Winter 2015 Trout Tale by Scott Christy

The

TROUT TALE

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

Winter 2015

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: WYTU’s own Dave Sweet inducted into Wyoming Outdoor Hall of Fame ..................Page 3

Fish screen recently installed at Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge The hard-working crew behind the installed screen at the Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge in southwest Wyoming. Once the coffer dam is removed, the screen will be half-to fully-submerged depending on the level of the Green River. Pictured from left to right: Theron Myers and Brett Carlson with Flare Construction; Ty McCarthy with Intake Screens Inc.; Craig Huhta with One Fish Engineering; Ron Swanson and Gene Smith with Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge; and Joseph Lucas with Intake Screens Inc. COURTESY PHOTO/USFWS

By NICK WALRATH Trout Unlimited Green River Project Manager

isheries managers have become increasingly aware that some irrigation ditches may be trapping fish in them. The Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) uses ditches to fill an extensive wetland system next to the Green River. Fish that enter the wetlands and labyrinth of ditches are destined to become food for the wetland wildlife on the refuge. After entering a ditch, fish face no good options. Either they go down to the large wetland where water temperatures will sky rocket in the summer or stay in the ditch where the water will be shut off in the fall. To determine how many fish were being trapped in the ditch system on Seedskadee NWR and to return the fish to the river, volunteers from the local Trout Unlimited chapter, Seedskadee Trout Unlimited (STU),

Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) staff and Seedskadee NWR staff electroshocked a small section of the largest ditch on the refuge — the Hamp II ditch — for one day in the fall of 2012. “The first year we saved over 700 trout in a short amount of time with a small crew,” said Pete Hallberg, STU volunteer. “That first year really opened our eyes to the problem.” Most of the fish saved were small age one brown trout. The Green River within this section is known for its trophy wild brown trout population. The large number and fact that most of the fish salvaged were small brown trout was very concerning to all. Project partners stepped up their fish salvage efforts the following year. For one day in the fall of 2013, over 40 volunteers from three Trout Unlimited chapters in southwest Wyoming (Upper Bear River, Popo Agie Anglers and Seedskadee), along with WGFD and Seedskadee NWR staff gathered to save fish in the Hamp II ditch and to determine if this was happening in the two other ditches on Seedskadee NWR.

See FISH SCREEN page 3

NOTES FROM THE CHAIRMAN Finding new members...

ell, here we are heading into the New Year! Hope your holidays were filled with good family memories and time spent outdoors doing the things we all love to do this time of year. We’ve had a good year within Wyoming Trout Unlimited (WYTU) and are looking forward to what 2015 has in store. With the help of our many volunteers, we’ve had a very successful year and appreciate all that everyone has done to help our fisheries here in Wyoming. We are looking forward to hosting the Western Regional Trout Unlimited (TU) meeting here in Jackson Hole the first weekend in May. Along with the regional meeting, we will also be hosting the Third Annual Tie-One-On TU Banquet along with our friends from the Jackson Hole TU chapter the night of May 2. This is going to be a busy and exciting weekend for us and we hope that many of you can attend these events with us. Our executive council has been discussing the WYTU strategic plan and are working on updating it to help lead us into the future. One of the primary points of emphasis is around building our membership base here in Wyoming. We need more folks to become TU members in their local chapters, get involved and help us to move forward the TU mission. New members can help move WYTU and our chapters forward in many ways. For example: n New ideas and fresh beginnings n Potential new leaders within chapters and WYTU n More diversity n Reinvigoration and different perspectives n New help with projects I see building our membership as a key component of helping WYTU and our chapters succeed in the future. We need new ideas and perspectives. We need more diversity to help us grow and succeed. We need to

figure out non-traditional ways to engage young people and women, and get them involved. We need to break the traditional mold. I want to challenge each of us to bring some new members to TU in this coming year. Talk to your family and friends. Share with them why you are involved and why you think TU is important and why our mission is important to them. Share with them the new half-price TU membership form. Help them fill it out and send it in for them, or get on the computer and help them with the electronic form. If each of us simply gets one new member signed up, well, you know what that does to our membership. Bring them to a meeting or project, personally invite them to an event. Let’s see if we can increase our membership and bring some new ideas and new perspectives to WYTU and each of our chapters. I’ve had a tradition of sorts for many years now to spend the first day of the year out fishing somewhere to start the year off right! I gave up on the New Year’s Eve celebrations a long time ago and would rather get up on New Year’s Day and go wet a line — or in many cases — get the line wet so it can freeze up in the guides in a cast or two. I’ve spent many days with good friends on the Miracle Mile and most recently, here on the Green. I’ve always enjoyed these first-day outings whether any fish were interested in my offerings or not. Most of the time I’ve been able to catch a fish or two, and they were probably happy to get back into the water where it was usually a little bit warmer. So, hopefully your 2015 starts off the same — fresh air, cold hands and breaking some ice out of the guides! Calvin Hazlewood is the 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 and new pup Hatch, enjoy the outdoors — particularly fishing and floating in their drift boat. Calvin is also an accomplished photographer. E-mail Calvin at calvinandamy@q.com

WINNER OF THE 2014 TROUT UNLIMITED “BOLLINGER AWARD FOR BEST NEWSLETTER” 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 2015 newsletter (April, May, June) will be March 1, 2015. Please send any and all contributions for the winter 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 Chair Cole Sherard Vice Chair and Secretary Dave Sweet Treasurer 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: 409 Lincoln Street Lander, Wyoming 82520 Phone: 307.332.6700 Fax: 307.332.9299

ONLINE: www.wyomingtu.org

Mike Jensen, Newsletter Editor • Scott Christy, Wyoming Coordinator

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Dave Sweet inducted into Wyoming Outdoor Hall of Fame By MIKE JENSEN Trout Tale Editor

ctober 18 was a special day for Wyoming Trout Unlimited’s Dave Sweet and his family. That was the day he was officially inducted into the Wyoming Outdoor Hall of Fame during a ceremony held at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center in Cody. The annual event began in 2004 and is sponsored by

Wyoming Wildlife — The Foundation. The hall of fame honors those, both living and posthumously, who have made significant, lasting lifetime contributions to the conservation of Wyoming’s incredible outdoor heritage. Joining Sweet in this year’s hall of fame class were David C. Lockman and, posthumously, Abraham Archibald “A.A.” Anderson. They join individuals including Curt Gowdy, President Theodore Roosevelt, Jim Bridger, Terry Cleveland, Gordon Eastman, Dave Freudenthal and 41 other very deserving individuals in the Wyoming Outdoor Hall of Fame.

See HALL OF FAME page 4

FISH SCREEN, continued from page 1 “Not all irrigation systems trap significant numbers of fish, so information was needed,” said Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge Manager Tom Koerner. In 2013, over 1,000 trout were returned back to the river from this effort. The crew salvaged only 1/6 of the ditch. With over 320 volunteer hours in the project this one year, along with the WGFD staff and SNWR staff time, everyone agreed this ditch was in need of a fish screen. Efforts began to secure funding for survey, design and construction of a screen to prevent fish from entering the ditch system. “The design would need to allow sufficient water through the screen for management of Seedskadee NWR’s wetland system,” said Robb Keith, WGFD Fisheries Supervisor for the Green River Region. In addition, it would need to be designed not pin fish, specifically juvenile fish, against the screen from water pressure.”

HAMP II DATA 2013: FISH SIZE TOTAL < 10”................................................................................................................................................947 10” to 20”...........................................................................................................................................55 > 20”....................................................................................................................................................6 Total Trout Caught in 2013..........................................................................................................1,008 Miles of Ditch =...................................................................................................................................1

SURVIVABILITY OF SALVAGED FISH: SURVIVAL RATE FISH SIZE TOTAL 25%...............................................................................<10”.......................................................236.8 75%.......................................................................10” to 20”.........................................................41.3 100%.............................................................................>20”..............................................................6 Estimated Total Fish Caught in 2013 That Will Survive to 2014....................................................284

FISH DENSITY ESTIMATION FOR ENTIRE HAMP II DITCH IN 2013: FISH LENGTH CATCH RATE 60% DITCH LENGTH 6.41 MILES TOTAL <10”..................................................1578.3.....................................x 6.41=...........................10117.1 10” to 20”............................................91.7.......................................x 6.41=...............................587.6 >20”.....................................................10........................................x 6.41=.................................64.1 Estimated total trout in the mile Estimated total trout in entire salvaged on Hamp II ditch in 2013....1,680 Hamp II ditch in 2013...............10,768.8

SURVIVABILITY OF ESTIMATED FISH IN HAMP II DITCH FOR 2013: SURVIVAL RATE FISH SIZE TOTAL 25%.........................................................................<10”...........................................................2529.3 75%.....................................................................10” to 20”.........................................................440.7 100%.......................................................................>20”...............................................................64.1 Estimated total trout that would have survived to 2014 with a fish screen on Hamp II in 2013...................................................................................................................3,034.1

WYTU Info Graphic by Green River Project Manager Nick Walrath

WINTER 2015

Crews carefully place the Hamp II fish screen into place during the four-day construction project at the refuge. COURTESY PHOTO/Tom Koerner USFWS

Upon completion of the survey, design and fundraising, the project was underway. On November 10, 2014, installation began. The screen is a cone-shaped structure fitted with a solar-powered wiper system to remove fine particles that would plug the screen. The screen is 12 feet across and will allow up to 40 cubic feet per second of water to enter the ditch at normal river levels. Based on the data we have, a screen on the Hamp II ditch could keep over 3,000 more fish in the river for the following year with 0 volunteer hours (See Table 1 for estimate calculation). This project was truly a partnership between many groups and entities including the Seedskadee TU chapter, WGFD, Seedskadee NWR, Wyoming Wildlife and Natural Resources Trust, WGFD Fish Passage Program, US Fish and Wildlife Fish Passage Program, WGFD commissioners license sales, private donations from Alan Airth and Louis Muller and the Muley Fanatic Foundation (selling the Seedskadee Chapter commissioners license at their annual Rock Springs banquet). “Completion of this project will ensure that fish are not lost in the irrigation system in future years. It is a great example of what partnerships between citizens, organizations and state and federal agencies can do to enhance and protect a significant resource that so many value and appreciate,” said Calvin Hazelwood, Seedskadee chapter president and chairman of Wyoming Trout Unlimited. The project, which began on November 10, 2014, was completed four days later. We will never know the actual number of fish the Hamp II screen will save through its lifetime, but we know it will help keep fish in the river where they should be.

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HALL OF FAME, continued from page 3 is working. In addition, Trout Unlimited has made this project one of their top conservation priorities. Dave’s love for the outdoors shines through anytime you get him to start telling stories of his numerous outdoor adventures with family and friends. He is also a member of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and Ducks Unlimited. “I’m just a guy who loves to hunt and fish,” Sweet modestly said. Dave and his wife, Cathy, live in Cody, Wyoming with their two labs — Jessie and Pepper. They have two daughters, Cindy, a lawyer in Casper, and Diana, a fisheries biologist for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department in Jackson. — Dave Sweet, 2014 Wyoming Dave and Kathy are Outdoor Hall of Fame Inductee expecting their first grandchild in April. I know I speak for many in Trout Unlimited when I say there isn’t a more deserving individual in Wyoming for this honor. Congratulations, Dave. Congratulations, indeed.

I’m just a guy who loves to hunt and fish

Pictured left to right are Wyoming Wildlife — The Foundation Executive Director Carson Engelskirger, Dave Sweet and Wyoming Wildlife — The Foundation Board Member Terry Cleveland. COURTESY PHOTO/Wyoming Wildlife-The Foundation

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Dave has been a longtime life member of Trout Unlimited and is a member of the East Yellowstone Trout Unlimited Chapter in Cody. Dave has held nearly every leadership position within the chapter and the Wyoming Council of Trout Unlimited. He currently serves as treasurer for the council. Dave grew up in a hunting and fishing family in Illinois before moving west to Colorado to experience even more outdoor opportunities. Once there, Dave wanted to meet other fishing enthusiasts, so he joined Trout Unlimited where he became active and helped out with conservation projects. “I really liked the conservation ethic of the organization,” Sweet noted. “They were making an effort to give back to the resource. They weren’t just takers, they were givers. They wanted to make things better.” Dave and his wife, Cathy, purchased a guest ranch in Wyoming in the late 80s. The ranch was located just outside of Yellowstone National Park and the Sweet family ran the ranch for 10 years. During that time, Dave remained active and heavily involved in the East Yellowstone Trout Unlimited Chapter. In 2007, Sweet learned about the National Park Service’s efforts to kill lake trout in Yellowstone Lake located in Yellowstone National Park, to help save declining Yellowstone cutthroat trout. That soon led Sweet to lead the local Trout Unlimited chapter’s efforts to raise funds to help do what they could to assist in that project. And according to Sweet, that project was very personal to him. “I have a very long history with those Yellowstone cutthroat trout,” he said as he recalled memories of park visitors lining up on Fishing Bridge in Yellowstone National Park to watch spawning fish swim upstream. “I was impressed by the sheer numbers and the incredible colors of the fish,” he said. “It wasn’t just a fishery, it was a major tourist attraction in the park.” Dave’s passion for the project led Wyoming Trout Unlimited to name him the Yellowstone Lake Special Project Manager. Through his leadership and outstanding work with many partners, organizations and the National Park Service, Dave and his team have raised over $1 million to help put lake trout populations on the decline. And they are. The project

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WYOMING COORDINATOR REPORT Engagement ideas for attracting new membership...

ne of the classic questions that I hear asked by many a Trout Unlimited (TU) chapter is something along the lines of “How do we bring in new membership and get the membership we currently have more involved?” I’d thought I’d take up this issue’s column to present some ideas. As the Wyoming Coordinator, I have the pleasure of working with all 11 of our Wyoming chapters and seeing what kinds of events are often successful and I’d like to share some ideas and resources with you. I’ve personally witnessed these kinds of strategies be successful increasing engagement for a given chapter and reaching out to new people. Fly Fishing Film Tour Event: Cool places? Big fish? Great videos? What could go wrong? Events like this have a demonstrated ability to interest the next generation of anglers. So much so that TU national has a recorded training in the Tackle box section of the TU website on holding such an event and effectively capitalizing on it to strengthen chapters. The training was described as: “The Fly Fishing Film Tour is in its ninth year of producing and running incredible community film festivals across the country. “More than 100 Trout Unlimited chapters and councils have hosted Fly Fishing Film Tour events in the past year, using the films to grow their membership, raise funds and increase the awareness of Trout Unlimited and coldwater conservation in their community. “Join TU staffer Jeff Yates,ÊActingÊDirectorÊof Volunteer Operations, along with TU communications staff and staff from the Fly Fishing Film Tour to learn step-by-step how you can host a film screening in your region. TU volunteers who have hosted F3T events in their area will also be on the call to discuss their experience hosting a film tour.” To check out the recording of the training you can head to: http://www.tu.org/member-services/welcome-to-my-tu/tackle-box/ conservation-projects/conservation-training-materials” Get Press: There is no better way to get the word out in the community than to make sure that your events and activities are showcased in your local newspapers and media. TU also offered a phone and internet training on getting the word out on Dec. 10, 2014, that you can now find online. Trout Unlimited chapters and councils across the country are doing remarkable things in coldwater conservation and youth education. The only problem is, most people living in our communities don’t even know about your work, nor have they ever heard of Trout Unlimited. In this fast-paced, focused web training, TU staff members Jeff Yates (a former newspaper editor in Connecticut)Êand Mark Taylor (a former outdoor writer and columnist in Virginia)Êwill walk you step-by-step through writing press releases that will get coverage in local media, finding and pitching stories to reporters and editors who cover fishing and conservation and much more. You will leave with tools, templates and resources you can use the next day to start

WINTER 2015

getting the word out in your local media. Newsletter editors, web masters, presidents or others involved in your chapter or council publicity efforts won’t want to miss this great training opportunity. You can find this training recorded at: www.tu.org/member-services/welcome-to-my-tu/tackle-box/conservationprojects/conservation-training-materials. Chapter Showcase – Holding an open house style event: n Scout. Look for a venue that appeals to younger anglers such as a brew pub. n Speaker. Invite a compelling TU speaker. This could be a staff person or a well respected angler who is educated and passionate about TU’s mission. n Entice. Provide free beverages, food or some other compelling addition like a rod give away. n Advertise. Create posters and contact local media to help get out the word. n Invite. Reach out to people personally whom you’d like to see get more involved. Also invite key dignitaries such as your Game and Fish Commissioners and local state legislators. n Present: Feature a slideshow of completed chapter project work and talk about future direction and work. Make sure and emphasize how your chapter is making a difference for fish one project at a time. Try to keep this portion to 45 minutes or under. The goal of the evening is for people to connect with your chapter and have a great time. n Add Constituents. Aggressively sign up new members or add people to your contact list. n Follow up. Contact new folks personally post event and invite them to something else. Get creative: Try new things! Some chapters have recruited an influential young angler to the board and had them plan and run an event for a younger crowd. TU saw this kind of effort work very well with the Greenbacks group in Colorado. Also, recently a younger member in Green River is intending to hold a fly tying competition night with prizes to engage folks locally. Overall, think ‘What kind of thing would I find fun?” and plan it. As always, feel free to give me a call and we can further discuss how you might implement any of these ideas. I’m happy to help. In addition, we’re always looking to hear what works well for your chapter and share it with other chapters, so if you have other ideas, let me know. In the meantime, go engage! 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.

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W Y O M I N G

B U S I N E S S

S P O T L I G H T

Performance. Personalization. Perfection. Welcome to Maven Outdoor Equipment Company

n our last episode, Trout Talers, we stopped in Lander on the shining waters of the Popo Agie. This time, my intention was to take us someplace on the eastern plains, to spread the love around a bit. But we all know what road is paved with good intentions, and I’m about to flip a uturn and take you right back to Lander again. Why? Because one of our newest TU Business members and one of the most exciting new companies in Wyoming is located right there in Lander, on the east flank of the Wind Rivers. And who would that be? . Māven Ð (mā–- ve n) 1. At r ust ed expert 2. One wit h kno wl edg bāsed on āccumulātion of experience. These guys are expert at making very high quality optics for people like us. When it comes to outdoor people like us, these guys get it. What’s more, they get Wyoming, and they get the notion of making binoculars that compare favorably with very expensive European models for less than half the price. These guys hunt and fish and knock around out in the back country. They know what works and what doesn’t. Perhaps most importantly, they’ve become a tremendous supporter of TU in Wyoming. This is, as they say, “a new company focused on the design and creation of innovative products for, and by, the modern A good pair of binoculars can’t be judged outdoorsman.” I guess a lot of in pure daylight. It’s in the optics companies could failing light of the dawning say something like that. Many of them probably minutes and the last of do. But I believe it in this dusk where the true test case. I borrowed a set of lies. As a hunter, my Mavens from my good friend Dave Glenn and Maven’s are worth their took them antelope weight in gold hunting this year. I’m a notorious cheapskate when it comes to optics, — Ben Brettingen, In-Depth Outdoors but a couple of years ago my brother-in-law shamed me into a pair of good, solid brand name binoculars. After years of cheap glass, they seemed fabulous. But when I brought the Mavens up to look at a distant speed goat, I had only one thing to say…”Whooooaaaa!” There was simply no comparison. These are binoculars that compare very favorably with Swarovski and Zeiss for a fraction of the cost. How can they do that? Because they sell them directly to you online. You order exactly what you want. Mid-size or full-size? They’ve got you covered. Would you like 10X instead of 8X? No problem. Would you like yours to be camo instead of plain old gray? You

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can do that. Would you like the lens rings to be hunter orange so when you lay your cool camo binoculars down, they don’t disappear? Got it. Want them engraved? Got that too. You build the binocs you want, right from their website. I came home from the antelope hunt and just had to get a pair of them. They’re that good. Since then, I’ve had them on an elk hunt and a deer hunt. They performed flawlessly. I found that I was leaving my spotting scope in its case because the binoculars did everything I needed to do. The image was clear and sharp, and their body armor was rugged enough to take some serious licks without any problem. I expect to take them on a bison hunt in December and test them (I hope) in some bone-chilling cold and snow. I expect them to do just fine. They’re easy to focus quickly – as I found out the other day when I was trying to ID a red-breasted nuthatch at the feeder. They’re the best all-round binoculars I’ve ever used. Maven focuses on the fundamentals – clean, simple designs with the very best modern materials and technologies – to create uncompromising gear; gear with that… feel. Then the customer gets to customize those products to perfectly fit their unique needs. Partnering in this way – customer with manufacturer, maven to maven – they deliver world-class custom outdoor equipment straight to the user, for a fraction of the one-size fits all retail cost. Maven – the real deal.

Where to find them: Maven Outdoor Equipment Company 485 North 4th Street • Lander, Wyoming 82520 Phone: 800.307.1109 • www.mavenbuilt.com e-mail: customerservice@mavenbuilt.com

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WYTU NEWS NOTES

Wyoming’s own Trout Unlimited staffer receives promotion to senior staff Congratulation are in order for Wyoming’s own Beverly Smith who was promoted last fall to vice president for volunteer operations for Trout Unlimited. She replaces Bryan Moore who is now serving as chief intergovernmental officer. Up until her promotion, Beverly has served as volunteer operations director for TU since 2009. Beverly is responsible for TU’s volunteer operations department which supports 36 state councils and 378 local chapters across the country by delivering a suite of applications, trainings and resources aimed at helping volunteers more easily and effectively accomplish TU’s mission in their local communities. Her responsibilities also WYTU PHOTO/Beverly Smith include managing TU’s youth education programs, veterans services partnership and women/diversity initiative. Beverly joined TU as the volunteer operations coordinator in 2007, was promoted to director in 2009 and vice president in 2014. Prior to joining TU, Beverly worked for the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance and the South Carolina Coastal Conservation League. She currently serves as secretary on the board of directors for the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance and on the Community Focus Committee for the National Museum of Wildlife Art. Beverly grew up in Charleston, South Carolina, and received a B.A. from the University of Virginia. She lives outside of Jackson Hole with her husband, Shawn, and her daughter, Virginia, and their springer spaniel. She enjoys fly fishing and bird hunting. All of us at Wyoming Trout Unlimited wish Beverly huge success in her new position with Trout Unlimited.

Trout Unlimited office in Lander moves office and brown trout carving to new location By CORY TOYE Wyoming Water Project Director We take our jobs seriously at Trout Unlimited.ÊWe also take office décor serious. That’s why we were excited and humbled by the donation of a beautiful five-foot tall brown trout chain saw sculpture we received last fall.ÊThe sculpture was donated by Dick Larsen from Mountain Green, Utah, who participated in a fish passage project on the Weber River with Trout Unlimited Project Manager Paul Burnett last year. When Wyoming Trout Unlimited relocated offices last November, the sculpture was the first thing we moved.ÊIt is a massive piece of artwork that certainly attracted some atten-

The Puritans moved from England because of religious differences... The Irish moved to the United States due to the potato famine... Some men moved to Canada in the 60’s to avoid the draft... We just had

ugly carpet.

Trout Unlimited has moved our Lander operations to a new office location at 409 Lincoln Street. Stop by soon, say hello and check out our new digs! Conserving and protecting Wyoming’s coldwater fisheries and their watersheds... 409 Lincoln Street Lander, WY 82520 Phone: 307.332.7700 Fax: 307.332.9299 www.wyomingtu.org

See NEWS NOTES page 8 WINTER 2015

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NEWS NOTES, continued from page 7 tion. Our new neighbors were peeking through the blinds as four staffers struggled to get the piece into the new office. Of course, if your new neighbors are Trout Unlimited, I think you should expect to see a 350 lb. trout getting unloaded from a moving trailer. If you get the chance to visit us at our new office in Lander, be sure to take a look at this beauty. The craftsmanship and attention to detail is remarkable! The new, more spacious office is located at 409 Lincoln Street in Lander. You can reach the staff by phoning (307) 332-7700.

tions, networking and having fun.” Smith noted that Trout Unlimited regional meetings are occasions to be inspired by the work of TU staff, learn lessons from leaders and enjoy conversations and the opportunity to make new friends and contacts.

WYTU PHOTOS/ Cathy Purves

Mark your calendars now for WYTU annual spring council meeting in Casper The Wyoming Council of Trout Unlimited executive committee is pleased to announce that the council’s annual spring meeting will take place in Casper on April 17-19, 2015. Details are currently being worked out specific to motel, meeting location, meals, etc., but the officers of WYTU are excited to join with the newly revitalized Casper-Grey Reef chapter to host the annual meetCASPER • APRIL 17, 18 & 19, 2015 ing. Council elections will take place during this meeting, and a variety of updates, training and useful information will be provided to chapter representatives in attendance. And don’t forget, the North Platte fishes quite well in mid-April, so mark your calendars now and plan to attend. Watch for more details through your e-mail and the spring 2015 newsletter. For more information, contact Scott Christy at: schristy@tu.org.

WYTU ANNUAL MEETING

Trout Unlimited western regional meeting set for May 1-3 at Snow King Resort in Jackson Hole ` According to Trout Unlimited Vice President for Volunteer Operations Beverly Smith, plans are progressing for Jackson Hole to host the Trout Unlimited Western Regional Meeting on May 1-3 at the Snow King Resort. “I hope you will consider joining us for enlightening presentations, inspiring dialogue and engaging camaraderie with those who share your dedication to Trout Unlimited and our mission,” said Smith. The Western Regional Meeting is designed to provide TU volunteer leaders with valuable tools and skills that can be brought home to help improve the effectiveness of councils or chapters. “Opportunities will abound to develop your governance skills and practices, discover solutions to your leadership challenges, and increase your understanding of the key trends and coldwater conservation issues impacting the west, Smith said. “And as always, we’ll have lots of time and opportunities for providing feedback, asking ques-

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Schedule of Events: n Friday and Saturday, May 1-2 Workshops and Seminars: Friday and Saturday’s full-day sessions will include group discussions, concentrated workshops and opportunities for council and chapter leaders to share successes and discuss common challenges. Ê n Friday, May 1 Evening Barbecue: Details will be provided as they become available. Watch for more details through your e-mail or on the Trout Unlimited website. n Saturday, May 2: No-host dinner at a local restaurant or “Tie-OneOn” Jackson Hole Chapter/WYTU Council Fundraiser Banquet. Saturday evening activities are “on your own” as they are not included in your registration fees. However, we will have two activities coordinated to keep the group together. For those interested, we will be meeting at a local brewery for a casual, no-host dinner. Alternatively, the Jackson Hole Trout Unlimited Chapter and the Wyoming Council are hosting their Third Annual “Tie-One-On” fundraising Banquet in Teton Village at the Hotel Terra (approximately 35 minute drive away). This is a formal event with a reception-style dinner, silent and live auctions. More details will be provided at: http://www.tu.org/get-involved/national-events/2015-westernregional-meeting soon. n Sunday, May 3: Optional day of fishing. Northwest Wyoming and eastern Idaho are home to some of the most well-known fly fishing waters in the U.S. including the Snake River and its many tributaries, the Green River, the Wind River, the Bighorn River, the South Fork of the Snake River and the Henry’s Fork. The time of year may pose some challenges with regards to weather and runoff, but there is always a place to fish in the Jackson area, no matter the time of year or weather conditions. In a normal year, the Snake is clear and fishable until mid-May, when runoff begins. Sunny days in this pre-runoff season provide for excellent dry fly fishing. Inclement weather can be a factor; however streamers and nymphs work well, and you may find the river to yourself. Never fear, if we’ve miss-timed runoff this year, clearer waters like the Henry’s Fork or the Bighorn, for example, are only a few hours drive from Jackson. Don’t forget to connect with one of TU’s business members in the area to check in on up-to-the-minute water conditions, book a guided trip or stock-up with a selection of local flies.

Accommodations for the Western Regional Meeting are provided by TU Business Member, Snow King Resort. The discounted rate for the meeting is $111/night. Call (800)-522-KING and ask for the Trout Unlimited Western Regional room rate. Be sure to reserve your room before March 31, in order to receive the special group discount The room rate is subject to all applicable state and local taxes. Snow King Resort provides a complimentary airport shuttle. Ê Registration: Register before Feb. 1, and receive the early bird discount rate of $150. Otherwise, the total cost will be $165 and includes: Participation in all seminars and workshops on Friday and Saturday; breakfast and lunch on Friday and Saturday; and the barbecue dinner Friday night. Attendees may pay day-by-day or choose just to attend the barbecue. For details, visit the registration page: https://gifts.tumembership.org/ events/west-regional-meeting-2015”Register now.

See NEWS NOTES page 9 WINTER 2015

NEWS NOTES, continued from page 8

New Adopt-A-Trout website up and running ` Wyoming Coordinator Scott Christy developed a new Adopt-A-Trout website this past fall after one of the partner educators suggested putting up a website to highlight the program in Wyoming. According to Christy, the site will help chronicle the experiences of the Adopt-A-Trout classrooms in the Cowboy State throughout the year. The site was designed for students to comment on posts and submit information and photos of their respective programs. Christy noted that any news stories and photos generated on the program will also be posted to the site.

For more on Wyoming’s Adopt-A-Trout program, see page 11

Third Annual Tie-One-On Banquet set for May 2 in Teton Village ` Plans are underway for the Third Annual “Tie-One-On “Banquet hosted by the Jackson Hole Trout Unlimited Chapter and the Wyoming Council of

WYTU and JHTU Third Annual Trout Unlimited. The event is set for TIE-ONE-ON BANQUET Saturday, May 2, and will be Teton Village • Jackson Hole, Wyoming held at the beautiful Hotel Terra in Teton Village. According to Wyoming Coordinator Scott Christy, the event promises to be another great success. He noted there will be an outstanding selection of outdoor and fly fishing gear on the silent and live auctions, raffles, great food, entertainment, a no-host cash bar and a whole lot of fun that evening — all in support of Wyoming’s coldwater conservation. Tentatively, the social hour will begin at 6 p.m., followed by a receptionstyle dinner served at 7 p.m. Tickets are extremely limited to this event and it has sold out in the previous two events. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of this event, or are interested in donating merchandise, services or cash to help underwrite auction and raffle items, please contact Scott Christy by e-mailing him at: schristy@tu.org or contacting him by phone at: (307) 349-4893.

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

WYTU NEWS NOTES

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

Wyoming Trout Unlimited joins Wyoming Sportsmen’s Alliance By SCOTT CHRISTY Trout Unlimited Wyoming Coordinator

portsmen representing six hunting, angling and conservation organizations — including Wyoming Trout Unlimited — convened in 2013 to discuss collaborating more closely and potentially forming a Wyoming sportsmen’s coalition. Attending groups recognized the need for Wyoming sportsmen to occasionally work collaboratively and provide a unified voice on policy issues of mutual interest that affect Wyoming’s hunters and anglers. From those initial discussions came the impetus to develop the Wyoming Sportsmen’s Alliance (WYSA). Initial conversations of the attending groups revolved around identifying joint concerns for fish, wildlife, habitat, hunting and angling within the state of Wyoming. The first mutually agreed upon issue identified by organizations to work upon under the WYSA banner was appropriate long-term and short-term funding solutions for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department with the goal of preserving Wyoming’s world-class wildlife resources and hunting and sporting opportunities. Since then, the group has had two formal meetings with Governor Mead, hosted a legislative reception in Cheyenne and continues to collaborate to address the needs of sportsmen in Wyoming. The alliance is continuing to work with the governor’s office, discussing the formation of a blue ribbon task force to make recommendations on effective wildlife management funding strategies. Wyoming Trout Unlimited recognizes the value of collaborating with other conservation groups when appropriate and certainly there are fisheries issues that will benefit from the effort to bring all sportsmen together, both hunters and anglers, in the conversation. Through those conversations we hope to represent the needs of anglers across Wyoming. There are also many occasions where WYSA can serve as an information clearing house to better understand events happening in the conservation landscape around Wyoming. Since its inception, member groups have ratified a group mission statement, unifying principles and a charter to mediate how groups will come together to achieve work. The adopted mission of WYSA is :The Wyoming Sportsmen’s Alliance collectively advocates for policies and practices that support the sound

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scientific conservation of fish, wildlife and their habitat for the benefit of present and future hunters and anglers. Each member group maintains its organizational autonomy and WYSA will only support issues that are of mutual interest to all of its member organizations. Current WYSA member groups include Wyoming Trout Unlimited, Wyoming Wildlife Federation, The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, Muley Fanatics Foundation, Bowhunters of Wyoming, the Wild Sheep Foundation (Wyoming), Wyoming Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, the Wyoming Federation of Union Sportsmen and theÊYellowstone Country Bear Hunters Alliance. We here at Wyoming Trout Unlimited believe that this step toward communicating and collaborating more effectively with others will heartily benefit our fisheries.

Some of the members of the Wyoming Sportsmen’s Alliance pictured in early 2013 from 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

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NEWS FROM THE NATIONAL LEADERSHIP COUNCIL New Year’s resolution...

’ve used the space in my column the last several newsletters trying to explain exactly what it is I do for Wyoming Trout Unlimited (WYTU), and you, as your National Leadership Council representative. At one point, I even resorted to a silly, some might say stupid, little contest. Is it too late to apologize for that? I know, I know. I can’t give you back the time you spent reading that article and trying to win a non-prize instead of doing more important things… like fishing. I’m sorry. But, do you at least have a better idea of what my role is within WYTU? I hope so. For anyone who still might require some help, let me sum up my role very succinctly. I’m a conduit between Trout Unlimited national and the members of WYTU. With that in mind, I shall now stick to conduit-ing. Is that a word? Can one make a noun a verb just by adding the — ing? Anyone have the number for the dictionary people? Oh, nobody cares. Let’s get to it. Here’s some good information you may or may not know. What does the Trout Unlimited (TU) brand convey to you? What should it convey? For that matter, what does TU do for you? What would you like it to do? The marketing folks in Trout Unlimited are attempting to answer these questions and more in order to refine the message and delivery of the TU brand. I’m asking each of you to help do that. You have either already received or will soon receive an invitation to participate in a survey that investigates a number of different elements of the TU brand. Please, take a few minutes to complete the survey. I just did! And, now I’m entered to win a great prize. You can be, too, but you have to take the survey to get entered. Have you been to or hosted a screening of the Fly Fishing Film Tour? They’re pretty awesome, right? Did you know that the short films they show aren’t the only ones that are worth your time or effort for member meetings? That’s right, there are others that Siskel and Ebert would give “two thumbs up.” Check out Hank Patterson’s adventures on You Tube. Even the most novice angler will bust a gut laughing at Hank’s mis-adventures! Now, you can host a screening of Hank’s Patterson’s Reel Montana Adventure! If you play your cards right, and perhaps promise to offer Hank a look at your secret fishing hole, you might even be able to get Hank to show up your screening. Trust me, you’ll love it! And your fishing hole? Chances are you’ll feel safe about its security after watching Hank in action. Check him out at: www.hankpatterson.com. Did you know TU recently launched a new initiative aimed at the fish of

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a thousand casts? That’s right, steelhead are the focus of the Wild Steelhead Initiative. It would take up all the space allotted to my column for me to tell you all about it. Let’s just say you should head over to www.wildsteelheaders.org and “Be Steelheaded.” If you don’t give them much thought now, you will after checking it out. If you haven’t fished for them, you’ll want to. There’s a new membership level. Yes, TU has had the Stream Explorer membership for all of our younger kids and grandkids but as those children became teens we didn’t serve them very well. Consider it fixed. TU now offers the TU teen membership to provide all our teens the information and material they want in a fun, relevant and powerful way. Plus, it’s only $14. The numbers are in. TU volunteers contributed almost 650,000 hours to TU last fiscal year. To provide you some perspective, the dollar value of those hours is over $13,000,000! I don’t know about you, but that shows me that there are many people who care a great deal about our coldwater fisheries. They care so much they are willing to donate a very large amount of their personal time to it. That’s impressive. How’s that for conduit-ing? I haven’t heard back from the Webster’s folks but I’ve decided it is a word. I could go on and on but there are two possible results if I do — both bad. First, you decide I’ve been derelict in providing all this information. Second, you get overwhelmed with it all. Frankly, I don’t like either result. Thus, to end this column, and year, I offer you my New Year’s resolution. I don’t really believe in waiting for a new year to make changes or in making them public information. In this case, however, I may need your help. My resolution? Three. That’s a number that absolutely must get bigger in 2015. While some of you might guess it is my I.Q., I will confess it as the number of times I fished in 2014. Pitiful, isn’t it? If you feel you didn’t fish enough in 2014, even if your total was four, always know that there is someone else who is envious of your total. Let’s fix this in 2015. Let’s go fishing together! Jim Broderick serves as the National Leadership Council representative for the Wyoming Council of Trout Unlimited. He and his wife, Becky, along with their two dogs, Bear and Cooper, and a pond full of Snake River cutthroat trout live in Jackson. Jim is the owner of Rocky Mountain Ranch Management and in his free time, he enjoys driving drift boats in search of epic fly fishing. E-mail Jim at: jim@rmrm.biz.

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Wyoming’s

Adopt-A-Trout program Through the lens of the camera...

LEFT: Wyoming Game and Fish employees head out to collect fish on the Gros Ventre through electrofishing. For each Adopt-A-Trout program, Wyoming Trout Unlimited partners with the Wyoming Game and Fish to accomplish our studies and provide useable management data to fisheries managers.

RIGHT: Students on Adopt-A-Trout field days in Jackson learn about the macro invertebrates that live in their local streams.

LEFT: TU’s Jim Gregory implants a telemetry tag into a fish while students look on for our study in the Gros Ventre River near Jackson, Wyoming.

RIGHT: Students watch TU’s Green River Project Manager Nick Walrath explain as he implants a telemetry tag into a native Colorado River Cutthroat trout.

WYTU Photos by Clint Kendall, Hillary Walrath and Scott Christy,

LEFT: McKinnon, Wyoming, students learn how to use telemetry tracking equipment. Telemetry tracking uses radio technology to find tags.

RIGHT: TU’s Green River Project Manager Nick Walrath releases tagged fish into the Henry’s Fork as students look on.

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WYTU CHAPTER CHATTER SEEDSKADEE CHAPTER By SCOTT NEFF Chapter Treasurer The Seedskadee Chapter had a great year in 2014. A lot of fish were caught and we have heard some pretty “big” fish stories. Our members were involved in quite a few fun and successful projects and activities last year. We had a few chapter fishing trips. Some of us braved some pretty cold and windy third Tuesday-of-the-monthfishing trips. Some of our members were able to help the Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) work with elementary school kids, sharing with them the diversity of the desert and the wetlands in the refuge. What a great opportunity to teach our youth about the outdoors and why we enjoy it so much. In addition to helping Seedskadee NWR with the kids, some of our members helped with some willow and cottonwood pole cutting for re-planting on the refuge; repaired walkover ladders, and installed a solar water pump to replace a water gap. We held our annual Take-A-Kid Fishing Day on Father’s Day weekend in June. Our attendance was down this year due to the weather and other activities going on that day, but those kids that did come had a great time and caught a bunch of fish. We taught 20 women how to fly cast, and then guided them on a ladies-only float trip on the Green. The ladies had a great day of fishing. We had some great help from the Upper Bear River chapter, the Popo Agie Anglers and many others who volunteered there time and talents. Two of our youngest members received certificates from the Wyoming Game and Fish Youth Fish Challenge. Congratulations, Janae and Addyson! Nick Walrath and Amy Hazlewood worked together with the Green River Chamber this summer and put together the first-ever River Walk during

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the River Festival in August. What a huge success! Hillary Walrath started the Adopt-ATrout program with the kids in McKinnon this fall. They are tracking fish on the Henry’s Fork. We had beautiful weather for the ditch shocking on the Hamp II ditch on Seedskadee NWR. We had a great volunteer turnout working with our partners from the Wyoming Game and Fish and Seedskadee NWR. Many fish were saved from the ditch and returned to the river, more data collected to help support the fish screen project and a great learning opportunity for everyone that participated. The fish screen on the Hamp II ditch at the Seedskadee NWR has been installed. Thanks to all those who were involved making this happen. This project is a perfect example of a great partnership working together to achieve a common goal. See page one for more details on this incredible project. Wow! 2014 was a busy year. Much of what we did in 2014 will continue in 2015. We are working on some new programs for our monthly meetings and some new, on-the-ground projects for 2015. From all of us in the Seedskadee chapter, we wish you a Happy New Year. CASPER AREA GREY REEF CHAPTER Information Provided By DON CLAUNCH Chapter President The Casper area Grey Reef Chapter meets the first Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Wyoming Game and Fish offices in Casper. At the November meeting, we heard a wonderful presentation from Christine Petersen from the Casper Star-Tribune and Steven Brutger from Wyoming Trout Unlimited on how they completed the Wyoming Cutt Slam in under 24 hours. The next chapter meeting will be held on January 7, where Steve Sharon of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department will give a presentation on hatchery operations and local stocking on the North Platte River. The February 4 chapter meeting will feature Travis Neebling, also of the

Wyoming Game and Fish Department, who will offer a presentation on research projects pertaining to North Platte Reservoirs. As always, all members are invited and encouraged to attend. For more information, contact chapter president Don Claunch today by calling (307) 266-5979 or e-mailing him at: dlclaunch@gmail.com. LARAMIE VALLEY CHAPTER Information Provided By PATRICK HARRINGTON Chapter President In the summer of 2013, Laramie Valley Trout Unlimited (LVTU) began to receive donations in memory of Byron Graber, a Denver local who had some of his finest memories fishing on the Laramie River. The establishment of this fund pointed Laramie Valley Trout Unlimited toward something bigger. This past October, our chapter was awarded a Wyoming Commissioner’s Big Game license. All proceeds from the sale of this tag will go toward our chapter’s Laramie River project fund. LVTU will continue to fundraise for this project and we are looking forward to reconnecting 47.1 miles of the Laramie River that will allow trout, and other non-game species to migrate throughout the system unimpeded. POPO AGIE ANGLERS CHAPTER Information Provided By CATHY PURVES Chapter Secretary The autumn months were pretty quiet for the Popo Agie Anglers Chapter as members have been extremely busy. At the November chapter meeting, a very good film called “Dam Nation” was shown to the good crowd on hand. The chapter also hosted another successful Film Tour event that was held at the Coalter Loft above the Gannett

See CHAPTER CHATTER page 13 WINTER 2015

CHAPTER CHATTER, continued from page 12 Grill in Lander. According to George Hunker, the chapter received $5,000 from the Lander Recreation Board to help pay for the aerator for Luckey Pond. The aerator project is being done in conjunction with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and was supposed to be installed this past fall. The aerator is now scheduled to be installed in the spring. The chapter wishes to offer a very special thanks to the Lander Recreation Board for their partnership on this project. Don’t forget our new chapter hats and T-shirts are available with the new Popo Agie Anglers logo designed by Zach Even. You can purchase yours for only $20 each. To get your hat or shirt, contact chapter president Jeff Judkins or chapter secretary Cathy Purves at (307) 332-6700. UPPER BEAR RIVER CHAPTER By JIM HISSONG Chapter Secretary/ Treasurer Great streamer fishing was had by Upper Bear River Trout Unlimited Chapter (UBRTU) members this past fall. But now, things are winding down in southwest Wyoming. Drift boats have

Lance Egan

been covered with their bows raised to the heavens. It is time to get at the tying vise and re-stock the fly boxes. On November 14, the UBRTU chapter hosted an outstanding presentation by Lance Egan on “Euronymphing” — a killer subsurface technique using a “sighter” instead of a strike indicator (a.k.a. “bobber”) to detect subtle strikes. The two-hour presentation and videos whetted the appetites of about 50 individuals on hand. Cabela’s donated a euronymphing combo — 10 ft., 4 wt. rod with matching reel and line — that was raffled off. Lance drew the winning ticket and presented the package to a grateful Jim Hissong. Egan, an obsessed fly angler, lives in Lehi, Utah, and has made a career of fly fishing. He is a longtime captain of Flyfishing Team USA and is currently employed at Cabela’s in Lehi, Utah. The UBRTU highly recommends him for any chapter event. Future events for our chapter include the showing of Hank Patterson’s Reel Montana Adventure on January 16. The chapter’s annual conservation and fundraising banquet is schedule for May 9th. For more information on the UBRTU chapter, contact chapter president Rick Slagowski at (307) 679-0074. CURT GOWDY CHAPTER Information Provided By BOB MASON Chapter President The Curt Gowdy Chapter hosted a very special guest speaker at its November chapter meeting held at 2 Doors Down in downtown Cheyenne. A good crowd was on hand to listen to renowned professional fly fishing photographer Tim Romano from Boulder, Colorado. His excellent presentation offered tips on how to take better fishing

Please like us... on Facebook that is! Join the conversation and keep up-to-date on what’s happening at Wyoming Trout Unlimited! photos as well as the opportunity to view some of his incredible fishing photos from his travels around the world. Tim spent time Tim Romano answering questions from those in attendance. He also showed some of the camera equipment he uses, including his underwater camera cases and gear. The Curt Gowdy Chapter has a great line-up of meetings and events that will take place starting in January. On January 29, Trout magazine editor and Field & Stream contributing editor Kirk Deeter will speak. The meeting is tentatively set for the upstairs room at 2 Doors Down in Cheyenne. On March 7, the F3T — Fly Fishing Film Tour — comes to the Kiwanis Community House in Cheyenne. The doors will open at 6 p.m. and the movie will start at 7 p.m. The chapter’s hugely successful annual Women’s Fly Fishing Clinic will be held on April 25 at the Laramie County Community College. The clinic will begin at 9 a.m. and will include lunch and snacks. For more information contact chapter president Bob Mason by e-mailing him at: masonlaw1@aol.com.

fly tying: The art of attaching feathers, fur, wool, and silk to a tiny hook to create artificial lures that imitate insects, a skill easily mastered by anyone who can peel a grape blindfolded with a pair of tweezers and a butter knife while wearing oven mitts. WINTER 2015

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Wyoming businessman: The outdoor industry is big business, too By JIM BRODERICK Wyoming National Leadership Council Representative

hen you live in Wyoming, have the Tetons as a backdrop and see elk, moose and bison on your drive to work, spending time in our nation’s capital, with all its traffic, noise and crowds, is a little overwhelming. But I recently ventured into the wilds of Washington, D.C., for a good cause — maintaining our western way of life. I joined a group of outdoor business owners and members of the Sportsmen for Responsible Energy Development coalition to talk to federal officials, members of Congress and their staffs, including Rep. Cynthia Lummis’s and Sen. John Barrasso’s, about the importance of responsible public lands energy development to our economy and way of life. Wyoming is blessed with abundant natural riches. Most people are aware of the important economic benefits that responsible energy development and other extractive industries Jim Broderick generate. Outdoor business owners also want to make sure policy makers understand that our industry is another vital part of the regional and national economy — and that healthy landscapes and waterways are essential to our business. And the outdoor business is big business. Outdoor Industry Association (OIA) estimates consumers spend $646 billion annually on outdoor recreation. Spending on outdoor recreation directly supports 6.1 million jobs and $80 billion in federal, state and local tax revenue. By contrast, consumers spend about $354 billion on gas and other fuels and $331 billion on pharmaceuticals. In Wyoming, the OIA estimates that outdoor recreation annually generates $4.5 billion in consumer spending, supports 50,400 jobs and produces about $300 million in state and local tax revenue. I make my living helping private landowners restore fish and wildlife habitat as well as create and execute conservation plans. I understand the value of good stewardship, both economically and ecologically. As a businessman, I have seen recreation and tourism fuel spending and generate lasting economic benefits for our community. These benefits are sustainable if we take care of the land, water and wildlife. Taking care of the land, water and wildlife was a key message we took to D.C. For the Bureau of Land Management, that means following through on promised oil and gas leasing reforms. Among the reforms is the master leasing plan concept, which takes a comprehensive look across landscapes, determining what levels of development and protection are appropriate, prior to any leases being issued. Wyoming’s Little Mountain area is a prime candidate for the concept. Little Mountain has irreplaceable landscapes and fish and wildlife habitat that will continue to pay dividends — both economic and social — for generations if we are good stewards of the land. It also has energy resources that can be responsibly developed. A diverse, grassroots coalition supports creating a master leasing plan for the Little Mountain area, which was dubbed a “crown jewel for wildlife and recreation” by former Gov. Dave Freudenthal. While it might be easy to criticize public lands management and point out its shortcomings, my next statement might be surprising: my clients almost always view public lands management as a standard to emulate, not denigrate. My clients are inspired by examples of public lands conservation. Are there things that could be improved in the management of public lands? Almost certainly. Public lands, however, are often the places where today’s stewards of private lands are first exposed to incredible habitat that supports trophy game and fisheries – things they are inspired to emulate and attain on their own lands. There is no doubt in my mind that this is not coincidental. If we had no public lands, or they were managed in a lesser capacity, the standard of land stewardship would probably be much, much lower. Instead, public lands serve as examples of possibilities than can be attained. Such examples aren’t common in other countries, where there are few public lands or none at all. The final message we business owners delivered on our trip was that we recognize that public lands belong to all Americans. The agencies overseeing these lands are mandated to manage them for multiple uses and we must work together to find a happy medium that allows for conservation and development. It’s essential for everyone’s long-term good. Jim Broderick is the owner of Rocky Mountāin Rānch Mānāgement ānd lives in Jāckson.

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CALENDAR WYTU FEBRUARY 15, 2015 The Wyoming Council and all chapters must have their respective tax returns filed no later than February 15, 2015. For questions or assistance, please contact Wyoming Coordinator Scott Christy at: schristy@tu.org. APRIL 17-19, 2015 The annual Wyoming Council of Trout Unlimited Spring Business Meeting will be held in Casper. Keep in mind great fishing this time of year on the Platte River. Watch for more details as they become available. MAY 1-2, 2015 Western Regional Trout Unlimited meeting will be held in Jackson Hole, Wyoming at the Snow King Resort near downtown. Mark your calendars now and plan to attend this incredible opportunity right here in our own backyard. Check out the details on page 8. MAY 2, 2015 The Third Annual Tie-One-On Jackson Hole Chapter and Wyoming Trout Unlimited Banquet will take place at Hotel Terra in Teton Village. This incredible f u n d ra i s i n g event benefits both the Jackson Hole chapter and Wyoming Trout Unlimited. Watch for more details on how to purchase tickets as they become available. SEPTEMBER 16-20, 2015 Annual Trout Unlimited meeting in Scranton, Pennsylvania. If you have an item for the WYTU calendar, please e-mail to Mike Jensen today at: trouthut@gmail.com.

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Casper-Area Grey Reef chapter is back and better than ever! By DON CLAUNCH Casper-Grey Reef Chapter President

he Casper-Area Grey Reef Chapter began a process of rejuvenation this past summer.ÊWith a membership that numbers over 100 and with one of the best trout streams in the state running right through Casper, the goal is to make the chapter a major participant in trout fisheries and conservation in central Wyoming. New officers were elected this past summer, with Don Claunch taking the president’s chair.ÊDon is a retired health care executive, a Wyoming native and lifelong angler.Ê Werner Studer is the chapter vice president and is a retired physician and spends all the time he can on rivers in Wyoming.ÊRetired high school teacher Scott Novotny has taken on the secretary position and he is also an avid angler.ÊThe new treasurer is Mick Novotny, who in addition to spending as much time angling as possible is also a coldwater fisheries biologist. The new officers have been working to rejuvenate the chapter and we now have a full board in place which is in the process of planning the chapter’s future. Since this past summer, the chapter leadership and members have participated in a number of conservation and other activities in the area.ÊIn June, chapter members assisted in helping with the annual free kids’ fishing day by removing litter from the event area and helping to bait hooks and untangle lines.ÊThe chapter had a presence at the tour of the Bolton Creek remediation project led by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Chapter members participated in the Platte River cleanup project with other community groups this past fall.ÊAdditionally, the chapter has committed to featuring guest speakers at monthly chapter meetings and this past fall presentations were made by Wyoming Game and Fish Department personnel concerning trout numbers in the North Platte and another meeting featured a demonstration on the Tenkara style of fly fishing. A third meeting featured a report on restoration of the North Platte t through the city of Casper. iden Pres Vice Most recently the chapter was preWerner Studer

WYTU CHAPTER SPOTLIGHT

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sented with a report on how the Wyoming Cutt Slam was accomplished in under 24 hours.ÊFuture presenters will include reports on research on the reservoirs on the North Platte as well as hatchery operations in Wyoming. Presently, the chapter is considering a number of projects for the coming year.Ê Led by board member Diana Holcomb, the chapter is considering partnering with the local Girl Scouts to offer a President Don Claunch “Stream Girls” program on stream and fisheries management as well as fly casting. The chapter will also be participating in the annual fly fishing film tour offered in 2015 and is considering a number of potential project partnerships with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.Ê Information on these and other future projects will be forthcoming and the chapter leadership needs the help of all the members in a variety of ways. The chapter invites all members and encourages them to attend the monthly chapter meetings which are held the first Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Pronghorn Room of the Wyoming Novotny Game and Fish offices in Secretary Scott Casper.

Treasurer Mick Novotny

Follow and like our chapter’s happenings and events on facebook! Page 15

Southwest Wyoming chapters working with Game and Fish to find ways to reduce burbot numbers By ROBERT KEITH Wyoming Game and Fish Department Green River Regional Fisheries Supervisor Invasive fish species are an ongoing threat to trout fisheries of all types across the west and the country. Trout Unlimited (TU) members in southwest Wyoming are all too familiar with invasive species as they have watched burbot — a really cool Wyoming native on the east side of the continental divide but aggressive invasive species on the west side of the continental divide — expanding its range rapidly throughout the Green River drainage. Since burbot illegally arrived in the Green River Drainage, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) has worked diligently with numerous different cooperators, including TU, to try to reduce the impacts burbot have on both sport fish and native fish in the drainage. What is really cool is that TU and the WGFD have started collaborating on Adopt-a-Trout/Burbot projects in the Green River drainage. With financial assistance from the Upper Green River TU Chapter in Pinedale, the WGFD Pinedale fisheries management crew tagged trout and burbot in the Green River upstream of Fontenelle Reservoir early in 2014. Really interesting information is starting to role in. In 2015 the Seedskadee TU Chapter, Trout Unlimited Green River Project Manager Nick Walrath and the WGFD Green River fisheries management crew (FMGR) will start tagging brown trout in the Green River and burbot both in the Green River and Flaming Gorge Reservoir. The project seeks to better understand their movement patterns and how they use the habitat in the Green River. For burbot in particular we are looking for the burbot’s Achilles Heel. We are looking for some period in their life history that we can exploit to reduce their numbers further in the drainage. This winter, TU is again partnering with FMGR and local burbot derby sponsors to boost the funds for the current and future Adopt-a-Trout projects. The Seedskadee Chapter of TU and Nick Walrath, with assistance from FMGR, will be raffling Yeti coolers full of additional prizes at both the Burbot Bash that will be held on January 25-26, 2015, and the Burbot Classic that take place on February 6-8, 2015. The proceeds from the raffles will be used to fund current and future Adopt-a Trout/Burbot projects on the Green River between Fontenelle Reservoir and Flaming Gorge. Angler exploitation is the number one tool we have to manage burbot in Flaming Gorge Reservoir and the Green River drainage beyond. These derbies are one big tool in the box that helps remove a large number of burbot in a short time. The bonus: everyone has a great time participating in the derbies. TU members from across the state are encouraged to support the burbot management efforts in the Green River drainage and sign up for one or both derbies. While you’re there buy a raffle ticket and win a Yeti cooler! Both burbot derbies are great fun for all and are making a significant impact on burbot numbers in Flaming Gorge Reservoir and, hopefully, in

Angler exploitation is the number one tool we have to manage burbot in Flaming Gorge Reservoir and the Green River drainage beyond

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the Green River as well. The Burbot Bash will be January 23-25, 2015, and the management of the event is back with the Flaming Gorge Chamber of Commerce. “We expect great things during the 2015 Burbot Bash similar to what happened in January 2013,” said Green River Regional Fisheries Supervisor for the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. “The Chamber of Commerce has good partners that will help them put on a great event this year.” Up-to-date information about the Burbot Bash is available at Burbotbash.com. The Burbot Classic will be February 6-8, 2015. “Buckboard Marina put on an excellent derby last February,” said Keith. “Nobody that was there will forget the excitement when the $10,000 tagged fish was caught and the money was awarded. If it happened once it could happen again. The classic will be bigger and better this year.” Everything you want to know about the Burbot Classic can be found at Buckboardmarina.com. “I can’t say how much I appreciate Buckboard Marina’s and Flaming Gorge Chamber of Commerce’s willingness to step up and sponsor these burbot derbies in 2015,” said Keith. “These derbies require an enormous amount of work to plan, organize and implement. Derby participants should try to remember to thank the organizers for putting on such great events and the burbot removed during these derbies are helping maintain the sport fishery in Flaming Gorge Reservoir that we all enjoy.”

Burbot here were tagged with radio transmitters and released in the Upper Green River above Fontenelle Reservoir in southwest Wyoming. This is a cooperative Adopt-ATrout/Burbot project — funded by the Upper Green River Trout Unlimited Chapter and implemented by the Wyoming Game and Fish Department management crew in Pinedale. COURTESY PHOTO/Mark Gocke, Wyoming Game and Fish Dept.

WINTER 2015

HOLES IN MY WADERS Saying thank you and goodbye...

t was the morning of December 21 that I found out my mom had passed away near Seattle after battling the horrible disease of dementia and Alzheimer’s. I had the chance to say my goodbyes and thank my mom over the phone just a few days before she died. I thank the good Lord for that opportunity. I know Mom is in a much better place and she is no longer suffering. I take comfort now that she can finally rest in peace. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that, if it weren’t for my mom and dad, I wouldn’t be the person I am today — one who has a genuine love of family, the outdoors and good food. My dad, who passed away in 1986, was a longtime newspaperman and publisher and mom was so proud that I followed in his footsteps. There’s no doubt that she was my biggest fan and her words of encouragement — both spoken and written — have got me through some tough times over the years. So did her cooking. Simply put, Mom was a fantastic cook and I have so many fond memories of my family gathering at the holidays and sitting around a table feasting on the deliciousness of mom and dad’s efforts in the kitchen. The fact that my brothers, sister (especially my sister) and I can do a pretty good job in the kitchen, is a tribute to Mom. I’ll always cherish the memories of growing up in a loving home and enjoying the outdoors with my family, especially the times spent fishing Flaming Gorge Reservoir in the 60s when the reservoir was being filled. I can picture in my mind like it was yesterday.... my entire family — grandparents and all — boating to our “secret spot” and sitting on the shore reeling in limits of big, fat rainbow trout that ended up in my dad’s smoker or wrapped in foil with potatoes, onions and Tabasco sauce, and sizzling on the grill. Good eats. Really good eats. So at a time of year when we celebrate so much with family and friends during the holidays, I too, will celebrate with my family. We will celebrate the life of my mom and the kids’ grandma. We will miss her dearly and will always love and cherish the many, many memories of her.

Back in early November, your hardworking Wyoming Council of Trout Unlimited executive committee gathered in Lander on a beautiful Saturday to work on the council’s new strategic plan for the next five years. Calvin Hazlewood, Cole Sherard, Dave Sweet, Jim Broderick, Scott Christy and

myself took the day to reflect on just how far the council has come over the past five years as well as lay out a plan, a road map for the next five years. Of course, we had a lot of good input and suggestions from chapters around the state. And we appreciate that input. The committee used that input as the foundation of the new plan that will take WYTU through the year 2020. There’s no doubt much has been accomplished thus far, but there is much more we can do for coldwater conservation in the Cowboy State. And the new strategic plan reflects that goal. Finishing touches are being put on the plan and the entire council and chapter membership will have the opportunity to view the work as soon as it becomes available. Best wishes for a wonderful New Year to all of our chapter leaders and members, friends and conservation partners of Wyoming Trout Unlimited. Mike Jensen currently serves as past chair of WYTU and is the editor of the council’s “The Trout Tale” newsletter. He and his wife, Jodi, have three terrific kids, a beautiful granddaughter, and a couple of hunting and fishing labs. Mike and Jodi call the Cheyenne area home. He’s looking forward to driving his drift boat and creating more Wyoming fly fishing and wing shooting adventures with family and good friends. E-mail Mike at trouthut@gmail.com

Happy New Year! Our very best wishes to you for a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year filled with many fishing and outdoor adventures! From your 2015 WYTU council leadership team: Chair Calvin Hazlewood, Vice Chair/Secretary Cole Sherard, Treasurer Dave Sweet, NLC Representative Jim Broderick, Past Chair Mike Jensen, Conservation Chair Diana Miller, Women’s Committee Chair Hillary Walrath and Wyoming Coordinator Scott Christy

409 Lincoln Street • Lander, Wyoming 82520 Phone: 307.332.6700 • Fax: 307.332.9299

WINTER 2015

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Check out all their great merchandise on their website!

www.repyourwater.com

MISCELLANEOUS

BECOME A TROUT UNLIMITED BUSINESS PARTNER! TU Endorsed Businesses are partners with TU in helping anglers experience the passion of fishing and the peace of being out on the water. As the professionals of the fishing industry, their influence is unmatched in sustaining a community for anglers to share and learn more about fish and fishing. Perhaps most importantly, these businesses actively share TU’s commitment to conserving, protecting and restoring North America’s coldwater fisheries and their watersheds for future generations. TU offers two types of business memberships: The TU Endorsed Business membership for outfitters, lodges, fly shops and other fishing-related businesses and the TU Endorsed Guide membership for independent guides. To learn more about this program or for more information, call Director of Endorsed Business Walt Gasson in Cheyenne, Wyoming at (307) 630-7398.

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. 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 email him today at: schristy@tu.org. You can reach over 1,650 members of Wyoming Trout Unlimited with your classified ad in this quarterly newsletter! For only $20, you can have your ad placed in the Spring 2015 newsletter that will be published on April 1, 2015! To place your ad, contact Wyoming Coordinator Scott Christy by e-mailing him at schristy@tu.org.

WYOMING TROUT UNLIMITED

1 % of sales of all REPYOURWATER merchandise that displays a Wyoming themed design goes to Wyoming Trout Unlimited for coldwater conservation efforts!

TU BUSINESS MEMBER

409 Lincoln Street Lander, Wyoming 82520

Thanks a lot!

WYTUclassifieds

n WYTU’s own Dave Sweet is inducted into Wyoming Outdoor Hall of Fame n New fish screen installed on Hamp II ditch in Seedskadee National Wildlife Refuge n Maven Outdoor Equipment Company highlighted in Wyoming Business Spotlight n Wyoming’s own TU staffer Beverly Smith promoted to senior staff position n Wyoming to host Trout Unlimited 2015 Western Regional Meeting in Jackson n Much, much more!

WYTU is proud to give kudos, props and a shout out to our conservation partner REPYOURWATER!