NEWS
Recap: CCTU Green River Trip, 2024
An Unforgettable Adventure: The Annual Green River Fishing Trip
The sun peeked over the rugged cliffs, casting a golden glow on the emerald waters of the Green River at Flaming Gorge. It was that time of year again—the annual fishing trip that our chapter eagerly awaited. Our group consisted of the usual suspects plus five newcomers this year! We shared stories, laughter, and the occasional tall fish tale. The camaraderie was as essential as the fishing itself. This year, however, held something extra special: Tom’s 78th birthday celebration with the most delicious chocolate birthday cake made by Jerry’s wife.
The fishing gods smiled upon us. The weather forecast promised cloudy skies and mild temperatures, and we were excited about a blue-wing olive hatch (BWO). And oh, the trout! The Green River was generous this year. Each day we were graced with an awesome BWO hatch with fish aggressively feeding in the column and surface on emergers.
Mostly Brown trout, their spots like constellations, danced in the current. Several Rainbow trout leaped out of the water to grin and fin you while spitting your fly. Tom landed 30 – 40 fish each day with his guide from Old Moe’s.
Many enjoyed some good dry fly action each day to get their fix. One day, while seeking shelter along the bank of the river from a thunderstorm, a fish was rising consistently directly in front of us. It was teasing us, daring us to pick up a lightning rod! One cast with an awesome presentation is all it took for Alex to fool that fish. Alex grinned ear-to-ear when we erupted in applause and cheered like we were at the Super Bowl. The battle was fierce but short-lived as we ducked for cover when the ever-so-wise Brown trout spit the fly back at us like a lightning bolt.
One of the newcomers, John, who mainly fishes still water had a wonderful time and signed up for the San Juan trip, too. Another newcomer, Bruce, earned his Master Sargent stripes after being left at the Little Hole takeout on the last day. He hitched a ride to Dutch John for cell service to remind us that what we have here is, “a failure to communicate”. Maybe, we should take a couple of sheepdogs with us next year… I wonder if they rent sheepdogs.
As the trip wound down on the last day, we packed our gear, exchanged promises to return next year, and bid farewell to Flaming Gorge. The Green River would flow on, and so would our stories—the ones we’d tell over beers at the chapter meetings, the ones that would grow grander with each retelling. The Green River is alive and healthy!
Until next year, dear river. Until next year.
Registration for the 2025-chapter fishing trips will begin with the release of the January newsletter.
Notice!
Only one spot is left for this year’s San Juan River Trip, Friday, October 25 - Wednesday, October 30, 2024. Contact Jerry Shin at gsshin51@gmail.com or (303) 507-3495.
Disclaimer: The characters and events in this article are fictional. Any resemblance to real individuals or fishing trips is purely coincidental in this Copilot-assisted article.
Recap: Earth Day 2024 at Bear Creek Lake Park
Once again, the Chapter supported the City of Lakewood’s Earth Day event at Bear Creek Lake Park on April 20th. And, once again it snowed! Despite the weather, our crew spent the morning planting 15 trees and almost 1,000 grasses, sedges and small bushes.
We arrived at the site of the old Stone House at 8:00 AM for a light breakfast while the City Park leadership made introductions and provided guidance on where the different groups would be assigned. Tools were handed out and the groups headed to their assigned areas to till the soil, and some rocks here and there, to prepare for the new vegetation. After a morning’s work, the volunteers had the plants in the ground making one more step toward protecting Bear Creek in Lakewood.
Take time to visit the park for a walk or to fish the stream. For people that want to be a part of future efforts to protect Bear Creek and the cold-water fish that live there, stay connected to the chapter and join us next year! Don’t forget your snow boots.
See CCTU at Cabela's Spring Fishing Classic - 3/16 & 3/17
Representatives from CCTU will be at Cabela’s/Bass Pro Shops annual Spring Fishing Classic.
We’ll be talking up the great benefits of being a member, handing out stickers, and tying flies. Our booth will be occupied on Saturday and Sunday, March 16th & 17th between the hours of 11AM and 3PM. If you’re in the neighborhood, please drop by to say ‘hi’ and check out the other organizations like Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and the South Suburban Parks!
Protecting a Critical Stretch of Tarryall Creek in South Park
update March 12, 2024:
Collard Ranch and 5 miles of pristine trout stream will become a state wildlife area for $8.25 million - reports the Colorado Sun.
Courtesy of Western Rivers Conservancy
South Platte River, Colorado
Just southwest of Denver, the headwaters of the South Platte River come together in the rolling grasslands of South Park, a broad basin surrounded by the high mountain peaks of the Front Range. The South Platte River is the biological and scenic centerpiece of South Park, which was designated a National Heritage Area in 2009 for its rich history and diverse natural landscapes. Here, Western Rivers Conservancy has launched an effort to preserve the 1,860-acre Collard Ranch, which includes five miles of Tarryall Creek, one of the South Platte River’s principal tributaries.
Collard Ranch is part of a major migration corridor for thousands of Rocky Mountain elk, which use the property as their primary route from the high peaks of the Rockies down to the grasslands below during their annual north-south migration into and across South Park. Mule deer and pronghorn frequently move through the basin as well.
Tarryall Creek flows off the 13,823-foot Mount Silverheels before meandering through Collard Ranch. Its banks are a mix of open grass and willow cover, providing excellent habitat for healthy, wild populations of brown and rainbow trout. Beaver ponds line the creek on the ranch, which is a rarity on Colorado’s valley floors. These wetlands attract a rich variety of bird life and are prime spawning habitat for fish.
The South Park basin is home to the world’s last remaining “extreme rich fens,” a type of wetland that has been damaged by human development almost everywhere else on Earth. These wetlands attract diverse bird life to the property, including the imperiled Lewis’s woodpecker and mountain plover.
Located just 60 miles from Denver, South Park is one of the primary recreation destinations for hikers, anglers and hunters from Colorado’s capital. Protection of Collard Ranch will add over five miles of fishing access along both banks of this outstanding trout stream while helping to establish more uniform recreation management along Tarryall Creek. This outcome would be a significant conservation accomplishment within an hour and a half drive from most of the population of Colorado.
WRC has signed an agreement to purchase the ranch. We will buy and hold the property while working to secure funding to protect it forever. Our hope is to convey the property to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, which would manage it for the benefit of fish, wildlife and people forever.
It's Back! West Denver TU Fly Tying Clinic
West Denver Trout Unlimited’s Annual Fly Tying Clinic
If you’re not aware of it, the WDTU Annual Fly Tying Clinic was a well attended, local gathering of some of the biggest names in fly tying in the Mountain West prior to the lovely Pandemic. And finally, it’s back on the calendar!
When: Saturday, March 2, 2024 from 9AM to 2PM
Where: Jefferson County Fairgrounds, 15200 W 6th Ave, Golden, CO 80401 (Map)
Details:
Over 50 local and nationally-known fly tyers
Build a fly box with flies tied by your favorite expert tyers
Tie your first fly area
Huge bucket raffle
Kids activities
Proceeds support West Denver TU’s mission to share and sustain Colorado fly fishing.
Admission at the door is $20. Get a $5 discount coupon from your local fly shop! Active duty military personnel and kids 12 and under are admitted for free.
For more information, visit WDTU’s website website.
CTU River Conservation and Fly Fishing Camp
CTU is thrilled to announce that registration is open for the Colorado Trout Unlimited (CTU) Camp - an unforgettable river conservation and fly fishing experience designed exclusively for youth aged 14-18.
Camp Highlights:
Dates: June 9th – 15th, 2024
Location: Spend a week in the picturesque mountains near Almont, CO, surrounded by the beauty of nature.
Community: CTU Camp is a special place where acceptance and lifelong friendships flourish among teens who share a passion for the river, fly fishing, and conservation.
Experience: Be a part of a hands-on program that blends conservation and all levels of fly fishing.
Camp Size: Limited to 20 campers, ensuring an intimate and engaging experience for all.
Camp Details:
Eligibility: Open to youth aged 14-18.
Cost: $650 (tuition), plus a $50 registration fee. (includes all meals and a fly fishing rod and reel combo.)
Scholarships: Scholarships are available to support passionate individuals.
Application Deadline: April 1, 2024.
CTU Camp is not just a week in the mountains; it's an opportunity to inspire the next generation of river stewards and conservation-minded anglers. In our safe, fun, and inclusive environment, participants will explore the profound connections between conservation, a love for the outdoors, and the art of fly fishing.
Don't miss out on this chance to be part of an extraordinary community that values conservation, camaraderie, and the thrill of fly fishing. We look forward to welcoming you to CTU Camp and creating lasting memories together.
If you have any questions or need further assistance, please feel free to reach out to Natalie Flowers at natalie.flowers@tu.org or 720-879-0271.
Clemow Cow Camp, Big Hole River, Montana
Courtesy of Wester Rivers Conservancy
Western Rivers Conservancy and the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest successfully conserved the 317-acre Clemow Cow Camp property this summer, keeping precious cold water in the Big Hole River at a moment when alarm bells are sounding about the river’s warming temperatures. Our efforts also protected outstanding habitat for fish and wildlife and secured new public access to the West Pioneer Wilderness Study Area. The 150-mile-long Big Hole River, which tumbles through some of the most diverse geography of any river in Montana, is a beloved trout fishery and one of the last rivers left in the Lower 48 with fluvial Arctic grayling.
The 317-acre Clemow Cow Camp is a sweeping expanse of wetland meadows with two high-mountain streams, Cox and Old Tim creeks, flowing through the property for two miles. Just off the property, these streams join Warm Springs Creek, a tributary to the Big Hole.
Conservation of Clemow Cow Camp ensures protection of 154 acres of riparian wetland habitat that supports numerous species of waterfowl and shorebirds, as well as top-notch habitat for grizzly bear and Canada lynx, both federally Threatened. Importantly, the creeks on the ranch supply water for fish in the Big Hole basin, including westslope cutthroat trout, mountain whitefish and nonnative trout.
WRC purchased Clemow Cow Camp, along with its 2.77 CFS of water rights, in August 2022, and conveyed both to the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest in September 2023. The U.S. Forest Service will use the ranch’s water rights to reinvigorate the property’s fragile meadows and feed the creeks through seepage over the course of the summer. When flows get low, that water will be kept directly in-stream for fish, an innovative split-season approach that ensures fish get cold water when they need it most.
Clemow Cow Camp is also a key entry into the Forest Service’s adjacent 148,150-acre West Pioneer Wilderness Study Area, one of the largest roadless areas in southwest Montana. WRC’s efforts permanently secured access to the wilderness study area through the ranch for hikers, hunters and others.
Cold Water Delivered to the Wise and Big Hole Rivers
Courtesy of Western Rivers Conservancy
Eagle Rock Ranch, Wise River, Montana
In partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, Western Rivers Conservancy has permanently conserved the 200-acre Eagle Rock Ranch and is employing a new approach to returning 11 cubic feet per second (CFS) of vitally important clean, cold water to the Wise River while protecting habitat for fish and wildlife.
The Wise is a major tributary to the Big Hole River, one of Montana’s most famous fly-fishing streams and one of the last remaining strongholds for fluvial Arctic grayling in the Lower 48. It is also a critical source of cold water for the Big Hole, supplying the primary life-giving ingredient that grayling and the river’s other fish need to survive.
WRC and the U.S. Forest Service have developed an innovative split-season approach that will deliver water for fish exactly when they need it while allowing water for agriculture when flows are strong. When the river is running high in early spring, the Forest Service will allocate water to the ranch’s meadow and its wild hay. The meadow will naturally store and filter the water through the spring and summer, allowing it to seep back into the stream colder and cleaner later in the season. In the hot summer months, when the river needs flows the most, the ranch’s water will remain in the stream to benefit the fish that depend on it. It’s a win-win-win for fish, wildlife and local livelihoods alike.
WRC purchased Eagle Rock Ranch, along with its all-important water rights, in summer 2021, then held the property while assembling the funding and partnerships needed to permanently protect it. In late July, WRC conveyed the property to the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, which will now manage the property in perpetuity for the benefit of the fish, wildlife and people of the Big Hole Valley and beyond.
Colorado Gives Day is Tuesday, December 5th
While we missed the deadline to join Colorado Gives 365 Platform this year (sorry!), we are encouraging our friends, members and supporters to donate on-line to CCTU at our web site.
Our highest priority, multi-year project is: Restoring the Gill Trail in Cheesman Canyon of the South Platte River.
Please consider giving to the Cutthroat Chapter of Trout Unlimited on Colorado Gives Day by visiting our Donation/Take Action page (https://cutthroatctu.org/take-action).
Remember, we are a 501(c)(3), non-profit organization dedicated to cold-water fisheries conservation so your contributions may be tax-deductible.
Notes About the CTU Rendezvous in October
A few notes from the non-board part of the Rendezvous for your reading pleasure…
Greg Hardy, CTU president was not in attendance, he is on a medical LOA.
I spoke with Whitney from CTU and they are willing to run the raffle for us with their system. We need to craft an email to her defining exactly what we would like it to look like. For example we want to pull tickets at our picnic not at the office in Denver. I suggest Scott, Meg and Barry put together the email.
We were introduced to Emily Olsen the new TU VP for the Rocky Mountain Region. She had a new org chart but so far I have not found a copy to share.
Conservation Leader Emily Olsen Joins Trout Unlimited as Vice President for Rocky Mountain Region.
We learned that Mely Whiting will be retiring. For those that do not know her, she led the effort on water laws for most of the CTU/TU projects in Colorado.
Nancy Johnson-Bramlet is available to support our grant writing efforts.
We should be looking at culvert replacement projects in our area as money is available in the infrastructure bills.
The Saturday luncheon speaker was Becky Mitchell, Colorado Commissioner to the Upper Colorado River Commission. She was exceptional as a speaker and an advocate for the upper basin states in the current and future discussions about Colorado River water use.
8 Questions with New Colorado River Commissioner Rebecca Mitchell
Our CTU VP has asked our chapter if we would be willing to nominate someone to replace him. The requirements for the VP position are (1) board experience, (2) willingness to attend monthly zoom meetings, (3) consolidating the quarterly report that we send in, (4) willingness to attend the two in person board (Spring/Fall) meetings, (5) donating to CTU at the base RSC level or more and, (6) funding your own expenses for all the duties/meetings. I am not sure if we have anyone that is willing to take this on, but we should at least add it to our board structure conversations over the next few months.
I spoke at the session on Priority Waters. Unfortunately the moderator did not control the early speakers' rambling and so I was left with only a minute to speak. One chapter speaker declined to speak since the session was way past time.
The annual awards banquet was well attended. Mely received a Silver Trout award. The Denver chapter received a number of awards for their work in the city. At some point, CTU will post all the awards on their website.
Notes provided by CCTU’s John Egan, Vice President and Conservation Projects Chair