BRTU E-News
Because there's more to fishin' than just fishin'!
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#255: May 16, 2022
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Learning the Way of the Trout.
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The 2022 Hamilton High School Trout in the Classroom graduating class. The trout in the aquarium in Vanessa Haflich's class are ready for the park in Hieronymus Park. Source: Dave Ward
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The Corvallis High School students in Jeff Kaiser's Trout in the Classroom class preparing to release their trout into Hieronymus Park. Source: Dave Ward.
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As the fish are moved from the classroom aquarium to the pond, great care must be taken to maintain proper water temperature to avoid shocking the little fish. Source: Dave Ward.
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Each little trout is weighed and measured before release. Source: Dave Ward.
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A huge number of people watched the Way of the Trout video, so I am going to leave this story up. In some ways the pieces in this issue epitomize BRTU's priorities - youth education, working cooperatively with other stakeholders on water issues, and promoting conservation.
If you'd like to help us work on these priorities and teach folks about The Way of The Trout, there are a couple of ways you can do it.
First, consider applying for a position on our Board; Chapter President Dave Ward can explain how to do that.
Second, offer to come help out at our projects which are detailed in this issue.
And finally, we are having an in-person banquet and fundraiser on October 21. If you have a cool item you'd like to donate as a premium - doesn't have to be fishing related -, or would like to volunteer and be on the committee, contact Donna Haglund or Sheila Bryan.
Trout are exceptional teachers and we can learn a lot from the way of the trout.
Otto Teller, one of the founders of Trout Unlimited and founder of the Teller Wildlife Refuge, famously said "Trout are like the miner's canary." In this sense, trout tell us about the quality of a stream and the associated ecosystem. If a native or wild trout population is thriving, it is likely the ecosystem is doing well. In other words, they are a very sensitive early warning system for a host of troubles.
Anglers have to learn the way of the trout if they are to be successful. What does habitat look like? What are the types of aquatic and terrestrial insects that trout want? How does water flow around a rock. And of course the trout teach us humility when we can't catch them!
Thanks to BRTU's Trout in the Classroom (TIC) projects - now finishing its 3rd year-, students in several local high schools are watching how trout develop from eggs into small fish and learning important lessons about water quality as well as conservation. Within the last few weeks, the trout from Jeff Kaiser's class at Corvallis High School and Vanessa Haflich's Hamilton High School were released in the pond at Hieronymus Park. The TIC trout are teaching these students a lot and hopefully they will become good stewards of the natural world.
BRTU is committed to TIC as a key element of its youth education effort, and is underwriting the program in 4 valley high schools, with plans to expand it next year.
The world today is full of YouTube videos and film festivals about trout fishing, some even with a conservation message, but all with a lot of flashy editing, blaring soundtracks, 7 league casting, exotic locations, outsize fish, and panache. What do these videos actually teach us about trout? They are in stark contrast to what I consider to be the most elegant trout conservation video ever produced - The Way of the Trout.
The Way of the Trout was produced by Trout Unlimited in 1969; it's about 30 minutes long and if you have never watched, you should. It is a tonic for the frantic world today. The filming techniques then were not as sophisticated as those today, but the message is thoughtful and gleams brightly. A link to the video and a brief description are found on the TU website.
And by the way, if you are interested and concerned about the impact of climate change on our rivers and streams, BRTU Secretary Marisa Sowles provided this very cool video which follows a drop of water from the headwaters all the way to the Pacific Ocean.
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A scene of a nearly empty Painted Rocks Lake, similar to the April work day.
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Once the lake fills, water will go over the spillway until the water level lowers.
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The May 7, 2022 Montana SNOTEL Map. The recent snow, rain and cool weather have improved the water outlook for much of the state. Source: NRCS.
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DNRC engineer Larry Schock issues periodic reports relating to the water levels in the lake as well as inflows and outflows. He sent out another report dated May 12:
Hello Everyone,
Despite the fluctuating temperatures and weather conditions, Painted Rocks Reservoir has been filling at a good pace. The inflows have been hovering around the 500 cfs for the past week and the reservoir storage has increased to 26706 AF or about 82% of capacity. Therefore, a gate adjustment was made yesterday to increase releases and put more water in the river.
Depending upon the changing weather conditions, it is anticipated that the reservoir will fill, and the water should begin flowing over the spillway, in about a week.
E-mail Larry Schock if you'd like to receive his reports directly.
Another very popular item in the last newsletter was Marrea Matthews video about the dam cleanup day last month. IThe video has a cameo of dam tender and river commissioner J.R. Iman showing the guts of the dam and explaining how the water is released. Marrea has given BRTU E-News permission to share the link to the video, which is a tad over 9 minutes and very interesting.
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[Bill Pfeiffer at 2021 camp. Source all photos: Dave Ward.]
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BRTU Fly-Fishing Day Camp set for June 11.
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Dave Ward reports that there are still 5 open spots for this day camp, so please share the story if you know families that might be interested in participating.
For the second year in a row Montana TU's Education Director Bill Pfeiffer will be the instructor at a BRTU Sponsored fly-fishing day camp for boys and girls between 10 and 15 years old. Bill is a very experienced teacher and the response at last year's camp was very positive.
This year the camp will be held on Saturday, June 11 at the Hieronymus Park pond in Hamilton. Incidentally, this is the pond where the Trout in the Classroom trout were released last month.
The class will cover what trout eat, stream entomology, fly selection, fly casting and finish off with some fishing. Participants may bring their own flyrods, but there will be rods available for those that don't have a rod.
The class is limited to 10 students between the ages of 10 and 15, so people are encouraged to sign up soon! Permission from a parent or guardian will be required.
The cost is a recommended $20 donation. Lunch will be provided and there will be a few prizes.
Please contact Charlie Harris (434-962-6065) or Dave Ward (406-241-3903) to sign up, if you have questions or to volunteer.
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This issue's Picture of the Week was again submitted by Seth Cooley, but this time from Ohio.
Seth loves any kind of fishing and when he visits his family in Ohio, his relatives take him out on a lake to fish for crappie. His uncles almost threw him out of the boat when he tried to use his flyrod, so this terrific catch of panfish was caught from the boat using spinning gear. However, Seth told me that me that he can knock them dead with a little streamer flyfishing off the dock. The lake has some pretty big crappie and his nephew caught an 18 incher!
Seth also told me that his back was pretty sore from bending over while doing the filleting of all these fish.
Please submit fishing, conservation and nature photos that you would like to see featured in the BRTU E-News Picture of the Week.
BRTU E-News will no longer publish grip and grin photos of native fish out of water but welcomes photos of actual fish in the water.
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The correct answer this this BRTU Puzzler was received within minutes of my hitting send, and I got a number of right answers.
Former BRTU Board member and educator Ria Overholt identified the pictured critter as a Green Iguana (Iguana iguana). The iguana figured in the famous 1961 play by Tennessee Williams "Night of the Iguana," and the movie version featured Richard Burton and Ava Gardner. However, the production was scandalized when Elizabeth Taylor flew into Puerto Vallarta with Richard Burton.
I recall a line from the movie when one of the minor characters is asked what he is going to do with an iguana on a rope and responds with relish "We gonna fat 'em up, cook 'em and eat 'em up!"
This week's BRTU Puzzler was submitted by Dave Genter who sent in this picture from Costa Rica.
Dave snapped the photo of this puppy while out on a stroll. I am not sure the tail was wagging and this doesn't look like a solicitous play bow to me!
The Puzzler is to provide the common and binary designation of the animal. In addition, you have to name the name of the play and playwright who used this critter in the title. And for bonus points, provide the names of the stars that featured in the film version in 1964.
Send entries to the BRTU Puzzlemaster. The first correct answer will be the winner of this BRTU Puzzler.
The BRTU Puzzler now has a new sponsor - Chapter One Book Store in Hamilton. Chapter One is offering a $10 gift card to each winner but it must be picked up in person. The book store is a long time BRTU supporter and has an unbelievable inventory of books and magazines. If Chapter One doesn't have the tome you want, they can get it in a jiffy. Shouldn't we be patronizing local small independents rather the big online services?
If you have a cool fishing or conservation related photo, consider submitting it to BRTU Puzzlemaster Marshall Bloom for the BRTU Puzzler. BRTU E-News will no longer publish grip and grin photos of native fish out of water but will highlight photos of actual fish in the water.
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Monte Dolack BRTU prints
now available at Joe's Studio.
A small number of Publisher'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 Dave Ward. 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 the BRTU website. chapter number is #080. If you have a question about your membership, please call the Montana TU office at 406-543-0054.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, BRTU board meetings are usually being held on ZOOM. They are open to all BRTU members. Date and time vary, so please contact Chapter President Dave Ward 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
Donna Haglund; Vice President; E-mail: haglunddonna@gmail.com
Vacant, Treasurer;
BOARD MEMBERS
Charlie Harris; E-mail: hmgharris@gmail.com
JuliAnne Thomas; E-mail: thomasjulianneh@gmail.com
Ty Balser; (student board member)
GENERAL FACTOTUM AND NEWSLETTER PUBLISHER
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