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.
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| Bitterroot Buggers |
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
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
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| Rachel Tsukamoto Weissman when she was learning to fish |
Thanks to all who have generously contributed time supporting the Bitterroot Buggers fly tying classes.
We will be casting, fishing (and grilling burgers and hot dogs !)
Not a caster or fisher person? No worries!
There are many tasks that keep the class running smoothly – come on down!
Questions?
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/
1288 Eastside Highway
Corvallis, MT 59828-9371
(406) 961-3507
Get directions
Tuesday, 3/16, 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: Gold Ribbed Hare’s Ear
Advanced Pattern: Bugmeister
Speaker: Chuck Stranahan – Flyfishing Etiquette, Stewardship
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:
See the slideshow below of photos taken by Greg Chester. If you see yourself in a photo, leave a comment. If you want to see yourself in a photo, come on down!
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
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 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
View all in a new window
Photos of BRTU Auction Items
View all 35 photos in a new window
Photos of awards given at the BRTU banquet
View all 36 photos in a new window
It is the 30th anniversary so there are 30 dozen flies…and a twist…in this box. It is handcrafted of many beautiful woods. This will be a treasure for one lucky bidder.
Geoff Fitzgerald’s Famous Dry Fly Box — Geoff is the current President of Bitterroot Trout Unlimited and dedicated to trout, trout habitat, trout fishing, and all things trout.
Here is a post dedicated to our neighbors, Big Blackfoot Chapter of Trout Unlimited in Missoula, Montana.
A message from our friend, Jerry O’Connell:
For the past 20 years, our Big Blackfoot Chapter Trout Unlimited (BBCTU) has done more watershed restoration and preservation than any other chapter in the US. It has gained national acclaim and recognition for the hundreds of miles of restored and protected tributaries of the Big Blackfoot River. Over the years, BBCTU has set the standard for designing, managing, and executing boots-and-shovels projects at the grass roots level.
BBCTU has done all of this without a single fundraising event. However, we feel it’s time to break that tradition as we celebrate these two decades of progress. Thus, we’ll be holding our 20th Anniversary Party on Saturday, September 12, 2009, complete with bus tours of some of our projects, cocktails, a pitchfork BBQ and an auction with some very unique items (need a steer?). It’ll be at the Rolling Stone Ranch in Ovando, right in the heart of the Blackfoot Valley.
Please come! Pass the word to your friends – the more the merrier. You can call me (244-5612) or the BBCTU offices (677-6454) to make reservations. It’s a bargain at $25 each (or $50 will get you dinner and a Monte Dolack print of the Blackfoot). Email Jerry at joconnell@blackfoot.net.
Merle’s note: What a way to break tradition. If you can make this event, DO IT! It will be an amazing gathering loaded with fun and you will mingle with some of Montana’s interesting, caring and socially and environmentally involved people.
About Trout Slayer and Bayern Brewery
The original brew was called Trout Slayer Ale but in 2007 on the 20th anniversary of Bayern Brewing, the oldest brewery (and in my opinion the best) in Montana decided to give Trout Slayer Ale a new face to best reflect Bayern Brewing’s environmental company philosophy.
Their search for a more appropriate name kept them coming back to “Dancing Trout.” Whether as a fishing term or in various spiritual expressions of music and dance, Dancing Trout became a symbol of celebrating life and the lifestyle embraced by Montana.
So, they also endorsed Montana Trout Unlimited. The name change to Dancing Trout Ale was not merely a cosmetic one. They knew that it was time to brew a beer with a cause. They presented the idea of making Bayern Brewing’s Dancing Trout Ale the official beer sponsor of Montana Trout Unlimited (www.montanatu.org) and were met with the organization’s immediate support and enthusiasm. Bayern Brewing pledges a portion of all merchandise and every case of beer sold to Montana Trout Unlimited to support the preservation of Montana’s trout habitat.
To order Dancing Trout gear click here
To order Dancing Trout Ale online click here
For a signed print of the original Dancing Trout artwork contact Kate at
406-543-0054 or kate@montanatu.org
Bitter Root TU Commissioned Artwork by Monte Dolack
By the way, visit another post about Dancing Trout on the fantastic Missoula beer blog, the Grizzly Growler.
