Painted for Bitterroot Trout Unlimited by Monte Dolack
100% of the proceeds for Prints 1-225 and the Publisher Proofs go directly to BRTU Education and Habitat Projects.
View Print at Monte Dolack’s website. If you purchase from the Dolack store, please tell them you are supporting BRTU.
Public is Welcome!
Hamilton Elks Lodge • 203 State Street
For more information, call 363-6158 or gchester55@aol.com.
203 State Street
Hamilton, MT 59840
(406) 363-3031
Get directions
Tuesday, 3/9, 6:30 – 8:00 PM in the Westview School gymnasium located at 9th and Main in Hamilton. Enter through the east doors facing 9th St.
Beginners Pattern: Elk Hair Caddis
Advanced Pattern: Montana Hopper
Don’t forget to pick up a raffle ticket each night you help – there will be a drawing for volunteers in April for a framed Monte Dolak print valued at over $300. The more you attend, the better your chances!
Attention Hamilton kids!
We’ll be judging flies each night for those students choosing to enter. Be sure to pick up a judging criteria sheet when you arrive.
Questions?
Call Jeff at Western Flies and Guides (406) 363-9099
Ria of the Keystone Discovery Enrichment Program (406) 363-5996 or
Greg Chester of BRTU (406) 363-0033
Thanks in advance for your valued assistance – for more information about the sponsors, visit:
BRTU www.brtu.org
and Keystone Enrichment Program http://keystonetodiscovery.org/
The Feb 18 BRTU meeting will feature Montana TU Executive Director Bruce Farling. Bruce will be giving a slide presentaion on the subject of:
BEYOND HABITAT: Saving trout from the Bighorn to the Flathead in Montana.
The meeting begins at 7:00 PM at the Hamilton Elks Lodge, 203 State Street, Hamilton and is open to the public.
Contact BRTU President Bill Bean for additional information call Bitterroot Trout Unlimited President, Bill Bean at (406) 363-6158, or email Bill at fishaus@blackfoot.net
Please feel free to post or forward to anyone you think might be interested.
203 State Street
Hamilton, MT 59840-2522
(406) 363-3031
February 23 – 7:00 to 9:00 p.m., Bitterroot Public Library.
Turning Blue into Green: An Introduction to the Montana Water Market
by Chris Corbin with Lotic Water Marketing.
Flow Restoration in MT: Water Right Leasing, Source Switching & Irrigation Efficiency
by Rankin Holmes with Montana Water Trust.
With funding from MT DEQ, BRWF is hosting two speakers on water marketing and flow restoration in Montana. A question and answer discussion will follow the presentation. The presentation is free and open to the public; light refreshments will be served.
www.bitterrootpubliclibrary.org
306 State Street
Hamilton, MT 59840-2759
(406) 363-1670
Get directions
For more information, contact:
Laurie Riley, Executive Director
Bitter Root Water Forum
PO Box 1247
Hamilton, Montana 59840
(406) 375-2272
Email brwaterforum@bitterroot.net
www.brwaterforum.org
Support our supporters!
Our club is very fortunate to have many establishments in town that are good supporters and reliable contributors to our efforts. When you patronize these places as we eat and drink our way around town let them know you appreciate their support to Bitterroot Trout Unlimited (BRTU).
This post is featuring the Bitterroot Brewing Company.
In addition to sponsoring the BRTU banquet and providing the best micro-brews in our area, the Brewery also hosts a fly tying round-table every Wednesday evening at 5:30. Prominent tiers from around the valley periodically show up and flaunt their abilities. If you want to pick up some tips from the best, stop by, grab an IPA and check it out. Rumor has it that even local living legend John Foust and our distinguished BRTU board member, Greg Chester, occasionally show up.
The food is superior pub fare, too. Check out the Bitterroot Brewing Company food menu with this link.
101 Marcus Street
Hamilton, MT 59840-2541
(406) 363-7468
Get directions
The January BRTU meeting will be at 7:00 PM Thursday, January 21 at the Hamilton Elks Lodge, 203 State Street. Travis Horton, who is the Native Fish Coordinator for Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, will give a presentation about Montana’s Native Trout programs. This will be a great opportunity to learn about what makes Montana’s fisheries so special. Attached is the postcard that is being mailed out. Please feel free to forward on to interested friends. If you have any questions, please contact Bill Bean at 363-6158, Fishaus@blackfoot.net
Link to programs offered by Bitterrroot TU
maps.google.com
203 State Street
Hamilton, MT 59840-2522
(406) 363-3031
Get directions
BRTU wishes everyone a Happy Holiday season.
It is probably a bit chilly today for even the most dedicated anglers to be out plying the waters. Plus the blanket of ice and slush complicate that perfect drift with the large stonefly nymph, assuming you have one of the new Polar winter rods with heated guides.
There is no TU meeting this month, but here are a couple of items that might be of interest.
• Notice of spring Fly-Casting Institute at Marcus Daly Hospital. The October presentation by Dr Tim McCue “Casting Healthy” drew one of the largest crowds we have ever had. A number of members expressed interest in learning when the next clinic would be.
See the flyer (on the left) for information about a session scheduled for next April. Certainly, as our shoulders, elbows, wrists and vision show the signs of wear and tear, many of us can use all the help we can get! The cost is a little steep – about 3 float trip equivalents – but reports suggest that the class is very valuable.
For more information about the casting clinic visit www.flycastinginstitute.com and www.mdmh.org.
• Mitchell Slough redux. In case you thought the controversy over Mitchell Slough ended when the Montana Supreme Court rendered its decision, think again! The latest wrinkle relates to some of the landowners establishing feeding stations for migratory waterfowl on their property in an effort to snark duck hunters from hunting the waterway. It is illegal to hunt birds in an area where they are being fed. Ducks are not dumb, so they will quickly recognize that this area not only provides provender but also a refuge from the pesky shotgunners. However, the issue is complicated since a number of houses are right on the banks and also because it would be trespassing to retrieve a bird that landed on the ground instead of in the water.
Stream access only permits recreationists to stay within the highwater marks of the channel. The landowners have petitioned Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks to close the stream to duck hunting on part of the slough. MFWP is exploring solutions to this issue and has scheduled a public hearing at the Bitterroot River Inn at 6:30 pm on Wednesday, December 9. Public comments will be accepted until Friday, December 11.
Here is a link to a Ravalli Republic story that gives more detail. http://www.ravallirepublic.com/articles/2009/12/02/news/news57.tx,
The excitement of our 2009 banquet is past, but not the memories. See our photo albums from the banquet below. We are already planning the next banquet. Mark your calendar for Friday, September 24, 2010. You will want to attend for the great food, people, and many auction items.
Bitterroot Trout Unlimited (BRTU) wants to thank all the supporters, donors, contributors and helpers. The 2009 annual banquet, our 30th, was a huge success. Over 200 people attended and we raised more dollars than we hoped for, quite a feat in these difficult economic times.
We have a lot planned for the coming year and your support will be critical. You will be reading about Bitterroot Trout Unlimited in the news and you will see how we work to protect, preserve and restore our streams and fisheries.
In summary, be assured that we will redouble our efforts, and your help makes this possible.
Our banquet is a popular Bitterroot event, if you want to participate or contribute, your exposure and help as a contributing business or patron is far reaching.
If clean water and healthy trout are important to you, join our organization and consider serving on our Board of Directors. We welcome all local residents and newcomers as there is much work to be done and camaraderie to enjoy!
Banquet photos of people, food, auction action and more
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Photos of BRTU Auction Items
View all 35 photos in a new window
Photos of awards given at the BRTU banquet
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