Partnership with Upslope on the Upswing

From its launch in June 2011, the Craft Lager by Upslope Brewing Company has been a hit. Among American-style craft lagers, it quickly gained popularity for its distinct and refreshing flavor. In fact, demand outpaced supply and gave the Boulder-based brewery the business case it needed to more than double its capacity by the end of the year. At least part of the Craft Lager's success can be attributed to the brewery's decision to collaborate with Colorado TU in the 1% For Rivers program. Under the terms of the partnership created by Colorado TU's Sinjin Eberle and Upslope's Henry Wood, one percent of Craft Lager sales are contributed to Colorado TU.

In exchange, Colorado TU leverages its 10,000 members in 23 chapters across the state by promoting Craft Lager at events such as the Statewide River Clean-Up, Rendezvous (the annual membership meeting), Surface Film, the Colorado TU Golf Classic, and more.

Increased production means Craft Lager is now available in over 300 liquor stores, bars and restaurants in Colorado - and counting. "Craft Lager could very much be our number one selling style," boasts Wood. "No Colorado craft brewery is brewing an American-style lager quite like this beer."

"I'm thrilled with the early results," says Eberle, Colorado TU President. "This is a great example of how we can work with businesses to help conserve, protect, and restore Colorado’s rivers and watersheds."

If you are a business that would like to know more about the 1% For Rivers Program, please contact Sinjin Eberle.

Give online December 6th

When you give to Colorado Trout Unlimited online any time on December 6, the value of your donation will be increased by the FirstBank Incentive Fund as part of Colorado TU's participation in Colorado Gives Day 2011. Depending on the amount of donations we receive, we could earn significant extra funding just for participating - leveraging your investment and increasing our capacity to continue protecting the Colorado rivers you love!

From the mighty Arkansas to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, Colorado TU works to conserve, protect and restore your favorite rivers and streams for our children and grandchildren.

If you haven't done so already, please make your gift online December 6th at www.givingfirst.org/coloradotu

Don't Forget - CONNECT Premier This Thurday!

  Don't forget folks - The Greenbacks and Colorado Trout Unlimited is presenting the Colorado premier of CONNECT, a Confluence Film production this Thursday, October 20th at the Oriental Theater located at 44th & Tennyson. We're looking at a large crowd, so get your tickets and we'll see you there.

We have a lot of door prizes and cash raffle items, so get there early!

Thank you to all the companies that donated products that go directly to Colorado Trout Unlimited and The Greenbacks.

Check out the trailer - this is going to be a great event!

RSC Outing at Ouray Ranch

Last weekend Colorado Trout Unlimited River Stewardship Council members were treated to a sweet day of fishing at Ouray Ranch, near Granby, Colorado. Located on the banks of the Colorado River just below Grand Lake, the Ranch generously allowed Colorado TU to socialize with and appreciate some donors and luminaries who contribute to our efforts in preserving Colorado's rivers. Oh, and do some fishing too!

The morning started out fairly cold and overcast, but after a stimulating roundtable discussion about the health of the Colorado and Fraser Rivers, and the current state of negotiations, the skies started to clear and people were ready to get out on the water.

As the skies cleared, the temps warmed up and the dry-flies were working!

Thank you to all the great people who came out for this day on the water - your support is certainly appreciated - Colorado TU could not do what we do without you!

Thank you!

Denver Post: Colorado's South Platte River a viable fishery

Denver Post Will Rice

Tyler Kendrick stalked the water slowly in front of me, about 40 feet ahead in clear shallow water. His lime-colored fly line trailed behind like a tail.

I squinted against the hot sun and scanned the far bank looking for tails and fish. They were there; we just had to find them. Tyler suddenly stopped and stood dead still. His body language, like a cat stalking a mouse, indicated he spotted a fish. He stripped out a few more feet of line and took a half step forward.

It was going to be a longshot. Tyler made two powerful back casts and punched his cast to the right into the faster current moving downstream.

Kendrick and I had teamed up for Denver Trout Unlimited's fifth annual Carp Slam, a fishing tournament created to raise money for improvements on the battered and bruised metro section of the South Platte. Sixteen amateurs and 16 professionals competed last month and raised more than $30,000 for projects intended to improve the river as a fishery and a recreational waterway.

"We want to expose people to angling opportunities close to home and provide an opportunity for youth to take the first cast," said Todd Fehr, president of Denver Trout Unlimited. "First-time casters grow up to be future conservationists and stewards of our state's water resources."

Click here to read the full article.

TU now accepting Embrace-A-Stream grant applications

Trout Unlimited is pleased to announce that it is now accepting Embrace-A-Stream (EAS) grant applications for eligible coldwater fisheries conservation projects. Embrace-A-Stream (EAS) is the flagship grant program for funding TU's grassroots conservation efforts. Since its inception in 1975, EAS has funded over 980 individual projects for a total of more than $4 million in direct cash grants. Local TU chapters and councils contributed an additional $13 million in cash and in-kind services to EAS funded projects for a total investment of more than $17 million. In 2011, EAS funded 25 projects in 15 states, with an average grant award of $5,000. View the list of projects funded by EAS last year. Please be sure to read each section of the application for funding carefully so that you understand the guidelines, proposal format and submission requirements. EAS committee members and staff are able to provide advice and guidance on potential project applications. Even if you do not have questions about preparing your proposal, applicants are required to contact their EAS committee representative to discuss proposal ideas by November 14, 2011. The deadline for submission is December 12, 2011. For further information or to request additional copies of the application, please contact Rob Roberts at 406-543-1192. To participate in a webinar training on November 2 at 8 p.m. EST, please RSVP to Rob Keith at 703-284-9425.

What's the Weirdest Thing You've Found Fishing?

Field & Stream Fly Talk by Tim Romano

This past Saturday I competed in the 5th Annual Carp Slam here in Denver that benefits the Denver Chapter of Trout Unlimited. I didn't win, but did raise a ton of money to help the restoration of our home river here in D-town.

The South Platte that runs through Denver is, as you can imagine quite the urban fishery and as such we find quite the litany of weird crap in the river. A friend of a friend even found a dead body fishing one day. This past Saturday was no exception as documented here.

Read the rest here...

Then post the strangest thing you've found while fishing on The Greenbacks Facebook page for a chance to win a Simms headwaters waist pack.

Note: He's a modest guy and didn't mention in his post - but a big tip of the hat to Tim Romano for raising the most $$ of any competitor for South Platte river restoration as part of Carp Slam 2011. Congrats, Tim!

Slamtastic! The Denver Carp Slam

Gink + Gasoline By Louis Cahill

When was the last time you attended a Trout Unlimited event where a bottle rocket fight broke out? That was the scene last weekend when I attended the Denver Carp Slam, as an observer, not to fish. The Carp Slam is a carp tournament started five years ago by the Denver Chapter of Trout Unlimited. It takes place on the South Platte in downtown Denver and the proceeds pay for stream improvements on the river. The Platte, at least the stretch that runs through Denver, is truly a challenged river. OK, that’s too polite. It’s severally F’ed up. Full of trash, dead animals, murder weapons, and amazingly, fish. Carp of coarse but also walleye, smallmouth bass, catfish, and to my surprise, trout. Not in big numbers but pretty good size. That’s where TU comes in. They’re using the carp, to save the trout.

It’s a great cause and a great time but most of all, a great bunch of guys. The group is young, energetic and energized about their mission but not taking life too seriously. The experience renewed my faith in TU. I am particularly interested in a group who call them selves The Greenbacks. A group of young TU members on a mission to preserve Colorado’s native fish, and have a good time doing it. Their enthusiasm is contagious. It’s awesome to see a great old institution alive with wish youthful vigor. Hats off to the Denver chapter of TU.

Read the full article and check out some awesome pics on the Gink and Gasoline Blog...

Proceeds of Upslope Craft Lager to support Colorado TU

Boulder-based Upslope Brewing recently launched its long-awaited Craft Lager. The label on the can features the Colorado TU logo and the phrase "1% for Rivers," demonstrating the brewery's support of rivers in Colorado. Upslope will be donating 1% of the revenue from sales of the lager to Colorado TU. "Upslope Brewing is the perfect partner with whom to start the 1% for Rivers program," said Sinjin Eberle, President of Colorado TU. "Our organizations are deeply rooted in Colorado, our members and their customers share an appreciation of the outdoors and the role that healthy rivers play, and our marketing strategies are complementary."

Daily Camera: Upslope Brewing Reels in Refreshing Craft Lager

Westword: Upslope Brewing Toasts Its New Tap Room and Cans a New Beer

Buy a new pair of kicks; support coldwater conservation

Another reason to visit Patagonia's Denver store this month: For every pair of shoes sold at their Denver retail location from June 1st - 30th, Patagonia will donate $10 directly to ColoradoTU's coldwater conservation programs through their foundation, 1% for the Planet. No strings attached (ahem, no pun intended).

You can view their footwear selection by clicking here,  BUT REMEMBER ColoradoTU only gets the $10 if you get off the couch and walk down to Patagonia Denver to make your purchase.