Save Bristol Bay!

  Pebble Limited Partnerships recently applied for one of the major permits they’ll need to mine in Bristol Bay. Filing that application is huge news because it brings their catastrophic proposal one step closer to becoming a reality. Now, we have the first chance for you to weigh in on this process.

Pebble Limited Partnerships wants to develop an open-pit mine in southwest Alaska, approximately 17 miles west/northwest of the villages of Iliamna, Newhalen, and Nondalton. They also are proposing a 188-mile natural gas pipeline from the Kenai Peninsula across the Cook Inlet to the mine site as their proposed energy source. These developments would dramatically affect Bristol Bay’s fisheries which are critical to Alaska's economy and culture.  Speak up and let The Army Corps of Engineers know that we should protect Bristol Bay, and the businesses and communities these waters support.

Add your name and comment below to tell the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to reject Pebble's proposal as incomplete. Feel free to edit the suggested content. Click the button to take action!

Iron Fly comes to the Western Regional Rendezvous April 27

Pig Farm Ink, Costa, Simms, Postfly, and Rep Your Water present Iron Fly: TU & CTU Western Regional, in Keystone, CO

What is the IRON FLY? Well, instead of just explaining it to you, here's a great video explaining exactly what it is.

[embed]https://youtu.be/WjICqBF26fk[/embed]

Seems fun and hilariously entertaining right? Well, we are bringing to Colorado in coinciding with the TU Western Regional Rendezvous up in Keystone. It's going to be an evening of hoots and hollers as EVERYONE is welcome to participate in the IRON FLY. When fly tying meets Iron Chef then you have an IRON FLY. Compete in a battle of partying skills and bobbin prowess to make the ultimate fish snack from the same set of mystery ingredients. Race against your liver and your competitors to show the panel of judges that your vice has the spice...

Facebook Event Listing: https://www.facebook.com/events/1807653752872104/ 

PigFarmInk: www.pigfarmink.com 

RepYourWater: https://www.repyourwater.com/

TU Western Regional Rendezvous:  https://gifts.tu.org/western-regional?

We look forward to seeing you there!

[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CS3AXSDBVMU&feature=youtu.be[/embed]

Hitchhikers NOT welcome

We have been dealing with invasive species since humans starting transporting goods across land and sea. Many species that we think of as natives might just be an original hitchhiker from a long time ago. Sometimes these things happen by accident when something snags a ride with an unsuspecting host or species are brought in on purpose. Why are invasives such a problem? Well, when a species is introduced to a new area, it usually has all the advantages in the world. They are likely to not have any predators and that provides them the opportunity to eat, populate quickly, and encroach on other's habitats. By the time all the original habitants catch up on who the new species is, the new guys have already established themselves and have depleted much of the area's resources.

In Colorado, we have been lucky to not be plagued with the aquatic invasives that the Great Lakes area has seen, but with increased tourism and boating the state is becoming more worried about an unstoppable outbreak of the invasive species. Testing is done regularly on Colorado's bodies of water and there have been positive results for mussels. New legislation has been making its way through the State Senate and House entitled the Mussel Free Colorado Act HB18-1008, with hopes to combat the fast-spreading is invasive mussels.

[1] Zebra and quagga mussels pose a great ecological and financial threat to the state.  The invasion of these mussels can affect every Coloradoan and visitors in some way and the impacts could be devastating. Potential impacts include:

• Prolific reproduction
• Clog water infrastructure
• Ecological impacts
• Recreational impacts
• Economic impacts
• Social impacts
• Difficult or impossible to eradicate
• Quick spread to new waters

[2] Both adult zebra mussels and the larval form, known as veligers, can be transported into other bodies of water. Adult zebra mussels can attach to boats or other equipment and be transported to new waters.

Adult zebra mussels are able to close their shell and may survive out of water for several days.

Veligers (larval zebra mussels) are able to hitchhike in water held in the bilge, live wells, motors, or bait buckets, or they may cling to plant fragments, boats or trailers, or other equipment or recreational items that came into contact with water.

You can’t always see zebra mussels because the larvae are invisible to the naked eye. They can survive for days in water trapped in a boat. The only way to be sure you’re not carrying zebra mussels to another body of water is to always Clean -  Drain - Dry your boat, trailer, and gear. To minimize the potential spread of zebra mussels, follow these simple steps:

• CLEAN: your boat, trailer and gear by removing all plants, animals and foreign objects.
• DRAIN: all water from the boat, including the motor, bilge, live wells and bait buckets, before leaving the lake.
• DRY: boat, trailer and gear at least 5 days before entering another water body. If unable to let it dry for at least 5 days, rinse equipment and watercraft (with high pressure, hot water when possible) and wipe with a towel before reuse.
• DISPOSE of unwanted live bait and worms in the trash.
• NEVER introduce fish, plants, crayfish, snails or clams from one body of water to another.

Keep yourself updated about potential invasives threats in Colorado:

• [1] Colorado Parks and Wildlife: Invasives Zebra and Quagga
• [2] Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers
• Colorado Boat Inspections
• State Aquatic Nuisance Species Program 
• 2018 Aquatic Nuisance Species Bill 

Win a dream trip on the Madison River!

ARE YOU READY  FOR THE COLORADO TROUT UNLIMITED STATE WIDE RAFFLE?

This is your chance to win a dream trip on the Madison River – and help your Colorado home waters at the same time!

ONLINE TICKET SALES END WEDNESDAY APRIL 25, 2018.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS

ONLINE TICKET SALES END WEDNESDAY APRIL 25, 2018. ONLINE TICKET SALES END WEDNESDAY APRIL 25, 2018.

CLICK HERE TO PURCHASE TICKETS

This raffle is conducted under Colorado Raffle License No 2018-12627, and is open only to residents of Colorado.

Western Regional Rendezvous April 26 to 29 in Keystone, Colorado

Why should I attend the Western Regional Rendezvous?

REGISTER HERE

Whether you are a chapter leader, volunteer, intern, member, donor, supporter or just a person interested in learning about Trout Unlimited, then the Western Regional Rendezvous is for you. In addition to being set in beautiful Keystone, CO, this weekend-long event is a chance for everyone to meet in one setting to learn and engage in inspiring dialogue and organization successes. It's an excellent opportunity to discuss the unique issues facing the region as well as a chance to network and build relationships with TU volunteer leaders.

Colorado Trout Unlimited is excited to host this year's Western Regional Rendezvous and in addition to all of the workshops and discussions, CTU will be hosting some fun evening events (see schedule below).

If you are coming from Colorado and need financial assistance to attend, please click here for limited scholarship options.

SCHEDULE

Thursday, April 26 – Welcome Reception The Colorado Council will host a welcome reception for all Rendezvous attendees.

• Thursday Night, April 26: Conservation Film Screening 6-9 pm

Friday, April 27 – Workshops and Seminars Friday's full-day session will include group discussions, concentrated workshops and opportunities for council and chapter leaders to share successes and discuss common challenges. Friday night will include a no-host dinner at a local restaurant.

• Friday Night, April 27: Iron Fly Tying Competition 6-9 pm

Saturday, April 28 – Workshops and Seminars Saturday's session will continue the work of the previous day's meetings and include group discussions, concentrated workshops and opportunities for council and chapter leaders to share successes and discuss common challenges.

Saturday Night, April 28 – Group Dinner, Networking, and Colorado Council Fundraiser Following the day's meetings, join your fellow TU volunteer leaders and TU staff from across the country for a great dinner and chance to network with one another. Spend time talking shop and trading stories with people who share your passion for conservation and enjoy a fun evening of camaraderie.

Sunday Morning, April 29 – Colorado Council Quarterly Board Meeting & Awards Breakfast Colorado participants will be conducting their quarterly Council meeting and hosting an awards breakfast on Sunday morning from 9:00 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Sunday, April 29 – Fishing After a full weekend of leadership development and networking with fellow TU volunteers, stick around for fishing on Sunday. 8am-till the fishing slows down

REGISTER HERE

Anglers All 2018 Trout Clave in support of CTU - A Spring Celebration!

Spring has never looked so good! Anglers All's favorite annual event is Saturday, April 21 - the 2018 Trout Clave. Join Anglers All and CTU in a celebration of conservation with live music, food, beer, and of course gobs of fly fishing fun. The event kicks off at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, April 21 and the party will continue until 5:00 p.m. The event was made possible because of great sponsors, including Patagonia, Sage, and Fishpond, this year’s event is going to be one to remember.

Be sure to get there early for Anglers All's annual half-off fly sale. From 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. only, trout flies are 50% off! But the fun doesn’t end there.

This year, 10% of all store sales the day of the Clave will be donated to Colorado Trout Unlimited in support of Colorado’s fisheries. Furthermore, Patagonia has generously offered to match this donation to CTU!

In addition to Colorado Trout Unlimited, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers and the Bonefish And Tarpon Trust will also be participating in the Trout Clave this year. In fact, anyone who signs up for a membership to one of these great conservation organizations at the Clave will receive a 10% discount on their purchase.

Breckenridge Brewery will be supplying cold ones, plus there will be food and live music throughout the day. The folks at Breckenridge Brewery will be sponsoring some awesome South Platte River service projects that day, including a river cleanup, pollinator plantings, and installing monofilament-recycling stations along the river. We will be asking for volunteers to signup in advance, so stay tuned for these opportunities.

The Trout Clave is a great chance to catch up with friends and customers and to celebrate a new year of fly fishing adventures. There will be raffles, gear giveaways, and opportunities to chat with product reps from some of your favorite fly fishing brands.

Big thanks goes to Patagonia for their sponsorship, as well as Fishpond and Sage. We look forward to seeing you at the 2018 Trout Clave!

Facebook Event Listing: 2018 Trout Clave

Trout Unlimited in Colorado 2017 Annual Report

We are happy to announce that our 2017 Annual Report is live and available for your viewing. Last year was filled with great work across the whole state and the finishing up of many restoration projects and continuing others! Thank you to everyone who supported Trout Unlimited in Colorado last year.

Click here to read the CTU 2017 Annual Report

Farewell to a legend: Lefty Kreh

The great Lefty Kreh passed away Wednesday at 93 years young. Considered by many to be the greatest of fly casting instructors, Lefty was one of the leaders in popularizing saltwater fly fishing and his Lefty's Deceiver fly gained such renown that it was featured on a US Postage Stamp in 1991.  Conservation was also a part of Lefty's legacy, as he was a leader in promoting the catch-and-release ethic among the fishing community. The New York Times features an obituary describing Lefty's notable and colorful life in fly fishing: Lefty Kreh, a Fly Fisherman With Few Peers, Is Dead at 93.

An inductee in the International Game Fish Association's Hall of Fame, Kreh was introduced to fly fishing by Joe Brooks.  The Hall of Fame profile on Kreh offers a great summation of what Lefty meant to fly fishing.  It concludes simply and fittingly:

His greatest accomplishment may be that he has never failed to help just about every person who has sought his assistance and advice. It is said that when Lefty asked Joe Brooks - the man who had so enriched his life - how he could repay him, Brooks replied, “Just share with others what I have shared with you.” And for more than 50 years, Lefty Kreh has been doing just that.

High Country Angler spring issue released!

The High Country Angler (HCA) is the official digital magazine of Colorado Trout Unlimited! HCA is published 4 times a year by High Country Publications, LLC., in cooperation with Colorado Trout Unlimited, the 3rd largest TU Chapter in the nation.  

Read the Spring 2018 Issues for free here.

5 Things to Remember During Winter Fly Fishing

Take it Easy

Due to the cooler temperatures, fish are moving slowly and you should, too. So slow down and think small. This will help give time for the fish to actually strike. You can enjoy a much slower and relaxed state of fishing.

Take Advantage of the Summer Busy Areas

Since it's not the middle of summer, you can enjoy some nice fishing in areas that are usually packed. All the way up to mid-April, you might run into about half the amount of fly fishers than usual. Winter fishing is a great chance to enjoy those areas before the warm crowd comes in.

Mind the Redds

Be mindful of where you step. As winter approaches spring, rainbows and cutthroats will be spawning. Avoid walking where there are distinct gravel nests in a scoured circular or oval depression. These "rubbed out" areas are much clearer than the rest of the riverbed, so be aware of where you step to avoid harming the unborn eggs or first born alevins.

Check out the Mind the Redd's organization here with more tips on safe river wading.

Midges

"Even on a tailwater, cold days and winter weather will more or less shut down the standard trout menu. Mayflies, caddisflies, and stoneflies can’t tolerate cold air temperatures very well, even if the water remains at a constant mild chill. Thus, from about mid-November to early March, most fishing anywhere north of Florida is going to involve midges."

You can read Orvis' post about How to Fish Midge Patterns in the Winter here.

You can also read the 8 Must-Have Flies for winter fishing here.

Ice is Probably not Present

Rivers rarely freeze in the winter unless you are way up in the mountains. Most tailwaters, any rivers or streams coming from a dam, will not be frozen and provide an opportunity to fly fish even in the coldest of months. If ice is present, always be careful and make sure it is thick enough before walking out.