The CURRENT Podcast | Episode 5 featuring CTU's Trout in the Classroom

The CURRENT is a low-key, light-hearted fly fishing podcast hosted by Will Rice. With some recently found free time, Will will be thumbing through his Rolodex of accomplished anglers and friends in the fly fishing industry to talk about what's going on in their neck of the woods.

After visiting with friends from a variety of fisheries across the US, host Will Rice welcomes Bianca McGrath-Martinez from CTU, Bill Gilmore and Guy Grace from Littleton Public Schools to talk about the Trout in the Classroom program.

This environmental education program allows for elementary, middle, and high school students to raise rainbow trout eggs to fry as a vehicle to understand ecosystems. At the end of the program, the students typically release the fry into a local fishery with help from CPW. Will explores the fate of these trout with the recent shutdown of schools.

For more on the CTU Trout In The Classroom Program: CLICK HERE

You can find the podcast on Apple Music, Spotify & Stitcher. If you enjoy what Will is putting together with The CURRENT podcast, we ask that you please rate it and leave it a review on Apple Podcasts & Spotify! Thanks for listening!

October 15, 2019 is Colorado Trout Unlimited Day

Governor Jared Polis declaring October 15 as Colorado Trout Unlimited Day in Colorado! This was done in celebration of CTU’s 50th anniversary.

On October 15, 2019, over 200 people gathered in downtown Denver for a celebration of rivers, 50 years of Colorado Trout Unlimited, and fly fishing films. The event was a collaboration between CTU, Trouts Fly Fishing, and Avanti Food & Beverage. The evening included a premiere of CTU's 50th Anniversary Film, a proclamation by Governor Jared Polis, a speech by Chris Wood, CEO of Trout Unlimited and the 2nd Annual Throwback Fly Fishing Film Fest by Trouts Fly Fishing.

The evening helped raise funds for Colorado Trout Unlimited through a silent auction and raffle. Beer was provided by Upslope Brewing and appetizers from Avanti Food & Beverage. Thank you to everyone who attended and those who helped make this possible.

David Nickum being honored for 25 years with Trout Unlimited with a custom rod from Colorado local rod builder, SaraBella.

David Nickum, Executive Director of CTU, was also honored for his 25 years of work in Trout Unlimited! His dedication to rivers and trout in Colorado is why CTU has been so successful over the years. Thank you David for your dedication to Colorado Trout Unlimited.

If you would like to learn more about Colorado Trout Unlimited’s work that has been done over these past 50 years - check out our publication here.

We will also be premiering our 50th Anniversary film online for everyone to watch for free! The tentative date is Thursday, November 14, 2019 in the evening.

During the summer of 2019, Greenbacks volunteers, Emma Brown and George Bryant embarked on an adventure across Colorado in search of the places that CTU has protected over the past 50 years. These are the stories and people that have helped write CTU's history. Celebrate 50 Years of Colorado Trout Unlimited with us!

I took my dad fishing

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! On this day we would like to share a story from one of our CTU staff about taking her dad fly fishing in Colorado. We hope everyone has a safe holiday and finds time to spend it with friends, family, or the great outdoors!

Written By Bianca Martinez-McGrath, CTU Youth Education VISTA

Bianca’s dad holding a rainbow trout before releasing back into the water.

Over the past 5 years, I have moved around to a lot of different places. It has gotten to the point where my parents are quick to ask me “where are you going next?” so they can start planning their next vacation to come see me. So, when my parents decided to come to Colorado a couple months after I first arrived, I knew I had to make this trip memorable for them. I took them to see the Garden of the Gods and to a Cuban-inspired jazz show in Downtown Denver. We went up to the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg, Colorado and, considering my new position with Colorado Trout Unlimited, I knew it would only make sense to take my dad fly fishing.  
 
I knew this would be a perfect opportunity for both of us because I had only been fly fishing a couple of times and my dad had been fly fishing once or twice as a child. Our guided trip with Scott Dickson of Trouts Fly Fishing shop began early with a snowy drive over to Deckers so we could fish on the South Platte. Throughout the day, we would experience just about every season of weather that exists. My goal for this trip was to learn as much as possible from Scott, see my dad catch a fish, and catch one for myself. Although I had been fly fishing a couple of times before, all I had gotten in contact with were a couple of fish that managed to unhook themselves and a few very aggressive rocks.  

Bianca holding a brown trout she caught and released immediately after.

After six hours of fishing, my dad ended up being able to catch a good amount of trout. I could tell from how little quiet time there was on the way back to Denver that he enjoyed every moment of it. As for me, I caught a few Brown trout and got to see my dad fully enjoy the experience, an experience that has motivated many members of Trout Unlimited to protect and conserve their cold-water fisheries. It has been almost three years since I lived near my parents, so having this experience with my dad was an important one for me. I am only hoping that fly fishing becomes something we can do at all of the new destinations that we experience together.