Painted for Bitterroot Trout Unlimited by Monte Dolack

• Prints #2-5 $500
• Prints #43-225 $175

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.

Another year, another class of Bitterroot Buggers. Here is a group photo from April. See the slideshow below of casting and a fishing trip on the West Fork of the Bitterroot for Mathew Bienusa. He was guided by Bitterroot Bugger sponsor and instructor, Jeff Gray of
Western Flies and Guides

906 South 1st Street
Hamilton, MT 59840
(406) 363-9099

The Donegal Chapter of Trout Unlimited (DTU) has a few connections with Bitterroot Trout Unlimited. I stay in close touch with DTU member and our friend, Jim Wellendorf and DTU Volunteer Coordinator, Faye Haering who has family in Bigfork, has attended BRTU banquets and fished the Bitterroot on a trip donated by Dick Galli. Jim has also fished the Bitterroot with Jack Mauer.

Jim and Faye worked on this project and Jim sent us these photos. You can learn more about the stream restoration for Lititz run at:
Donegal Trout Unlimited – www.donegaltu.org/
National Trout Unlimited – Lititz Run story

The restoration is being designed by the PA Fish and Boat Commission and the plan will be finalized shortly to restore some of the area located above where the old dam was removed almost 10 years ago. This stocking project is part of the restoration of Lititz Run. Thanks Jim and Faye for sharing this with us.

Jim’s note: Here are some pictures I took of this morning’s stocking on Lititz Run. Please feel free to use them if you want. The first picture of the nursery operation. The rest are of Jim, Glen and some of the other volunteers doing the stocking. I was with Jim and Glen all morning and I can tell you they did a great job!

My best, Jim Wellendorf

What:  A reception at Trout Unlimited’s new office
When: Friday May 14th from 4-6 p.m.
Where:  111 N. Higgins (Florence Building) Suite 500 (5th Floor)

Refreshments and appetizers will be served.

Questions? Contact:
Kate Grant – 406-543-0054
Program Administrator
Montana Council of Trout Unlimited
PO Box 7186
Missoula, MT  59807

www.montanatu.org

Spring time on the Bitterroot is always an exciting time of the year. We start with the long awaited Skwala activity after winter and then are treated to Baetis, March Browns and Gray Drakes as spring sets in.  We’re fortunate in the Bitterroot to have such a diverse bug population and even more privileged to have such terrific hatches to fill the gap between Skwala’s and the summer bugs.

This unique pattern has worked well for me over the years and effectively imitates any mayfly adult by simply changing color and size. It’s tied in the style of Rich Christian’s GT Dun series that replicates both adult and emergent stages. This is made possible with the Gamakatsu C12U curved shank hook and unique tail placement. When fishing this bug keep floatant off of the abdomen and shuck – this is important to insure the emergent stage is replicated properly.

• Hook:        Gamakatsu C12U caddis hook, size 10 – 14
• Thread:    6/0 Tan Unithread
• Shuck:    Brown Zelon
• Abdomen:    Tan goose or turkey biot
• Tails:        Tan Microfibetts, split
• Wing:        White polypropylene yarn, parachute style
• Thorax:    Tan superfine dubbing
• Hackle:    Brown
• Head:        Tying thread

Applications must be completed in full, and must include detailed budget information as provided on the Budget Template.

Here are links to more information:

• BRTU Grant Application (a form you can fill out on your computer or print) – Microsoft Word format 97-2003 or PDF format
• BRTU Grant Application Process (discussion and information) Microsoft Word format 97-2003 or PDF format
• BRTU Budget spreadsheet for your information and use – Microsoft Excel 2007 or PDF format

Note: PDF is a universal read-only format. Get a free and easy to use Adobe PDF application here.
In order to fill out the word or excel format on your computer, you will need to download it and save it to your hard drive.

If you need any of these documents in hard copy or a different format see the contacts below.

Contact
President: Bill Bean
fishaus@montana.com
406-363-6158

Greg Chester
Gchester55@aol.com
(406) 363-0033

Corvallis Middle School Cafeteria, 6:00 to 9:00 PM, - Four Wednesday’s in May (5, 12, 19 and 26) -

Comprehensive curriculum includes basic fly fishing skills and extensive casting instruction each evening.

$50 tuition includes membership in either TU or FFC ($35 if already a member of either organization)

Click the curriculum image to download a PDF version.

Check back to see more about this class as the month goes on. For more information or to get on the mailing list for next year contact:

President: Bill Bean
fishaus@montana.com
406-363-6158

Greg Chester
Gchester55@aol.com
(406) 363-0033

Below are some photos from the first class (photos by Greg Chester)

Rachel Tsukamoto Weissman when she was learning to fish

Questions?

• Call Jeff at Western Flies and Guides (406) 363-9099
• Ria of the Keystone Discovery Enrichment Program (406) 363-5996
• 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/

Teller Wildlife Refuge

www.tellerwildlife.org

1288 Eastside Highway
Corvallis, MT 59828-9371
(406) 961-3507
Get directions

Don’t forget that legendary rod maker “Boo Boy” Glenn Brackett from Sweetgrass Rods will be presenting the April 15 BRTU program at 7:00 pm at the Hamilton Elks Club.

Glenn says that anyone that has a special bamboo rod they own or have made should bring it down and he will take a gander at it. This is a chance to learn from a bona fide master.

Also, Glenn will be bringing  tickets for chances on a Sweetgrass Rod raffle that the Lewis and Clark TU chapter is raffling off as a fund raiser. This 3-piece, 2 tip, 7’9″ 4/5 weight bamboo rod is being built specifically for LCTU chapter by the booboys!

They will sell no more than 300 tickets for this $2500-valued rod with the drawing to be held at the LCTU fundraising event on October 2, 2010.

Ticket prices are $20 for 1 ticket, $100 for 6 tickets, or $300 for 20 tickets. You won’t want to miss out!!!! So, bring a check made out to Lewis and Clark Trout Unlimited.

If you can’t make the meeting, but still want to snag a raffle ticket, contact Dave Delisi at Sweetgrass (406-684-5440, or click HERE to email him) to buy some tickets.

Fly Fishing 101 at Hamilton High School

Volunteer opportunity!

Fly Fishers of the Bitterroot (FFB) and BRTU are working with staff at Hamilton High School to put on “Fly Fishing 101” for the senior PE class students. Cliff Gibbons from FFB is leading the effort, and Chris Clancy, Eddie Olwell and Jeff Gary are among the instructors. However, additional volunteers are needed to assist with the classes.

Mark you calendar! The  classes will be on April 15, 19, 23, 27 and 29. Morning sessions will be from 9:55am to 11:25am & afternoon sessions from 12:38pm to 2:08 pm.

To learn more or to help out, contact Cliff at cegibbons@bridgemail.com or 406-961-5642.

When are fishing, floating, canoeing, or on a family outing on the river, one will see a variety of stream bank stabilization (rip-rap) projects. You might even see a bulldozer working on the bank or in the river.

These projects will cause major disturbance to soils and vegetation and turbidity or “clouding” of the water. This article will provide resources for information about the permitting and administration process for the projects/activities.  In listening to comments from the public, some are interested, some are concerned. The public is asking questions and needs to know where to find answers.

On Sunday, March 21, six interested Trout Unlimited (TU) members floated a stretch of the middle Bitterroot River. In this group was the Montana TU Executive Director, Montana TU Council Chairman, three fly fishing outfitters and guides and a Bitterroot Conservation District (BCD) Supervisor. I had the privilege of accompanying them. The day began with a clear sky, but soon a wind picked up. Some clouds rolled in and the air temperature dropped. As one might guess, with three boats fairly close together and much to talk about; the fishing was reasonable but not great.  That didn’t matter; fishing was an important objective but not the only one. This group was also floating in order to view and discuss several bank stabilization projects in a middle section of the river.

The river is considered a free-stone stream with many banks composed of highly erosive glacial till that will change with EVERY high water event. What naturally holds these banks together is the willow, dogwood, cottonwood and other riparian plants and root systems. We can try to stabilize a bank with harder material, but including plenty of natural vegetation and woody debris is most appealing to the trout. The dilemma is how to protect houses built on the river while maintaining healthy trout habitat which includes clean, clear water.

Part One of this article shares photos and talks about some projects the group viewed.

Part Two provides basic information about what projects need to be permitted and from whom, and has links to sites with more detailed information about the laws and the agencies that administer them.

Part Three shares comments and questions from public and the group that floated March 21.

Part Four shares a tool that allows the public to lodge a complaint against a project or activity and talks about other forums and ways to weigh in on the process.

This series of 5 articles (including this introduction) was written for Merle’s Outdoor Recreation column. To see it in the original format visit The Bitterroot River – protecting the river, fish habitat and homes on Examiner.com.

Merle’s SmugMug photo site – More river and rip-rap in their original format/resolution. Incudes photos of four rip-rap installations and portions of the middle Bitterroot River.