a different flow management philosophy made the river about half of last year’s volume. The Cutthroat anglers decided it was worth a try and that triple typical spring time flows might still be manageable. The daytime highs were in the low eighties the first three days making it a very pleasant time to be on the water, but the fish weren’t buying it and the catch rate was less than optimal. The higher flows made it difficult to approach the usually wade-accessible spots, and the fish normally confined to those holes had the freedom of movement to spread out thinly across the swollen river. Fortunately on the fourth day a cold front moved in and drizzle and cold brought the blue winged olives out to play.Swallows filled the air over the water like clouds of locust, and the productive Isle of Rich brought some love into the lonely nets of those anglers. It was a good way to end a trip that was filled with lots of joking and camaraderie, if not filled with more than a handful of big fish stories as well as few stories of the ones that got away.
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!
NEW MEETING LOCATION! Starting January 16th
IMPORTANT REMINDER…WE HAVE CHANGED OUR MEETING LOCATION…STARTING WITH TUESDAY’S (JAN 16) MEETING
The South Metro Denver Realtor Assoc Building has been sold, and the new owners are not interested in leasing it out going forward…and cancelled our lease about a month ago. We looked at many different locations in the Highlands Ranch/Littleton area and came up with Cresthill Middle School as being the best option from all standpoints. Cresthill Middle School is located one block north of Highlands Ranch High School, right off University, in Highlands Ranch. The address is 9195 Cresthill Lane, Highlands Ranch, CO 80130. The location has ample parking and a great grass areas for casting demos and other activities. We will be meeting in the library, on the south end of the parking lot. We will utilize a large, open plan conference room, and some excellent audio visual equipment. Although not a key goal of our new meeting location selection, we are excited that this venue will cost about half of what we paid at the old location.
Directions from C-470 and University Blvd – Head south east on University Blvd. Travel through the intersection of University/Highlands Ranch Pkwy/Colorado Blvd for a total of 2.4 miles to Cresthill Lane. Turn left on Cresthill Lane. Drive past Highlands Ranch High School and you will reach Cresthill Middle School in 0.4 miles, on the left side of Cresthill Lane. Click on the attached Google Maps link for more details https://goo.gl/maps/FVbNmtxo76J2.
Directions for I-25 and Lincoln Ave – Head west on Lincoln Ave for 2.4 miles. Lincoln Ave turns into S University Blvd at Quebec Street. Travel 1.0 miles and make right on Cresthill Lane. Drive past Highlands Ranch High School and you will reach Cresthill Middle School in 0.4 miles, on the left side of Cresthill Lane. Click on the attached Google Maps link for more details https://goo.gl/maps/kVNJkfHaNVn
The International Sportsmen's Expo (ISE) - Thursday, Jan 11 - Sunday, Jan 14
Stop by the annual ISE show at the Colorado Convention Center starting Thursday, January 11th. Tickets can be purchased at https://www.axs.com/events/345044/international-sportsmen-s-expo-tickets?skin=ccc. Catch shows by CCTU members Pat Dorsey and Richard Pilatzke…all located at the Fly Fishing Theater.
Thursday – Jan 11
4:30 - Pat Dorsey “Fly Fishing Western Tailwaters”
6:30 - Richard Pilatzke “Stillwater Fly Fishing”
Friday - Jan 12
2:30 - Richard Pilatzke “Stillwater Fly Fishing”
3:30 – Pat Dorsey “Tips to Catch More Trout”
Saturday – Jan 13
1:30 – Pat Dorsey “The Secret Season: Winter Fly Fishing”
Sunday - Jan 14
2:30 – Pat Dorsey “Colorado’s Best Trout Streams”
CUTTHROAT CHAPTER TROUT UNLIMITED – DECEMBER CHAPTER MEETING IS OUR HOLIDAY PARTY
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 7PM (DOORS OPEN AT 6:30)
SOUTH METRO DENVER REALTOR ASSOC. BUILDING (BROADWAY & MINERAL)
7899 S LINCOLN CT, LITTLETON, CO 80122
Program: HOLIDAY PARTY INCLUDING WHITE ELEPHANT GIFT EXCHANGE
For our December chapter meeting, please join us for an evening of raffles, white elephant gift exchanges and delicious food.DINNER - Thanks to long-time CCTU member and new board member John Cristantiello, CCTU will be providing all the food and beverages. John is a chef and food broker by trade, and brought an amazing spread to the CCTU picnic this year if you missed it. For the holiday party his menu includes the following…
- Bread – Dinner Rolls
- Salad – Mixed Green Salad and Dressing
- Vegetables – Mixed Vegetables, Mashed Potatoes
- Entrees – Demi Glaze Stuffed Chicken Breast, Herb Crusted Pork Loin
- Dessert – Apple Cranberry Spice Cake with Cream Cheese Icing
RAFFLE – We will have the monthly Fly Raffle and a special Holiday Raffle of a fishing oriented prizes for on and off the stream. Five shekels buys a ticket.WHITE ELEPHANT GIFT EXCHANGE – Have fun and join in our long-time chapter holiday party tradition. Surprises abound in this type of exchange. Please bring a wrapped gift, however your choice as to how it is decorated. Gift should be less than $25 in value (not including any flies that might be involved). Usually everything has a fishing overtone, but you can be creative and provide a surprise, too…the sillier/stupider, the better. There will be a few extra gifts in case someone didn’t have time or forgot (these require $20 donation to the chapter). Each item is assigned a number, then randomly picked. Each item is susceptible to be “stolen” by the next participant. Any item is retired after the third exchange.If you haven’t been to a CCTU holiday party before, it is a great way to meet chapter members in a truly fun, laid-back evening. We look forward to seeing everyone there.One favor – It would be great if you could RSVP to Brian Young (brianyoungco@comcast.net) if you plan on attending. Members, potential members, visitors, friends are all welcome. Please don’t hesitate to come even if you don’t RSVP, but it would be great to get at least a rough count as to how many folks will be there for food planning purposes. As always…chapter members, potential members, visitors, friends of any of the previous are all welcome!