Ferdinand Hayden Chapter Cleans Up!

One of the best ways to involve TU chapter members and the community as a whole in an event that gives back and gets great exposure is through a river cleanup day.  This year, through ongoing support from Teva Footwear, Colorado TU has launched the Great Colorado River Cleanup. Communities all across Colorado are coming together to improve the rivers that are so important to these towns.  This year, the Ferdinand Hayden Chapter was the kickoff chapter for these events – and they started off with a bang! The chapter partnered with the City of Glenwood Springs and helped turn out more than 90 citizens to gather trash along the banks of the Roaring Fork and Colorado Rivers. Andrew McGregor, head of the Glenwood Springs Department of Community Development said “I really appreciated the support and participation from Trout Unlimited.  It’s a great partnership.”

Teams of volunteers scoured steep banks and dense vegetation to get at the trash -   enough to fill more than two and half big dumpsters!  A BBQ at Two Rivers Park was held after the cleanup for all the well deserving volunteers – social time as well as satisfaction for a job well done.

The Ferdinand Hayden Chapter also partnered with the Roaring Fork Conservancy earlier in the year and participated in cleanups with the Town of Carbondale on the Crystal River and on the Frying Pan in Basalt.  Certainly a great way for the chapter to get exposure and contribute to their local waters at the same time.

Great work, Ferdinand Hayden, and stay tuned for more cleanups coming soon!

Article and photos by Ken Neubecker.

TU Women's Retreat - Steamboat 09/20-23

It's not too late but It soon will be! Register today to join women anglers from across the country for fishing, camaraderie and fun at TU's first annual Women's Fly Fishing Retreat at the Sheraton Steamboat Resort in Steamboat Springs, Colo., Sept. 20-23, 2012. Top manufacturers of women's fly fishing gear, like Costa del Mar, Simms, Orvis, Redington and Fishpond have donated raffle prizes for the weekend, so many participants will walk away with some new gear. Also, the Fly Fishing Film Tour will be on hand to give a special screening for retreat attendees.

From your base at the breathtaking Sheraton Steamboat Resort, you will have the opportunity to fish in several of Colorado's best rivers, including the Yampa and Elk rivers and be a part of a planning committee to help design a large-scale national women's retreat in 2013.

Join us as we bring TU women together and to help develop women leaders in TU and identify issues of importance to TU women members. In doing so, we'll lay the groundwork for the 2013 women's retreat.

The retreat begins on Thursday evening, Sept. 20, with a welcome cocktail party at the resort. Between a group planning session for next year's national retreat and leadership development skills building, there will be guided fishing and a tour of a local Yampa Valley Nature Conservancy site.

For more information, go to www.tu.org/events/womensretreat2012 •    A welcome cocktail party on Thurs., Sept. 20 •    All meals for Fri., Sept. 21 and Sat., Sept. 22 •    Transportation to and from local conservation sites

We hope you will join us for what will surely be a memorable time. Please contact Erin Mooney with any questions at emooney@tu.org.

Colorado TU's End of Summer Bash 8/24

Colorado TU works hard to conserve Colorado's wild trout - and we also love to throw wild parties!

So join us at the d-Note in Old Town Arvada as we celebrate another summer of progress in protecting and restoring Colorado's rivers with our end-of-summer bash, sponsored by our friends at Charlie's FlyBox.

Featuring live jazz from Rough Satin during happy hour, followed by classic rock from Big Universe!  Can't get enough?  Stick around afterwards for a second show and enjoy some boot-stomping zydeco from Dikki Du and the Zydeco Krewe.

Friday, August 24th, 5pm - 9pm At the d Note, 7519 Grandview Ave, Old Town Arvada $10 cover to benefit Colorado TU

Door prizes, raffle, silent auction, live music, cash bar and restaurant (don't miss out on the d-Note's creative pizzas!), and GREAT company!

You can order your tickets for the bash online - click here to reserve your space!

And a big thanks to our sponsor, Charlie's FlyBox, located just down the street in Old Town Arvada at 7513 Grandview. Swing by this award-winning fly shop before you come to the d-Note (they are open until 6); and with your purchase of $100 or more, you'll receive a $20 gift certificate.

Let's Support Casting for Recovery

Casting for Recovery's annual fundraiser is 8/23 at the Wildlife Experience in Parker. Click here for tickets: https://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=4ecd65

Join Casting for Recovery-Colorado to celebrate 10 years of providing healing retreats that have given almost 350 Colorado women powerful tools to overcome the challenges of breast cancer! CFR's two-and-one-half day retreats are provided at no cost to participants, thanks to the generosity of our volunteers and donors.

This is a FUN event with a great selection of fishing and non-fishing items for you to bid on during the Silent Auction. 6:30-8:30 pm. Event details at https://secure.acceptiva.com/?cst=4ecd65 , email to coloradocastingforrecovery@gmail.com or call 303-694-4557.

Click here to learn more about Casting for Recovery.

The Colorado TU Raffle is Back!

Picture yourself in a boat on a river...

When you buy tickets for Colorado TU’s statewide raffle, you’ll help us fight to keep water in streams, support on-the-ground restoration projects, and help young people develop an appreciation for the aquatic life.

And you just might find yourself fishing in one of Colorado's most Gorge-ous places ...

Our lucky raffle winner will enjoy a full-day fall fishing float trip for two anglers through the spectacular Gunnison Gorge - plus a night's accommodations and dinner for the evening prior to your launch - all courtesy of Black Canyon Anglers.

You’ll need to hike in about a mile with your personal gear down the Chukar Trail into the scenic Gunnison Gorge; then, experienced guides will row you through one of Colorado’s true natural wonders where you’ll enjoy world-class fishing on a Gold Medal river.

The trip is for use this fall, by October 1, 2012.  Fall is prime time for streamer fishing and features the Gunnison's "hopper hatch."  For the lucky winner and their guest, this will truly be a trip to remember!

Raffle tickets are $10 each, or $25 for three. The drawing will take place at 8 pm at the Colorado TU End-of-Summer Bash on August 24th at the d-Note in Old Town Arvada. You need not be present to win.

ONLINE TICKET SALES ARE NOW CLOSED.  YOU MAY STILL PURCHASE TICKETS TONIGHT AT OUR SUMMER BASH AT THE D-NOTE IN ARVADA.

Thanks to Black Canyon Anglers for their generous support of Colorado Trout Unlimited. To learn more about their fishing and rafting trips on the Gunnison, as well as their dinner and lodging packages, visit www.blackcanyonanglers.com.

This raffle is conducted under Colorado Raffle License No 2012-05008, and is open only to residents of Colorado.

Riverfest! 8/11 at State Bridge

The celebration begins at the State Bridge at 2:00pm. You'll raft - or paddleboard to the new Two Bridges access point, then be whisked back to State Bridge to enjoy dinner, good music from the Olora Brothers and good friends!  Moe's is making a delicious Surf & Turf dinner and Mississippi Mud Pie dessert.  Crazy Mountain Brewing Company is providing ERWC's brew, the Lava Like Wit. There will be wine too! (I've read enough - take me to the tickets page!)

The Eagle River Watershed Council is proud to announce Colorado RiverFest is presented by B&B Excavating and honoring Eagle County Open Space.

We will be celebrating two of the County’s new public access points along the Colorado River, join us! These new acquisitions will improve the diversity of trips along the Colorado River and spread out recreational use of this beautiful river for more enjoyable experiences.

We have Silent Auction items from Karats, SteamMaster, Woody's Bar and Grill, EcoTransit, KEEN, Glenwood Caverns, J.Scott Jewlers, Holy Toledo, Maximum Comfort Pool & Spa, Organic Housekeepers, Grappa Fine Wines, and a 5 bedroom house in Los Cabos, Mexico for 1 week!

All of the funds raised will support the Eagle River Watershed Council and our river advocacy programs in Eagle County. Click here to go to the sign up page.

Beginning Fly Fishing Class for Women

On Saturday, August 11th, the West Denver Chapter of Trout Unlimited, in conjunction with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, will offer a full-day of learning to fly fish for women.  The class will take place at Lake Lehow (Waterton Canyon) and run from 9 AM to 4 PM, with a break for lunch. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about the science of fly fishing (aquatic entomology), the art of fly fishing (fly tying), and the sport of fly fishing (casting), as well as how to tie basic fishing knots and how to select a basic set of fly fishing equipment.  Participants will also have the opportunity to fish the well-stocked lake under the tutelage of a TU member.

This class will be on a first-come, first-serve basis, and is limited to twelve women participants, ages 13 to adult.  Participants should bring rain gear, sun screen, water, insect repellant, and a lunch.  All equipment and materials needed to participate in the class will be supplied.

There will be a $10 fee charged to cover the cost of supplies.  Participants will need a valid Colorado fishing license in order to fish the lake.

For more information or to register for this class, please contact Charlie Horn at horndreams@msn.com or click here.

Hero for a Day: See the Movie

When Field and Stream chose The Trail Creek Restoration Project, a joint effort by the Cutthroat Chapter, the Coalition for the Upper South Platte (CUSP) and the National Forest Foundation as one of its Hero for a Day Conservation Projects they sent a video crew along to tell the story. The result is a nice little story featuring some people you may know. Take a look:

http://www.fieldandstream.com/hero-for-a-day/videos

It's Why We Still Like Ike

On July 14th, a stretch of the Fraser River was dedicated as the Eisenhower Reach.

Named after President Dwight D. (I like Ike!) Eisenhower, a frequent visitor to the area and fishermen of the Fraser River, this dedication helps to keep the history of the Fraser alive.

However, the river's future continues to be in jeopardy. Colorado TU's David Nickum summed it up this way - "I would rather see a healthy Fraser Creek than a dead Fraser River."

Read more about the Fraser and TU's ongoing involvement in the Sky High Daily News.

Sign Up For Superfly by 8/7

Superfly is one of Colorado's premiere fly fishing competitions. It's a great opportunity to fish some great (often private) water, hang out with some of the state's best anglers and help raise money for both the Gunnison Angling Society and Colorado TU.

Low water conditions and higher temperatures have prompted some rules modifications, but Superfly is still on target for September 7 & 8 in Gunnison.

You must register your team - and submit your fee payment - by August 7th. Applications are available for download at our website at GunnisonTU.org

Please read the important information below regarding the new rules and contacts.

SCHEDULE

Friday, September 7: •    6:00 PM to 9:00 PM: Register, meet guides, get shirts, etc., and enjoy snack buffet at The Almont Resort Saturday, September 8: •    6:30 AM: Breakfast buffet and register flies •    8:30 AM to 5 PM: Fishing •    5:00 PM to 6:00 PM: Social period, posting of scores •    6:30 PM: Dinner Buffet •    7:30 PM: Awards and prizes •    8:00 PM: Raffles and auctions

Please note: if the outflow at Taylor Dam is reduced to below 100 cfs during mid August, the event will be cancelled.

TEAMS

Teams will consist of two anglers. Professional guides may enter the contest, but no more than one guide will be allowed on a team. One monitor will be assigned to each team and will stay with the team for the duration of the contest.

CONTEST RULES

1.    Teams may fish anywhere they like and can work out locations with their monitor. Please take into consideration low water issues and any potential negative impact to fish. There will be no pre-assigned beats. 2.    Fishing will be between 8:30 AM and 5 PM. The first six fish caught by each contestant will be scored. Fishing for the contest will end at 5 PM or when six fish are caught by each contestant, whichever comes first. 3.    Kokanee salmon will not count in the contest. Only trout or char caught during the time allowed for the contest will be counted on the scorecard. 4.    No more than two flies may be used by each contestant during the contest. Only one fly may be used at a time (no droppers). All hooks will be barbless. 5.    All fish caught under the scoring rules must be fair hooked in the mouth (with the hook inside the mouth) and landed by the contestant, not the team partner or monitor. The team’s monitor will then measure the fish to the nearest 1/8 inch. After release, the fish will then be recorded on the individual’s scorecard. All fish caught must be released safely or they will not be counted in the contest. 6.    The individual scoring the most inches for the maximum six fish allowed will be declared “TOP ROD” and the team with the most inches, “TOP TEAM.” The contestant who catches the largest fish will also be presented an award, and the fly which caught the fish will be declared the “SUPERFLY.” 7.    In the event of a tie, whoever scored their first fish in the least amount of time will be the winner. 8.    The Superfly monitor for each team will be the final authority for resolving any dispute or interpretation of the rules while on the stream.

SCORING RULES

1.    The first six fish caught and landed by each contestant must be entered on the scorecard. A maximum of six fish can be scored by each angler. 2.    Once a fish has been entered on the scorecard it may not be removed. 3.    Scores must be reported in person no later than 6 PM. 4.    A 20% deduction will be applied to fish scored on private water.

Contact John Bocchino (john@riffleandrise - 970-641-4828) for questions or further information. Gunnison Angling Society The Gunnison Chapter of Trout Unlimited www.GunnisonTU.org PO Box 365 Almont, CO 81210