The
TROUT TALE
The official newsletter of the Wyoming Council of Trout Unlimited Volume 2, Issue 2
Winter 2014
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: A fond farewell from former WYTU Chairman Mike Jensen.....Page 2
Hazlewood appointed as Interim Chair of WYTU Wyoming Trout Unlimited (WYTU) Vice Chairman Calvin Hazlewood has been appointed as interim chairman of WYTU. The appointment became official on November 30 after the WYTU executive committee voted on the matter during their monthly meeting on Nov. 25. Hazlewood’s appointment comes after former WYTU chair Mike Jensen resigned his position due to his recent career move to Calvin New Mexico to Hazlewood publish four newspapers for Stevenson Newspapers. Hazlewood served as vice chairman for WYTU and also currently serves as president of the Seedskadee TU Chapter in Green River/Rock Springs. “Without question, Calvin is the right person to step into this position. He will take this outstanding organization to the next level,” said Jensen. A special election will be held at the council’s spring meeting in May to officially fill the chairman position as well as Hazlewood’s vacant vice chair position, and other positions if need be.
Reflecting on the past... and the future
By STEVEN BRUTGER Wyoming Energy Coordinator Sportsmen’s Conservation Project
I
ce is starting to form on many rivers and most of the big game seasons are closed. It’s time to tie flies, sip whisky by the fire and maybe chase a few birds if you are so inclined. The beginning of winter is also a good time to take stock on the year, look at what we have accomplished and take note of where we are headed. For the Sportsmen’s Conservation Project it has been a busy, A gorgeous Wyom ing cutthroat trout . successful year, but much remains to be WYTU PHOTO/Ste ven Brutger done. Southwest Wyoming’s Little Mountain area remains one of Trout Unlimited’s (TU) highest priorities in the state. This year, in addition to habitat improvements on Red Creek and reconnecting several miles of spawning habitat on Gooseberry Creek, we moved closer to the creation of a long-term management plan for the area that will help protect these places for generations to come. The Bureau of Land Management is updating their management plan for the next 20 years and we have been working closely with them, and other stakeholders, to ensure that it protects this unique area and the investment that TU has put into restoring native trout habitat. We have also been successful in preventing trans-basin diversions, like the Million Pipeline, from moving forward. The Green River supports a sustainable economy that includes agriculture, recreation, and world-class fisheries, which would be jeopardized by shipping water from the Green to be used for watering lawns in Colorado. To help be part of the solution, TU has just completed a report, called “Filling the Gap,” that provides a series of recommendations for how communities can manage their water supplies more efficiently, decreasing the need for projects like the one Mr. Million proposed. To protect our rivers and their resources, we will continue working to develop solutions
update
See REFLECTIONS, page 3
NOTES FROM THE PAST CHAIRMAN A fond farewell...
T
he faint sound of the second hand on my wall clock could be heard in spite of the occasional sigh or grunt from my two labs — Deuce and Gunner — who were sprawled out on the floor and snoozing. Outside it was cold. Damn cold. Something like 14below zero. Inside, it was quiet, warm and peaceful in my home office as I noticed my coffee cup was empty and the new day’s sun was peeking over the eastern horizon. A good day to drink coffee and finish tying flies for holiday gifts, I thought to myself as I stared outside in search of the right words to put into this column. Many of you are aware that a new career opportunity has come my way and as you read this edition of the Trout Tale, the holidays will be over and I will be driving to New Mexico to assume my new duties as publisher running four newspapers in the east central part of the state. It is with a heavy heart that I’ll be leaving some very good friends as well as my beloved Wyoming. However, an incredible career opportunity presented itself and I’m excited for the new challenge and adventure. As I look back over the past three and a half years of being involved with Wyoming Trout Unlimited (WYTU), I am filled with pride on how far this council has come, and how much it has accomplished. Thanks to the incredible efforts of the many passionate, dedicated and talented officers, volunteers and staff members, WYTU is headed in the right direction and on track for success. That’s something that each and every member of WYTU can be very proud of. This council has big goals and dreams. And with the continued support of the chapters and members around the Cowboy State, I have no doubt that those goals and dreams will be realized. It’s been an honor and privilege to serve Wyoming Trout Unlimited in several capacities over the past few years. I’ve enjoyed watching the council grow and a solid foundation has been laid for WYTU to continue to grow, prosper and make a significant difference with our famed waters around Wyoming. During that same time frame, I’ve grown quite fond and quite close to several individuals in WYTU. I’ve forged many new friendships and established new fly fishing friends with whom I thoroughly enjoy spending time, and for whom I have great respect and admiration. I wish I could thank each of you by name in this space, but there simply isn’t room. You know who you are and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I will, however, congratulate my very dear friend, fishing partner and drift boat driver Calvin Hazlewood for stepping “up to the plate” and assuming the role of
chairman for WYTU. I know, without a doubt, that Calvin’s strong leadership will take WYTU to the next level. Simply put, he’s the right man for the right job. Kudos, ol’ buddy. While I’ve stepped down as chairman of WYTU, I’m excited that I will still be involved with the council — albeit from afar — as editor of this newsletter. At least through the end of the fiscal year — September 2014. I thank the executive committee for allowing me to do that. Well, it’s time to go. I hope to see you on a great piece of western fly water sometime soon. God bless America. And God bless Wyoming Trout Unlimited. My friends, I’ll leave you with the immortal words sung by the singing cowboy Roy Rogers and his wife Dale Evans.... Happy trails to you, until we meet again. Happy trails to you, keep smilin’ until then. Who cares about the clouds when we’re together? Just sing a song and bring the sunny weather. Happy trails to you, ‘til we meet again. Some trails are happy ones, Others are blue. It’s the way you ride the trail that counts, Here’s a happy one for you. Happy trails to you, until we meet again. Happy trails to you, keep smilin’ until then. Who cares about the clouds when we’re together? Just sing a song and bring the sunny weather. Happy trails to you, til we meet again.
Mike Jensen is the past chair of WYTU and currently serves as the editor of the council’s “Trout Tale” newsletter where he will continue to compile the newsletter through the end of September. He and his wife, Jodi, have three terrific kids, a beautiful granddaughter, and a couple of hunting and fishing labs. Mike recently moved to New Mexico to continue his career as a newspaperman and he’s looking forward to exploring outdoor opportunities in the “Land of Enchantment.” E-mail Mike at trouthut@gmail.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 Spring 2014 newsletter (April, May, June) will be March 1, 2014. Please send any and all contributions for the Spring 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
WINTER 2014
REFLECTIONS, continued from page 1 turnover of many key Forest Service positions, we hosted a horseback ride and overflight of the area for new Forest Service staff, Wyoming Game and Fish employees, congressional staffers, and landowners. In the coming year we aim to build upon these relationships, work collaboratively, and ensure that the Forest Service makes a decision that will protect this great resource. While most of the wild places we work in begin to be blanketed by snow, and trout seek refuge in deep holes, we can be confident that they will be waiting for us when spring comes. So enjoy the wood stove, seek out open water if you dare, and enjoy the winter. All of this great work could not be done without the help of our valued members and volunteers. For more information contact Steven Brutger, Wyoming Energy Coordinator, sbrutger@tu.org Steven Brutger serves as the teven Brutger PHOTO/S WYTU Range. g Wyoming Wyomin scenic and Wyoming’s incredible Energy Coordinator to meet the water needs of communities that will simultaneously protect for Trout Unlimited. He and his coldwater fisheries. wife, Sarah, have two children and In the Wyoming Range, we remain committed to protecting 44,000 two black labs and live in Lander. acres of contested oil and gas leases that contain critical populations of Steven enjoys hunting and fishing Colorado River cutthroats. As the Forest Service decides what it wants to in Wyoming’s great outdoors do with the leases, we have organized over 30 sporting groups who want every chance he gets. E-mail to see the area kept just like it is, home to thriving native trout. With Steven at: sbrutger@tu.org
WYOMING GAME and FISH DEPARTMENT
Partners in conservation
By SCOTT CHRISTY Wyoming Coordinator Trout Unlimited It is clear that Wyoming isÊblessedÊwith astoundingly incredibleÊwildlife and fisheries and that many of us believe that these resources are part of what makes Wyoming special to live in. The fact that we have this quality of fishing, hunting, and wildlife viewing is not by happenstance, and is in no small part, due to the efforts of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. However the departmentÊthatÊwe so rely upon to keep our wildlife and fisheries healthy is facing serious cuts. Right now, many cherished and valuable programs are disappearingÊdue to budget shortfalls caused by inflation.ÊFor instance, the annual Youth Hunting and Fishing Expo, opportunities for the average hunter to hunt and/or fish on private land (Access Yes program), and ability for the Game and Fish to quickly respond to agriculture and industry’s needs are suffering. In addition, Wyoming Game and Fish will stock 1,000,000 fewer
WINTER 2014
fish this coming year in Wyoming waters. Wyoming’s tourism economy is based upon our wildlife and generates 1.1 billion dollars annually — second only to oil and gas revenue. We need to strengthen one of our states strongest sectors rather than reduce funding to the agency that ensures there are plenty of fish/wildlife for hunters and wildlife watchers. That’s why Wyoming Trout Unlimited is asking the state legislature to support a well-funded and independent Game and Fish Department. And we can use your help. Two important bills to fund the Game and Fish Department recently passed the Joint Travel, Recreation, and Wildlife Committee and will head to the Legislature during the upcoming sessionÊin February. A modest 10 percent license fee increase for resident and nonresident
Wyoming Game and Fish will stock 1,000,000 fewer fish this coming year in Wyoming waters
See GAME AND FISH, page 4 Page 3
GAME AND FISH, continued from page 3
WYTU NEWS NOTES
Fall council meeting held in Laramie a big success
WYTU PHOTO/Calvin Hazlewood
hunters and a bill that would fund health care insurance for employees through the state’s General Fund, just like every other state agency.ÊThese two bills represent short term fixes to fund Game and Fish, and will start to address inflation catching up to the department’s budget since the last license fee increase in 2008 and we support them.Ê If these bills are to pass, Wyoming’s elected officials — especially in the Wyoming House of Representatives — will need to hear support for them from their constituents. You can helpÊpreserve the health of Wyoming’s incredible hunting and fishing opportunities by contacting your legislators and voicing support for aÊvibrant and effective Wyoming Game and Fish Department and voicing support for these two bills. For more information on what you can do to help, please visit www.wyomingtu.org. As always, thanks for 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. Ê
The Wyoming Trout Unlimited Fall Council Meeting was held November 1-3, 2013 in Laramie at the Hilton Garden Inn and was another great success for the council. This is the first time that WYTU has conducted a council meeting in the southeast part of the state. A good turnout of council, chapter and staff representatives were on hand for the weekend event. Unfortunately the weather was on the chilly and windy side, causing some issues with those who wanted to fish on Friday afternoon on area waters. However, some brave anglers did manage to get out and wet a line. Saturday’s business meeting featured a variety of reports from volunteers and staffers including Wyoming Coordinator Scott Christy, WYTU Chair Mike Jensen, WYTU Treasurer Dave Sweet, NLC Representative Jim Broderick, Conservation Committee Chair Diana Miller, Women’s Committee Chair Hillary Walrath and Youth Committee Chair Haley Capozza. The group also heard from Mark Fowden of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department regarding the continuing challenges of the department’s funding shortfalls. Informative staff reports and presentations were given and those on hand heard from TU Endorsed Business Director Walt Gasson, Wyoming Energy Coordinator Steven Brutger, Sportsmen Conservation Project Director Dave Glenn and Wyoming Water Project Director Cory Toye. A large portion of the afternoon meeting was spent working with members of the Laramie Valley Chapter who were on hand to discuss their great project work as well as to help overcome some of the challenges the chapter is currently experiencing. Several presentations were made on Saturday afternoon including the passing of the WYTU “Bucking Fish” award. The Jackson Hole Chapter presented the “Bucking Fish” award to the Seedskadee Chapter for their continued great work on habitat restoration and fish rescue projects. Pictured at left are TU staff and active chapter members Hillary and Nick Walrath, Seedskadee Chapter President Calvin Hazlewood, Jackson Hole Chapter member Jay Buchner and Seedskadee Chapter Vice President Pat Newell. This is the second time the Seedskadee Chapter has won the award. Wyoming Water Project Director Cory Toye presented outgoing WYTU Chairman Mike Jensen with a beautiful piece of Wyoming Cowboy artwork on behalf of the TU staffers in Wyoming to thank him for his service to Wyoming Trout Unlimited. Jensen sadly resigned his position during the fall meeting due to his career move to New Mexico to serve as publisher of four newspapers at the first of the year. On Sunday morning, Trout Unlimited Customer Service Specialist Doug Agee, who is based out of Salt Lake City, Utah, gave an excellent presentation on the new Trout Unlimited website. He demonstrated how chapters and councils can take advantage of having their own websites embedded within TU’s website and hosted at no charge. The WYTU executive committee wishes to thank everyone who attended the weekend event, particularly those who traveled from long distances. Plans are currently underway for the Wyoming Trout Unlimited’s Annual Spring Meeting that will be held in Green River on May 16-18, 2014. Watch for more details to come.
See NEWS NOTES, page 5 Page 4
WINTER 2014
NEWS NOTES, continued from page 4 Trout Unlimited Director of Volunteer Operations gives birth to healthy baby girl Congratulations to Beverly and Shawn Smith of Jackson on the birth of their first child, Virginia Stuart Smith. She was born on November 2, 2013, and weighed 7 lbs., 4 ounces. She measured 19-1/2 inches long. Beverly serves as the Director of Volunteer Operations for Trout Unlimited and is based out of Jackson. Everyone at Wyoming Trout Unlimited congratulates the Smith family and wishes them the very best and the happiest of holidays with their new addition at home. According to mom, Beverly, everyone is healthy and doing very well. In fact, mom and dad have already taken baby Virginia out fishing. Well done, team Smith! Well done, indeed.
Seedskadee Chapter, Popo Agie Chapter and WYTU Council all receive coveted Wyoming Game and Fish Commission tags Seedskadee Chapter President Calvin Hazlewood and chapter members are thrilled to have received a highly coveted Wyoming Game and Fish Commission big game tag from District No. 2 Commissioner Mark Anselmi recently. According to Hazlewood, the revenues generated from the sale of this big game tag will go toward the chapter’s Seedskadee fish screen project. Wyoming Coordinator Scott Christy is also pleased to report that the Popo Agie Anglers and the Wyoming Council also received a commissioner’s tag each from District No. 7 Commissioner Richard Klouda from Lander. Christy noted that all funds generated from the sale of the two commissioner tags will go toward funding chapter and council projects. A special thanks to both commissioners for their outstanding support!
Deadline for chapter tax returns fast approaching As a reminder to all Trout Unlimited chapters in Wyoming, all Federal tax returns for each chapter must be filed by February 15, 2014. Most chapters will be able to file an easy to complete form. For more information, go to: epostcard.form990.org or contact Wyoming Coordinator Scott Christy at (307) 332-6700.
Beware of Trout Magazine scam According to Vice President for Volunteer Operations and Watershed Programs Bryan Moore, some Trout Unlimited members recently received an invoice from Platinum Publishing Service located in White City, Oregon, for renewal of TROUT magazine at a cost of $79.95. This is not a legitimate invoice from Trout Unlimited. Trout Unlimited is in no way affiliated with Platinum Publishing. If you receive an invoice from Platinum Publishing for a renewal of your TROUT magazine, please disregard that invoice, but rest assured www.tu.org and TU’s Woolly Bugger, West Virginia, post office box are fully operational, secure and ready to handle your membership dues and contributions. TROUT magazine is a benefit of TU membership and included in your membership renewal. As always, you may renew your TU membership via our official, secure website at www.tu.org. TU regular membership remains $35 per year. Trout Unlimited officials are not clear at this time how this company obtained mailing addresses for TU members, but suspect they have been taken from fly fishing industry magazine lists that Platinum Publishing features on their website. Trout Unlimited will be initiating legal notification to Platinum Publishing to immediately cease and desist this unauthorized activity of billing for TROUT magazine.
Funny man Hank Patterson to serve as auctioneer at UBRTU banquet in April The Upper Bear River Trout Unlimited Chapter in Evanston is pleased to announce 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 appearance, 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) 679-0074. 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
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
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
WINTER 2014
Page 5
The road has been long... but always rewarding
WYTU PHOTO/Dave Sweet
River. utiful and iconic Yellowstone The absolutely wonderful, bea optimism. The netting crews again netted just over 300,000 lake trout. How can that be a good By DAVE SWEET sign? Well, it took about 28 percent more effort to capture those lakers in spite of new Yellowstone Lake Special Project telemetry data that helped guide those netters to the fish. This is the second year in a row Manager for Wyoming Trout Unlimited that the CPUE (catch per unit effort) declined significantly. The crews continue to pursue the lakers wherever they go in the lake. They even set up what was called the “Berlin Wall” of nets around Carrington Island, where lakers are known to spawn and captured many potential spawners. Even the government shutdown didn’t stop the netting as hen the East Yellowstone Trout Unlimited Chapter in Cody entered into the Superintendent Wenk considered this activity a “critical” service. fight in the fall of 2007 to “Save the Yellowstone Cutthroat” of Yellowstone Lake, they Meanwhile, a mark/recapture study of lake trout was conducted to finally get a true had no idea how big the project would get or how long it would take to start seeing a population estimate. Although the analysis isn’t complete, I can tell you that 56 percent of recovery. After all, this is a simple problem. All you have to do to recover the cutthroats is the marked fish were recaptured (netted) after marking. This is very encouraging. to get rid of the lake trout that were somehow introduced into the system. Seems like a The telemetry study really got going full steam this past summer as a full-time pretty simple solution. The strategy also didn’t seem too tough — just net out the majority statistician and a technician were hired to run the study and analyze the data. Not only of the adults and keep the rest from successfully spawning. But, six years later we are were these data used to guide the netting, they were also used to identify three more much wiser than we were back then. potential spawning areas on the lake in addition to Carrington Island. In September, these The road has been long, sometimes difficult, sometimes frustrating, but always areas were covered up in massive receiver arrays know as VPS arrays so that detailed rewarding. The greatest rewards have been seeing the incredible support that fellow Trout mapping of lake trout movements within the areas could be accomplished. A total of over Unlimited members, anglers, sportsmen and women, conservationists and agency folks 125 borrowed receivers were used in these arrays. In contrast, in 2012 the Carrington have demonstrated for this iconic ecosystem. With only a few exceptions, the vast Island array had nine receivers. Although the data has not yet been analyzed, I’m majority of people that we have met refuse to accept as inevitable, the loss of this confident that any spawning grounds within the boundaries will be pinpointed. population. They have been willing to argue for its survival and to put their energy and Also this past fall, the known Carrington Island spawning bed was a test site for their resources into the effort. placing egg collection baskets into the substrate. Data from these baskets will be used to The struggle is far from over, but after six years and a huge concerted effort by all learn a great deal about deposition into the substrate, hatching survival, and the ability of involved, we may finally be on the brink of a “recovery.” The Yellowstone National Park electro-shocking to kill those eggs. This last study phase was interrupted by the shutdown fisheries folks will admonish me for being too optimistic, but I can’t help myself. All one but the researchers spent the time on Swan Lake in Montana doing similar studies there has to do is look at the results of this past summer’s work on the lake to understand my that will be applicable to Yellowstone. All of this increase in activity would not have been possible without the tremendous support that the study team received from the Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resources Trust committee. This group toured the Lake last June and subsequently awarded the effort $150,000 for the 2013 work. And more importantly, they urged us to submit a grant for the balance of the next three years. We can’t thank them enough. And finally, the real reason for my optimism is that we are seeing a positive response
W
update Page 6
See YELLOWSTONE LAKE, page 5 WINTER 2014
YELLOWSTONE LAKE, continued from page 4 in the cutthroats. Many indicators point to a small but consistent and meaningful rebound. Most telling is the distribution netting numbers for the natives. For the second year in a row, the overall numbers are up; but more importantly, the numbers of surviving juvenile cutthroats have shown significant increases. This is what we all have been striving for. I wish I could say our work is done; but it’s not. We can’t let up. To slow down now would only allow a reversal of our progress. More money has to be raised to continue the work. More nets must be set to continue the downward trend in the lake trout population. More transmitters have to be inserted to monitor movements. More receiver arrays have to be established to be sure that we know “all” of the lake trout spawning areas. And, we have to continue to pursue egg and fry suppression. Lastly, we have to ensure that the public understands why we are removing lake trout to save the native cutthroats. And, we have to ensure that the governmental agencies continue to be funded for this effort. This public relations part of the project has sometimes been the most challenging. A small, but vocal, group determined to let the lake trout take over in Yellowstone Lake has challenged the costs and direction of this project. We cannot afford to let them succeed. To that end, it is important that our legislators hear support for this project and we can use your help. We ask every TU member to help by writing to our legislators at the addresses below to voice your support for the positive direction the NPS is taking to Save the Yellowstone Cutthroat in Yellowstone Lake. Details on how you can support the project can be found on our www.wyomingtu.org” website. Please write your letters or send your emails today.
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
n Senator Michael B. Enzi 379A Russell Senate Building Washington, DC 20510 www.enzi.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/contact?p=e-mailsenator-enzi n Senator John Barrasso 307 Senate Dirksen Building Washington, DC 20510-2603 www.barrasso.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?FuseAction ContactUs.ContactForm n Representative Cynthia Lummis 113 Cannon House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 www.lummis.house.gov/contact/ 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.
WINTER 2014
With your donation of $100 or more, you’ll receive a great looking WYTU “bucking fish” ball cap! 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
Zip
Phone e-mail address My check is enclosed Charge my: Visa
MasterCard
AMEX
Credit Card Number Expiration
CVC Number
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.
Page 7
WYOMING coordinator REPORT
Looking back... L
ooking back at another year for WYTU in the rear view mirror, I’m pleased to say that 2013 was arguably Wyoming Trout Unlimited’s strongest year yet for fisheries conservation in Wyoming. Through the incredible efforts of our members, volunteers, chapters, council and staff, we’ve accomplished a significant amount for fisheries in Wyoming. A few highlights from 2013 would include: n The Wyoming Council of Trout Unlimited received Trout Unlimited’s award for Council Excellence in 2013. We were quite honored to have this award bestowed upon us and it is certainly a testament to all of the effort put forth by our 11 chapters and over 1700 members. n Wyoming Trout Unlimited membership grew over 10 percent. n Our council held its first-ever joint fundraiser with the Jackson Hole Trout Unlimited Chapter at our Annual Council Meeting in Jackson in May. This successful evening brought out over 250 people in support of fisheries conservation in Wyoming. n We have five excellent Adopt-A-Trout programs underway in Wyoming educating a total of over 700 students about fisheries while gathering needed management data from our Adopt-A-Trout fish movement studies. n Trout Unlimited staff completed a wealth of reconnection projects across Wyoming, including an impressive fish ladder on the Greybull River and a dam removal on the Gros Ventre River. n With Trout Unlimited’s opposition, the Million Pipeline proposal to pump water out of the Green River to the Front Range of Colorado has floundered and stalled. As you would expect, we’ll keep monitoring this situation and working to protect this river from threats. n As you’ll read elsewhere in this issue, there are encouraging signs that the lake trout suppression efforts are allowing Yellowstone cutthroat numbers to increase on Yellowstone Lake.
WYTU CHAPTER CHATTER SEEDSKADEE CHAPTER
By CALVIN HAZLEWOOD Chapter President Happy New Year from the Seedskadee Chapter! We hope this finds everyone doing well and having enjoyed a truly wonderful holiday season. The Seedskadee Chapter has been busy since getting back together after our summer break, and many of us have enjoyed fall fishing on the Green. We had some interesting weather around here since the first of September that has impacted the river and the fishing, but in between storms the fishing has been pretty good. We hope that many of you have been out and about as
Page 8
n Wyoming Trout Unlimited helped host the Second Annual Teen Summit in Jackson this past summer. The summit brought over 30 teens from around the country to Wyoming to discuss how Trout Unlimited can better engage the next generation of fisheries stewards. Of course there are many more great achievements for Trout Unlimited and personal achievements for our members as well (including the photo of first time carp and pike on a fly), in fact too many to list, but the take away message is we’re growing our ability to collectively do positive work in the Cowboy State. On behalf of Trout Unlimited, I’d like to thank you for your commitment to keeping Wyoming a place where we love to fish and where we can be proud of our coldwater fisheries.ÊLet’s hope we can improve on it in 2014! Best wishes for a Happy and Prosperous New Year! 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.
well, spending quality time on the water with family and friends. The chapter resumed our monthly meetings in October where we shared our summer experiences and activities. We enjoyed a great presentation on fishing the Green below Fontenelle, by local guide and school teacher Dan Parson, at our October meeting. Our November meeting was highlighted by a visit from our WYTU Coordinator Scott Christy. Scott visited with the chapter about happenings across the state, the WYTU Fall Meeting, Adopt-ATrout programs and other projects and activities throughout the state. SEEDSKADEE We had a great CHAPTER December holiday dinner for our chapter members that was held on December 5 at the Outlaw Inn in Rock Springs. We shared some good food and fun with a white elephant gift exchange. We also elected new officers for 2014. Calvin Hazlewood was re-elected as president, Pat Newell was elected vice president
and Scott Neff was elected as treasurer. Our secretary position remains open at this time. The new officers and members are looking forward to another great year for our chapter. Some of our chapter highlights from the late summer and fall include: n We had a great turnout for our Seedskadee Hamp II ditch fish rescue on October 26. Please see page 12 in this newsletter for more details and information regarding this project. n The Seedskadee Chapter was recognized with the WYTU “Bucking Fish” award at the WYTU Fall Council meeting in Laramie held on November 13. This is the second time the award has been presented to our chapter. n Continued monthly “Lying and Tying” events for chapter members and friends to get together and have some fun tying flies. n The Chapter was the recipient of a 2014 Wyoming Game and Fish Commissioner Tag thanks to Commissioner Mark Anselmi. We plan to use the proceeds from the license sale to help with our fish screen project on Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge.
See CHAPTER CHATTER, page 9 WINTER 2014
CHAPTER CHATTER, continued from page 8 n We are excited to start working with our local TU staff — Nick and Hillary Walrath — to get an Adopt-A-Trout program started in this area. From all of us in the Seedskadee chapter, we extend our best wishes to everyone for a Happy New Year. Keep up the great work in your chapters.
dents, working with Green River Project Manager Nick Walrath, collected data to show trout migration in the Bear River. This data was critical to show how the city’s diversion UPPER BEAR RIVER CHAPTER dam was a fish “A River Reconnected” passage barrier. Subsequent fundBy JIM HISSONG ing for the project Chapter Treasurer was now possible. In 2012, UBRTU Thanks to a project spearheaded by Upper successfully Bear River Trout Unlimited, Bonneville cutthroat acquired another trout, brown trout, rainbow trout, Rocky Mountain EAS grant for Members of Trout Unlimited, Rocky Mountain Ranch Management, whitefish and bluehead suckers will reclaim $10,000 to specifiUpper Bear River Trout Unlimited Chapter and Flare Construction access to their historical spawning grounds. cally fund planexamine the finished fish ladder project on Dec. 6. Flare The old, abandoned City of Evanston water ning and design of Construction completed the project in four days and in brutal, subdiversion structure eight miles south of town, with options to bypass zero temperatures. its six foot apron wall, was a barrier to upstream the city’s defunct WYTU PHOTO/Mike Jensen migration of diversion dam. At native fish spefirst, it was anticiWestmoreland Kemmerer, Inc. ($6,250 in granite cies. With final pated the entire structure would be removed as a rock); Ellingford Brothers, Inc. ($1,000 in prefab construction means to restore the river. However, subsequent concrete blocks); TU staff ($3,000 planning and of a fish ladresearch revealed that a few landowners still prep... thanks Nick Walrath, Hillary Walrath and Jim der on received culinary water from the diversion. The DeRito); City of Evanston ($2,000 research by engiDecember 5, project was scaled back to reconnect the river for neering and planning staff... thanks Paul Knopf the dam has been breached and 53 miles of the aquatic species with a fish ladder. and Brian Honey); plus 420 volunteer hours from Bear River have been reopened. Once plans were drawn up by Rocky UBRTU members. All said, fish ladder planning, Strategic planning, design, and construction Mountain Ranch Management, a geomorphic design, and construction cost approximately of the fish ladder have been years in the making. surveying and engineering firm very familiar with $75,000. In 2011, UBRTU applied for and received an TU’s goals, it was time to meet with the main prinOnce all the permits and legal mumbo “Embrace-A-Stream” (EAS) grant for $7,500 from ciples that would be affected by project. UBRTU jumbo were set in stone, it was time to get track Trout Unlimited for the purpose of funding the leadership met with City of Evanston, ranchers hoes in the river. During low-water conditions in Adopt-a-Trout (AAT) program in Derek Haider’s and landowners near the project site, anglers and the past month, access to project site was classroom at Evanston Middle School. other interested parties. Consensus agreement granted by the Unruh ranch. After years of prepaUBRTU members caught and fitted Bonneville indicated that a fish ladder penetrating the diverration, it only took Flare Construction four days to cutthroat trout with radio telemetry tags. AAT stusion barrier was a punch a hole in the diversion dam and lay out “win-win” situation the gradual slope of the fish ladder. Our fishy for all. It was time friends seeking romance in the headwaters of the to procure fundBear should be ecstatic. ing for construcA big shout out to Evanston, Uinta County, tion. and the many members of the community who Wyoming had a hand in this project. Successful completion Wildlife and of the fish ladder has given UBRTU confidence to Natural Resources begin work on another project . . . removal of a Trust contributed push up dam and replacement with a fish-friendly $25,880 to the diversion and fish screen on the Booth Ditch. Stay project. In addituned. Upper Bear River Trout Unlimited is committion, funds were ted to its goal to “Bring back the Bear!” accepted from UBRTU ($5000); Western Native Trout Initiative Editor’s Note: Help spread the word on your chap($2,000); and US ter’s great work, accomplishments and activities! If Fish and Wildlife your chapter would like to be included in the WYTU Program “Chapter Chatter” section, please send your brief ($10,000). In-kind information to Scott Christy at: schristy@tu.org or Upper Bear River Trout Unlimited Chapter President Rick Slagowski is contributions Mike Jensen at: trouthut@gmail.com. The deadline “super excited” as work begins on the chapter’s fish ladder project were secured for the Spring 2014 edition (April, May, June) will be at the City of Evanston’s old diversion dam on the Bear River. from March 1, 2014. WYTU PHOTO/Jim Hissong
WINTER 2014
Page 9
NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
I
7. Energy development shall comply with standard guidelines, best management practices, and regulations put in place to minimize the impact of development on fish, wildlife, and people. 8. Vital fish and wildlife habitat on public lands shall be protected. Sage grouse habitat, fragile trout streams, deer and elk winter range, riparian areas, and other irreplaceable habitats must not be sacrificed. 9. All sectors of the energy industry shall pay its fair share of the cost for habitat mitigation and restoration on public lands that are impacted by development. Why We Care About Responsible 10. State and federal fish and wildlife agencies shall have adequate funding Oil and Gas Development to ensure the long-term health of fish, wildlife, and water resources on our Sportsmen for Responsible Energy Development (http://sfred.org)Êis a public lands. coalition of more than 500 businesses, organizations and individuals Ê Have you signed on? I promise it won’t take a significant amount of dedicated to conserving irreplaceable habitats so future generations can time nor will we endlessly spam you (just the occasional e-mail update). hunt and fish on America’s public lands. What your participation will do is help the coalition that is Sportsmen for The coalition is led by Trout Unlimited,Ê the Theodore Roosevelt Responsible Energy Development convince the oil and gas industry that Conservation Partnership, and the National Wildlife Federation. we, the hunters and anglers who prize our public lands for the sporting The Sportsmen for Responsible Energy Development Bill of Rights was opportunities they offer, created by hunters and understand that our anglers who want to pursuits are not entirely prevent impacts to public incompatible with their lands and ensure that they endeavors. remain a great place to Have you checked out the revamped Trout Unlimited website? No? Yes, we can protect hunt and fish, long into You’ve got to do this! Go to www.tu.org and check it out. Of particuvital trout and wildlife the future. We know that lar interest are the groups (found under the “connect” tab). In this habitat while at the same that public lands have an area, you can connect with WYTU, your local chapter, or a myriad of time realizing energy important role in the groups who have an interest similar to your own. Not finding a production. In fact, doing development of our so is a win-win for us and country’s energy group that shares your interest? Create your own! Any registered the entire country. It’s a resources. We also know user, TU member or not, can do so and it’s a great way to connect moderate approach that that it is possible to with others who share your passion for cold, clean, fishable water! works. But, we need you protect vital trout and to sign the Sportsmen’s wildlife habitat at the Bill of Rights to help us same time energy convince those in the oil and gas industry. resources are being developed, but fish and wildlife need to get a fair I don’t often ask something of you, our Trout Unlimited members, but shake. on the rare occasion I do, I hope you’ll realize that it is for something that That’s where you come in — become a business, organizational or is important and will have significant impact. If you haven’t already left individual partner by signing the Sportsmen’s Bill of Rights today and help your reading of this to ensure that our Western hunting and fishing heritage is conserved for article to sign on you can future generations. go to www.sfred.org to do so now. What You Can Do Sign theÊSportsmen’s Bill of Rights at: http://sfred.org/sign-theJim Broderick serves sportsmens-bill-of-rights. as the National Leadership Council repThe Sportsmen for Responsible Energy Development Bill of Rights resentative for the 1. The public lands that hunters and anglers depend upon shall remain in Wyoming Council of the public domain for the use of future generations. Trout Unlimited. He and 2. Hunters and anglers shall have a voice in decisions affecting energy his wife, Becky, along development on public lands. with their two dogs, 3. Public lands shall be managed for many uses, including hunting and Bear and Cooper, and a fishing. pond full of Snake River 4. Our hunting and fishing heritage shall not be jeopardized by energy cutthroat trout live in development that fails to account for the future, long-term impacts to fish, Jackson. Jim is the wildlife, and water resources. owner of Rocky 5. Energy development shall not harm water resources that are priceless to Mountain Ranch Management people and vital to wildlife. and in his free time, he enjoys driving drift boats in search of epic fly fish6. Hunters and anglers shall not be forced to pay for the costs associated ing. E-mail Jim at: jim@rmrm.biz. with poorly planned energy development on public lands. n each of the previous articles for this column, I have referenced both Trout Unlimited’s and Wyoming Trout Unlimited’s involvement in oil and gas development. Becoming involved in issues related to this topic can be daunting, particularly for an individual. There is, however, something that each of us can do to ensure cold, clean, fishable water. I sent every TU member in Wyoming an e-mail not too long ago that provided a way they can help. In fact, I feel so strongly about this subject that the same e-mail went to every TU member throughout the western United States. In the event you sent it to the digital circular file (aka the trash) without reading it, the important parts are below.
NLC Tip of the Issue:
Page 10
WINTER 2014
Henry’s Fork
happenings By HILLARY WALRATH Trout Unlimited Salinity Control Project Coordinator for the Henry’s Fork of the Green River
T
his past year, Trout Unlimited (TU) partnered with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to create a cooperative position for a salinity control project coordinator in the Henrys Fork of the Green River drainage. The purpose of this position is to work with private landowners and identify potential irrigation projects that will improve irrigation efficiencies and benefit the local fishery. Although still new, this partnership has already led to some exciting upcoming projects and discoveries. The Henrys Fork drains into Flaming Gorge Reservoir near the Wyoming and Utah border. Several conservation populations of native Colorado River cutthroat trout (CRCT) occupy this drainage, as well as many other native aquatic species. Flaming Gorge Reservoir, however, contains non-native species, such as the predatory Nick Walrath, Green River Project burbot. TU and the Wyoming Manager for Trout Unlimited, holds a Game and Fish Department Burbot (Ling Cod), which is a non-native (WGFD) sampled the river species in the Green River drainage. above and below the dam WYTU PHOTO/Hillary Walrath this spring and confirmed that the only structure preventing burbot from accessing the drainage is the Peoples Canal diversion dam, which is located approximately four miles upstream of Flaming Gorge Reservoir.
This wooden dam has served as a fish barrier for decades, but is now in a dilapidated state and could fail in the near future. If burbot were to pass the dam, they could have devastating effects on the native fish population. To prevent such a catastrophe from happening, TU is partnering with the Peoples Canal Company, WGFD, NRCS, the Bureau of Land Management and many others to improve the wooden diversion dam to a concrete fish barrier. This is a great example of a win-win solution because the irrigators along the Peoples Canal will have a new, secure diversion that gives them their allocated water and over 150 stream miles of CRCT habitat will be protected from non-native species. The TU/NRCS partnership has opened lots of doors in a drainage for which there is little information available. This past October, TU and WGFD personnel backpack electroshocked the main-stem of the Henrys Fork and one if its tributaries, Birch Creek. CRCT were historically thought to occupy Birch Creek, but there has never been one documented. This particular stretch of water had never been sampled before and the landowners didn’t even think there were fish in the creek. However, TU and WGFD shocked several sections and found the first ever documented CRCT in Birch Creek. This was an exciting find because this creek was not believed to be able to hold trout due to its frequent dewatering. The fact that this fish was found indicates that CRCTs are present and still trying to access their historic habitat. This particular fish was found on the lower end of Birch Creek and the lack of habitat upstream is likely preventing fish from further access. However, future partnerships with landowners and habitat work along this creek could lead to opening up an entire tributary to this native trout species. These are just a few examples of upcoming projects in the Henrys Fork drainage. There are plenty more projects in the works. Each one demonstrates that a little conversation and cooperation go a long when it comes to trout restoration.
update
Hillary Walrath was hired on as Trout Unlimited’s Salinity Control Project Coordinator for the Henry’s Fork of the Green River in 2013. Hillary received her master’s degree in Rangeland Ecology and Watershed Management from the University of Wyoming in 2012. She lives in Green River, Wyoming, with her husband Nick, two dogs and five ducks. She loves any excuse to be outside and fills her free time with fishing, hunting, birding, hiking and fixing up their new home. LEFT: The People’s Canal diversion dam is the only thing holding back Burbot from devastating the native fish population above the diversion dam. TOP RIGHT: A picture of the first documented Colorado River cutthroat trout in Birch Creek. WYTU PHOTOS/Hillary Walrath
WINTER 2014
Page 11
Lending a helping hand n Over 1,200 fish rescued from ditches in Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge By WYOMING GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT Green River Regional Office
GREEN RIVER — The Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD), staff and volunteers from the Seedskadee, Upper Bear River and Popo Agie Anglers chapters of Trout Unlimited, numerous volunteers, and personnel from Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge (SNWR) combined efforts to complete a fish rescue operation on Saturday, Oct. 26. “Over 40 adults and youth were present to help conduct electroshocking and fish capture operations, as ditches used to irrigate wetlands on SNWR are drawn down for the winter,” said Green River Fisheries Biologist Anna Senecal. “After the fish were captured, they were taken by buckets to an aerated tank and then placed back into the Green River where they will have a better chance of surviving the winter. More than 1,200 trout were returned to the main stem of the river during salvage efforts.” Senecal noted the importance of regulated flow releases from Fontenelle Dam as being critical to how much water and habitat is available to juvenile fish in side channels and other lateral habitat. “While the Green River boasts a phenomenal trophy trout fishery, maintained by natural brown trout reproduction and the annual stocking of 70,000 rainbow and cutthroat trout, the river fishery is limited by the amount of available habitat for juvenile fish,” Senecal said. “Typically, smaller fish would seek safety from predation and competition in side channels or other lateral habitat. However, due to regulated flow releases from Fontenelle Dam, much of the side channel habitat on the Green River below Fontenelle has been lost. Consequently, fish
WYTU CHAPTER SPOTLIGHT
Page 12
ABOVE: Trout Unlimited volunteers and staff members shock one of the ditches during the fish rescue project last fall in the Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge. Pictured in the front are Trout Unlimited Salinity Control Project Coordinator for the Henry’s Fork of the Green River Hillary Walrath and Trout Unlimited Green River Project Manager Nick Walrath. Pictured in the back are Seedskadee Chapter President Calvin Hazlewood, Seedskadee Chapter Treasurer Scott Neff and Trout Unlimited volunteer Hank Boehm. COURTESY PHOTO/Tom Kroener, Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge Manager
seeking these types of habitats can easily become entrained in artificial ditch networks that dead-end in wetlands, where they are susceptible to predation and winter kill. To remedy this, the Wyoming Game and Fish department is both working to increase available side channel habitat and partnering with SNWR and Trout Unlimited to install self-cleaning fish screens at ditch intake structures. In addition to directly benefiting from salvaging and transporting entrained fish, the collected information (fish numbers, sizes, species, and location) will be used to justify and prioritize future fish screening projects.” SNWR manager Tom Koerner expressed his thanks to all of the participants for giving their time and energy for this worthwhile project.
See LENDING A HAND, page 13 BELOW: A great turnout of volunteers were on hand to help rescue fish from ditches and return them to the Green River last October. WYTU PHOTO/Calvin Hazlewood, Seedskadee Chapter President
FALL 2014
LENDING A HAND, continued from page 12
CALENDAR WYTU
Moving forward By NICK WALRATH Trout Unlimited Green River Project Manager The Seedskadee Chapter of Trout Unlimited has been working hard to find ways to improve a section of the Green River below Fontenelle Reservoir. The chapter is currently pursuing two projects that will directly impact the fishery. The first project started when the chapter partnered with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge, Trout Unlimited chapters, outfitters, and chapter volunteers in the fall of 2012 and again in 2013 to electroshock the ditches that provide water to Seedskadee National Wildlife refuge wetlands. These ditches also allow fish to enter from the Green River and get entrained as the water is shut off in the fall. Those fish are then lost during the winter. This project has allowed over 2,000 trout to be transferred back into the Green River over these last two years, providing valuable data and information. However, this salvage method is time consuming, labor intensive, not sustainable, and not completely effective. To address these issues, the Seedskadee chapter is seeking funding to install a self-cleaning fish screen on one of the most problematic ditches — the Hamp II ditch. This screen will prevent fish from getting entrained in the ditch, becoming trapped and failing to survive the winter. The Green River below Fontenelle Reservoir and through Seedskadee NWR is challenged with quality fish numbers. We see this effort as a very positive opportunity to help this fishery that we all cherish and value. The Seedskadee Chapter is proposing that the Hamp II Ditch be fitted with a self-cleaning, vertical traveling fish screen. This screen will stop all fish entrainment and allow the refuge to manage their wetlands properly. Wyoming Trout Unlimited has had great success with these screens over the past few years. These screens are nearly maintenance free and will last for a long time. The Hamp II ditch screen needs to allow 40 cfs to pass, which requires a large screen. To install the boom and screen the total project cost will be nearly $250,000. The chapter is pursuing many other funding opportunities but welcomes any help you would like to give to this project. ABOVE RIGHT: While most trout salvaged from the Hamp II ditch in the fall of 2013 were in the one to two year class (three to six inches), there was an occasional large fish rescued. ABOVE LEFT: This is a picture of a recently completed project on the Wind River Indian Reservation outside of Lander. The Ray Ditch pictured is much larger than the Hamp II ditch, but a similarly designed fish screen will be used. WYTU PHOTOS/Nick Walrath
“
MARCH 1, 2014 The Popo Agie Anglers Banquet will be held March 1 at the Best Western in Lander. The event will feature a great dinner, raffles, auctions and prizes as well as live music by Live Water String Band. For details on purchasing tickets, please contact John Oakleaf at (307) 7525544. MARCH 7-8, 2014 The Western Regional Trout Unlimited meeting will be held in Reno, Nevada. Keep in mind this is a great time to fish nearby Pyramid Lake for trophy Lahontan cutthroat trout! Mark your calendars now! For more information go to: tu.org/get-involved/national-events/ west-regional-meeting-2014. APRIL 19, 2014 The 7th Annual Upper Bear River Trout Unlimited Chapter Fundraising Banquet will take place 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. Mark your calendars now and watch for more details on the chapter’s facebook page at: www.facebook.com/UBRTU. Tickets will be limited due to Hank Patterson’s appearance. For more information or to get on the ticket list, contact Upper Bear River Trout Unlimited Chapter President Rick Slagowski at (307) 679-0074. MAY 3, 2014 The Second Annual Tie-One-On Fundraising Banquet will be held on May 3, 2014 in Jackson. The event, cosponsored by Wyoming Trout Unlimited and the Jackson Hole TU Chapter, will once again be held at the beautiful Hotel Terra in Teton Village. Watch for more exciting details in the next newsletter. For more information, call Scott Christy at (307) 332-6700, ext. 12. MAY 16-18, 2014 Mark your calendars now for the Wyoming Trout Unlimited Annual Spring meeting! The event will be held in Green River at the Hampton Inn on May 16-18, and promises to be a great one. The weekend will include some great spring fishing opportunities on the famous Green River! Watch for more details as they become available.
“
“The refuge and the sportsmen and women who fish in the Green River will benefit from this project,” Koerner said. “With our small staff, lack of electroshocking equipment, and expertise to conduct this operation, we would not have been able to complete this without help. This is a true partnership with many coming together for a common goal, to improve the fisheries on the Green River. It was a great day to see so many people come together to help out a resource that many value.”
Unless one can enjoy himself fishing with the fly, even when his efforts are unrewarded, he loses much real pleasure. More than half the intense enjoyment of fly-fishing is derived from the beautiful surroundings, the satisfaction felt from being in the open air, the new lease of life secured thereby, and the many, many pleasant recollections of all one has seen, heard, and done.
WINTER 2014
— Charles F. Orvis
Page 13
WYTU
LEFT: Young children learning to cast fly rods at the Trout Unlimited sponsored Cody Wild West River Fest.
YOUTH EDUCATION
WYTU PHOTOS/ Courtesy of Scott Christy
ents listen to Steve Indian Paintbrush Elementary stud Department on Fish and e Gam Gale of the Wyoming students were the banks of the Laramie River. The ect as part of their participating in a conservation proj Adopt-A-Trout program.
Students test water quality on the Gros Ventre River as part of their Adopt-A-Trou t program. LEFT: Showing off a salmon fly on the Bear River during Evanston’s Adopt-A-Trout field day.
HEY STUDENTS! WIN A GREAT TRIP TO WASHINGTON D.C. Sportsmen for Responsible Energy Development (SFRED), a coalition dedicated to balancing energy development with conservation on public lands, invites students to tell us what public lands have meant in their lives in the first-ever SFRED Youth Essay Contest. Five winners selected by a panel of representatives from the three SFRED partner organizations, will receive a trip to Washington, D.C., to meet with members of each winner’s congressional delegation as well as leaders from the administration and national conservation groups.
Go to sfred.org for complete rules and terms.
n Seedskadee Chapter members pitch in to lend a helping hand to trout in need n Calvin Hazlewood named interim chair of WYTU n A fond farewell from past WYTU chairman Mike Jensen n Upper Bear River chapter completes fish ladder project on the Bear River n Work and partnerships continue on the Henry’s Fork of the Green River n Much, much more
INSIDE THIS ISSUE: 250 North 1st Street Lander, Wyoming 82520
WYOMING TROUT UNLIMITED