MARCH MEETING CANCELLED. As with other chapters, we are doing our part by cancelling the March 17 meeting to slow the spread of the Coronavirus. We appreciate your patience and understanding and will book Ron Belak for a different time. We will revisit the April meeting early that month. Best thoughts to all for staying healthy and safe.
Riverwatch Team Braves February Conditions
Jim, Dolf and Bill braving the weather for the Feb 20th edition of Riverwatch water sampling near Waterton Canyon. This February has been one of the top two snowiest February’s in Denver Metro history. If you are interested in volunteering for Riverwatch, please contact Jim Rasmussen at jiber2@msn.com
2019 San Juan River CCTU Chapter Trip
This year's San Juan trip was October 24-28, and the fishing and weather was a mixed bag. There were days of warm and relatively calm conditions, mixed with a day of snow and wind. Nymphing with tiny midges is the norm for the San Juan's upper river. It did not disappoint. Some very nice fish were caught and released. The lower river is where the BWO's hatch. The hatches varied with the weather conditions. The last day of overcast skies and calm winds provided 4 to 5 hours of great dry fly fishing. Everyone is looking forward to next year’s trip. We are adding an extra day, and the trip will run Saturday October 24 through Thursday, October 29. Contact Jerry Shin if you are interested in more info or to sign up (gjshin@msn.com). Enjoy Rich Hus video from this year’s trip.
TU Thanks All Veterans for Their Service
On this Veterans Day, we at Trout Unlimited thank our military servicemen and women, our veterans, and their families for their lives of service. Through TU's Veterans Service Partnership, we invite you to continue that legacy of service and join a ready-made community of passionate conservationists and anglers. For the past 60 years, Trout Unlimited has worked to conserve, protect, and restore North America's coldwater fisheries and their watersheds. If you share our passion, or just wish to know more, we welcome you to find your community at www.tu.org/chaptersearch. Happy Veterans Day from Trout Unlimited!
TU's Veterans Service Partnership - Free Trial Membership for Active Veterans
On this Veterans Day, we at Trout Unlimited thank our military servicemen and women, our veterans, and their families for their lives of service. Through TU's Veterans Service Partnership, we invite veterans to continue that legacy of service and join a ready-made community of passionate conservationists and anglers. Trout Unlimited is proud to partner with Project Healing Waters, other veteran's service organizations to provide healing, rehabilitation and hope to those who have experienced the traumas of war. The Veterans Service Partnership is a nationwide effort initiated by TU in 2011 to bring the healing power of the water to those who have served our nation so boldly. TU is offering a free one year introductory membership for veterans who have worked with a TU chapter, council, or program supporter. You will receive all the benefits of a paid membership. You'll also receive a less tangible benefit, the pleasure of knowing you're part of a growing community of individuals who enjoy angling and want to keep America's rivers cold, clean and fishable. Together, we can make our trout and salmon fisheries healthier, for us and the next generation. Please join us in this important work. If you know of a veteran who has been involved with the Cutthroat Chapter, please contact them and send them the link below for the free one year TU membership.
https://gifts.tu.org/vsp_join
GILL TRAIL BRIDGE SIGNAGE AND PROJECT COMPLETION
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 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.
Bridge Repair and Trail Rehab on Gill Trail
Our Cutthroat Chapter of TU has a long standing tradition of caring for the South Platte River and the Gill Trail near Deckers. CCTU's dedication to conserve, protect, and restore that area was documented in a recent issue of Fly Fisherman Magazine and in Pat Dorsey's new guide book to that river. We recently became aware that the footbridge over Wigwam Creek had fallen into disrepair. That bridge allows angler access via the Gill Trail into the river's Cheesman Canyon. The bridge's deteriorating condition was beginning to threaten angler safety. Soon their only alternative would have been to hike around the bridge and through the creek. That would add to the harmful sediment load of both the creek and the river it feeds into. With money donated for construction materials by the CCTU board and with volunteer power from CCTU members, our club worked with the US Forest Service to refurbish that bridge on June 6 and 7. We also helped redefine the trail and drainage leading from the parking lot to that bridge. Our hope is the bridge and trail repairs will help both the anglers and the watershed for decades to come. Many thanks to the CCTU board, to our hardworking volunteers, to the USFS staff, and to Starbucks for their generous help.
Earth Day on Bear Creek - Conservation Project and Fishing Competition
On April 27, 2019 the City of Lakewood celebrated Earth Day by hosting a volunteer work day at Bear Creek Lake Park. On that beautiful Saturday no less than 26 members and friends of the Cutthroat Chapter dropped by to help out. Our volunteers planted ten large native cottonwood trees along the creek. Those trees were donated by our chapter utilizing funds our members raise for these conservation projects. These trees will help shade the creek and will provide improved riparian habitat for wildlife both terrestrial and aquatic. We were very pleased to learn from the park rangers that they had 100% survival of the trees we planted last year! That was due in part to the year-long care of those rangers in periodically watering those new trees. With any luck these new trees will fare just as well. After a delicious lunch provided by the City, a dozen of these CCTU volunteers chose to stick around for the 3rd Annual CCTU Fishing Contest on Bear Creek. Cyndy Scholz gave fellow anglers a lesson by winning the contest with a beautiful 18" rainbow trout taken and released along the Fox Hollow Golf Course. The CCTU board wishes to thank all the volunteers and the City for a wonderful event.