CCTU 2022 ANNUAL RAFFLE – RAFFLE PROGRAM WINNERS

CCTU had a fantastic Raffle Party at Breckenridge Brewery on June 21st.  Good food and drink along with some good camaraderie with many chapter members who attended.   We sold out the last few tickets at the Brewery, thereby raising a gross amount of $15k.  That funding goes completely to CCTU conservation projects, youth education programs, the CSU Fisheries scholarship, and more..  We revealed the winners of the 35 items that evening, a total of $13k worth of prizes.  Thanks to Barry Wiebe, John Egan, Allen Adinoff and a host of others for making this another highly successful raffle program.  Thanks to everyone who bought tickets and helped support CCTU cold-water conservation efforts.

 The full list of raffle winners appears below.  If you have any questions, need to pick up your winning prize, etc. please contact Allen Adinoff (aadinoff10@gmail.com).

15% CCTU Discount at the Cottonwood Camp on the Bighorn, remainder of 2022

As many CCTU members know, the CCTU trips to the Bighorn utilize the Cottonwood Camp for lodging, etc.  Aaron Mumford is the COO of Jet Hospitality which purchased Cottonwood Camp on the Bighorn River this past year.  As a show of their appreciation to the chapter and Richard “Bighorn Legend” Hus, Aaron is offering a 15% discount on new reservations for remainder of 2022.  They are now open year round as well.  Click HERE to check availability with the promo code “hus” prepopulated.

Cottonwood Camp offers 14 cabins featuring fully equipped kitchens + outdoor social space with BBQ Grills, FHU RV and pitch tent sites, across our 17 historical acres, overlooking 3 Mile Access on the legendary Bighorn River. These hallowed grounds are surround by 300 wildlife filled acres of Bighorn Canyon National Rec Area. Our full service fly shop provides guides trips, drift boat rentals and shuttles. Come experience world class fly fishing in a memorable Big Sky County setting just 7.5 hours north of Denver in Fort Smith, MT!

CCTU 2022 BIGHORN RIVER CHAPTER FISHING TRIP REVIEW

Everyone landed fish and had a great time on the Bighorn trip.  We had eight people float and two wade with four people being first-timers on the trip.  The weather cooperated three of the four days, but, unfortunately, we didn't have any dry fly action.  There was plenty of mayfly action subsurface.  Most fish were nice size browns in the 14 to 20-inch range and similar-sized rainbows.  Already looking forward to next year!  If you are interested in the Bighorn River trip next year, contact Rich at r_hus@hotmail.com.  View a quick video of the trip at the CCTU YouTube Channel at https://youtu.be/csCE55PrQC8

CCTU SOUTH PLATTE TEMPERATURE MONITORING

Twice a year, members of the Cutthroat Chapter of Trout Unlimited walk through parts of the South Platte River to access submerged data loggers, bring them to the surface and download the last 12 months of data.   We have three submerged data loggers and one ambient air logger that have to be found.  Accessing the data loggers in the river requires remembering where they are, finding the rebar post and then unscrewing old hose clamps.  Ray leads the group just upstream of Deckers.  Below Jim and Bill are using a “hydroscope”, aka a clear piece of Tupperware, to see into the river so Bill can open the hose clamps and bring the data logger to the surface.  The group pulled the last data logger that, unfortunately, would not communicate with our App.  After the work was done everyone spent a few extra hours fishing the canyon.  A few of us will have to return shortly to install a new data logger.

Ray leads the group just upstream of Deckers.

Downloaded ambient air information.

Jim finishing the hike out of Cheesman Canyon.

Jim and Bill using a “hydroscope”, aka a clear piece of Tupperware, to see into the river so Bill can open the hose clamps and bring the data logger to the surface.

CCTU 2022 Annual Raffle Buy Tickets Online Now!

Buy Raffle Tickets Online Now! (Click Here)

The Cutthroat Chapter of Trout Unlimited’s annual Raffle Program is back…and this year earlier than ever before.  As usual, this will be CCTU’s primary fundraiser for the year, with all proceeds going completely toward chapter conservation projects, youth education, CSU fisheries scholarship, and more.

35 items will be offered, with over $13,000 worth of prizes.  These items range from

·  8 different guided float, fishing trips and lessons, including a Pat Dorsey full day private water trip

·  11 great equipment packages, including a Scott Tampa custom-built bamboo rod

·  10 fly box prizes filled with nearly 50 dozen flies

·  5 framed artwork/photography, including two Dave Whitlock framed and signed numbered prints

Tickets are $100 and we will limit ticket sales to 150…your chances of winning are roughly 1 in 4.  You can purchase as many tickets as you want and win more than once.

Winners will be announced at a special Raffle Party (replaces the June chapter meeting) on June 21 at Breckenridge Brewery in Littleton.  We have room for 75 attendees, and the first 75 ticket purchasers get free entry.  CCTU will provide the food, you buy the drinks.  Winners need not attend the event to win.

Tickets will be sold through the beginning of the June 21 Raffle Party if they don’t sell out earlier.  Don’t delay, with only 150 tickets, it will be easy to miss out.

BUY TICKETS…This year tickets are only available at our secure, easy to maneuver online site. https://go.eventgroovefundraising.com/cctu-2022-raffle. Please contact us (cutthroattu@gmail.com) if you have any issues buying tickets.

Check the full list of prizes below or go to the online purchasing site where all prizes are also listed.

Thanks again for supporting Trout Unlimited and the Cutthroat Chapter projects.  Good luck!! 

CCTU May Meeting Presentation - Phil Tereyla, Colorado's Easy Access Mtn Lakes

Had a great Zoom only CCTU May Chapter meeting with Phil Tereyla last night.  Phil is a long-time Colorado guide, currently working at Angler’s Covey in Colorado Springs…and focusing on targeting big fish on the Dream Stream and other South Platte areas.   His presentation focused on material from his new book “A Fly Fisher’s Guide to Colorado’s Easy Access Mountain Lakes.  The book covers over 60 mountain lakes in Colorado that are under three miles to access, and hits all the areas of the state.  He reviewed numerous key strategies and tactics by season for these lakes and hit on a few of his favorite lakes as well.  Pick up the book at Angler’s Covey in Colorado Springs or you can order online from the store at https://anglers-covey.shoplightspeed.com/flyfishers-guide-to-colorados-easy-access-mtn-lake.html.  Watch the presentation video at the CCTU YouTube site https://youtu.be/boSilDdxUwM

CCTU 2022 Green River Chapter Fishing Trip Review

Rich Hus led the CCTU group on their Green River fishing trip April 8 – 12. 13 CCTU members joined Rich on the trip, with several being new to the trip and fairly new to the chapter…which is fantastic. The weather had its moments and the last day was somewhat of a blowout from wind and snow. However, it was an excellent trip overall, with many fish brought to net and many chapter member friendships renewed or begun anew. All are looking forward to doing it again in 2023. If you are interested in the Green River trip next year, contact Rich at r_hus@hotmail.com. Watch a short video of the trip from Rich, with pictures from the group, below.

CCTU BEAR CREEK EARTH DAY CONSERVATION PROJECT - PROJECT WRAP-UP

On Saturday, April 23, 17 CCTU members drove to Bear Creek Lake Park to continue our tradition of assisting the park with restoration efforts on Bear Creek near Stonehouse.  The Chapter provided $2,000 to the city of Lakewood to purchase 10 narrow leaf cottonwood trees and 20 bushes.  After a light breakfast and short safety discussion by a ranger, we headed off to Stonehouse.   Once we arrived at the location, we met with park staff.  They provided the plants and all the tools we needed.   After breaking into groups and getting instruction from the staff, digging began in earnest!  Each cottonwood was placed and then two smaller bushes planted nearby.  The final step was setting steel posts and surrounding everything with wire to prevent our work from becoming lunch for beavers.  If you have not seen the large beaver dam near the Stone house, it is worth the trip!  Bring your 3wt and fish downstream from the dam for a while.  Thanks again to Lee Blair and his team for making this happen.

DREAM STREAM WILLOW PLANTING PROJECT

PIKES PEAK CHAPTER TU DREAM STREAM WILLOW PLANTING PROJECT

MAY 7-8, MAY 13-15

CHARLIE MEYERS SWA

The Pikes Peak Chapter of Trout Unlimited has an upcoming event and are looking for volunteers from any chapters.  They have a 5-day project on the Dream Stream in south park for planting willows to stabilize work done by CPW last year.  They have planted many willows in the past on the Dream Stream to help prevent erosion, provide shade, block the wind and provide insect habitat.  Last year CPW did some stream restoration on areas that were impacted by floods from large thunderstorms in the area.  This year we will be treating those areas with willows to help stabilize this work.  PPCTU will be providing lunch for these volunteer days.  To sign up or get more information please send an email to don.logelin@ppctu.org .  Please include the days you intend to participate and a contact phone number.  This will give them a head count for lunch and be able to notify everyone if there are any changes with the event.

March Meeting Presentation - Pat Dorsey, "Colorado's Best Trout Streams"

What a fantastic turnout on Tuesday for Pat Dorsey.  Pat presented a look at his favorite Colorado flies and best trout streams, breaking down Cheesman Canyon, the Gunnison, Taylor, the Dream Stream, Blue, and more.  If you missed the meeting, or want to take some notes on some of those fantastic locations, the presentation is up on the CCTU YouTube site at https://youtu.be/7QzEkavrBJU.  Book a trip or pick up some equipment at The Blue Quill Angler at www.bluequillangler.com or check out Pat’s stream report at https://www.patdorseyflyfishing.com/rivers/