The Trout Tale - Spring 2014

The

TROUT TALE

The official newsletter of the Wyoming Council of Trout Unlimited Volume 2, Issue 3

Spring 2014

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Wyoming Legislature approves $621,576 grant for Yellowstone Lake Project...............Page 11

The Exceptional Salt

2nd Annual TieOne-On Banquet set for May 10

By SCOTT CHRISTY Wyoming Coordinator Trout Unlimited Do you want to have one heck of a great night and support coldwater fisheries conservation in Wyoming? If so, you are cordially invited to join Wyoming Trout Unlimited and Jackson Hole Trout Unlimited on

The Crow Creek Diversion on the Salt River — site of Trout Unlimited’s Star Valley fish ladder project.

WYTU PHOTO/Wyoming Water Project

By JIM GREGORY Contract Fish Biologist for Trout Unlimited

T

he Salt River drainage is well known as “Star Valley” in Wyoming. It is not unusual that people have to ask, “Where is that?” when the topic comes up in conversation.

This watershed is tucked away on the western edge of Wyoming and could have remained a secret if not for the exceptional trout streams it contains. Rest assured, Trout Unlimited (TU) has not overlooked it.

In 2012, TU implemented the construction of a fish ladder on the largest diversion on the Salt River, and the only mainstem diversion that blocks upstream migration of fish. Upon completion, TU assessed trout loss into the associated ditch and is currently working with irrigators to implement a low-cost solution to allow fish entrained in the ditch an exit back to the river. In November of 2013, TU assisted the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to salvage approximately 1,000 trout (Snake River fine-spotted cutthroat trout and brown trout) from the ditch and return them to the river, along with nearly 400 nongame fish.

An Adopt-A-Trout (AAT) program is currently underway on Crow Creek, a tributary of the Salt River. Nearly one hundred 7th graders participated in tagging three cutthroat trout and 15 brown trout

See SALT RIVER, page 3

Great food, great raffles, great auctions and more will once again be on tap for this year’s event.

WYTU PHOTO/Mike Jensen May 10, in Teton Village in Jackson Hole, for the 2nd Annual Tie-One-On fundraiser.

The event will be held at the beautiful Hotel Terra and will feature a reception style dinner, no-host cash bar, raffle drawings and live and silent auctions. Throw in some great live music and the evening promises to be a great one.

See TIE-ONE-ON, page 3

NOTES FROM THE INTERIM CHAIRMAN Hello from Green River...

T

his is my first opportunity to visit with everyone as WYTU Interim Chair. I hope this finds everyone well and getting fired up for spring in Wyoming! Looks like we may have a little extra water for our fishy friends and that is always a good thing. I am excited for the opportunity to continue working with such a great group of folks that make up our Wyoming Trout Unlimited Council and chapters.

I’m already missing our former council chair Mike Jensen, and want to formally wish him and his family well in their transition to life in New Mexico. I have been keeping in touch with Mike and know that he is missing Wyoming dearly. We all appreciate everything he has done for TU in Wyoming, and all he continues to do, even though he is a little further away. Thanks again, Mike, for your awesome leadership and your continued work on the council newsletter. We all really appreciate it.

I thought it might be good for everyone to get to know me a little bit better. My wife, Amy, and I live in Green River, and have made it our home for the past four years. I have worked for Williams Energy for the past 33 years and Amy’s currently working for QEP Energy. Our daughter, Dayna, is attending the University of Wyoming and is a senior this year, working ultimately toward a degree in Optometry. We all love the outdoors — especially floating and fishing. I’ve been involved with TU, in one way or another, for about the past 30 years. I have a renewed passion and involvement since moving to Green River from Rawlins.

Amy and I are currently actively involved in our local Seedskadee TU Chapter, and are proud of all the things going on with it right now. I am also energized by my involvement with the state council and look forward to many great opportunities to help move our council, chapters and WYTU forward into the future.

I have always enjoyed fishing — a passion my Dad instilled in me at a very young age fishing for catfish in the White River around Rangely, Colorado. Just like many of us, my evolution toward fly fishing came a little later on, in my early twenties.

When I moved to Wyoming after college, the bug bit me and I met a couple of mentors and lifelong friends through our TU Chapter in Rawlins — the Great Divide Fly Fishers. They helped get me started and it has been a passion ever since. What a fun ride it has been!

So, here I am, having gotten myself involved with WYTU and all the great folks that make up our state council.

It has been great getting to know people who share a commitment to helping our fish and fisheries. Without all of the passion, we wouldn’t be able to do all the great things we do.

I just returned from the TU Western Regional meeting in Reno, Nevada. Jim Broderick and I represented the Wyoming Council and were able to share our passion with many other like-minded folks. It was a great opportunity to meet new friends and talk about all the things that are going on around our 11 state region. I have never been to a Regional meeting before, and I thoroughly enjoyed the time there. Plus, I went a few days early and fished for big Lahontan cutthroats in nearby Pyramid Lake, but that’s another story!

There were many topics discussed and shared at the meeting, including an opportunity to share the work being done on Yellowstone Lake helping our native Yellowstone Cutts that WYTU and our own Dave Sweet are so involved with. This was a great occasion to let many others know firsthand of the work going on and its successes thus far.

Jim and I attended many of the discussion and presentation topics at the two-day event, and will be able to share more of the details at our Spring WYTU meeting in Green River.

Speaking of the Spring WYTU meeting, it is scheduled for May 16-18, in Green River. We hope that many of you will plan to attend and enjoy the opportunity for us to get together and share our stories and the work going on around the state. We are planning fishing prospects around Green River on Friday, with our meetings held on Saturday and Sunday morning. The Seedskadee Chapter is looking forward to hosting the event, and we look forward to seeing everyone. We are planning some new things for the get-together, and it should be a lot of fun.

Enjoy the spring season in Wyoming, get outside and enjoy the new life, longer days and fish that are eager to chase your fly!

Calvin Hazlewood is the interim chair of WYTU and also serves as president of the Seedskadee Chapter in Rock Springs/ Green River. He and his wife, Amy, along with their daughter Dayna, enjoy the outdoors — particularly fishing and floating in their drift boat. Calvin is also an accomplished photographer. E-mail Calvin at calvinandamy@q.com.

The TROUT TALE is a quarterly newsletter of the Wyoming Council of Trout Unlimited.

The deadline for submission of information, photos and content for the Summer 2014 newsletter (July, August, September) will be June 1, 2014. Please send any and all contributions for the Summer issue to newsletter editor Mike Jensen at: trouthut@gmail.com The TROUT TALE is available through e-mail and online on the council’s website at: wyomingtu.org

MISSION: Conserving and protecting Wyoming’s coldwater fisheries and their watersheds

WYOMING COUNCIL OFFICERS: Calvin Hazlewood Interim Chair Dave Sweet Treasurer Cole Sherard Secretary Jim Broderick NLC Representative Mike Jensen Past Chair Scott Christy Wyoming Coordinator schristy@tu.org

WYOMING CHAPTERS: n Casper-Grey Reef n Curt Gowdy n East Yellowstone n Jackson Hole n Laramie Valley n Little Bighorn n Platte Valley n Popo Agie Anglers n Seedskadee n Upper Bear River n Upper Green River

OFFICE LOCATION: 250 North 1st Street Lander, Wyoming 82520 Phone: 307.332.6700 Fax: 307.332.9299

ONLINE: www.wyomingtu.org

© 2014 Wyoming Council of Trout Unlimited

Mike Jensen, Newsletter Editor • Scott Christy, Wyoming Coordinator

Page 2

SPRING 2014

TIE-ONE-ON, continued from page 1 WYTU and JHTU Second Annual

A great crowd was on hand during last year’s inaugural TieOne-On event held at the beautiful Hotel Terra in Teton Village.

The event was a huge success, raising money for coldwater fisheries conservation in the Cowboy State.

WYTU PHOTO/Mike Jensen

Social hour will begin TIE-ONE-ON BANQUET Teton Village • Jackson Hole, Wyoming at 6 p.m. with dinner served at 7 p.m. Wyoming Trout Unlimited and Jackson Hole Trout Unlimited have procured an impressive list of prizes for the night including fishing trips from across North America and a wealth of fishing-related artwork and gear.

Tickets for the event can be purchased for $75 each with all proceeds going to benefit WYTU and JHTU. You can purchase tickets online at wyomingtu.org/events or contact Scott Christy by emailing him at: schristy@tu.org or call him at (307) 332-7700 ext: 12.

In addition, if you are interested in becoming a sponsor of this event for coldwater fisheries conservation in Wyoming, please contact Scott Christy more information and details (see above contact information).

For those attendees who would like to stay at Hotel Terra the night of the event, WYTU has arranged for a special rate of $119 per night. Please reference Wyoming Trout Unlimited when you make reservations to receive this special room rate. To make reservations, call (307) 739-4000 or toll-free at 1-866-935-8938.

We hope you’ll join us on May 10, for a fantastic evening supporting and celebrating coldwater fisheries conservation in Wyoming!

SALT RIVER, continued from page 1 and will track movements throughout the year. Students are learning about how fish are captured and how different habitats are utilized. Last fall, students got to spend a day in the outdoors alongside picturesque streams learning about fish habitat and their local watershed. Unfortunately, only about half of them now want to become fish biologists.

The AAT project is providing data on how fish from the Salt River use Crow Creek to fulfill life cycle migratory requirements. Of particular interest is a large diversion that impedes upstream movement for all fish in the creek. TU and our project partners will install a fish ladder this summer to improve fish passage and allow access to upstream habitat. The project will be complete in time to allow for the fall upstream migration of spawning brown trout in Crow Creek.

Additionally, it will be available to trout that may need to vacate Crow Creek downstream from the diversion as water levels decrease in late summer.

Last summer, TU Trout Unlimited volunteers and staff are partnered with several pictured during an electroshocking agencies and private project on the East Side Canal in Star landowners to install a Valley with the Wyoming Game and Fish fish screen on a ditch Department. that diverts water from WYTU PHOTO/Wyoming Water Project Tincup Creek, a small Idaho tributary to the Salt River. A video of the screen installation (with no banjo music) can be viewed on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlsSic-QHAo or by doing a YouTube search for “Tincup Screen.” Concurrent with this screen installation, the U.S. Forest Service assisted a private landowner to install a similar screen on a ditch which diverts water from Jackknife Creek, a Salt River tributary near Tincup Creek. These two screens are the first fish screens in the Salt River drainage. In addition to screens, both projects include replacement of open ditches with buried pipe to reduce conveyance loss and ultimately allow for more water to remain instream.

TU also claims to have completed the cheapest stream reconnect ever in the

SPRING 2014

Salt River drainage. During a barrier assessment in 2011, TU identified an irrigation diversion on a small spring creek near Afton. This structure blocked fish access to about a mile of spawning habitat in a small spring creek — an important habitat component in the drainage. TU talked with landowners, irrigators, and the water master about who owned the structure and discovered it was no longer an active diversion.

To remove the barrier we simply pulled the flashboards and scored a reconnect. Wouldn’t it be nice if they were all that easy?

Much of the Salt River drainage is in good shape. The low-gradient, largely sub-irrigated valley does not require massive structures to facilitate irrigation.

Downstream from Afton, water is plentiful; however, large issues remain. Almost all tributaries draining the Salt River Range are at least seasonally disconnected, and tributaries from Idaho are disconnected during drought years. Additionally, headwater tributaries near Afton are delivering massive amounts of gravel, which historically was deposited on the alluvial fans, into the channel of Salt River.

Thanks to an active partnership with Orvis, the Perkins Family Foundation, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and numerous other state and federal agency partners, TU is committed to improving coldwater habitat throughout the Salt River Drainage.

update

Jim Gregory is a fish biologist contractor for Trout Unlimited.Ê Jim and his remarkable family manage a ranch near Mackay, ID.Ê Considered by most in the business as “a Cowboy’s fish biologist,” Jim has accomplished dozens of projects through partnerships with landowners and water users in Wyoming and Idaho.Ê If you have any questions about the Salt River, please contact Jim at: gregory_jim@yahoo.com.ÊHe will get back to you if he is not enjoying his primary life passion — team roping.

Page 3

WYOMING coordinator REPORT Fish and the Wyoming State legislature

A

s I write this column, the dust is just starting to settle on Wyoming’s 2014 Legislative session. We’re happy to report that with your help and our support, two bills important to Wyoming Trout Unlimited passed the Wyoming Legislature and have been signed into law by Governor Matt Mead. Support from conservationists like you was critical to the passage of both bills.

The first measure, SF 45, authorized the Wyoming Game and Fish Department to request money in future budgets from the state’s general fund for two programs — health care and grizzly bear management. This change is important as the burden of those costs will no longer fall on sportsmen, but can be shared by all of those who benefit from Wyoming’s wildlife. In essence, the bill represented an important opportunity to change the way the Wyoming Game and Fish Department funds its employee health benefits and puts the agency on par with how most other state agencies pay for their health care. In addition, it moves the legislatively mandated grizzly bear management costs to the general fund. The passing of this specific legislation was particularly important as the legislature previously declined two license fee increases requested by Support from conserthe Wyoming Game and vationists like you was Fish Department, resulting in subsequent critical to the passage cuts to key programs of both bills including many that have to do directly with fish.

Wyoming Trout Unlimited collaborated with a number of other groups who supported this bill’s passage and we’re proud to say that WYTU members were particularly active supporting this bill in interim committees and during the legislative session.

Wyoming TU was also particularly interested in the passage of SF 82 — the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resources Trust (WWNRT) Large Projects bill. The WWNRT, created in 2005, is one of the best tools Wyoming has to accomplish good conservation work.

SF 82 authorized the trust to fund its current slate of board-approved and vetted projects, which includes the Yellowstone Lake Project, studying mitigation of the largest threat to Yellowstone cutthroat in the lake – that of lake trout. This important project will allow for the completion of lake trout movement and spawning data collection and analysis, and will investigate ways to further prevent lake trout spawning recruitment. We’re very pleased at this positive measure for Wyoming’s iconic native fish and believe that this effort is critical to the future of the Yellowstone

“

“

Some of the members of the Wyoming Sportsmen’s Alliance: pictured left to right are: Trout Unlimited Wyoming Coordinator Scott Christy, Muley Fanatic Foundation of Wyoming President and CEO Josh Coursey, Steve Kilpatrick of the Wyoming Wildlife Federation, Governor Matt Mead, Matt Copeland of the National Wildlife Federation, Neil Thagard of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Buzz Hettick of the Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, and Mike Porter of the Wild Sheep Foundation.

COURTESY PHOTO/Office of Governor Matt Mead cutthroat in its home waters of Wyoming.

Again, thanks for all of your individual support and effort during the legislative session. We couldn’t have had these successes that will benefit Wyoming’s fisheries without your help.

Scott Christy is the Wyoming Coordinator for Trout Unlimited. Originally from Iowa, Scott has an incredible passion for the outdoors — camping, hunting, fishing and whitewater rafting. Scott lives in Lander in order to foolishly chase golden trout in the high country of the Wind River Range all summer. He also pretends to bow hunt for big game in Wyoming, but really only brings home the occasional grouse. E-mail Scott at: schristy@tu.org.

Not only does the new WYTU can koozie look great at the fly tying bench... it’s certain to look great anywhere!

Get your great looking WYTU, collapsible neoprene can koozie! Now in stock for only $5. Go to the WYTU store at: http://wyomingtu.org/wytu-store

WYOMING TROUT UNLIMITED 250 North 1st Street • Lander, Wyoming 82520 Phone: (307) 332.6700

Page 4

SPRING 2014

Green River set to host annual spring meeting

COURTESY PHOTO/City of Green River

By SCOTT CHRISTY Wyoming Coordinator Trout Unlimited Wyoming Trout Unlimited (WYTU) is pleased to announce that they will be holding their Annual Wyoming Trout Unlimited Council Meeting inÊGreen River on May 16, 17 and 18.

The Seedskadee Chapter from the Rock Springs/Green River area will be the exuberant hosts of the annual meeting and they are happyÊto announce that the meetings will be held at the Hampton Inn & Suites in Green River.

A special hotel room rate of $80 per night has GREEN RIVER • MAY 16, 17 & 18, 2014 been arranged by the chapter. Room reservations can be made by calling the Hampton Inn & Suites atÊ(307) 875-5300 and referring to the Wyoming Trout Unlimited Council Meeting when booking a room. This rate will only be available until April 30, so please make your reservations as soon as possible.

The council’s spring meetings serve as the annual meeting for the organization and the agenda this year will include scheduledÊelections for council executive officers.

A finalized agenda will be forthcoming as we get closer to the meeting dates.ÊAs a reminder, each Wyoming TU chapter holds two official voting seats on the council and, as always, we’re excited to have the participation of as many chapters as possible for the annual meeting.

This year’s meeting will have a similar schedule to past meetings with a Friday afternoon fishing outing on nearby waters, Saturday meeting, Friday and Saturday night social opportunities and a Sunday morning session.Ê Again, please save the date. The executive council wanted to get the lodging information to you as soon as possible for your The Seedskadee Chapter is excited planning purposes and also encourage you to get your to host the Annual WYTU Spring room reservations made by Meeting in Green River. Here, WYTU April 30.

Interim Chair and chapter On behalf of the entire president Calvin Hazlewood, shows WYTU executive council, off a nice Green River brown trout we hope to see you there. from 2013. A Friday fishing outing For more information, below Fontenelle Reservoir will kick contact Scott Christy at off the weekend meetings.

(307) 332-6700, ext. 12.

WYTU PHOTO/Mike Jensen

WYTU ANNUAL MEETING

SPRING 2014

WYTU CALENDAR

APRIL 19, 2014 The 7th Annual Upper Bear River Trout Unlimited Chapter Fundraising Banquet will take place on Saturday, April 19, at the Machine Shop in Evanston.

This year’s banquet will feature “Your fly fishing guide” and funny man Hank Patterson as auctioneer. The evening promises to be a great one with great games, raffles, silent and live auctions, good food and spirits, and much more. In conjunction with this year’s banquet, the chapter is selling 100 raffle tickets for a 2014 Hyde Contender “ready-to-fish” drift boat package. If all tickets ($100 each) are sold by the banquet date, the boat will be given away that evening!

Mark your calendars now and watch for more details on the chapter’s facebook page at: www.facebook.com/UBRTU. Banquet tickets will be limited due to Hank Patterson’s appearance. For more information or to purchase your banquet and drift boat tickets, contact Upper Bear River Trout Unlimited Chapter President Rick Slagowski at (307) 679-0074.

MAY 10, 2014 The Second Annual Tie-One-On Fundraising Banquet will be held on May 10, 2014 in Jackson. The event, cosponsored by Wyoming Trout Unlimited and the Jackson Hole TU Chapter, will once again be held at the incredible Hotel Terra in Teton Village. To make your room reservations, call (307) 739-4000 or toll-free at 1-866-935-8938.

To purchase your banquet tickets, sponsorship information or for more details, call Scott Christy at (307) 332-6700, ext. 12.

MAY 16-18, 2014 It’s time to make your reservations now for the Wyoming Trout Unlimited Annual Spring meeting that will be held in Green River at the Hampton Inn & Suites on May 16-18. The Seekskadee Chapter will be hosting the meeting and it promises to be a great one.

A special hotel room rate of $80 per night has been arranged and those planning to attend. But hurry, the deadline for this room rate will be April 30.

To make your reservation, call (307) 875-5300 and refer to the Wyoming Trout Unlimited Council Meeting room rate.

The weekend will include some great spring fishing opportunities on the famous Green River! For more information and details, contact Scott Christy at (307) 332-6700, ext. 12.

JULY 12, 2014 The WYTU Conservation Committee will be hosting a conservation tour on Saturday, July 12 near Saratoga. The day will be spent by touring and learning about TU’s habitat improvement projects along the Encampment River, then enjoying the benefits of those of those restoration efforts as a fishing outing is planned for that afternoon/evening.

Mark your calendars now! For more information and details, contact Scott Christy at (307) 332-6700, ext. 12.

AUGUST 22-24, 2014 Mark your calendars now as WYTU is excited to announce a different

See CALENDAR, page 14 Page 5

NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL LEADERSHIP COUNCIL

F

is, we have empirical evidence that supports anecdotal information.

This begs the question of why I bother to clarify these different types rom the beginning, Trout Unlimited has been guided by the of information in this column. As part of my role as your National principle that if we “take care of the fish, the fishing will take care of Leadership Council representative, I am involved in the itself.” This is a principle proudly, and steadfastly, grounded in science by effort of the Western Native Trout Work Group to bring TU. You might find yourself asking, “Why?” In spite of my you a handbook entitled Stream Temperature Monitoring. tendency to regularly offer complicated answers due to my This “how to” publication will guide you from concept to vocation as a scientist, allow me to attempt a more simple implementation of monitoring stream temperature. This explanation. Imagine this scenario: after a less than successful empirical information can be incredibly helpful in many day on your favorite trout stream you find yourself wondering ways. Ever wonder if the runoff from a parking lot is why there aren’t as many trout as there once were. As anglers we negatively affecting your favorite trout stream? Is superare quite adept at theorizing reasons for our suspected decline in heated water from summer thunderstorms creating a the number of fish, especially over a cold beverage or two when thermal barrier for fish? As is common across much of we reminisce about the day. The problem can’t be our angling Wyoming, perhaps water is diverted from your favorite abilities, can it? At least that’s not a reason I’ve ever heard a TU stream for irrigation. Apart from the quantity of water member admit! You might even go so far as to present your most left in the stream, is the temperature of the remaining cogent theories to your local fisheries biologist. In Wyoming, we water hospitable to trout? Part of the mantra of WYTU are fortunate that these fine ladies and gentlemen of the Wyoming is “cold, clean, fishable water.” If part of your Game and Fish Department earnestly listen to these theories. Some chapter’s project entails lowering and/or ensuring might say it is their job to do so. Based on the number of times I stream temperature within the tolerance range of a native trout species, have had the privilege of encountering these folks, off-duty, plying how can you determine if the project is successful? The answer to all these the same waters with a fly I am, however, I suspect they have a perhaps questions, and many others, is a stream temperature monitoring program. slightly more selfish motivation: they are anglers just the same as you and Until now, such a program I, and, also want to catch was often deemed too fish! The problem they complicated or too face is that the theory you expensive. The Western so eloquently worked out Native Trout Work Group with your buddies is Four letters: T-U-E-B, for TU Endorsed Business! If you own or work for a business that has addressed all these probably based on shares TU’s commitment to conserving, protecting and restoring North America’s concerns. The recently anecdotal evidence. In coldwater fisheries and their watersheds for future generations, why not become published handbook will other words, it is merely a TU Endorsed Business? Apart from the sweet hat I received for signing up my guide you through the steps your perception or theory own business, doing so shows your customers where you stand. Plus, the modest necessary to plan a there aren’t as many fish. fee is probably the best marketing investment you’ll ever make to reach the program, purchase all the You might be right, but largest number of readers when your company is listed in the TU website and in necessary materials the reason you didn’t Trout magazine. If your business has made substantial donations to your local (including a nice TU catch fish might also be chapter, let us know! We want to recognize you by offering you a complimentary discount!), and implement that you aren’t quite the TUEB membership as a way of saying, “Thank you.” We appreciate what you the program. The only way angler you thought. Now stand for and how you have helped us do so many great things in Wyoming. For it could get any easier is if imagine a project is more information contact me or Director of TU Endorsed Businesses Walt Gasson someone else did the work initiated to increase the at: wgasson@tu.org.Guides: there’s a program for you, too! for you! But, what fun number of fish in the would that be? This is a stream and succeeds in great way to engage your doing so. If you still don’t chapter and fellow anglers in meaningful scientific research that will help catch them, does your initial theory hold up or have you simply failed to guide future project work, monitor the effectiveness of existing projects, or address what might be the actual cause of the problem: your lack of angling justify the need for a project. In short, there might not be a better or easier skill? way to use science in the work we do as WYTU. Plus, it’s fun (but as a OK, maybe my scientist tendencies overcame me in that somewhat scientist I’m a little biased)! lengthy explanation but hopefully it helps you understand why TU steadfastly uses sound science in our decision making. It is the information Jim Broderick serves as the that allows us to focus on addressing the root of a problem rather than National Leadership Council relying on pure emotion. Let’s take a brief look at the real-world situation representative for the Wyoming in Yellowstone Lake. Many anglers perceived that the number of Council of Trout Unlimited. He Yellowstone cutthroat trout were down while the number of lake trout were and his wife, Becky, along with increasing. Theories abounded about the relationship between the two their two dogs, Bear and species. These theories, however, were anecdotal – merely educated Cooper, and a pond full of guesses. WYTU stepped in to help in the study that would ultimately Snake River cutthroat trout live determine not only if our perceptions (i.e., fewer cutthroat and more lake in Jackson. Jim is the owner of trout) were correct but also inform us as to what, if any, solutions would be Rocky Mountain Ranch applicable to address the identified problem. As you’ve read in the Management and in his free Yellowstone Lake Project Updates in these pages (you have been reading time, he enjoys driving drift those, haven’t you?), the scientific study made the connection between the boats in search of epic fly fishincrease in lake trout and decrease in native Yellowstone cutthroat trout ing. E-mail Jim at: abundantly clear. Further, the science has pointed us in the proper direction jim@rmrm.biz. as we seek to implement a solution that will protect the native trout. That

NLC Tip of the Issue:

Page 6

SPRING 2014

WYTU NEWS NOTES

WYTU favorite ‘adopted son’ recovering from knee surgery One of Wyoming Trout Unlimited’s favorite adopted sons, Charlie Card, is recovering nicely following knee surgery this past January.

Charlie injured his knee after he and his family spent time during the holidays with relatives in Nevada. According to Charlie, on the drive back to Utah, the family pulled over to get out of the vehicle and take a break. He was playing with his boys when he felt something seriously wrong with his right knee.

“I was sprinting and then turned really hard to the left. I heard a big snap,” said Charlie.

He noted that his physical therapy is going well and he’s managed to get out fishing on the Green River a couple of days this year.

Charlie, who is Trout Unlimited’s Northeastern Utah Back Country Coordinator for the Sportsmen’s Conservation Project based out of Dutch John, Utah, near the famed Green River, is back hard at work and keeping busy.

Everyone at WYTU wishes Charlie a speedy and complete recovery!

WYTU, along with the East Yellowstone Chapter in Cody, has been engaged in this effort since early 2008. They have been supporting work to monitor the movements of lake trout around that system to both aid the current suppression activities and to find out where lake trout spawn. Once spawning beds are identified, TU also supports work to cut off the lake trout recruitment by suppressing lake trout ova and fry.

The telemetry study began in 2011 and is now in its third year. The study is beginning to show significant success as measured by the recent increase in cutthroat trout in the system.

Trout Unlimited members, chapters and councils all over the country have contributed to this huge effort that has now raised over $380,000.

Upper Bear River chapter to raffle “ready-to-fish” Hyde drift boat The Upper Bear River Trout Unlimited Chapter in Evanston is proud to announce that they are currently selling a limited number of tickets for a complete, ready-to-fish, Hyde Contender drift boat package valued at $6,000. Only 100 tickets will be sold and tickets cost $100 each.

According to chapter president Rick Slagowski, if all 100 tickets are sold by April 19, the drift boat will be given away at the chapter’s annual banquet held at the machine shop in Evanston. The drift boat package includes

See WYTU NEWS NOTES, page 8

Always catch the big one!

Wyoming Council of TU awarded Embrace-A-Stream grant The Wyoming Council of Trout Unlimited was notified on Feb. 24 that they were awarded $10,000 under Trout Unlimited’s Embrace-A-Stream grant program to support the work to restore the population of Yellowstone cutthroat trout to the Yellowstone Lake system.

Stay up-to-date on WYTU happenings by visiting our website: wyomingtu.org

Be a part of our success! Donate to Wyoming Trout Unlimited today — 3 easy ways to donate!

1) Simply fill out the form below with your check or credit card information and mail to WYTU 2) Give over the phone by calling Scott Christy at (307) 332-7700 ext. 12 or 3) Donate online at www.wyomingtu.org/donate

YES! I support the Wyoming Council of Trout Unlimited’s efforts to protect and preserve Wyoming’s trout and their watersheds. Enclosed is my gift of: $35 $50 $100 $250 $1,000 Other ___________ Name Address City

State

Phone

e-mail

My check is enclosed Charge my: Visa Credit Card Number

MasterCard

Zip

AMEX

Expiration

CVC Number

With your donation of $100 or more, you’ll receive a great looking WYTU “bucking fish” ball cap.

(Hat style and color may vary)

Signature Mail this form to: WYTU, 250 North 1st Street, Lander, WY 82520.

Contributions are tax-deductible to the full extent allowed by law. Please make checks payable to the Wyoming Council of Trout Unlimited.

Please be assured that WYTU never uses your e-mail address for anything other than WYTU business.

SPRING 2014

Page 7

NEWS NOTES, continued from page 7

WYTU’s Haley Powell earns trip to Washington D.C. after writing essay Haley Powell of Rock Springs was selected as one of five winners of the first-ever Sportsmen for Responsible Energy Development (SFRED) national essay contest.

As a result, Haley, along with the other winners, won a trip to Washington D.C. in February to meet with Department of Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, members of their respective congressional delegations and other officials.

Essays explaining the importance of public lands to today’s youth were judged from around the country. Five winners were selected from Wyoming, Montana, Pennsylvania, Arizona and Virginia.

“America’s public lands are one of our nation’s greatest treasures,” said Brad Powell, senior policy director of the Sportsmen’s Conservation Project at Trout Unlimited. “Reading the essays of these young hunters and anglers gives me hope that our public lands will be in good hands in the future.”

Haley serves as a youth board member for the Seedskadee TU Chapter in Rock Springs/Green River as well as youth chair for the Wyoming Council.

Haley’s interests include photography, reading, animals, camping, hiking, fishing and “basically anything outdoors.”

She competes in speech and debate at Rock Springs High School and competed on a national level last year. Haley plans to study zoology at the University of Wyoming this fall.

To read Haley’s award-winning essay, go to: http://sfred.org/blog.

Congratulations, Haley! All of us in the WYTU community are very proud of you and your accomplishments.

Wyoming chapters and council have banner year for commissioner tag auctions This year will go down as one to remember for Wyoming Trout Unlimited chapters and the council, thanks to the incredible generosity of several Wyoming Game and Fish Commissioners.

Several chapters, along with the council, formally made requests to their respective Game and Fish commissioners and they were rewarded for their efforts by receiving the highly coveted tags to auction and help raise money for their respective conservation efforts and projects.

The Seedskadee Chapter received a tag from District 2 Commissioner Mark Anselmi and auctioned the tag at the annual Muley Fanatics Banquet held in Sweetwater County in late February. The tag sold for an incredible amount — $11,200.

In Cody, the East Yellowstone Chapter received a tag from District 1 Commissioner and Commission President Michael Healy. The tag was auctioned on E-Bay and raised $8,500 for the chapter.

“

Page 8

District 7 Commissioner Richard Klouda from Freemont County awarded not one, but two tags to help benefit the Popo Agie Anglers in Lander and the Wyoming Council of Trout Unlimited. The chapter auctioned their tag for $9,500 while the council also received a high bid of $9,500 for their tag. Both tags were auctioned on the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s website.

All monies raised from these auctions will go toward coldwater conservation and habitat projects around the Cowboy state.

If your chapter is interested in applying for a Wyoming Game and Fish Commission tag and you need help with the process, please contact Wyoming Coordinator Scott Christy at (307) 332-6700, ext. 12.

‘Your Fly Fishing Guide’ Hank Patterson set to be auctioneer at UBRTU banquet The Upper Bear River Trout Unlimited Chapter in Evanston wants to remind all WYTU members that fly fishing funny man Hank Patterson — “Your fly fishing guide” — will serve as auctioneer at the chapter’s annual banquet on April 19, 2014.

The event will take place at the Evanston Machine Shop in Evanston and due to Patterson’s popularity, tickets will be limited and are expected to sell out fast.

To get your name on the ticket list, contact UBRTU Chapter President Rick Slagowski at (307) 6790074.

The evening will feature great games, raffles, drawings, silent and live auctions and much, much more. Watch for more details as they become available on the chapter’s facebook page at: www.facebook.com/UBRTU. Make sure to also visit Hank Patterson’s new website at: www.hankpatterson.com.

Simms partners with TU to help save the Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Simms and Trout Unlimited have teamed up to help you look good this fishing season with one-of-a-kind T-shirts while helping save the Yellowstone Cutthroat trout.

For a limited time, purchase the Save The Cutts Riffle Trout T-Shirt and 50 percent of the sales will be donated to Trout Unlimited projects targeted at saving the Yellowstone Cutthroat trout.

For ages, the Yellowstone cutthroat trout fishery was unmatched in Yellowstone lake and its tributaries. It boasted the largest remaining genetically pure population of these great fish — somewhere around four million.

Not only did those fish form the foundation of a legendary fishery in Yellowstone National Park, they served as a keystone species, feeding everything from bears to otters to ospreys and pelicans.

But everything changed when non-native lake trout were discovered in Yellowstone Lake about 20

See NEWS NOTES, page 9

Ours is the grandest sport. It is an intriguing battle of wits between an angler and a trout; and in addition to appreciating the tradition and grace of the game, we play it in the magnificent out-of-doors.

— Ernest G. Schwiebert, Jr.

“

the drift boat, trailer, oars and anchor — everything you need to get on the water and catch fish.

All proceeds from this raffle will benefit the chapter’s habitat and native fish restoration projects on the Bear River and surrounding waters.

Tickets are selling fast, so if you are interested in purchasing a raffle or banquet ticket, contact chapter president Rick Slagowski at (307) 679-0074.

SPRING 2014

NEWS NOTES, continued from page 8 years ago. These voracious predators have decimated the lake’s cutthroat population to less than 10 percent of their historic levels. It’s hard to fathom the enormous impact this one invasive species has had on the park’s entire ecosystem.

Roughly six years ago, Trout Unlimited, along with its many members and other partners, started raising money to encourage fisheries managers to expand their lake trout suppression efforts. Realizing that netting these fish was only part of the equation, TU focused on finding lake trout spawning grounds and working to reduce the growth in their population.

As a result of TU’s efforts and an expanded netting operation on Yellowstone Lake, the cutthroats are finally coming back. The past two years have seen an increase in all native cutthroat trout found in the system — and most importantly, an increase in juvenile cutthroat numbers.

There is still a lot do do to help these iconic fish.

We need to find and map all of the spawning beds and improve our electro-shocking techniques.

Success is on the horizon, but we need to keep working toward a healthy population of Yellowstone cutthroat trout.

By purchasing one of these two T-shirts ($24.95 short sleeve, $34.95 long sleeve), you can help the preservation of this magnificent species. Fifty percent of the sale price will go to the preservation of the Yellowstone Cutthroat.

Yellowstone Lake Special Project Manager for Wyoming Trout Unlimited Dave Sweet and members of Wyoming Trout Unlimited thank Simms for the outstanding partnership and contributions to this all-important project.

To purchase your T-shirt, go to www.simmsfishing.com.

Trout Unlimited revives limited time offer for women memberships

By Kerri Russell Kerri Russell is the Arkansas NLC representative and the chair of Êthe NLC Women’s Initiative Workgroup) In the fall of 2012, Trout Unlimited (TU) launched a campaign aimed at getting more women to sign up as members. In doing so, women were offered complimentary trial memberships over the course of the year. Over 2,500 women signed up. What a great success. Thanks to all of you who reached out to women in your community and invited them to join TU. Thanks also goes out to all of you who took the extra step and used the resources in the Leaders Only Tools section of the TU website to reach out to these women and welcome them to your chapter. It is undoubtedly because of your efforts that we can boast a 13 percent retention rate so far on these trial members.

But we think we can do more. So, we are pleased to announce the launch of a limited time offer. Now through May 31, TU is reviving the offer to sign up women as new members at no cost. In addition, women renew for half price, at a special $17.50 rate, and the recruiting chapter will receive $15 of that $17.50 in the form of a special rebate. We place a special emphasis on the renewals since our goals include both adding more women to our ranks and engaging more women in TU’s leadership. In order to bump up our retention of these women, we need to show them the real value of TU, and — of course — much of that value comes from the local level.

This is where we need the support of every chapter membership chair out there. Go to the Leaders Only Tools section and download your rosters. Find the women who have joined within the last year and invite them to participate in your chapter and also to renew at

SPRING 2014

this special half-priced offer. The NLC workgroup will also be distributing lists of these trial members by state and chapter to help you with these efforts.

To add a little incentive, TU will be tracking which chapters recruit the most women and which have the highest rates of renewals (allocated proportionally based on chapter size). $500 will be awarded to the chapters that come in first place in each category, $300 for second place and $100 for third place.

With questions or concerns, contact Heidi Oberstadt, TU’s Women’s Membership Coordinator at (715) 573-5104 or email her at hoberstadt@tu.org.

Reflections of chapter’s past help Trout Unlimited move forward What’s your story? Ask any angler about how they were introduced to the great sport of fishing, and you are likely to get a well-developed story full of imagery and passion. We love to talk about how we became anglers, about our favorite flies, and even about the gear we use for our adventures. But when asked about why we’re part of Trout Unlimited, the words don’t seem to come quite as easily. With all the conservation, restoration and education our TU community is doing, it is important to uncover the origins of our chapters in order to share the whole story of why TU is important to us.

Every chapter has a great story to share. What is your response when you’re asked “What is Trout Unlimited?” We want to hear about the colorful history of your chapter and how you are connected to your community. We’ll share your story with the TU.org community and the selection committee who will decide on the best of these great stories. The winning story will walk away with a brand new rig to be used to create new stories, and the chance to host the Fly Fishing Film Tour, free of charge, with all the proceeds going to your chapter. Ê Here’s how it works Post your story on your new Trout Unlimited Chapter Site or Chapter’s Group Page. Be sure to join and post the story to the Origin Stories Group Page when you’re posting your story.ÊIf you would like to learn more about setting up your chapter’s TU Chapter Site, check out the Chapter Site wiki to help you get started.

Share the post with your members and friends. Encourage chapter members to log in and join your chapter group. Ask them to vote for your story by clicking on the vote button. This will help determine the finalists group.

The contest committee will gather the stories and be tasked with choosing the top 10 stories. The selections will be based on a combination of a well-written story and community response in the first round of voting.

The top 10 stories will be placed in an Origin Stories Finalists Group for the final round of voting. The entire TU community will have the opportunity to determine the winners by online voting. Ê Fabulous Prize Packages The grand prize is a screening of the Fly Fishing Film Tour (www.flyfilmtour.com).

You provide the venue and TU will hook you up with the film tour. This is a great way to reach out to potential members and it makes a great fundraising event. This prize package is worth more than $1,000, plus your chapter will get to keep all the proceeds from the event to help with your local conservation efforts to make fishing better on

See NEWS NOTES, page 10

Do you have an item for “WYTU News Notes?”

NEWS NOTES WYTU

Send your information via e-mail to Scott Christy at: schristy@tu.org or Mike Jensen at: trouthut@gmail.com

Page 9

NEWS NOTES, continued from page 10 your home waters.

Potentially, this could mean thousands.

First and second runnerup stories will walk away with one (1) adult and one (1) youth rod/reel outfit that can be use for your next fundraiser. Ê How To Share Your Story • Submit your story as a blog in your TU Chapter Site or Chapter Group Page. • Story length can be up to 500 words and only one story per chapter please. • Be concise as if you were telling potential members why they should join TU. • Encourage you fellow members to comment and vote on your post in the TU.org website. • Share about your post on all your social

media sites and in correspondence. • Add a few photos of the founders and the chapter today. • Connect with Doug Agee through the message feature on TU.org to let him know your story has been posted. Ê Important Dates • Story Submittal Deadline – May 15 • Finalists Announcement and Voting Starts by Blog – May 19 • Finalist Stories Voting Deadline – May 28 • Origin Stories Winner Announcement Blog – May 31 • Origin Stories Winner Announcement L2L – June 1Ê So, interview your chapter’s historians, gather your stories and photos and get writing. We know there are some great stories just waiting to be shared. Watch those deadlines and look for updates on the TU.org site.

If you have any questions, get in touch with Doug Agee at dagee@tu.org. We are looking forward to hearing about the origin of your chapter.

U.S. masters’ team compete in fly fishing competition in Chile

By JAY BUCHNER WYTU Conservation Committee member and Jackson Hole TU board member

A

phone call in November 2013 from the president of Fly Fishing Team USA informed me that FIPS-Mouche (International Federation of Sport Fly Fishing) was going to hold the First World Fly Fishing Masters Championships in Coyhaique, Chile in January, 2014. This European-based organization has been holding Championships since 1981 but this would be the first designated for anglers over 50.

The championships have been organized within the Olympic Ideal — “to foster friendship and understanding among all people, and peace in the world, through sport.” The championships must have a Conservation Symposium as well as opening and closing ceremonies and the awarding of medals (gold, silver, bronze) to winning teams and individuals.

The competition was designed to feature four angler teams and a four fishing session event that would include two river sessions and two lake sessions.

Our team of four anglers included Jerry Arnold of Dallas, Texas; Chuck Farneth of Heber Springs, Arkansas; and Dave Brackett and Jay Buchner of Jackson, Wyoming. We departed for Coyhaique, Chile on Jan. 13. After about 32 hours of airports and Team USA master competitors included airplanes we arrived at Jay Buchner of Jackson, Wyoming, Jerry Cinco Rios Lodge, our Arnold of Dallas, Texas, Dave Brackett of headquarters for the Jackson, Wyoming and Chuck Farneth of rest of our stay in Heber Springs, Arkansas. The team finished Chile. Our host, the competition in fourth place.

Sebastian Galilea, COURTESY PHOTO/Jay Buchner offered us a Chilean

Page 10

favorite, Pisco Sour and our first look at the Simpson River, in the valley below the lodge.

We spent the next two days with Sebastian’s guides learning as much as we could about the lakes and rivers we’d be fishing. We found a good population of brown and rainbow trout that had been introduced to the area in the early 1900s.

Some of these fish exceeded 20 inches and the overall size average was impressive. Terrestrials were a major part of the trout diet at this time of the year with grasshoppers being a favorite. Beetles of all sizes were also of great interest to the trout, including a giant Canteria beetle (two to three inches long) attracting large fish on the lakes. We were in the southern Andes Mountains and the scenery was spectacular (contributing to the thought that trout don’t live in ugly places) with severe vertical cliffs and waterfalls in all of the canyons.

The lakes had been scoured by Team USA’s first brown trout ancient glaciers and were long, narrow and of the master’s competition. very deep with amazingly clear water. We COURTESY PHOTO/Jay Buchner were able to see a variety of bird life — including the Andean Condor, which was a real treat.

The championships began with registration and opening ceremonies on Jan. 17. Two days of official practice fishing on Jan. 18 and 19, were followed by two-to three-hour competition sessions on Jan. 20 and 22. The final day started with a conservation symposium at the Coyhaique Cultural Center that focused on efforts to stop the spread of the introduced Didymo algae, native fish species and the effects of global warming on the biodiversity of the area.

The awards and closing ceremonies were held in the Main City square on Puerto Aysen. The first-ever WFFC Master’s Championships winning teams: first place-Italy, second place-Czech Republic and third place- Chile. Team USA finished in fourth place. A total of nine teams from 11 countries competed during the event. First place individual awards went to the Netherlands and Italy took both second and third place individual honors.

The closing ceremony was followed by a wonderful dinner featuring traditional Chilean food and drink. This was a great adventure that allowed most of the participants to see a new part of the world and sample the Chilean culture, make new friends and renew past friendships while having an opportunity to fish some incredible waters.

SPRING 2014

• yellowstone lake • yellowstone cutthroat trout • lake trout

Remarkable progress

By DAVE SWEET Yellowstone Lake Special Project Manager for Wyoming Trout Unlimited

A

update

SPRING 2014

COURTESY PHOTO/Dave Show alter

little indication that this is occurring.

It’s been a long road to reestablish a viable population of Yellowstone cutthroats in this system. But our efforts are paying off. Prove it to yourself. Take a trip to Yellowstone this summer. Fish for and hopefully catch one of these incredibly beautiful fish. They are coming back.

Dave Sweet has been a member of Trout Unlimited since the mid-70s. He is the recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from Trout Unlimited as well as former chairman of the Wyoming Council of Trout Unlimited.

He currently is serving as the treasurer of the council and is a former president and current board member of the East Yellowstone Chapter in Cody. Dave and his wife, Cathy, are the parents of two daughters — Cindy, an attorney in Casper, and Diana, a fisheries biologist for the Wyoming Game & Fish Department in Jackson — and they live in Cody. Dave loves to fish for any species; hunt for whatever crawls, flies or walks; and ride his horses.

E-mail Dave at: davidps@tritel.net.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: The Wyoming legislature approved a large project funding grant for the Yellowstone Lake project which will fund a significant portion of the telemetry and ova suppression work for next three years. The grant is for $621,576 and will be matched by over $800,000 from project partners in cash and in-kind services.

“

“

s I write this article, I am sitting in Cheyenne between meetings of the Wyoming Legislature. I’m here because the Yellowstone Lake project has a Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resources Trust grant being reviewed by your state senators and representatives. This major grant has the potential to fund the majority of our work over the next three years to restore the Yellowstone cutthroat trout to the Yellowstone Lake system. By the time this newsletter is published and distributed, we should know the results of that process.

There is little doubt that this restoration effort is making remarkable progress. It would be a shame to lose the momentum.

Just a couple of statistics for 2013 that demonstrate how far we have come. In 2013, over 300,000 lake trout were removed by netting from the system. This is the second year in a row with this number, but the most positive part of this removal is that it took almost 50 percent more effort, more nets, to capture the same number of lakers. This is called the CPUE (catch per unit of effort) and has declined for the second straight year indicating a significant drop in lake trout population. Meanwhile, distribution netting (also referred to as population trend netting) of lake trout showed a similar drop in numbers and of average size. Distribution netting of cutthroats meanwhile, showed a roughly 30 percent increase in cutthroat numbers in 2013 (after a previous doubling in 2012 over 2011). And, even more importantly, the number of surviving juvenile cutthroats has again increased significantly for the second year in a row.

The telemetry study which is now entering its third year has been very successful.

Not only is the study helping to guide the net placements, but sophisticated arrays of receivers were placed in areas previously identified as highly likely to contain spawning beds. Data analyses this spring will hopefully pinpoint those spawning beds. The crews on the Lake made great strides to identifying the types of substrate that lake trout prefer and it appears that they are very selective where they deposit their eggs. Egg baskets placed on the spawning beds around Carrington Island have demonstrated this selectivity.

Future spawning bed identification will be much easier with this information. The ability to kill those deposited eggs with electricity was demonstrated using a device built by Montana State University. It is a 10 foot by 14 foot grid of electrodes on droppers that can be placed on the aggregate and activated with a boat mounted generator. Even when those eggs are placed 20 cm (8 inches) under the aggregate, mortality is over 95 percent; 100 percent when the eggs are near the surface of the rocks. Optimization will increase these numbers even more. There is little doubt that electro-shocking will be a very successful tool in controlling lake trout recruitment. This spring we will also evaluate the ability of this same electro-shocking tool to destroy lake trout fry at Carrington.

One other study underway on the Lake is an effort to evaluate whether there are isolated populations of lake trout in remote parts of the Lake that remain isolated and don’t intermingle with the major population, especially where they spawn. So far, there is

The trust the Wyoming Legislature placed in us by approving this grant is testament to the stature of Wyoming Trout Unlimited and to the importance of this fishery to the entire state of Wyoming — Dave Sweet, Yellowstone Lake Special Project Manager for Wyoming Trout Unlimited

Page 11

A makeover for a very special stream in Jackson Hole... n Partners rally to create a stream in the restored form of a spring creek

By LARA GERTSCH Wyoming Game and Fish Department Fish Aquatic Habitat Biologist Jackson Region

T

he Jackson Hole Trout Unlimited Chapter has teamed up with Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation – Jackson Hole One Fly, Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Snake River Fund, Patagonia’s World Trout Initiative, Biota Research and Consulting Inc., and the National Elk Refuge to improve aquatic habitat for native Snake River cutthroat trout on a reach of Flat Creek.

The project reach begins at the Jackson Hole Fish Hatchery and ends at the confluence of Nowlin Creek.

Currently, this reach of Flat Creek doesn’t have the velocities or a connection with the flood plain to move or deposit the sediment load out of the stream bed. Sediments smother trout spawning habitats and fill in pools. The purpose of the enhancement is not to restore the stream to pre-settlement form, but to enhance and stabilize within the current user demands. The project will reduce sediment inputs to the watershed, improve stream processes, and increase habitat for all age classes of Snake River cutthroat trout.

The project was divided into phases over four years. Phases had to be timed to avoid cutthroat spawning, elk and bison hunting, elk feeding, and winter range restriction. Implementation has been scheduled to avoid cutthroat spawning, the month it opens to anglers, elk and bison hunting and feeding, and winter range restriction.

The construction timeframe is September to November of 20132015. Approximately 1.2 miles will be treated each year. The fourth year, 2016, is planned for adjustments and monitoring the previous three years of work.

Work on the first mile occurred October

WYTU CHAPTER SPOTLIGHT

Page 12

14 -30, 2013. The focus was to remove and replace the past structures that have outlived their lifespan. A heavy equipment construction company, which specializes in stream restoration, removed 39 deteriorating instream structures and 347 feet of rip-rap, enhanced 23 riffle and 25 pool habitat units, removed 300 ft2 reed canary grass, installed 4,184 ft2 woody and sod vegetation and created 19,000 feet of flood plain.

The final product will be a stream with restored form of a spring creek within the existing elk use and irrigation management.

The future of Flat Creek will be a stream with more meanders, undercut banks and deep pools that hold more “lunkers” that the stream is famous for.

Check out the six restoration photos above. Before pictures are on the left, after pictures are on the right.

COURTESY PHOTOS/Wyoming Game and Fish Department

SPRING 2014

WYTU CHAPTER CHATTER

UPPER BEAR RIVER CHAPTER

By RICK SLAGOWSKI Chapter President Our leadership is pleased to announce that our chapter has some exciting things coming up on the calendar. n The Upper Bear River Trout Unlimited Chapter will be “pro-ing” it up at this year’s 7th Annual Fundraising and Conservation Banquet that will be held on Saturday, April 19, at the Evanston Machine Shop. We are pleased that high school graduate, expert fly fishing guide and yogurt franchisee Hank Patterson will share his vast knowledge of the fly fishing world with us that evening. Now Hank can add auctioneer to his impressive resume and he will help extort money by any means possible for UBRTU conservation efforts. As he always says, “snap it.” n How does winning a brand new 2013 Hyde Contender drift boat sound?

Well we’ve got one and only 100 raffle tickets will be sold! We invite you to participate in this very special raffle to help benefit our chapter’s conservation, native fish and habitat improvement projects in southwest Wyoming! If all 100 tickets are sold before April 19, the winning ticket will be drawn at our banquet that night in Evanston. If you are interested in purchasing a drift boat raffle ticket or banquet ticket, or for more information, please contact Rick Slagowski at (307) 679-0074. n The chapter’s annual Kids’ Fishing Day is scheduled for Saturday, June 14. Great fun for all and best of all, it’s free! Every child between the ages of two and 14 will receive a free prize (while supplies last). In addition, a free lunch and beverages will be served throughout the event. Everyone is cordially invited to attend

LITTLE BIG HORN CHAPTER The Little Big Horn Chapter in Sheridan hosted nationally renowned Fly Tyer Charlie Craven on March 14. He

SPRING 2014

presented a great demonstration to those on hand. The event was held at the Best Western Sheridan Center.

Upcoming chapter events n April 17: Blake Jackson will present a slide presentation of his fly fishing expeditions overseas at the Best Western Sheridan Center. n May 10: “Spring Mayfly Event” will include a youth membership drive, family fun day, food, vendors, fly casting and fly tying demos, educational games, conservation and wildlife resource experts and coloring contests.

Held from 10 a.m. to 3 LITTLE BIG p.m. at Kendrick Park in HORN Sheridan.

CHAPTER

SEEDSKADEE CHAPTER

By CALVIN HAZLEWOOD Chapter President Hello from the Seedskadee Chapter!

Hope this finds everyone doing well and getting ready for spring. I know many of us are ready to get out and spend some time outdoors and enjoy a little warmer weather — it’s right around the corner.

The Green River here through town (Green River) is starting to break up and the geese are pairing up, so it must be close!

Much has been happening with our chapter since the first of the year as we plan for the spring and summer.

Some of the highlights are: n We have a new conservation chair and committee just getting formed to help us get more focused on our habitat and fishery projects as well as help us coordinate our efforts with other groups and agencies.

Project planning is underway with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and Seedskadee National SEEDSKADEE Wildlife Refuge for projects on the Green CHAPTER River. We’re looking forward to the opportunities this committee will present. n We are planning our annual “Take A Kid Fishing Day” with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, as well as other partners, for June 14. It should be a good time for a good cause once

again. n Our monthly “Lying and Tying” events continue and folks are increasing their tying skills and having some fun. n We are planning to host the Spring WYTU meeting here in Green River the weekend of May 16-18. The river should be very fishable, and we are looking forward to hosting the meeting for TU folks from across the State. n Work is underway to get the funds to start up Adopt-A-Trout programs in the area as well. As these programs get underway, they will help us gain some additional knowledge of the fisheries and help our youth better understand the habitats that are right here in our back yard. n We were very fortunate to receive a 2014 Game and Fish Commissioner tag from our local commissioner Mark Anselmi. As many of you know, we auctioned the tag at the annual Muley Fanatic banquet in Rock Springs in late February and it sold for an incredible $11,200! The proceeds from this tag will be used to help with our fish screen project on the Hamp II ditch in Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge.

These are just some of the great things happening within the chapter.

Of course, none of this would be possible without the dedicated and committed volunteers that make up our chapter. Their involvement is paramount to getting any of this great work done and without them, our fisheries and habitat would not be the same.

Thanks to each and every one of you who spends time helping our fishy friends!

As spring approaches, get out and wet a line and enjoy the great fishing opportunities we have here in Wyoming.

Editor’s Note: If your chapter would like to be included in the WYTU “Chapter Chatter” section, please send your brief information to Mike Jensen at: trouthut@gmail.com. The deadline for the summer edition will be June 1. Any chapter information and photos must be received by that date.

Please like us... on Facebook that is!

Join the conversation and keep up-to-date on what’s new and exciting at Wyoming Trout Unlimited!

Page 13

WYTUclassifieds WYTU CALENDAR DRIFT BOATS

dark green, silver and white color! $9,500.00/ OBO. Call Mike (575) 749-0549.

2011 HYDE LH SIGNATURE SERIES XL LOW PROFILE DRIFT BOAT. If you are looking for a quality, custom drift boat, look no further. This low side, XL boat has a lot of extras and features including walk-thru floor plan (no

MISCELLANEOUS

WYTU CAN KOOZIE. Get your great looking brown and gold can koozie with the WYTU logo on it! Only $5 while supplies last! Call Scott Christy in Lander at (307) 332-6700 or by e-mailing him at: schristy@tu.org.

Reach over 1,700 members of Wyoming Trout Unlimited with your classified ad in this quarterly newsletter! For only $20, you can have your ad placed in the Summer 2014 newsletter that will be published on July 1! To place your ad, contact Wyoming Coordinator Scott Christy at (307) 3326700 ext. 12 or e-mail him at schristy@tu.org.

approach to the council’s fall meeting planned for this year. This year’s meeting will be held August 22-24, 2014 at the beautiful Whiskey Basin Conservation camp outside of Dubois.

As discussed at previous meetings, this meeting will be less formal than previous council meetings and will include more tours and sightseeing.

Watch for the WYTU summer 2014 newsletter that will be out the first part of July for complete details on how to register for the event.

SEPTEMBER 3-7, 2014 The Trout Unlimited Annual meeting will be held in Sante Fe, New Mexico.

SEPTEMBER 18-19, 2014 The Utah Single Fly event will take place on the famous Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam. For more information, go to: http://www.tu.org/getinvolved/national-events/2014-utahsingle-fly-event.

n Wyoming legislature approves $621,576 grand for Yellowstone Lake Project n TU selects Crow Creek diversion on Salt River in Star Valley as site of fish ladder project n WYTU and JHTU to host Second Annual Tie-One-On Banquet n Annual spring meeting to be held in Green River in May n Partnerships formed to restore famous Flat Creek in Jackson n Two Jackson anglers compete in world master’s competition n Much, much more

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: 250 North 1st Street Lander, Wyoming 82520

WYOMING TROUT UNLIMITED

stepping over benches), lots of storage capability, G4 protective bottom, carbon fiber counter balanced oars, spare oar, EZ pull floor mounted anchor system, anchor, galvanized trailer with mag wheels, trailer anchor nest, stinger hitch that is wired for second boat towing capability, spare tire, tongue jack stand and new tires, and travel/storage cover.

Will also throw in three Cabela’s full motion life jackets (green), hand bilge pump, throw rope and a few other goodies. Great sage,

GREAT LOOKING WYOMING TROUT UNLIMITED HATS. Everybody is talking about them and everybody wants one! Get your WYTU ball cap today for only $20. Order yours by calling Scott Christy in Lander at (307) 332-6700 or by e-mailing him at: schristy@tu.org.

continued from page 5