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Because there's more to fishin' than just fishin'!
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| 2020 Gold Trout award goes to Jackson Contractor Group. |
Every year since 1994 BRTU has awarded its Gold Trout Award to a person or group who have significant contributions to the cold water fisheries in the Bitterroot. Traditionally, the recipient is recognized at the annual BRTU banquet; however, since the banquet had to go virtual this year because of the pandemic, the award is
 being made in BRTU E-News.
The 2020 Gold Trout Award is awarded to Jackson Contractor Group in Missoula. Jackson is among the most prestigious design/build and general contracting firms in Montana. Their craftmanship and quality work is evident when you visit Marcus Daly Hospital, the University of Montana, research facilities, or some of the finest dining establishments in Missoula. The plaque was presented by TU Special Project Manager Christine Brissette to Jackson staff members Steve Houston, Regional Division Manager Steven Thomas (pictured) and Connor Stahly (photographer).
Fortunately for TU and the trout we serve, the staff and owners of Jackson love to
 spend their time off fishing. In 2019, Jackson and TU forged a partnership to put Jackson's exceptional skills to work toward fish conservation. For our first project, Jackson fabricated installed a modular fish screen for Marshall Creek in East Missoula. Difficult site access required them to devise a cable system to move the screen, and direct a crew of TU volunteers to excavate the site by hand.
In July, Jackson was a major player when we installed a fish screen, irrigation diversion and headgate in the Upper West Fork, working with Enhanced Forest Management out of Corvallis. The West Fork  above Painted Rocks is one of the best native trout fisheries in the valley, home to migratory Bull Trout and healthy Westslope Cutthroat Trout. During construction, Bitterroot National Forest's fish biologist sampled the stream adjacent to the project and found over 30 juvenile trout, half of which were Bull Trout! These young fish are at the highest risk for ditch entrainment, and will now be protected for decades to come.
In mid-October, we pulled Jackson up the East Fork Bitterroot River for another fish screen installation - one of our highest priority projects for native Bull Trout and Cutthroat Trout.
For both of these projects in the Bitterroot, Jackson Contractor Group donated their time, steel, concrete, equipment and ingenuity to make the work a success. Their contributions cut our project costs almost in half, while bringing the exceptional quality that they are renowned for, to fish conservation.
Their thoroughness, attention to detail and, of course, generosity is unsurpassed and deeply appreciated. We are incredibly proud of the work we've done with Jackson in the past two years and are already brainstorming their next Bitterroot project.
It is clear that Jackson Contractor Group deserves the 2020 BRTU Gold Trout Award! Congratulations and many thanks to the entire Jackson Contractor Group crew!
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| 2020 BRTU on-line auction will be November 12-16! |
As has been noted in previous editions of BRTU E-News, we decided to do an on-line virtual auction this year after we had to cancel the banquet because of the on- going pandemic.
The date has been set and the actual auction will run from Thursday, November 12 through Monday, November 16. The auction website will go live near the end of October at which time it will be possible to view all the premiums.
The on line auction will be like a virtual silent auction so that people who register will be able to bid on the items of their choice, and they will be informed when their bid is upped. And just as is the case for a regular banquet, you won't have to be a TU member to participate. And this year, supporters who live out of state or can't be in town will have the chance to participate.
We have some very unique premiums this year including some special dining experiences, fine wines, trips on the Bitterroot, Clark Fork, Big Hole and Yellowstone area donated by the best guides in Montana, special selections of flies, exceptional woodwork, a special package of women's fishing gear, a vintage RML Winston 4 weight Stalker, historical photographs & maps, and art by some of Montana's finest artists. A novel premium is a "Bug Blitz on the Bitterroot" a lesson on how to collect and identify aquatic insects with world famous entomologist Diana Six. This is only a sampling, so keep your eyes out for more news in BRTU E-News and on the BRTU website.
The banquets have been our only fundraiser each year to support our education programs, like Bitterroot Buggers and Trout in the Classroom, as well as our conservation and restoration projects like the fish screens mentioned in the previous story. So, we hope that you will continue to support us during this unusual time.
Stay tuned because more details will be forthcoming in BRTU E-newsletters.
Although we are wrapping up in order to finalize the auction website, if you would like to donate a service, item, or donate cash, here is the form you can complete. If you have any questions, please contact Marshall Bloom or Jeremy Anderson. |
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Picture of the Week.
This week's picture was submitted by long-time BRTU supporter Dr Ann Tsukamoto-Weissman. Ann was fishing with Dr Irv Weissman on the Missouri on a blustery day in late September, when Irv boated this very healthy rainbow on a small nymph.
Irv, a Great Falls native, is a long time TU supporter and was a charter member of the Montana TU Stewardship Council. He has a ranch under conservation easement on the river near Sleeping Child and to say he is an avid angler is a gross understatement. Irv also donates a case of highly sought wines for our auctions, and this year is no exception.
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The BRTU Puzzler.
Much to my surprise, no one correctly indentified this BRTU Puzzler. The pictures were take in Argentina; the mountain is the Lanin volcano near the famed Chimehuin River valley where the trout was caught. Someone guessed Argentina, but not the correct location. So stay tuned for another puzzler next issue!
The photos comprising this week's BRTU Puzzler were submitted by MFWP Fisheries Technician Leslie Nyce.
The photos show a gorgeous mountain valley and a very chunky rainbow that Ken caught fishing on the river there. The location is somewhere south and a little bit east of the Bitterroot Valley.
If you can successfully identify the mountain and the river, you will win the BRTU Puzzler.
Submit your entries to BRTU Puzzlemaster Marshall Bloom. If you are the first person to correctly identify the location, province and country, you will be the next BRTU Puzzler winner.
Chuck Stranahan has generously offered a prize to all winners of the BRTU Puzzler. The winner will be able to can claim a prize of hand-tied trout flies by contacting Chuck.
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Shout out to Mid-Atlantic TU Council!
As readers know, this year BRTU is working with Hamilton and Corvallis High School science teachers to start the very cool Trout in the Classroom program in the Bitterroot. National TU started this program many years ago and it is very popular.
The Mid-Atlantic TU Council is made up of the clubs in Maryland and DC. They have been doing Trout in the Classroom for a number of years. During this time, they have put together a very extensive manual details everything the teachers need to do to be successful in raising trout in the classroom. We asked and they were very willing to put us use their beautifully done 95 pages manual. This resource should help us be very successful with our program.
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Upcoming events of interest.
This short block is a new feature to BRTU E-News that will mention projects and events that other local groups have scheduled. If you belong or are affiliated with another conservation group or other worthy organization, please send me the details of your upcoming event and I will post a link here.
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Monte Dolack BRTU prints
now available at Joe's Studio.
A small number of Pubisher's Proofs of the limited edition "Bitterroot River-Lost Horse Bend" by Monte Dolack are now available at Joe's Studio. BRTU commissioned Monte  Dolack in 2007 to create this iconic print of the Bitterroot River.
The remaining Publisher's Proofs are $375 and all proceeds support BRTU efforts to protect trout and streams.
Joe's Studio, a regular sponsor of our banquets, is located in Hamilton at 220 Marcus Street (961-4586, joesstudio@aol.com)
The "U" in BRTU
Unlike many groups, BTRU has no paid staff. We are an entirely volunteer organization. We are always looking for new members to get involved in projects or to join our board and assist with maintaining our focus on native fish, clean healthy streams and education. If you would like to help out, please contact BRTU Chapter President Jeremy Anderson. We could sure use your help!
In other words, how about putting a little "U" in BRTU?
If "U" are not already a member, "U" can join TU today by going to the BRTU website. Our chapter number is #080. If you have a question about your membership, please call Clayton at 406-543-0054.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemi, BRTU board meetings are now being held virtually on ZOOM. They are open to all BRTU members. Date and time vary, so please contact Jeremy if you would like to log in and learn what is going on.
The BRTU Mission statement is "To conserve, protect, and restore the Bitterroot River and it's watershed," directly in line with the Montana TU mission statement.
For your information, here is a tabulation of our current hard-working BRTU officers and board members.
BOARD OFFICERS
Dr. Jeremy Anderson; President; E-mail: mtwildtrout1@gmail.com
Dave Ward; Vice-President; E-mail: dward451@comcast.net
Marissa Sowles, Secretary (acting); sowlesm@gmail.com
Keith Mullan, Treasurer; E-mail: keithcmullan@hotmail.com
BOARD MEMBERS
Donna Haglund; E-mail: haglunddonna@gmail.com
Marlin Lewis; E-mail: Lewism@hsd3.org
Shelia Bryan; E-mail: shoe6561@gmail.com
Gavin Marston (student board member)
GENERAL FACTOTUM AND NEWSLETTER PUBLISHER
Dr Trout (Marshall Bloom); E-mail: drtrout@mtbloom.net
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We're currently in the planning stages of our Annual Fall Event. This has historically been one of our biggest fundraisers of the year, and we could always use more help. To learn more about how you can volunteer, please email Rick Todd at email@constantcontact.com. . Learn More. |
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