BRTU E-News
Because there's more to fishin' than just fishin'!
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#277: Feb. 12, 2023
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Reminder for Thursday's BRTU Meeting- Golden Dorado on Bolivia's Secure River |
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A hefty Golden Dorado that smashed one of Birch's flies. Photos courtesy Birch Fett. |
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An airborne Golden Dorado on Bolivia's Secure River. |
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A reminder about Thursday's Bitterroot TU meeting. Birch Fett will be talking about about Fishing for Golden Dorado on Bolivia's Secure River. You won't want to miss this presentation!
Birch is a teacher in Hamilton and he was able to travel to the Secure River in Bolivia to fish for Golden Dorado. Birch said
"This was fly fishing for Golden Dorado in the Bolivian jungle. 37 hours of travel to the most magical, mystical jungle I have ever experienced. Wildlife sightings that rival any nature documentary, dugout canoes, river stingrays, and unparalleled fly fishing. This fly fishing adventure challenged my stealth, presentations, nerves and tackle as we found giant predatory dorado in small streams and creeks. Dorado are acrobatic river wolves that hunt in packs and provide explosive action for anglers. Truly a wild place and experience."
Golden Dorado or Salminus brasiliensis are large predatory fish that live in streams like Bolivia's Secure River or other rivers in east central or central South America. In spite of their name, they are related to neither salmon nor the saltwater Dorado. Golden Dorado and are ferocious fighters.
Birch's talk will begin at 7:00 PM on Thursday, February 16 at the Hamilton Elk's Club, 203 State Street.
The public is invited to attend and there is no charge for admission.
Plan on coming down early for personality adjustment because starting at 6:15, the Elks will be serving their excellent grilled brats and beer. The brats are steamed in beer before being grilled! Just $10 for a brat and a beer.
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Hovercraft & motorheads on the Bitterroot- still a bad idea! |
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If the new petition to expand motorized use is accepted, hovercraft like this might add to your enjoyment of a day on the river. Source: Missoula Current. |
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Montana TU will be issuing an Action Alert and BRTU will also weigh in, but if you would like to comment, you can send a comment stating that your opposition to the petition to expand motorized use to our new Region 2 Commissioner, Jeff Burrows.
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2023 Bitterroot Buggers orientation on February 21: helpers needed. |
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A group of Buggers and parents pay rapt attention at the weekly fly judging competition. |
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BRTU Board member and former Chapter President Jack Mauer shows a Bugger how it's done. |
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Buggers course master and former BRTU Chapter President Greg Chester peers through bifocals as he assists a Bugger with the fine points of technique. |
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For almost 3 decades, the Bitterroot Buggers has been teaching flytying, flyfishing and conservations to local kids between the ages of 9 and 14. The Buggers continues to be BRTU's flagship youth education program and is coordinated with the Hamilton Middle School.
There are still a few openings, so contact Joe Byrne by email or phone (406-381-2815) right away.
If you are able to volunteer for some or all of the classes, they are held between 6:30 and 8:00 PM at the Keystone Enrichment Center of the Hamilton Middle School, entered from Madison Street between 5th and 6th Streets.
All tying classes begin with a video demonstration of the particular fly being tackled. Then the students and volunteers head to the vices to put the lesson into practice. At the end of each class, flies are entered into a competition judged by an expert tier.
Each Bugger receives a manual with all of the fly patterns, and links to the on-line videos. Quality tools and materials may be purchased for a very nominal cost, or borrowed during the class. Rod and reel outfits are also available for purchase below cost. For information on purchasing, please contact Joe Byrne or Greg Chester.
Remember, the success of this program is absolutely dependent on volunteer helpers. It is not necessary to be a flytier in order to help with these classes. Please consider signing up to assist with the very worthwhile program. Contact Joe or Greg.
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BRTU member Les Korcala recognized for artistry |
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Les Korcala's recreation of Plate One from Ray Bergman's Trout. Courtesy: Les Korcala. |
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A photo montage of the fanwing coachman, one of the most beautiful dry flies. Courtesty: Les Korcala. |
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If you've been a regular subscriber to BRTU E-News, you are going to be familiar with the name Les Korcala. Les regularly contributes photos that display his flytying artistry and his angling skills. Les and his wife Cheryl can also be found volunteering at BRTU programs, too.
One of Les's more ambitious and masterful projects has been to recreate the fly plates from Ray Bergman's classic Trout (photo above) . But even his smaller projects, like the gorgeous fan-wing coachman, harken back to the days when trout flies were crafted with great care and natural materials.
This week's Bitterroot Star has a great story about Les. He has an unusual background and how he and Cheryl came to live on the banks of the Bitterroot makes for interesting reading.
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Fly Fishing Film Festival - reminder!
Alex Ocanas from the Bitterroot Water Forum has asked me to reminded folks that tickets are now on sale for the International Fly Fishing Film Festival, which will be back in-person this year on Friday, February 24.
Tickets are just $15 this year (super deal!) and we'll be screening films at the Mary Stuart Rogers Performing Arts Center at Victor School - they've got about the best audio/visual set up in the Valley. And finally, we'll have a pint night at The Hops in Victor where folks can gather and socialize (5-7 ish) before the films begin at 7 pm. Tickets can be reserved online.
The showing is hosted locally by the Water Forum and National Trout Unlimited is one of the presenting sponsors.
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This issue's Picture of the Week was submitted by BRTU member Phil Frank.
Phil, who splits his time between the Bitterroot and Florida Keys, sent in this photo of a real bruiser of a cutthroat that his wife Rowena netted. Phil noted:
"I’m submitting this pic for consideration. We caught this beast on the root last fall, and never took it out of the net.
I’m of the position that our fish are under tremendous pressure, and the grip and grin photos are a significant added factor. Not everyone agrees, and I’m still amazed by how many seasoned anglers with hundreds of photos of fish still feel the need to document each decent catch. And how many folks don’t fish barbless hooks. I’m not perfect myself, but always looking to improve fish etiquette and respect.
So glad to see BRTU advocate for keeping them wet. Thanks and have a good rest of winter."
Please send me any fishing or conservation related photos to be considered for the "Picture of the Week." Make sure that the files are less than 5 mB in size. Note that in most cases I plan to not to use "grip and grin" photos, but rather pictures of fish in the water or net.
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There have been a couple of entries for this BRTU Puzzler, but I still haven't received a correct one. So, I am leaving it up until the next issue. Look at the mountains closely for a clue.
This week's BRTU Puzzler is again from my peripatetic friend and colleague Seth Cooley. I am beginning to think that Seth is the only newsletter reader with a camera.
Seth took this cool picture about 2 weeks ago while taking his rod for a walk. He noted that he didnt catch any fish, but planted his rod in the snow long enough to snap this gorgeous winter shot. I'd say the vista pretty much compensated for not catching any fish!
This week's Puzzler is to identify the spot from which Seth's photo was taken. For bonus points, identify the type of rod and fly he was using.
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 than big online giants?
The winner will be able to collect their gift card by stopping in at the book store.
If you have a cool fishing, outdoor activity, 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 very few Publisher's Proofs of the limited edition "Bitterroot River-Lost Horse Bend" by Monte Dolack are still 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 BRTU sponsor, 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.
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
Vacant; (student board member)
GENERAL FACTOTUM AND NEWSLETTER PUBLISHER
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