CTU Gala Seeks Sponsors

Colorado Trout Unlimited presents our annual dinner and gala, Friday, March 16 at the Arvada Center. Proceeds from this high-profile event benefit statewide programs for river protection, legislative advocacy, on-the-ground projects and more. The Colorado TU gala is much more than an auction, and it's about far more than fishing. It's an entertaining social event for couples, members of the business community, clients and others who support healthy streams and clean water. It's also a great event for our sponsor group, which includes financial institutions, legal firms, micro-brewers and others. Varying levels of support make sponsorship easy.

If you're interested in becoming a sponsor, or would like to help us recruit new sponsors, we'd love to hear from you. Call David Nickum at 720-581-8589.

Explore the Upper Dolores

with TU and Fleld and Stream's Kirk Deeter 

Here's an excerpt from a three part series on Field and Stream's website:

"If ever there were a place where the conservation agenda should revolve around maintaining the status quo, this is it. That’s exactly the goal for Trout Unlimited as it endeavors to conserve and protect these waters and this region through coordinated efforts with private and public stakeholders. It’s also why TU and Field & Stream listed the Upper Dolores one of the country’s Best Wild Places.

I had a chance to join TU last year for a three-day backcountry adventure in the Upper Dolores watershed, where I showed several TU staffers and volunteers some of my old haunts, and gleaned some new lessons and insights from them along the way.

Read the entire series at FieldandStream.com

Colorado TU Youth Camp

We are now accepting applications for the seventh annual River Conservation and Fly Fishing Youth Camp, June 10-15, 2012 at the High Lonesome Ranch near DeBeque, CO. Applications must be received by April 15, 2012. The camp is designed to educate 14 to 18 year old students on the importance of coldwater conservation and provide hands-on fly fishing instruction. Approximately 20 students are selected each year, based on their qualifications and a written essay on why they would like to attend the camp.

“Our hope is that kids who attend our camp today will become the conservation leaders of tomorrow," said Shawn Bratt, a veteran youth camp counselor and winner of national Trout Unlimited's Outstanding Youth Education Volunteer. "It’s important for these students to understand the value of healthy streams and clean water and how they relate to our everyday lives. The camp curriculum has been structured to provide the necessary foundation for that education.”

Camp classes include: principles of ecology, hydro-geology, aquatic vertebrate and invertebrate sampling, hydrology, trout behavior, trout stream entomology, the biology of pollution, acid deposition, and politics of conservation and human effects on the Rocky Mountains.

In addition, the camp will include hands-on classes such as fly tying, fly casting, streamside ethics, angling literature, streamside botany, wader safety and survival, and the evolution of an angler. Students will also participate in a watershed project to repair habitat in a nearby stream.

The River Conservation and Fly Fishing Youth Camp includes faculty from various environmental fields and state agencies such as the Colorado Division of Wildlife, Department of Environmental Protection and National Forest Service. The cost to attend the six-day camp is $450. Download the materials below or contact Mike Nicholson at 303-987-8425 for more information.

• 2012 River Conservation and Fly Fishing Youth Camp Flyer
• 2012 River Conservation and Fly Fishing Youth Camp Application

   

For Parents

• Parents will receive an information packet which contains several forms that require a parental signature, after the student has been selected for the camp.
• All camp personnel undergo a background check through the national Trout Unlimited organization.
• Campers "camp out" in tents under close supervision, and are expected to bring proper equipment.
• Flight leaders supervise the camp and both male and females are represented.
• Food is catered by local company and all is cooked on the site.

Rky Mtn Flycasters Expo 2/15

Rocky Mountain Flycasters Fly Tying Expo

Nearly two dozen professional and experienced tiers from our region converge in Fort Collins to demonstrate their fly tying skills and share tips on tying and fishing with their special patterns.

Wednesday, Feb 15, 5:30-9:00pm

Every year, well over 100 people attend the Rocky Mountain Flycasters Fly Tying Expo. This year's Expo promises to be even bigger and better.

• Well-known tiers share their skills and tips
• Food from Old Chicago
• Random drawings for each tier’s flies
• Random drawing for a terrific fly rod
• Silent auctions for many quality equipment items, supplies, books, etc.
• Beginners table where you can learn to tie your own flies
• Admission: $20 per person ($10 for students with ID).

Fort Collins Senior Center - 1200 Raintree Dr

With the price of admission you get a plate of food and a beverage, 10 raffle tickets (5 for students) for the fly and rod drawings, and a wealth of tying and fishing information.

Learn from Rick Takahashi, Marty Staub, Dave Coulson, Jerry Hubka, Connor Murphy, Dennis Martin, Jason Haddix, Caleb Van Wagner, Mark Tracy, Marc McMillan, Dick Shinton, Jake Ruthven, Ted Meredith, Al Ritt, Grant Houx, Jin Choi, Tanner Irwin, Guy Turenne and others.

Don’t miss this once-a-year opportunity! Map and more at rockymtnycasters.org.

West Denver Fly Clinic Saturday

Jeffco Fairgrounds 8:30a

The West Denver Chapter of Trout Unlimited is holding its 36th Annual Fly Tying Clinic on February 11, at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds. This Clinic has become a staple for the local fly tying community, featuring about 60 of the best tiers from the Rocky Mountain Region, in addition to some outlying States such as Texas and Nebraska.

You'll have an opportunity to learn how to tie a wide range of patterns from the masters, asd well as the chance to buy their flies. In addition to the tiers, Alan Kube, recently named "Bamboo Rod Maker of the Year" will be available to discuss the merits of bamboo, and Jonathan Walter, a certified fly casting instructor, will be willing to provide you with tips on improving your casting. And, there will be door prizes, a bucket raffle, silent auction, and a chance to purchase tickets for a "Fantasy Raffle which offers the winner over $3,500 in merchandise.

Admission is $10 (children 12 years of age or under are admitted free), and $2 discount coupons are available at local fly shops. Doors open at 8:30 AM. Food and drinks will be available at the site. If you have any questions and/or want more information, please check the Chapter's website at wesdenvertu.org or call Jon Weimer at 303-830-1609.

Need a Diversion?

Are you one of those people who believe that facts still matter? 

A new study commissioned by the Northwest Colorado Council of Governments looks at the economic - and other - effects of trans-mountain diversions on Colorado's headwater counties. The quote below explains a key goal of the report:

"The report provides a counterbalancing perspective to the recent attention to the adverse economic consequences of purchasing agricultural water rights from properties on the Eastern Plains. This report is descriptive; it does not take issue with Front Range municipal water users or Eastern Plains agricultural users. All parties have important and worthy concerns and points of view.